NSSF Drops Reed Exhibitions as Managers of SHOT Show
You probably remember the blowup causing vendors to leave en mass from the Harrisburg, PA, Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show and the subsequent change in management to NRA managing the new Harrisburg show. You probably also remember the outcry over the continued management by Reed of the NSSF SHOT Show. The big news of the day is that NSSF has now terminated their agreement and the SHOT Show will be under new management going forward.
Announced via the SHOT Show Blog:
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, today announced that it has reached an agreement with Reed Exhibitions to terminate the agreement the parties had for the management of the SHOT Show. Accordingly, effective immediately, Reed Exhibitions will no longer be manager and producer of the SHOT Show.
Reed Exhibitions provided excellent service to NSSF and the customers of the SHOT Show for more than three decades, however, the company’s decision to restrict the sale of certain types of firearms this year at its consumer hunting and fishing show — an event unrelated to NSSF and the SHOT Show — was in conflict with NSSF’s mission to serve the shooting sports industry. As a result, both organizations decided it was in the best interest of the SHOT Show to end their relationship.
NSSF is actively engaged in the process of identifying a new show management company to manage and produce the SHOT Show beginning with the 2014 SHOT Show.
The SHOT Show — the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show — is owned and sponsored by NSSF. It is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for all professionals involved with the shooting sports, hunting and law enforcement industries. The 2014 SHOT Show will be held Jan. 14-17 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Discuss the change in the NSSF SHOT Show board on the GunLink Forums.
See also: CSG Creative Named Marketing Agency of Record for SHOT Show
Indiana Librarian Finds Black Powder Pistol Inside Donated Book
Directly from the “Why Can’t This Ever Happen To Me?” files…
Phyllis Nelson, Assistant Library Director for the Valparaiso, Indiana, branch of the Porter County Public Library, contacted Valparaiso PD when a library employee opened a donated book and found an extra prize inside: A .31 caliber Arma San Marco (sic) black powder pistol.
Police, despite determining that it was not stolen, are still holding the single shot gun as evidence. Under federal law, black powder guns are excluded from the definition of “firearms” under a provision in 18 USC 921 which classifies them as an “antique firearm” and limits their regulation. Indiana Code 35-47-1-5 contains no such provision excluding black powder guns, which means that the found A.S.M pistol would be classified as a “firearm.”
Statements by library personnel indicate that thousands of books are donated each month with no donor records kept, so there is no way of knowing when or by whom the book was donated.
The brass-colored, wooden-handled single-shot .31 has been valued around $175 by several sources, although GunLink can not find a current value for the gun. The gun was found in a 1998 novel titled “Outerbridge Reach” by Robert Stone. Online images for similar model guns which we found show it in a similarly hollowed out book (albeit with different endpage art), indicating that the book could be a standard container for such a piece.
Rob Pincus Remembers Crossbreed Hosters Founder Mark Craighead
Personal defense and shooting instructor Rob Pincus shares fond memories and his thoughts on the loss of a friend, Mark Craighead, founder of Crossbreed Holsters:
My good friend and industry Leader, Mark Craighead passed away today. Mark owned & operated Crossbreed Holsters with his family and friends. I received the news today from the family and they asked me to pass on their thanks for the thoughts of the firearms community and their assurance that things would continue as expected at Crossbreed. We have lost a great asset today.
Mark quickly became a leader in the industry as his incredibly innovative Crossbreed Holster design and company quickly become respected for quality and function. He and I worked together on many projects over the last few years and have had the pleasure of hearing from many of his customers in my courses who greatly appreciate his efforts and his company’s efforts to meet their needs. Mark would often ask me what people were saying about the products and how they held up in class and he was always very proud to hear the great reports. He was also very eager to find ways to better serve his customers, the firearms community and the industry as a whole.
Approximately 3 weeks ago, Mark had a heart attack after a successful outpatient surgical procedure and had a very bad few days. We all believed that he had come through it and was on the road to full recovery. Earlier today, he had another massive heart attack and we lost him.
