Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Russ Thurman The Many Forms Of Gun Control al-Mart’s decision to sign the Bloomberg agreement in April blindsided the industry. But for the retail behemoth, it’s just business. Just as it was in 2006 when Wal-Mart stopped selling firearms in 1,000 of its stores; it was a business decision. Wal-Mart’s support of the measures created by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” provides significant benefit. By agreeing to abide by the 10 points of the “Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership,” Wal-Mart wraps itself in a layer of protection from anti-gun forces. And, anti-gun forces are powerful. For those in the industry who think the anti-gun movement has been neutralized, based on its lack of progress on the national level, think again. Microstamping, bullet serialization, ballistic imaging, onerous zoning, restrictive and prohibitive sales of firearms and ammunition — and more — are driven by anti-gun proponents. W There are many forms of gun control. The Bloomberg agreement is a powerful one. The Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership is a “masterful” form of gun control, developed by those vehemently opposed to the private ownership of firearms. While you go about the business of running your business, anti-gun zealots are going about their business. And, they “The Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership is a ‘masterful’ form of gun control.” are good at what they do. The challenge: In addition to making and/or selling firearms, ammo and myriad associated gear, you have to battle anti-gun forces — every day. Anti-gun forces, however, don’t do anything but develop ways to stop you from doing business — every day. Wal-Mart’s “business” decision will likely endear them to Mr. and Mrs. America, who, while they believe in and support the Second Amendment, also want “Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership(s)” and who wouldn’t want to support “Mayors Against Illegal Guns”? These are the Wal-Mart customers who generally don’t buy firearms and ammo from the retailer, but they sure push a lot of shopping carts to the checkout stands every day. That’s business. Undoubtedly, the firearm and ammo companies who sell a significant number of guns and pallets of ammo through Wal-Mart will be hurt. That Wal-Mart would enter into the Bloomberg agreement without notifying its longtime firearmindustry partners is, yes, a shock, but not surprising. Remember, it’s business. It’s important for all of us to know about the Bloomberg coalition. Visit www. mayorsagainstillegalguns.org. There you will discover how the industry is being targeted and if your mayor is a member of the coalition. Summit Looks To Future he NSSF 2008 Shooting Sports Summit, June 23-25 in Colorado Springs, Colo., is attracting a lot of attention from leaders throughout the industry. The focus of the event: the future of hunting and the shooting sports. The summit is attracting a growing number of sponsors, including Outdoor Channel, Safari Club International (SCI) and the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA). “Ensuring a strong future for our sports is a common goal shared by all of us in the hunting and shooting community,” said NSSF Senior Vice President Chris Dolnack. “With the support of Outdoor Channel, SCI, USSA and others, this year’s summit is shaping up to be perhaps the most significant industry gathering of this decade.” This is the first NSSF summit in six years, with organizers planning numerous sessions designed to “forge new strategies T aimed at taking current recruitment and retention programs to the next level.” NSSF will present a comprehensive three-year $389,000 study aimed at improving hunter and shooter recruitment and retention. Results of the “Future of Hunting and the Shooting Sports” project, funded by a U.S. Fish & Wildlife grant and conducted in partnership with Responsive Management, will serve as the basis for the summit. The summit’s keynote speaker is former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. For more information, visit www.nssf.org/08summit. Continued on page 45 We’re Calling You Out! Gun Valley Showdown. Page 32 46 MAY 2008 www.shootingindustry.com