“With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA,” says Wayne LaPierre. “I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.”

During an NRA Board of Directors meeting today in Irving, Texas, NRA President Charles Cotton reported that he accepted LaPierre’s resignation. According to the NRA, LaPierre cited health reasons as a reason for his decision. The NRA continues its defense of a lawsuit by the New York Attorney General, and LaPierre is an individual defendant in that action. It is well-known that the NYAG vowed to pursue the NRA when she was candidate for her office and, upon being elected, filed a lawsuit to dissolve the Association in August 2020. Trial proceedings in that case begin Monday.

In March 2022, the NRA scored a major legal victory, when a New York court dismissed the NYAG’s claims to dissolve the organization. The court issued an opinion that vindicates the NRA’s position: the NYAG’s effort to shut down the Association ran afoul of common sense, New York law, and the First Amendment. Since then, the NRA maintains that it is committed to good governance. With respect to the NYAG’s allegations, the NRA Board of Directors reports it has undertaken significant efforts to perform a self-evaluation, recommended termination of disgraced “insiders” and vendors who allegedly abused the Association, and accepted reimbursement, with interest, for alleged excess benefit transactions from LaPierre, as reported in public tax filings.

LaPierre said, “I am proud of the NRA’s advocacy in New York and, through it all, determination to defend the Second Amendment. I can assure you the NRA’s mission, programming, and fight for freedom have never been more secure. What makes the NRA unlike any other advocacy organization is the depth and experience of its professional team, the unwavering support of its members, and its fighting spirit. I have enormous confidence in our board of directors, executive leadership team, and my long-time colleague Andrew Arulanandam. Andrew knows every facet of this organization and has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with me in every arena imaginable. Andrew knows how to help the NRA win – he’s been one of the key authors of our playbook for decades.”

Cotton said, “On behalf of the NRA Board of Directors, I thank Wayne LaPierre for his service. Wayne has done as much to protect Second Amendment freedom as anyone. Wayne is a towering figure in the fight for constitutional freedom, but one of his other talents is equally important: he built an organization that is bigger than him. Under the direction of Andrew Arulanandam, the NRA will continue to thrive – with a renewed energy in our business operations and grassroots advocacy. Our future is bright and secure.”

On April 29 through May 1, 2011, the National Rifle Association (NRA) held its 140th Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The official attendance of 71,139 is the second largest NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits on record for the longest running shooting and hunting show in the world. With a record braking 559 exhibitors, the exhibit hall was packed with NRA members the entire weekend, many of whom traveled from all over the country to attend the event. Additionally, most seminars and workshops were standing room only.

In addition to the industry display booths, and in conjunction with the show in their own exhibit area, are displays of rare, historic and interesting collector firearms sponsored by NRA affiliated clubs. This year, there were 26 gun collector affiliates that participated with displays in this 51st year of awards competition. These gun collector groups take great pride in their displays in not only presenting weapons of rarity and historical note, but in the professional looking displays as well. While the NRA primarily focuses on shooting and hunting, they are well aware of the value of collecting and displaying significant weapons to the public to educate them on the history and the roll collecting plays within the gun culture. The competition between the affiliated clubs and their displays is intense.

In recognition of this, the NRA awards medals and certificates in a number of different categories. These include:

• Best Arms Awards – Each year a maximum of ten sterling silver numbered medallions are awarded to those collector arms judged best on display (and not necessarily will ten be awarded). Firearms are judged on their individual quality, condition, originality, collector importance and historical value.
• Certificates of Recognition – In 1981, the NRA Gun Collectors Committee authorized an award for unique displays of items related to firearms. Up to ten certificates are normally awarded in any one calendar year. An item which has received a Certificate of Recognition is not eligible for this award in subsequent years.
• Best Educational Display Awards – In 1962, the Gun Collectors Committee authorized the Best Educational Group Awards to recognize outstanding displays that creatively and effectively present a well-organized theme. The committee has divided the Best Educational Display Awards into four categories: Antique Arms (pre-1898), Classic Arms (1898, 50 years prior to the show), Contemporary Arms (50 years prior to the show to current) and Combined Arms (collections that represent a mixture of more than one category.) Emphasis is placed on recognition of those exhibits that best inform the NRA members and general public of the historical, technical and cultural aspects of firearms and related items.
• The National Firearms Museum’s Spirit of Collecting Award.
• The Best Miniature Arms Awards – Each year, since 1987, sterling silver numbered medallions have been awarded to those miniature arms judged best on display. In 1998, the Collectors Committee decided to heighten competition for this award by presenting only three medals each year.
• The NRA Gun Collectors Committee Trophy – This sterling silver bowl is a perpetual trophy awarded for the display judged best of each year’s Annual Meeting and Exhibits. The winning organization’s name is engraved on the trophy and the organization receives a miniature of the trophy to retain. This is the top honor and the award all strive for.

World renowned Thompson submachine gun collector and author Tracie Hill is the force behind bringing the validity and legitimacy of collecting and displaying historic machine guns to the forefront of the NRA community. For so many years, machine guns were taboo at the NRA show and considered “evil” within the NRA hierarchy and by many even within the general NRA membership. His efforts have truly enlightened all that collecting historic classic machine guns is just as legitimate as collecting any other historical firearm and he has done it in a most profound and professional way.

He broke the ice within the NRA and the NRA Collectors Committee with exhibits of the iconic Thompson submachine gun winning awards from the judges, and the public, and winning the coveted NRA Gun Collectors Committee Trophy and a number of Best Arms awards beginning in 1998. Under the sponsorships of several NRA affiliated organizations over the years that include the Thompson Collectors Association, the Dallas Arms Collectors and The American Thompson Association, he has been responsible for winning the coveted NRA Gun Collectors Committee Trophy six times.

With the success of having displayed, and winning multiple awards, for Thompson exhibits, it was decided to become ambassadors of the Class III world and bring to display some of the other wonderful and historic collections that exist. The first foray into other machine gun exhibits was in 2006 when the Thompson Collectors Association and the Dallas Arms Collectors sponsored a Maxim machine gun exhibit at the NRA show in Milwaukee that won the NRA Gun Collectors Trophy and a sterling silver Best Arm medallion for a Colt Model of 1904 Maxim. (See Small Arms Review, Vol. 9, No. 12, September 2006.)

