GunLink Blog

The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms industry, is pleased to announce that it has chosen the winners of its 2018 Voting Member Scholarship contest. The annual contest is open to voting company members, their employees and family members, with a total of $60,000 in college costs awards divided among 25 winners. This year’s contest drew entries from more than 75 rising and current college and university students.

Students had a choice of three trending topics on which to provide an essay:

• Should social media platforms censor content concerning the lawful commerce in firearms and ammunition products?
• Should the age to purchase a rifle or shotgun be raised to 21? If so, does the same apply for voting rights and driver’s licenses?
• What are the challenges facing youth today to becoming involved in hunting?

This year’s Grand Prize winner and recipient of $8,000 is Alison Basore, whose father, Richard, works for Hodgdon Powder Company based in Shawnee, Kansas. Ms. Basore chose the topic regarding social media platforms, writing, in part:

“… [W]hen social media platforms censor content, they fail to recognize the content’s validity in the marketplace. This has a raw negative influence … . It is almost as if social media platforms consider the commerce of firearms and ammunition unlawful, and this propagates the wrong idea in the public’s mind. For example, by Facebook refusing to display firearm advertisements, the population gets a biased sampling against the marketplace. For young people today, the idea of gun ownership will be falsely presented as unlawful.

[W]hen social media platforms censor content they open a gateway for future infringements on rights. When companies like Instagram, Facebook, or even Google begin to not show gun advertisements or user posts that picture firearms, there is very little stopping them from expanding this policy to not show any firearms or ammunition. In fact, some social media platforms restrict having firearms in profile pictures and from user posts. When it comes to progressive movements, such as this one, history has shown us that abuse of power is not only possible but expected.”

Ms. Basore’s entire essay may be read here. Second place and $5,000 were awarded to Matthew Russel, whose father, Clay, is employed by Olin Corporation. Third place and $3,000 were awarded Dana Anthony, whose father, Richard, also works for Olin. Twenty-five other writers received the remaining prize money, each receiving $2,000 for their excellent submissions.

“Our congratulations are extended to all those who took part in this year’s scholarship contest,” said Samantha Hughes, NSSF Manager, Member Services. “It’s a pleasure to see these students so invested in the issues affecting our industry and the shooting sports. We wish them much success in their college careers and hope to see many join our industry upon graduation.”

Kim Rhode wins gold … her 21st in fact, as she once again outperformed the world’s best skeet shooters at the 2018 International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Tucson (Arizona). More than 200 shotgun athletes took part in the last of four shotgun world cups of the season and one of the final competitions ahead of the world championships, which begins August 31, 2018, in Changwon, South Korea.

The gold medal was Rhode’s third ISSF World Cup Gold medal of the 2018 season; she also won gold at ISSF competitions held in Mexico and South Korea earlier this year.
Rhode won her second consecutive, and third overall, International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Final in women’s skeet this past October in New Delhi, India.

Kim Rhode and Winchester Ammunition have an amazing history spanning nearly three decades together and an incredible number of podium placements as far back as her first World Championship at the age of 13. Kim Rhode will continue to shoot Winchester AAs as she prepares to compete for an unprecedented seventh consecutive Olympic medal at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

AOB Outdoor Products & Accessories, a division of American Outdoor Brands Corporation and an industry leading provider of hunting, shooting, reloading, gunsmithing, gun cleaning supplies, specialty tools, survival products, and cutlery, today announced that Mark Reasoner has joined the company as Vice President of Sales for Hunting & Shooting Accessories.

Previously, Reasoner served as Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Drake Waterfowl, a manufacturer and distributor of high quality duck hunting gear, clothing and equipment. Prior to Drake Waterfowl, he was Senior Vice President and General Manager for Pure Fishing’s North American commercial business, a role in which he oversaw some of the industry’s premier fishing brands, including Shakespeare, Berkley, Abu Garcia, and Penn, among others.

Brian Murphy, President of AOB Outdoor Products & Accessories, said, “We’re excited to have Mark join our entrepreneurial team to help expand our hunting and shooting accessory brand portfolio. His strong and longstanding relationships with retailers and distributors in the industry, combined with his experience representing a large variety of respected brands, will complement our focus on new product development and will further strengthen our brands with the consumer.”

