One Win For Our Side - Mar 18, 2009 - 1:44:13 AM
By Jim Shepherd
At about five-thirty yesterday evening, the lengthy feature that was to have gone in today's editions of both the Outdoor and Shooting Wires was rendered unnecessary. Normally, that's not a reason for celebration. But this was no ordinary occurrence.

No Longer Just Paranoia - Mar 16, 2009 - 1:45:21 AM
By Jim Shepherd
For months, anyone who's proffered the position that the Obama Administration was anti-gun has been dismissed as being a variety of things, from sore loser to rampant paranoid. Nonetheless, since assuming office, members of the Obama administration have steadily- and stealthily- moved against firearms and ammunition.

Around the Industry and Courts - Jan 21, 2009 - 8:03:04 AM
By Jim Shepherd
In Massachusetts, the Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) is pushing for support of a legislative measure introduced by Senator Richard Moore. "An Act Prohibiting the Confiscation of Lawfully Owned Firearms During the State of Emergency" is exactly what the name implies, a measure to keep the police in Massachusetts from duplicating the heavy-handed tactics employed by the New Orleans police department during Hurricane Katrina.

Outdoor Wire Names Obama "Gun Salesman of the Year" - Jan 14, 2009 - 7:22:08 AM
By Jim Shepherd
In recognition of the unprece­dented demand for firearms by nervous consumers, The Outdoor Wire has named President-elect Barack Obama its "Gun Salesman of the Year". For me, it was a simple fact of recognizing that without President-elect Obama's frightening consumers into action, the firearms industry might be suffering the same sort of business slumps that have befallen the automotive and housing industries.

New Tactics Needed - Jan 5, 2009 - 5:07:45 AM
By Jim Shepherd
In fifteen days, the firearms industry will find itself squarely in the gunsight of a new administration dedicated to the regulation of virtually everything related to guns, from so-called assault weapons to the elements used in ammunition. Regulation, incidentally, will be defined as "the regulation of everything, and the potential removal of anything we say you don't need."

Industry Hanging Onto A Single Category - Dec 17, 2008 - 3:02:30 AM
By Jim Shepherd
For the past few weeks, it may be that we've given a false impression as to how well the firearms industry is really doing. The net of all the numbers is that if you're a company with a strong line of high-capacity pistols and AR-style rifles, you're doing land office business. If you're heavily dependent on hunting, you are hurting.

Around the Industry - Dec 15, 2008 - 12:03:16 AM
By Jim Shepherd
Having attended another gun show this weekend, I'm even more convinced that the pent-up desire for high-capacity pistols and "military-style" rifles (and shotguns) is nowhere near satisfied. Prowling a small gun show over the weekend, I saw crowds of people buying guns, not just looking at guns.

Around the Shooting World - Dec 10, 2008 - 3:12:34 PM
By Jim Shepherd
Just before Thanksgiving, precision rifle and component maker H-S Precision set off a controversy with an endorsement letter used in their latest catalog.
The letter was signed by former FBI Hostage Response Team sniper Lon Horiuchi. Today, that name is synonymous with excessive force for many. To others; Horiuchi's name is synonymous with "murderer".

Is Your Distributor Also Your Competitor? - Dec 3, 2008 - 1:00:05 AM
By Jim Shepherd
In at least one instance in today's almost manic demand for black rifles, it seems the answer is an unqualified "yes". More than one dealer is complaining that one distributor is not only raising prices to dealers, they're selling that same inventory direct to consumers - for the same price. What's wrong with that picture?

What Are The Risks? What WERE They Thinking? - Dec 1, 2008 - 12:56:24 AM
By Jim Shepherd
It seems H-S Precision has missed the mark - badly - in their choice of endorsements. On the back cover of their latest catalog is what appears to be a rather innocuous recommendation of H-S products by a mid-level FBI bureaucrat. But the letter is evoking strong responses by some outraged shooters.