In 2011 in Pittsburgh, under the sponsorship of The American Thompson Association, they presented an exhibit entitled The Machine Gun Designs of John Browning. The 30×10 feet exhibit featured a Colt Automatic Gun Model 1914 on a Marine Light Landing Carriage, a New England Westinghouse Model of 1917 water-cooled machine gun on a Model of 1917 tripod mounted on an M1 machine gun cart, a Winchester Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) Model of 1918, a Colt Browning M2 .50 caliber water-cooled mounted on an M3 anti-aircraft mount, a Buffalo Arms .30 caliber ANM2, an Inland Arms M1919A6, a GM/Frigidaire .50 caliber M2 HB on a M3 tripod and a twice-size cut-a-way of a .30 caliber Browning. Accompanying the display of the firearms were lighted display cases that contained tools, manuals, accoutrements, medals, awards and ephemera relating to the guns with explanatory signage for everything present. Additionally, a professionally printed 8-page handout describing all the weapons on display was freely distributed to all show attendees that expressed an interest. The response by those attending the show was overwhelmingly positive with many thanking us for bringing such a collection and making it available for close-up viewing.

These displays are not slapped together at the last minute. A full year of planning is required to establish what and how the display will be presented: what guns, accessories, accoutrements, historical information, signage, handouts, glass cases, lighting, overall theme, etc., all has to be thought through and decided upon well before the start of the show. This collection of Browning machine guns came from the Robert Segel collection with additional pieces from David Albert and Phil Askew. Helping set up the display and staffing it during the show answering questions and highlighting the historical aspects were David Albert, Richard Vensel, Jackie Vensel, Tom Davis, Phil Askew, Bill Yenglin, Robert Segel, Jennifer Segel, Tom Rasch, Tracie Hill and Thomas Hill. The human element and the truly enthusiastic volunteers set a high standard for that very much helped guarantee a successful presentation to the public.

The exhibit of The Machine Gun Designs of John Browning won the top honor of the NRA Gun Collectors Trophy and a sterling silver medallion for one of the Best Arms at the show for the New England Westinghouse Model of 1917 water-cooled machine gun, serial number 6, on a Model of 1917 tripod. The medallion is numbered and registered to the gun and stays forever with the gun should it ever be sold.

It should be noted that as sponsor of the exhibit, this is the third time The American Thompson Association has won the NRA Gun Collectors Trophy. But even more importantly, with the displays of Thompsons, Maxims and Browning machine guns over the last 13 years, machine gun collecting has been recognized and accepted within the main stream gun collecting fraternity as the historic, relevant and legitimate endeavor that it is with the stigma of being “evil” finally disappearing.

Miniature 1/3 Scale MG 34

Another machine gun also won an award at the 140th NRA Meetings and Exhibits in Pittsburgh. The Miniature Arms Society, a recognized NRA collector affiliated organization, had a display showing many fine examples of the art and craft of miniature arms makers. These are not toys but a testament to the skill of making actual working miniatures that fully represent their full-size brethren except in a diminutive size. The judges award just three sterling silver medallions each year to those miniatures that represent the height of the art. Robert Segel, a Miniature Arms Society member, submitted a fully functional 1/3 scale German MG 34 light machine gun on fully functional Lafette, one of only six made by MiniArt in Moscow, Russia in 2006, and won one of the Best Miniature Arms sterling silver medallions. The medallions are numbered and registered to that gun and if the gun is ever sold, the medallion must go with it.

Miniature Arms Society (MAS) president Wayne Driskill (left) and MAS member Robert Segel display the 1/3 scale MG 34 that was submitted for judging.

The fully functional MG 34 in 1/3 scale, one of only six made by MiniArt in Moscow, Russia in 2006 on fully functional Lafette is displayed with the numbered and registered NRA sterling silver medallion for Best Miniature Firearm. It is one of three awarded to miniature arms.

Tracie Hill, Robert Segel, Jennifer Segel and The American Thompson Association president Tom Davis accept the NRA Gun Collectors Trophy and silver bowl during the NRA Gun Collectors Committee awards presentation ceremonies. (Lloyd Hill)

Back at the display after the awards presentations, (left to right) Tracie Hill, Phil Askew, Tom Davis, Jennifer Segel, Robert Segel and David Albert proudly display the NRA Gun Collectors Trophy, silver bowl, and silver Best Arm medallion.

Robert Segel accepts a numbered and registered sterling silver medallion for one of the ten BEST ARMS on display during the awards ceremony for the New England Westinghouse Model of 1917 Browning water-cooled machine gun.

The NRA Convention 2011

This year marked the first in a series of events that will go down in history for the NFATCA. Just before the NRA convention in Philadelphia began, we received a last minute invitation to pony up and set up a booth in the main convention hall. All hands were called on deck and when the show opened a brand new booth background and posters were on display for the thousands of attendees at this year’s convention. You could not help but stop when an 8×10 foot display showed a happy NFA owner walking away from the range with a nice MG42 slung over his shoulder.

I have to say that in the more than a dozen years I have attended the SHOT Show, the NRA Convention was definitely on the top of the list of places the NFATCA wanted to have a presence. We had no idea how much interest could be generated in this type of show in discussing the Class 3 world. Not only were we greeted with open arms from Board members of the NRA, but literally hundreds of people stopped and asked many questions about NFA ownership. In the thirty years I have been in this business I was dumfounded at the interest and the enthusiasm the title one gun community gave to supporting an organization on the NFA front. Not only did we manage to enlist many new members but we generated so much interest in the NFA community that at one point crowds began to gather around to hear the many facets concerning NFA ownership. If there were ever an old wives tale about NFA ownership we heard every single one of them at this show.

It was obvious to all that supported our efforts at this year’s convention that we should have been there years before. Long gone are the days where we used to sit around and wonder why the NRA didn’t embrace the NFA community. Over the last year I have learned many things from the experienced leadership at the NRA and we have been given some guidance that proves, in this world of the love of the gun, we truly are in this together, fending off a barrage of regulations, and enduring an administration that has proven to be silent but deadly. I reference all of us to the many times in these articles where I have stated “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.” In these trying times, the NFATCA has seen the full support of not only the NRA but also the National Shooting Sports Foundation. These two organizations alone wield some important support for not only the title one gun community but are also deeply rooted in support of everything of interest to all of us from the importation of long lost M1 carbines and M1 Garands, but the interests of the NFA community as well. In 2010 and 2011 both the NRA and the NSSF have been at the table with the NFATCA battling many of the issues that we have been focused on together. We have truly united to protect all gun owners both large and small in so many issues in the past months it has become apparent why any organization in this arena must be smart, must be aggressive, yet savvy on how to approach any issue.

