ASA Hosts 3rd Annual Media Day Ahead of NRA Show
NRAAM Starts Off With a pffffttt.
The American Suppressor Association (ASA) hosted their third annual media day in tandem with the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits in Louisville, Kentucky, today – one day ahead of the exhibit floor opening to attendees – and the GunLink team was there to take part in the invitation-only event. The Media Day event, held at Knob Creek Gun Range, was an excellent opportunity to get hands on experience with some of the newest gun mufflers on the market. Now is a great time to buy and own NFA items like suppressors, despite some of the new hurdles placed in front of some owners by the 41F ruling.
The ASA touts itself as the unified voice of the suppressor industry with a mission “to unite and advocate for the common interests of suppressor manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and consumers” by lobbying at the state and federal levels, educating the public, and providing industry research. ASA’s main objectives include raising public awareness, relaxing ownership laws in the 9 remaining states which do not allow private ownership, relaxing hunting regulations that prohibit the use of such hearing protection equipment, and fixing issues with the NFA – including the bottlenecks that result in lengthy wait times.
Among the industry participants at the event – which featured live fire demos – were Advanced Armament Corp. (Booth 3947), Daniel Defense (2401), Gemtec (2819), Liberty (4561), Sig Sauer (5333), SilencerCo (2430) and sister company SWR, Silencer Shop (5835), Thunder Beast Arms (2941, and Yankee Hill Machine (5940).
While here, we got to see and shoot some of the new silencers that we saw at SHOT Show in January – as well as some that we somehow missed – and some even newer cans and guns. Continue reading
Shooting Illustrated to Join NRA Publications Available to Members
The family of magazines (publications, not the things that people in Rio Linda call “clips”) available to National Rifle Association members is growing this May.
Starting on May 1st, in addition to the current lineup of American Rifleman, American Hunter, and America’s 1st Freedom, members will be able to choose Shooting Illustrated as the publication that is included with their membership. Shooting Illustrated features new product previews, tests and analysis from the top writers in the industry, offering their expert insight into all facets of shooting.
GunLink has confirmed that existing members will be able to change their current subscription to Shooting Illustrated if they desire at any time after May 1 by to emailing membership@nrahq.org or by calling the membership hotline at 800-672-3888.
Don’t forget that May 1st is also the start of increased membership dues rates through recruiters. As you should have heard by now, general membership dues have gone up, but recruiters were given an extension to continue offering the old discounted rates until April 30. After that, even those rates will go up, so there is still time to save money by joining or renewing here – just in time to attend the NRA Show.
NRA’s “Freedom’s Safest Place” Commercial
We have been seeing these during select programming in our market. Have you seen NRA’s TV ads lately?
The Hollywood celebrities, political elites and billionaires who attack the Second Amendment want to take our God-given freedom away. Yet at the core of the Second Amendment is the eternal truth that no life is more worthy of armed protection than another. The National Rifle Association fights for the protection of these liberties. The NRA is Freedom’s Safest Place.
NRA Dues Have Gone Up but Supporters Still Have Time to Save
As you are certainly aware by now, NRA membership dues have increased as of March 1st. New members who join the National Rifle Association and existing members who renew directly through NRA will pay the new rates. Despite the rising cost of pretty much everything else, these increases mark the first time that NRA dues have gone up in over two decades.
When the dues increases were announced, NRA recruiters – such as Team GunLink – were notified that we would be authorized to continue offering the old discounted rates until further notice. That notice has now been given and the cut-off date for the old discounted rates is May 1, 2016. After that date, we will still be able to help patriots join in the fight for Second Amendment rights with lower rates than those available directly through the NRA, but the big savings will be gone. We can offer our special rates if you see us in person at shows, shoots, shops, out on the street, or anywhere else in person, or through the online sign-up form here.
NRA membership dues still include the same benefits, including helping to fight for the right to keep and bear arms, a subscription your choice of NRA magazines, entry for you and your family into the NRAAM, discounts, and more.
Finally, to be crystal clear since there has been some confusion since the price hikes were announced, current NRA Life members – whether they are fully paid up or are still working on Easy Pay Life plan – will NOT have to pay any additional dues that they have already agreed to. If you are a fully-paid life member, you are still fully paid. If you are making EPL payments, you will continue to make the same number of payments for the same amount as you would have otherwise. Life members who wish to upgrade to Distinguished Life or other higher-level Life membership will now have to pay the higher rates for the upgrade.
NRA Show is Just Around the Corner
NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits Lands in Louisville May 19-22
Are you sad that you weren’t able to attend the industry-only 2016 SHOT Show in January? Cheer up, because the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits (NRAAM) is just around the corner!
The 145th NRAAM will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY May 20-22, 2016. The show, which is open and free to all NRA members and their immediate family, features over 650 exhibitors covering over 475,000 square feet of exhibit hall space and offers a terrific opportunity to meet with representatives from the manufacturers and vendors of your favorite shooting, hunting, and outdoor gear, guns, and more.
The NRA Show also features numerous educational seminars, celebrities, and fun filled special events for the whole family. Visitors can spend the day exploring products from every major firearm company in the country, book the hunt of a lifetime in the outfitter section, and view priceless collections of firearms in the gun collector area. There will also be no shortage of knives, wildlife art, shooting accessories, hunting gear, ATV’s, and much more. Continue reading
NRA First VP Pete Brownell Seeks Third Term on NRA Board
Editor’s Note: Pete Brownell, and Brownells as a whole, were among the first big established companies in the firearms industry to really embrace new media and recognize it as a valuable resource for firearm enthusiasts, industry members, recreational shooters and others to participate in the timely exchange of information. In addition to supporting new media, Pete has been an strong and unwavering supporter of Second Amendment rights. GunLink is proud share his announcement that he will seek a third term on the NRA Board and add our endorsement to the list of others supporting him. The NRA Board of Directors needs more members like Pete Brownell!
NRA First Vice President and CEO of Brownells, Pete Brownell, announced this week that he will seek a third term on the NRA’s Board of Directors. If re-elected, Brownell will likely become NRA President at the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Atlanta, Georgia.
An NRA Life Member since birth, Brownell, 47, boasts proven NRA leadership experience and is a widely-recognized visionary in the firearm and outdoor industry. Brownell’s service to the NRA began in 2006 when he was nominated to serve on the NRA Membership Committee. Following his election to the board in 2010, Brownell began serving on numerous other committees, including:
- President’s Committee on Advancement
- Nominating Committee
- Sport Shooting Committee
- Finance Committee
- Law Enforcement Committee
- Meeting Site Selection Committee
- Publications Policy Committee
- Task Force on Industry Relations Committee
- Investment Oversight Committee
Proving himself as an ardent defender of the Second Amendment and a powerful voice for the NRA, Brownell was elected the NRA Second Vice President in April 2013. Two years later in 2015, he was elected NRA First Vice President, an office he holds today. Continue reading