In his new role, Reasoner will be responsible for overseeing sales for 10 brands in the company’s Hunting & Shooting Accessories portfolio, including: Caldwell (precision shooting supplies, such as shooting rests); Tipton (gun cleaning supplies); Wheeler (gunsmithing tools); Frankford Arsenal (reloading tools and equipment); BOG (field hunting accessories, such as bipods and tripods); Hooyman (hunting preparation, including tree saws); Lockdown (firearm storage solutions); Smith & Wesson and M&P Accessories; and Thompson/Center Accessories.

Reasoner said, “It’s truly an honor to join the AOB team. In addition to working with a group of dedicated outdoor enthusiasts, I will have the opportunity to help grow some of the most well-known and highly regarded brand names in the hunting and shooting industry. I’m eager to begin implementing new product activation strategies alongside our product and marketing teams to drive significant excitement and growth for our retail partners.”

Reasoner received his Master’s in Business Administration from Webster University.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is pleased to support the Women’s Outdoor Media Association’s She Never Quit Event, which brings together women attendees interested in honing their firearm skills and those working in the firearms industry to encourage participation in the shooting sports, while also raising funds for selected charities. Taking place October 8-11, this WOMA event is now in its fourth year at the Lazy J Ranch in Normangee, Texas, and hosted by Melanie and Marcus Luttrell (author of the book Lone Survivor). She Never Quit was inspired by Marcus Luttrell’s Team Never Quit and brings together approximately 40 women ranging from novice to expert and from all backgrounds, including women in the firearms industry, outdoor media representatives, and a representative for the charity SNQ benefits.

The atmosphere at the ranch is casual, friendly and cooperative, with activities beyond the daily shooting bay schedule including an active-shooter class, mace training, archery, yoga, fishing and more.

Attendees have the opportunity to learn from world-class women shooters who also excel at training, and will familiarize themselves with a variety of handguns, rifles, and shotguns. New this year is a .50-caliber shooting station. This year’s sponsors, along with NSSF, include Armscor/Rock Island Armory, Glock, FN America LLC, Patriot Defense, Mace Security International, Inc., Fiocchi USA, Anteris Alliance, Hiviz Sights, Sticky Holsters, Howard Leight, Gun Rodeo, Crossbreed, Umarex/Gnat Warfare, Colorado Bowhunters Association, Gun Goddess and Otis Technology.

One of the highlights of this year’s event will be a silent auction to benefit selected charities. WOMA has invited Jodie Grenier, an Operation Iraqi Freedom Marine veteran and Executive Director of the Foundation for Women Warriors, which assists women veterans returning to civilian life. Both the FWW and the 100 Club of Houston, which supports families of local first responders killed in the line of duty, provide equipment and replace service dogs, have been selected as this year’s beneficiaries of the SNQ program.

Hi-Point carbines are now legal in California again.

The California legislature’s NEW firearm restrictions now make pistol grip carbines illegal there. Fortunately for California carbine lovers, Hi-Point has a solution-the Hi-Point California-compliant carbine and retro fit kit.

Hi-Point, maker of the most popular and affordable carbine of their type in the country, created a California-only version of its carbine without the threaded barrel and with a modification that meets the state’s new requirements.

The factory-installed “California-compliant Paddle” is a flat panel attached to the pistol grip that eliminates the full pistol grip function and feel.

Hi-Point California-compliant carbines come in 9mm, .40 S&W, .45ACP and 10mm, and the base MSRP of all California Compliant calibers will increase between $45 and $50, depending on model, configuration, and caliber. And as with any Hi-Point carbine or hand gun, compliant carbines can be purchased through any local gun shop or FFL sporting goods store in California.

More good news: Hi-Point carbine owners can retrofit their existing Hi-Point carbines to comply with California law! Existing Hi-Point carbines are NOT grandfathered in, so to stay legal in California Hi-Point California carbine owners can purchase the compliance paddle and attach it themselves.