2011 marks the first year, but not the last, that we shall be present on the floor of the NRA convention. Thanks to our membership and those that have supported us throughout the last six years the NFATCA steps up again.

In the coming years we shall be prepared to provide a wealth of information about:

• Dispelling all of the tales about having to have a special license to own an NFA item,
• Dispelling the idea on having to give up all of your privacy rights when you purchase an NFA item,
• Dispelling the notion that an annual tax has to be paid for life on each NFA item you own,
• Details on the total process required to purchase an NFA item,
• Understanding the collectability and the desire to owning an NFA item, and
• NFA items as an investment

The list of questions and the answers to these questions were abundant at the NRA convention. Just about the time that you thought you have heard everything another wild idea would come out of the woodwork. I have to say that we had a blast dispelling the many rumors that have surfaced over the years. It also became apparent that trying to summarize all of these issues and provide the proper information to help set the truth straight on many of these issues would certainly be a task worthy of the NFATCA.

When all is said and done, we accomplished spreading a lot of good information on the ownership of NFA items in this great country of ours and the multiple levels of support that is available to support gun owners of all types. Of all of the accomplishments that we enjoyed at the convention one of the largest was to open the eyes of several hundred attendees that they could, and now have more than a casual interest in owning NFA items. They learned that this interest is fun, affordable and most importantly one of the safest investments available for collectors of all types.

We will look forward to joining the NRA convention in St. Louis in 2012 and once again having the opportunity to spread the word on the ease and interest of owning a variety of NFA weapons.

Come join us today and support the cause of NFA ownership for yourself and the many generations to come. Visit us today at www.nfatca.org.

There are a lot of publications that cover general firearms interests and there are many organizations that cover them as well. We have our niche, and for almost 15 years we have stayed true to it. I’ve always known that Small Arms Review had influence nationally and internationally, far beyond our NFA community, because so many of the top echelon of the firearms community are in our community as well as their regular groups. The end users and industry people, as well as the collector and shooter community, avidly read this magazine.

We’ve recently seen that the NFATCA has a similar effect. The NFATCA presence in the firearms community is one of solid, successful, influential activism. We discovered that self-knowledge as part of our work with the larger organizations that have been “guarding the gates” far longer than the NFATCA. We are on equal footing “downtown” with many of them, and the regulatory agencies we deal with know that and treat us as such.

Both of the above are signs of successful planning, hard work, integrity, and general stick-to-it attitudes. In the words of “Captain Jack Sparrow,” we also know the difference between the two things a man must know- what you can do, and what you can not. This comes from decades of shared experience. It’s not that we don’t work towards the big, popular goals; we just understand groundwork and timing. If we pick battles we can win and put our energy into them, and work in the long term towards the bigger picture, we have success for all and make the NFA community a better place one victory at a time. Then, when the opportunity is there, we can move to make paradigm shifts back to the Constitutional intent regarding firearms ownership.

As in the above, we know who we are, and who we are not. We’re not a community with enough draw to have 4 million members in our main organization. Yes, I’m speaking of the NRA. For over 150 years, they’ve been at the front. You can’t say “NRA” in the NFA community without a number of people bringing up the 1986 law that sacrificed machine gun manufacture for private ownership on the altar of other, larger concerns. Well, that’s what we have to deal with, it’s in the past haunting our future. Many of us are either still Life Members or have gone back to being Life Members in the NRA, and right about now, we’re going to be getting our ballots for the NRA Board of Directors.

The ballots will be sent to the NRA voting members in the March issues of the NRA’s magazines (American Rifleman, America’s 1st Freedom and The American Hunter). Ballots must be received by the NRA not later than 10 April 2011.

Essentially, if you have chosen to stay a voting member of the NRA, here’s your chance to make sure that the interests of the NFA community are represented on the NRA Board of Directors. I was unable to get a list of the Members of the Board that are up for re-election before press-time on this issue, but there is at least one person I know of who is up for re-election that we know is a friend to the NFA community, Mr. Allan D. Cors. I’ve known Allan for what seems like forever; he’s a regular Knob Creeker and SAR West attendee, and he and Tom Nelson, Bob Faris and that crowd of Emma Gees have been “tight” since the 1950s. I know he’s been on the NRA Board since around 1972, and he’s a still, quiet voice of guidance for many of us. His Curriculum Vitae regarding the NRA follows, but you’ll often find him, hands dirty, working on some rare machine gun or tank – enough said. Apply a similar view of other Board Members, and our community will be well represented -Dan

Mr. Allan D. Cors, McLean, Virginia:

• Current NRA Board member.
• Nominated by Nominating Committee.
• Public affairs consultant/lobbyist in Washington, DC.
• Trustee of the NRA Foundation serving seven years as president.
• Active competitive shooter, hunter and avid gun collector who wants to preserve Second Amendment rights for future generations of Americans.
• Principal advocate on NRA Board, along with Congressman John Dingell, for the establishment of NRA’s Political Action Committee.
• Since 1968, active in lobbying the U.S. House and Senate on firearms related issues.
• Member of NRA’s Gun Collectors, Legislative Policy, High Power Rifle and Audit committees.
• Board member of the Civilian Marksmanship Program.
• Selected as a firing member of Virginia State’s 6-man high power rifle team at Camp Perry National Matches, 1966-2004.
• Distinguished Rifleman with President’s 100 awards.
• Founder and Chairman of the National Museum of Americans in Wartime.
• President of the American Society of Arms Collectors.
• Endorsed by the NY State R&P Association.

Maryland AG: Rimfire Replicas Not Necessarily Assault Weapons

In a victory for marketers of popular .22 caliber replicas of centerfire military pattern rifles, Maryland’s Attorney General has issued a favorable opinion as to what constitutes a “copy” of a so-called “assault weapon.”

The issue was whether .22 caliber rimfire rifles that may cosmetically resemble firearms defined as “assault weapons” in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety Article § S-101, should be regulated under that section as “copies” of the therein listed center-fire models.

According to the AG’s office opinion, a copy must be similar “in its internal components and function to the designated weapon. Cosmetic similarity to an enumerated assault weapon alone would not bring a weapon within the meaning of the state’s “Regulated Firearms law.” The opinion also states that the Maryland State Police will make the initial decision as to whether the gun’s internal parts make it a “copy” of an “assault weapon.” The opinion was issued at the request of the state police with the active involvement of the Maryland Licensed Firearms Retailers Association.