Outside of work, which he very much enjoyed, Mark was both a dedicated family man and a bit of an adventurer. One of his biggest hobbies was motor sports. He had some very impressive vehicles that he enjoyed driving/riding when time allowed. He even ran his beloved Lingenfelter Cadillac CTS-V in the Cannonball Run last year and had planned to try the Vegas to Reno Desert Race in 2013.
One thing that truly stood out about Mark was his commitment to friends and family. As Crossbreed Holsters grew, he continued to bring more and more of both into the operations to share in his success and in fulfilling his commitment to excellence. I have yet to meet anyone in the industry who had a bad word to speak of him and doubt sincerely that I ever will.
Rest In Peace, Brother.
-Rob Pincus
-8/24/12
UN Arms Trade Treat is a Bust…For Now
The UN conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) has broken down and will not be submitting a draft of treaty to member nations and ABC News says “some diplomats and supporters blamed the United States for the unraveling of the monthlong negotiating conference.” Good job, United States! Amnesty International USA executive directory Suzanne Nossel was quoted: “This was stunning cowardice by the Obama administration, which at the last minute did an about-face and scuttled progress toward a global arms treaty.”
Always one to toot their own horns, the National Rifle Association (NRA) was quick to release an article, subtly entitled “NRA Stops U.N. Arms Trade Treaty.” While the gun rights lobbying group no doubt played a part in working against the measure, taking credit for the breakdown of the negotiations seems like a bit of a stretch given the hard work and grass-roots efforts of many gun rights organizations and individuals who helped spread the word, contacted representatives and did other behind-the-scenes work to protect American sovereignty when it comes to governing firearms.
This small victory, however, is certainly not cause to stop being vigilant when it comes to protecting gun rights. Conference chariman, Ambassador Roberto Garcia Moritan, a supporter of the treaty, said “we certainly are going to have a treaty in 2012.” This comes on the heels of several democratic senators attempting to slip gun control measures (S.A. 2575) into a cybersecurity bill that would make illegal the transfer or possession of ammunition feeding devices which hold more than 10 rounds. In case you couldn’t guess the list of “usual suspects” behind this measure, they include Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
If you’re already involved in organizations and activities to support your second amendment rights, keep up the great work. If not, there’s no time like the present to get started. Check out this link for a good starting point or visit the GunLink forums.
Firearms Industry Shopping Comparison Engine Addresses Changes in Search Policies
GunSpec’s Search and Shopping Comparison Engine
Dedicated Entirely to Firearms Industry Increases Capabilities for Retailers
KINGSTON, NY (July 2012) – GunSpec, a shopping comparison site for the firearms industry, has stepped up its commitment to providing online services for retailers and firearms enthusiasts in light of recent changes of policy by one of the largest search engines in the world.
Through the new policy, firearms retailers must comply with the rules that include pay-for-position and the elimination of any products that appear on the list of prohibited products to include “guns, ammunition and knives.” Aware of the serious implications for retailers, GunSpec is currently developing new programs that will allow displaced retailers to set their own budgets, bid on search product placement and provide them with additional brand exposure for their stores.
“We are committed to working with Continue reading
Attorney General Eric Holder in Contempt of Congress over Gun Walking Scandal
VOA News
June 28, 2012
CAPITOL HILL — The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to cite Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for refusing to release documents relating to “Fast and Furious” – a failed government operation that put guns in the hands of Mexican drug cartels. The was vote viewed by many as a legal and political showdown between the Republican-led House and Democratic President Barack Obama and his attorney general.
With Democratic lawmakers in the mood to celebrate the Supreme Court ruling upholding President Obama’s health care law, Republican Speaker John Boehner agreed to bring the contempt votes to the floor of the House.
“Now, I don’t take this matter lightly and I would frankly hope that it would never come to this,” said Boehner. “The House’s focus is on jobs and on the economy. But no Justice Department is above the law, and no Justice Department is above the Constitution, which each of us has sworn an oath to uphold.”
While Republicans stressed that Congress deserve to hear all of the facts about the failed “Fast and Furious” operation, Democrats accused Continue reading
