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. Industry Industry watch A Case For The Modern Sporting Rifle Russ Thurman hen will the Obama admin- senior advisor and trade liaison. There animate object, be inherently good or bad? istration turn its attention to likely isn’t anyone more “traditional” than Doesn’t make any sense, does it?” firearms and launch an all-out Painter, who has hunted all over the world, That’s exactly the point NSSF is directassault on the industry? Early next year? using blued steel and walnut rifles. ing at “traditional hunters,” who inadverAfter the 2010 mid-term elections? AfIn the video, “The New ‘Ol Betsy?” tently are taking the position promoted by ter the 2012 elections? Regardless of the Painter opens with, “They say you can’t anti-gun forces. That position is harmful doubt of some in the industry that such an teach an old dog new tricks. Well, some- to the entire industry, Sanetti says. assault is imminent, it is coming. “When the legislative battle we all That certainty is one of the major know is coming does take place, we reasons NSSF has launched its Moddon’t want traditional hunters who ern Sporting Rifle campaign — to love blued steel and walnut hunting correct widespread misperceptions rifles writing letters to their congressabout AR-style rifles. men or newspaper editors, saying “This campaign is aimed not so ‘I’ve been hunting for 40 years and much at the general public or those I’ve got no use for one of these. No who already own AR-15s,” said Steve one should own one of them.’ That Sanetti, NSSF president. “It is directed really hurts. We must recognize that at the more traditional shooters who an attack on one gun is ultimately an look harshly at an AR-15, or worse, attack on all guns,” Sanetti said. SI DIGITAL those who think it is a machinegun or Ironically, the popularity of ARs VIDEO it has no sporting purpose.” — modern sporting rifles — can play The foundation of the NSSF’s a key role in successfully fighting anModern Sporting Rifle campaign is ti-gun forces, Sanetti points out. the Web site, www.nssf.org/msr. The NSSF’s Web site, www.nssf.org/msr, provides invaluable “If we hold the line and the modern site is extremely well done, provid- information on the evolution of sporting rifles. Digital sporting firearm does indeed become ing a wealth of information on ARs, subscribers, click here to view video. the most popular firearm, as it’s well including “Modern Sporting Rifle on its way to becoming, it will be that Facts,” that will set straight even many times, you can. (I) never had anything much harder to ban, because there won’t just “experts” on what ARs are and — just as against AR rifles like this one, but, frankly, be a few million, but many, many millions important — what they are not. I didn’t think they had a place in the woods. of American citizens legitimately involved in For “traditional hunters,” there’s an But as I thought about it, I remembered shooting activities with these kinds of rifles. eye-opening section on the Web site: “The that Americans’ favorite deer rifle wasn’t We will then form a power base that no one Evolution of the American Hunting Rifle.” originally designed for sportsmen at all.” will be able to defeat,” Sanetti said. What can be more traditional than a woodPainter then presents a nicely done Sanetti, who also can be counted stocked bolt-action hunting rifle in .30-06? history lesson on the development of tra- among “traditional” hunters, reminds all The foundation for such a revered hunting ditional hunting rifles — from military gun owners of the importance of respectrifle is the 1903 Springfield of World War I. service firearms — and a look at today’s ing each other. That same kind of evolution is reflected in AR-platform rifles. In the closing segment, “So keep an open mind and remember, the Modern Sporting Rifle — from the M-16 Painter says, “Anti-gun folks insist on call- we are all brothers in the fraternity of shootof the Vietnam War era to today’s ARs. ing these (AR) rifles ‘assault weapons,’ ing. That will best serve us in the legislative Headlining the Modern Sporting Rifle to label them as ‘bad guns’ as opposed fight we know is coming,” he said. Web site is a video hosted by Doug Painter, to more traditional-looking ‘good guns.’ Visit www.nssf.org/msr. Refer others to former NSSF president and now NSSF’s Now, I ask you, how can any rifle, any in- the Web site. Spread the word. W Advance Your Business Skills ealers, in planning your 2010 SHOT Show schedule, be sure to sign up for SHOT Show University on Jan. 18. Once again, the University’s classes will be held the day before the official beginning of the SHOT Show. The cost for the full-day session is $50 for NSSF members and $100 for all others. Register at www.shotshow.org. 46 NOVEMBER 2009 D Continued on page 45 Read SI DIGITAL www.shootingindustry.com