The statutory definition of “regulated firearm” in Maryland’s Regulated Firearms law (mandating special sale regulations for so-called “assault weapons” or “regulated firearms”) specifies a list of designated assault weapons “or their copies.” The state police asked for an opinion on the meaning of the word “copies” in the law’s context.

For background, a person seeking to purchase, rent or transfer a regulated firearm in Maryland must submit an application for review and approval of the transaction by the Dept. of State Police. The statute defines “regulated firearm” to include two categories of firearms – handguns and “a firearm that is any of the following specific assault weapons or their copies, regardless of which company produced and manufactured that assault weapon…” referring to a long list of firearm makes and models. The statute does not further define the word “copies”.

The AG’s office noted that the list of “assault weapons” in the statute that could be the subject of a “copy” suggests that cosmetic similarity alone would not suffice. For example, three of the four firearms on the list are described by specific calibers. The specification of the caliber, the AG noted, indicates that an otherwise identical firearm of a different caliber would not be a regulated firearm.

More importantly, the AG found, the reference to “copies” of specific arms was intended to ensure that the requirements of the law could not be avoided simply by rebranding or superficially changing a named gun. This also suggests, the AG found, that “copies” was intended to relate to components and function; not simply appearance. “Interpreting ‘copy’ to include any firearm that merely looked like one of the enumerated firearms would run contrary to the choices made by the legislature,” the AG wrote.

“Consistent with the General Assembly’s apparent intent to create a definition with an eye toward the function of the weapon, a ‘copy’ would include a firearm whose internal components and function, necessary to the operation of the firearm, are similar to those of one of the specifically enumerated assault weapons. As the agency charged with administering the regulated firearms law, the Dept. of State Police must make that assessment,” the AG concluded. The Maryland State Police have since formed a committee to study the issue.

New Rule Gives ATF Director Ultimate Decision-Making Authority in FFL Matters

The Bureau of ATF&E has initiated a ruling which provides ATF headquarters oversight of all administrative actions prior to notices being sent to the licensee. The ruling establishes the final approval authority for denial of applications for licenses, suspension or revocation of licenses, or imposition of civil fines.

The rule adopted amends the regulations of ATF to delegate to the Director of ATF the authority to serve as the deciding official regarding the denial, suspension, imposition of a fine, or revocation of FFLs. The rule allows the ATF Director to delegate to another ATF official the authority to decide a revocation or denial matter. Such flexibility, ATF says, is intended to allow ATF to more efficiently conduct denial, suspension or revocation hearings, and make the determination whether to impose a civil fine. The rule is expected to give ATF the ability to ensure consistency in decision-making and to address case backlogs, the agency says.

The regulations in Subpart E of Part 478, §§478.71-78, relate to proceedings involving federal firearms licensees, including the denial, suspension, and revocation of a license. The Dept. of Justice published an interim rule with request for comments at 74 FR 1875 on January 14, 2009 with the comment period ending April 14, 2009. The new rule essentially amends ATF’s regulations to re-designate the ATF Director, as opposed to the Director of Industry Operations (DIO), as the deciding official in matters dealing with the denial, suspension or revocation of federal firearms licenses, and the imposition of a civil fine. The ruling allows the Director to re-delegate this authority though issuance of a delegation order, not through regulation.

ATF contends this approach is consistent with other regulations in Part 478. It cites, for example, § 478.144 provides that the Director is the deciding authority with respect to applications for relief from firearms disabilities. Further, ATF says these changes to the decision-making and related delegation authority were the only substantial changes made by the interim rule. All other aspects of the ATF processes, including notice and review provisions, remain the same.

In response to the aforementioned comment period, ATF received three comments. Two were said to support the interim regulations, while a third expressed opposition. The opposing commenter expressed a concern that under the interim regulations the Director’s decision is not subject to review.

According to ATF, this opposing commenter wrote: “The only other times in the state of American government, aside from the Presidency, where one person is afforded the opportunity to make decisions affecting others without a system of checks and balances is by a judge. Even then, there is an appeals process by which this one individual’s interpretation of legal circumstances may be reviewed.

“…To afford the director of a government agency, or any other appointed individual for that matter, the ability to ‘legislate’ freely as he deems necessary regarding the denial, suspension, or revocation of a federally issued license seems not only unconstitutional, but potentially unethical if this one man’s ruling is subject to a political agenda.”

ATF’s response to this dissenting commenter, written by James P. Ficaretta, ATF Enforcement Programs and Services, and published in the Federal Register, begins by stating that the due process system of checks and balances is already incorporated into the procedures for denying or suspending FFLs. Prior to any adverse decision, ATF notes, the agency must provide notice to the affected applicant or license holder and provide that person with an opportunity to present evidence in a hearing.

Before the interim rule became effective, the DIO for each field division had the authority to issue the final decision. The interim rule vests this same authority to issue a final decision in the ATF Director. The Director may, in turn, delegate that authority to headquarters officials, field officials, or some combination thereof.

ATF further details that under 18 U.S.C. 923(f), a denied applicant still has the opportunity for federal court review of the decision. The court could overrule ATF’s decision in a case. ATF says the rule change simply elevates final decision-making authority within the ATF to the Director.

Kenneth E. Melson, ATF’s Deputy Director, issued a statement saying, “ATF, in an effort to ensure consistency within the FFL community, initiated the ruling which provides ATF headquarters oversight of all administrative actions prior to notices being sent to the licensee.”

Copies of the interim rule, the comment received and the final rule are available for public inspection by appointment during business hours at the ATF Reading Room, Room 1E-063, 99 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20226, Tel: (202) 648-7080.

False Rumors on U.N. Small Arms Treaty

False rumors are circulating on the Internet to the effect that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has signed a U.N. small arms treaty. Clinton has not signed any such treaty as no such treaty has yet been negotiated.

The U.N. Arms Trade Treaty will be drafted sometime before now and 2012, and even if signed, would not take effect in the U.S. until it was ratified by the Senate.

All that has happened so far is that the Obama Administration has announced its support for the treaty. The U.N. claims that guns used in armed conflicts cause 300,000 deaths worldwide annually. The solution it offers to keep rebels from getting guns is to make the global arms pool smaller through government action. Proposed is that signatory countries be required to “prevent, combat and eradicate” various classes of firearms to undermine “the illicit trade in small arms.” Inherent in this would be confiscation of personally-held firearms. The U.N. treaty will lead to more American gun control.

“After the treaty is approved and it comes into force, you will find that it has this implication or that implication and it requires the congress to adopt some measure that restricts ownership of firearms,” former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John R. Bolton warns.

“The Obama Administration knows it cannot obtain this kind of legislation purely in a domestic context. They will use an international agreement as an excuse to get domestically what they couldn’t otherwise,” Bolton concludes.

Kahr Arms Acquires Magnum Research

Kahr Arms, the producer of quality, compact pistols, has announced its purchase of Minnesota-based firearms manufacturer, Magnum Research, Inc., best known for its Desert Eagle pistol. This latest acquisition follows up on Kahr’s buy of Auto-Ordnance some years ago, producer of Thompson submachine gun replicas in semi-auto.

Magnum Research, Inc. was founded in 1979 and its current line includes: Desert Eagle pistol in .50 AE, .44 Magnum and .357 Magnum; Baby Desert Eagle “Fast Action” pistol 9mm and .40 S&W; Desert Eagle 1911; Micro Desert Eagle in .380 ACP; BFR revolvers in .44 Mag., .45LC/.410 and .45-70, Mountain Eagle MAGNUM LITE rifle in .22-250, .223, .30-06, .280 and 7mm; and the MAGNUM LITE rifle in .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 MACH-2.

NRA’s Cox Reviews Achievements of Past Decade

During the 2010 NRA’s Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Charlotte, North Carolina, Chris W. Cox, Executive Director of the NRA’s lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action, reviewed accomplishments made for the right to keep and bear arms in an address to the NRA membership.

Noting that while the clock cannot be turned back on Election Day 2008, ten years ago, almost to the day, NRA President Charlton Heston stood in Charlotte and called on NRA members to Vote Freedom First!

Following Heston’s advice, voters on Election Day 2000 stopped Al Gore and the vote later enabled the confirmation of Attorney General John Ashcroft who changed the position of the federal government in support of the Second Amendment as an individual right. Just the year before, Bill Clinton’s Justice Department had said there was no individual right to arms. In 2002, voters elected a Congress that let Bill Clinton’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” expire. By voting freedom first in 2004, Americans kept John Kerry out of the White House, kicked Tom Daschle out as Senate Majority Leader and ended seven years of roadblocks to give lawsuit protection to the firearms industry.

One vote for President Bush secured two pro-gun votes on the U.S. Supreme Court through the confirmations of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sam Alito. This resulted in the Heller decision confirming the right to keep and bear arms.

Cox additionally noted that right-to-carry laws have been improved in seven states so far this year. Calling self-defense reform, real health care reform, Cox detailed:

• Castle Doctrines are in effect in 24 states;
• Laws prohibiting Katrina-type gun confiscations have been passed in 28 states; and
• Reciprocity is spreaing across the country.

The author publishes two of the small arms industry’s most widely read trade newsletters. The International Firearms Trade covers the world firearms scene, and The New Firearms Business covers the domestic market. Visit www.FirearmsGroup.com. He may be reached at: FirearmsB@aol.com.

The 137th National Rifle Association Annual Meetings & Exhibits were held in Louisville, Kentucky on May 16-18, 2008. Louisville provided a wonderful venue for the largest convention ever hosted by the city. Firearm and accessory vendors assembled for the weekend exhibits at the Louisville Expo Center to display their wares in a setting similar to the S.H.O.T. Show. Since 1960, the NRA has provided space at the exhibits for collector displays, where affiliated clubs may apply to feature their firearms and related material for public viewing.

Members of The American Thompson Association (TATA) participated in the event, and assembled a historic display that will surely be remembered for many years to come. With the support of the Berrien County, Michigan Sheriff’s Department, TATA displayed the two notorious Colt Thompsons used in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre on February 14, 1929.

The effort focused upon Dr. Calvin Goddard’s crime scene investigative techniques, and respectfully presented the two Thompsons. Dr. Goddard had previously worked on the Sacco & Vanzetti case of the late 1920s, where he established some of his forensic principles. Immediately following the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Dr. Goddard’s expertise was sought to assemble a crime lab at Northwestern University in Chicago to enable investigation of the case. It was the massacre of the century, purported to have been initiated by gangster heavyweight Al Capone, and law enforcement wanted to solve it quickly. As a result of the murders, and the subsequent investigation, Dr. Goddard pioneered many standard forensic methods used by law enforcement, including acid etching to reveal a ground off serial number on Thompson #7580, as well as rifling, cartridge case, and primer marking forensics.

Colt Thompsons serial number 2347 (Model of 1921A), and serial number 7580 (Model of 1921AC), which were recovered from a Berrien County hideout of “Killer” Fred Burke in December 1929 were featured on display. Also included on display were many artifacts, including one of three bullet proof vests recovered from Burke’s weapons cache, two bricks from the wall of the building where the murders occurred, an original full box of ammo from the same lot as used in the killings, various drums and magazines from the hideout, as well as several Goddard ballistic test artifacts.

The American Thompson Association was also fortunate to obtain the support of the Newark, Ohio Police Department, who lent their ballistic comparison microscope, which appeared on interactive display to the public. The microscope demonstrated some freshly spent cartridge casings from Colt Thompson #7580, and attendees could examine the markings left by the weapon on the casings as its own, distinctive fingerprint. The casings could also be compared to sample photos from the report produced by Goddard, showing the same markings.

The two Thompsons on display were undoubtedly the best documented firearms in the entire exhibit hall. Their provenance was apparent, as they could be spotted in several period photographs on display, and their descriptions and involvement in the murders were forensically proven in Goddard’s investigative report. It should also be noted that the deeds performed by gangsters with the two Thompsons drove much of the anti-machine gun sentiment of the time, and more than likely inspired passing of the National Firearms Act of 1934, therefore affecting many of our actions today. The Thompsons are truly historic artifacts for many reasons, and this was the first time they appeared to such a large audience, with over 71,000 attendees. Some fortunate audience members received unique souvenirs from the display; actual bullets and shell casings with documentation indicating they were fired through one of the SVDM Thompsons. These were highly sought mementos, and did not last long.

Goddard’s work was presented to a Coroner’s Jury to account for the seventy .45 ACP shell casings, and two “Climax” Brand 12-gauge shotgun shells found at the scene. All ammunition used was manufactured by the U.S. Cartridge Company. At the time he presented the evidence, the weapons had not been recovered. Goddard was able to determine the killings were performed by two different Thompson Model of 1921 submachine guns; one emptying an “L” drum of 50 rounds (later determined to be #2347), and one presumably emptying 20 rounds out of an “XX” magazine (later determined to be #7580). There were also two shotgun rounds fired from the same pump or automatic shotgun, probably as a “coup de grace” to Reinhardt Schwimmer, an optician by profession, and a gangster “groupie” who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time on that fateful day.

It is important to note that no one was ever prosecuted for involvement in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Captured in 1931, Fred Burke was jailed for life for the murder of police officer Charles Skelly of the St. Joseph, Michigan Police Department. Burke died in prison of a heart attack in 1940.

As a result of the amazing display, and the provenance of the Colt Thompsons, each Thompson was awarded a silver “Best Arms” medal by the NRA. To top it off, the overall effort won the 2008 “Best Display” award, which is a perpetual silver cup that is engraved with the winner each year. Very significantly, this was the first time that all 11 NRA judges unanimously chose one display to receive the top honor. Also awarded was a certificate of recognition for the accoutrements on display from Dr. Goddard, including pictures from his report, and boxes of labeled test bullets from his laboratory.

The display was produced through the efforts of several individuals. First of all, Lt. Mike Kline, who is the caretaker of the SVDM Thompsons in Berrien County, Michigan, and also Sheriff L. Paul Bailey supported the project. Tracie Hill, President of TATA, put together the incredible display, and coordinated the club’s involvement. Many tireless hours were spent by Tracie to make it possible, and his experience with previously designed firearms displays proved invaluable. Also critical was Chuck Schauer, whose display at the 2006 TATA Show & Shoot inspired this one. Mr. Schauer initiated the involvement of Berrien County, without whom the SVDM Thompsons would never have been possible to display. Also, Bill Helmer, author of the 1969 classic Thompson narrative, The Gun That Made The Twenties Roar, contributed artifacts and much of the historical account that was featured in the program handout that accompanied the display. Many other TATA members helped with construction, and staffed the display while providing historical tutelage to those who viewed it on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Much fun was had by all who participated from the club, and countless people were amazed and grateful for the opportunity to view such historic firearms presented in an interactive manner. The NRA provides an unbeatable collector display forum, and attending their annual events held in cities around the country is highly recommended. Nowhere else can one see so many firearm displays, vendor exhibits, along with Ted Nugent’s enthusiastic support of the second amendment, followed by his amazing guitar rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” all in the same day. The next NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits will be held in Phoenix, AZ, May 15-19, 2009.

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act proved the basis for dismissal of the notorious lawsuit by the City of New York against the firearms industry. This suit by the city and its mayor, billionaire Michael Bloomberg, sought to hold manufacturers responsible for the criminal misuse of firearms.

“The dismissal of this bogus lawsuit against America’s firearm industry is an important victory,” declared Chris W. Cox, executive director for the National Rifle Association (NRA). “New York City’s lawsuit was a politically motivated attack by an anti-gun mayor to bankrupt a lawful industry.”

The Manhattan-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which NRA helped pass into law in 2005, is constitutional and that Judge Jack B. Weinstein erroneously interpreted that law in his district court ruling allowing the suit to proceed. Similar suits have been dismissed in the Seventh Circuit, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and in other courts throughout the country.

“We think Congress clearly intended to protect from vicarious liability members of the firearms industry who engage in the ‘lawful design, manufacture, marketing, distribution, importation, or sale’ of firearms,” noted Judge Robert J. Miner, writing for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in dismissing the suit.

This decision represents another setback to Mayor Bloomberg, who has also been publicly rebuked by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for his unlawful “sting” operations against firearm retailers in several states.

Retailer Stands Alone Against NYC

While the suit filed by New York City against firearms manufacturers has been dismissed, the city is still suing individual retailers. With the brokering of a settlement between two Georgia firearms retailers and New York City in Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2006 suit against them, there now remains a single defendant in a lawsuit resulting from the infamous and spurious sting operations conducted by the city against so-called “rogue gun dealers.”

That defendant is Smyrna, Georgia based Adventure Outdoors, which has not only refused to enter into a settlement agreement (which would entail allowing a representative of New York City to monitor its sales) but has filed a defamation suit against Bloomberg.

The city had sent out private investigators several years ago to a variety of firearms retailers (both in New York and other states) and deliberately attempted to induce them through trickery to complete firearms sales to the investigators which could be construed as being so-called “strawman transactions.” The “investigations” resulted in the city filing two federal lawsuits against some 27 gun shops in 2006.

The city claimed it had identified the owners of the 27 shops as “rogues” who cared more about making money than public safety and alleged that firearms sold by these shops were a frequent source of guns that were used to commit crimes in New York City. The lawsuit claims 21 guns sold at Adventure Outdoors were used during the commission of a crime in New York City between 1994 and 2001.

The lawyer for Adventure Outdoors’ co-owner, Jay Wallace, says his client will not settle with Bloomberg. He told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his client “will go as far as to hock his car and his shop and all the guns in it to see this case through.”

“This guy has complete moral conviction that he did not do anything wrong,” the lawyer continued. “He feels he has been wronged, and he’s going to show the jury that New York City is wrong. They sued the wrong guy.” At SAR presstime, the case was scheduled to go to trial last spring. The city has pulled strings to steer the trial to be heard in the courtroom of the notorious anti-gun activist, Judge Jack B. Weinstein.

A gun shop in Virginia and another in South Carolina, who are also contesting the city’s claims, are slated to have their cases heard in federal court this fall when the second case is scheduled for trial.

The cases are embarrassing to ATF as New York City attempts to appropriate its regulatory authority – and it does so in a Draconian manner, much worse than ATF’s now well-known “zero tolerance policy” for record-keeping errors by licensees.

The gun shops that settled with the city (even those in states other than New York) had to agree to have their store operations monitored for three years by a “special master” appointed to the position and paid by New York City. The “master” reviews records and inventory, is permitted to videotape sales activities and to send in “undercover customers” to attempt straw purchases. Store employees are given enhanced training on making legal firearms sales, and identifying straw purchasers.

In a side note, soon after Bloomberg filed his original series of suits against the retailers in 2006, ATF said it would investigate the legality of his sting investigation, which was conducted by non-law enforcement personnel. To date, nothing has been forthcoming from ATF on the issue.

Those retailers who have settled their cases were said to have done so for financial reasons as they didn’t have the financial resources to match those of the New York City government.

Two months after the city filed its first lawsuit, Adventure Outdoors filed a $400 million defamation suit in federal court in Atlanta against the city and Bloomberg. The store’s attorney, former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr, took issue with the city’s allegation that his client is a “rogue gun dealer.” Barr commented, “These are outrageous statements, they are false, they are defamatory and they are slanderous and that is what we have alleged in our lawsuit.”

A judge has cleared the way for Adventure Outdoors tortuous interference with business claim and the case is pending. Lawyers for Bloomberg unsuccessfully attempted to have the case heard in New York City (where it probably would have been steered into Weinberg’s courtroom). It will be heard in Georgia.

Wallace estimates that he will incur legal costs of at least $400,000 in defending and prosecuting the two actions. He has received a $5,000 contribution from the Second Amendment Foundation, $1,000 from the National Rifle Association and $2,500 from a fellow Georgia firearms retailer, Chuck’s Gun & Pawn of Warner Robins, GA.

A fund has been started to help finance the actions. Non-tax deductible contributions may be sent to: Bloomberg Fight Back Fund, 630 Windy Hill Road, Smyrna, GA 30080.

Wal-Mart to Video Tape Gun Buyers

Wal-Mart recently joined New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a gathering of Bloomberg’s anti-gun group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, to announce a series of changes to the way in which Wal-Mart handles firearm transactions.

At the press event, J.P. Suarez, chief compliance officer for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., said: “The costs are, we think, part of what it takes to be responsible.” Suarez also added, “This is not a signal that we’re getting out of firearms.”

Once these changes are up and running, firearm purchases at Wal-Mart will involve a video record of the sale, which the store will keep on file – effectively creating a video database of gun purchasers. In addition, Wal-Mart announced that its employees will be given discretion to deny firearms purchases to anyone who has had a firearm traced by BATFE for any reason – including those who have had a firearm stolen and later used in criminal activity.

Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President, said, “I view it as a public relations stunt that stigmatizes law-abiding firearms purchasers exercising their constitutional freedoms. I honestly think it’s a corporation trying to curry favor with politicians as opposed to doing anything meaningful about stopping crime.”

RZM Imports Employee Admits Stealing $816,129 from Company

A former employee of RZM Imports, Inc., the large Southbury, Connecticut-based marketer of World War Two military and firearms books, magazines, videos, etc., has pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of income tax evasion.

According to documents filed with the U.S. District Court and statements made in court, Leslie Tavolacci, 56, a part-time employee of RZM Imports, as part of her duties opened and sorted incoming mail, and then deposited checks received by RZM from customers into the company’s bank account. In pleading guilty, Tavolacci admitted that she unlawfully took a large number of checks payable to her employer and deposited them into other checking accounts she had opened under the RZM Imports, Inc. name. She then withdrew the money from these accounts, usually using bank debit cards, and used the funds for her own use and enrichment. Through this scheme, she was alleged to have embezzled approximately $816,129 between 1997 and 2004.

As a result of her guilty plea, Tavolacci faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years and a fine of up to $350,000.

FNH Doubles Web Site Traffic

Traffic to the FNH USA website (www.FNHUSA.com) doubled recently after enhancements were made, the firm says. These include an interactive dealer locator, downloadable wallpapers and logos, a photo gallery, product reviews and video content.

Sturm, Ruger Wins Prisons Contract

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. announces that it has been awarded a 5-year requirements contract for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The contract is for 1,750 9mm pistols, with the potential to replace up to 3,000 pistols for the federal prison system. The pistols to be supplied are based on the Ruger KP95 models. The pistols are double-action only, incorporate a stainless steel slide, and feature a custom polymer composite frame with a Picatinny rail.

The Ruger pistols to be supplied under this contract will be manufactured in the company’s Prescott, Arizona manufacturing facility over the next five years.

The author publishes two of the small arms industry’s most widely read trade newsletters. The International Firearms Trade covers the world firearms scene, and The New Firearms Business covers the domestic market. Visit www.FirearmsGroup.com. He may be reached at: FirearmsB@aol.com.

By Dan Shea

NRA Convention- a quick glimpse…

The 129th Annual NRA Convention was held in Charlotte, NC on May 19th through 22nd of the year 2000. SAR went South to cover it, and to see if we could bring you some highlights.

NRA President Charlton Heston hoisted a rifle into the air, and made a “From My Cold Dead Hands” challenge to US Vice President Al Gore. Thank you, Mr. Heston. The more that we stand tall, the more that everyone is liable to stand together with us in the November Presidential Election, so that we can turn around the extremist political agenda of “Clinton-Gore”. I only wish it had been an AR-15 in Heston’s hands. While the press would paint that as “Extremist”, the grass roots- the people who do the footwork to get out the vote, would have been even more energized. I believe it was enough for him to do what he did, and I think his personal character was suited to how he accomplished it. President Heston announced that he felt called to stick around to fight Al Gore and his cronies, and Heston was re-elected to do that job. God Bless, President Heston- let’s stand tall for freedom!

If the liberal media can call US Attorney General Janet Reno “General Reno”, then we can certainly refer to NRA President Charlton Heston as “President Heston”. It’s been too long since there was anyone I felt like calling “Mr. President”, anyway.

There was some political infighting at the Convention- but that was internal politics, I am here to say that it is staying internal as far as this writer is concerned. I am an advocacy journalist for a return to a safer, saner America, and that agenda will NOT be accomplished if the dirty laundry is all we talk about- that is how the anti-Second Amendment crowd tries to divide us so we lose sight of the big picture. Let’s talk about defeating our common enemies, and returning this country to greatness.

The promised protesters never really materialized- police had been prepared for problems, but none really appeared. Several times I was sent outside by booth-bound exhibitors to bring back some anti Second Amendment protesters, but each time I failed to find them. Jesse at the J&T Distributing booth had a standing order for “Two protesters with mustard”, but he had to settle for convention rations.

Scuttlebutt from many importers and other licensees was of Federal government agencies starting to be more “User friendly”, as in doing their jobs instead of marching to the distant drum of the Clintonista’s anti Constitutional agenda. Conjecture was made that there might be some people sniffing a sea change in the air- that 2001 might bring a release from being under the activist thumb of the anti-Second Amendment fellow travelers in Clinton’s State Department. Your faithful correspondent hopes this is true- I would very much like to see the loyal civil servants in the nation’s capitol unrestrained by the perverse political agenda of the Clinton-Gore cabal, and able once again to do their jobs as the elected Congress of the United States has directed.

Some highlights of the NRA convention- these are just items of note to those with an interest in military small arms- that is, SAR’s readers:

Soldier of Fortune had an awards ceremony on Friday morning, with Robert K. Brown presenting such notables as Val Forgette and Jeff Cooper with achievement awards, and numerous awards recognizing people for their courage against the anti-Second Amendment forces. The SOF Mystery Award went to Smith & Wesson for selling out the ideals of their founders and leading the Clinton Administration in their gun control efforts. The award was covered with a garbage bag, and consisted of a mounted, stuffed Boar’s Butt. The murmurs of approval in the crowd indicated that this award was well deserved. For a complete list of the awards go to www.sofmag.com

Armalite had the new AR-50 out but confided in us that they were coming out with a new AR-30 in .308. .300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua, and possibly 30.06. The AR10-T should be available in 6.5-284 and 6.5/08 as well www.armalite.com 309-944-6939

Barrett Firearms reports that orders are rolling along, and the Army has adopted the Model 95 as the XM107, with an order to exceed 2000 pieces. The USMC designation 82-A3 is the Barrett adopted into the “Norwegian” configuration; flat rail, quick release bipod, set screw muzzle brake and rear monopod. www.barrettrifles.com 615-896-2938

Buffer Technologies had their new UMP/UMC carbine “Mag-Cinch” clamp- very light weight, inexpensive, and sturdy. It holds two mags together every bit as well as the heavier more expensive clamps I have seen, and even HK had one on the rifle at their booth! www.buffertech.com or 573-634-8529

Bushmaster was crowing (Expectedly so) about the new DCM program of subsidized DCM rifles they are involved with. Outstanding coup for Bushmaster, and well deserved in my view- for more info on this program, go to www.odcmp.com or www.bushmaster.com 1-800-998-SWAT. They also had a new 10 rd mag that was looking reliable and sturdy.

C-More Sights– after some discussion with owner Ira Kay, the “Stuff under the table” came out. He has an AR15 Carbine free floating rail system called the “Quadrail” which is outstanding- Picatinny on four sides, with a solid vibration resistant mount to the upper. Nice stuff. Every bit as interesting, and pertinent to the “M4 equation”, was C-More’s new Tactical Elite 1+5×24 30mm scope. At first I thought Ira was talking about an old Chicago song, but after viewing it I got the message- this scope replaces an ACOG, the mini-Reflex, and the Aimpoint from the M4 system, in one lightweight unit. Watch for a LOT more on this subject. www.cmore.com 703-361-2663

Cole Distributing USGI M14 mags- new for $41.95, used for $31.95, and he had collector mags- in the wrap! Pretty exciting, and he has a new line by Indep that includes 7.65 Arg, 7.5 Mas, 7.5 Swiss, and next year 7.7 Jap Arisaka and 6.5 Jap. www.cole-distributing.com 270-622-3569

Compasseco has a great airgun line, but they also have the new Air Force Talon in 22 cal air with 1000 fps. This was featured in the old Machine Gun News once, and the owner is now working on an integrally suppressed version! www.compasseco.com 1-800-726-1696

Dillon Precision was breaking out a new Super 1050 that will utilize up to 30.06 brass. This should be a real winner for Dillon- a good press to begin with, the 1050 having the capability of doing 308 will come in real handy for the shooters out there. www.dillonprecision.com 800-762-3845

Glock – yes, the Glock 36 was there. Yes, I took it apart. Yes, I am ordering one. 6+1 45 acp, slimmed down, real nice. Glock did some internal re-design, but I couldn’t nail all the changes down. Rest assured when it hits here, SAR will run it through the paces. My opinion- this model will make a difference.

GunGames is back! Looking pretty good, too. For those who missed it, or want more info, email Jocelyn@thebackup.com or call 800-771-3020

HK indicated that the new 4.6x30mm PDW will be available in about 18 months, and that their Fiftieth Anniversary Coin is now available on the HK Collectables website- and only there, until the end of this year. It’s about ten bucks, and looks impressive. www.hecklerkoch-usa.com

InterOrdnance of America LP was set up with some real interesting parts sets- HK21, MG42, MG3 Drums, Uzi, and Mpi69 were a few of the features. Real nice stuff. www.inter-ordnance.com 704-225-8843

J&T Distributing is one of the largest distributors of Knight’s Armament Co RAS systems, and had one for the HK G36 and SL8 rifles, as well as the new ATM sights they are selling. Nice product line at the show, very popular booth. www.jtdistributing.com or 1-888-736-7725 orders

Kahr Arms acquired the Auto-Ordnance name, and now has the 1927A1 semi automatic Thompson in full production, as well as an M1 version, and a “Commando” that is a 1927A1 with a black finish on the stock and forend. They have 10 rd politically correct drum mags as well. www.kahr.com 508-791-6375

Olympic Arms broke out their new titanium AR15 receivers- lots of interest there, watch SAR for a test run on this. They also had the new Durachrome finish for bolts and bores, as well as the Maxhard process finish on receivers and barrels. Very impressive. www.olyarms.com 360-459-7940

Second Amendment Foundation noted that their annual Gun Rights Policy Conference is in Washington DC on September 29,30 and Oct 1 of this year. Good timing. The theme is “Target Victory”. I like it already, and, it’s free, with a free lunch supplied. Go there. www.saf.org 1-800-426-4302

Shotgun News gave away an IMA mfg 1910 Russian Maxim non firing replica gun, to the thrill of the crowd. Nice piece, too. I did hear many members of the crowd call it a “Gatling Gun” but they have to be forgiven, not having SAR as a guide in their lives. I gave some SAR’s out to the “Gat” guys, and they were most appreciative- and will probably now speak with some authority on the wonderful “1910 Russian Maxim on Sokolov mount” they saw at the convention. Smiles all around!

Wilson Combat presented a new AR15 front sling/ flashlight mount that was user friendly- clamps on the front sight post. I liked this every bit as much as their other products- and it seemed to be a hit with all that looked it over. 1-800-955-4856