NRA News at SHOT Show With Ted Nugent

From last week’s SHOT Show 2012 in Las Vegas, Cam Edwards talks to Ted Nugent

Facts Wrong on SHOT Show

We hate to call out someone who clearly had a good time at SHOT Show, but we felt it necessary to do. Writing for Chicago Now, Don Dziedzina offered a photo essay titled “There’s a gun for everyone,” and stated some misleading information in his original opening:

I attended the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas last week. This is the largest trade show in the world and it’s been happening now for 75 years.

We hated to rain on his parade but the facts didn’t add up. Fortunately we contacted him and he has since corrected the information. But it got us thinking… might other people think SHOT Show is the biggest. So here are the facts:

Don admitted he misread something that said 75 years – but there was no SHOT Show in 1937, nor should anyone expect that SHOT Show would have continued from 1942-1946. The first SHOT Show was actually held in 1979 in St. Louis. It has also taken place in San Francisco (that must have been interesting), as well as Atlanta, Dallas and New Orleans. The other “home” of the show in recent years has been Orlando, Florida. But for the next two years at least SHOT Show will be held at the Sands Expo.

As for size of the show SHOT Show is very big, but it is far from the largest trade show out there. The truth is that the Sands Expo Center, which opened in 1990, is only the second largest convention center in Las Vegas. It connects to the Venetian and Palazzo hotels, and there are plans to further expand the complex. But even with all this space, the Sands typically serves as overflow for conventions that outgrow the even larger Las Vegas Convention Center.

What Don probably read, which was stated on the SHOT Show official website was:

SHOT Show is the world’s largest trade show and conference for all professionals involved with the shooting sports, hunting and law enforcement industries.

The Consumer Electronic Shows, which was held a week prior to SHOT Show, used space in the Sands Expo Center as well as the Las Vegas Convention Center – plus had companies with semi-official events taking place around the city. In 2011 SHOT Show had some 60,000 attendees whereas CES had 140,000 in attendance, and nearly triple the floor space. (Source: Trade Show News Network)

Additionally, the now defunct COMDEX trade show, which was held in Las Vegas, typically had as many as 200,000 attendees – the current record holder for most attended trade show in the United States.

This doesn’t diminish the significance of SHOT Show by any means, but facts are facts. Still, consider that this year saw nearly 65,000 attendees, including nearly 2,500 members of the press and that’s a very big show. Next year we hope to see Don Dziedzina back at the show.

AINonline Gives Kudos to Shooting Industry Groups

Aviation news site AINoline offered a blog post titled “A Tale of Two Industries,” and while it mostly tried to show the differences between the firearms industry and Professional Aviation Maintenance Association, it offered some very kind words about SHOT Show – words he rest of the media should hear.

While it started out by claiming that the firearms industry was full of “politically incorrect groups,” it added “yet you couldn’t meet a nicer, friendlier or more supportive group of people.” The post then offered this thought:

The NRA, NSSF and other special-interest groups support one another with nary a thought of being competitive. Several times I talked with vendors about a product or service and was referred to a competitor they thought would be more in-line with what I was looking for. Not since the movie Miracle on 34th Street, when Macy’s referred people to Gimbels—putting customer needs ahead of their own—have I seen such cooperation and support among competitors. There is a true “all for one and one for all” spirit.

This is hardly how much of the mainstream media sees the NRA or NSSF – which often label both as being part of the nefarious “merchants of death.” So it is nice to see a non-firearms related outlet put the industry in a good light for a change.

SHOT Show 2012: NRA CEO & EVP Wayne LaPierre

Ginny Simone talks to National Rifle Association Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre.

SHOT Show Recap – Sights From Las Vegas

Another year, another great SHOT Show. Here is a recap of some of the best sights from the 2012 SHOT Show. (Click images for a closer view) Read more

SHOT Show Recap: GSG StG44

There was no shortage of firearms at this week’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas, and there certainly were many that turned heads. But our favorite by far was the GSG (German Sports Guns) GSG StG 44, a modern recreation of the infamous first “assault rifle.” This version, which will be available later this spring, is chambered in .22LR, so it will be ready for the range, cheap to shoot and yet will still look menacing. Why settle for a mere Airsoft or replica when you can buy this one that can be used for some good old .22 shooting? Additional photos after the jump

SHOT SHOW 2012: Under Armor Controls Smells

There is no denying that when heading to the great outdoors most people will come back home smelling worse for it. This is part of the outdoor experience, and in a way if you don’t smell bad you probably didn’t do enough. That’s true for fitness, but sometimes a strong scent won’t just have your loved one sending you to the shower, for hunters it can keep the prey away.

At SHOT Show in Las Vegas Under Armor, a leader in athletic performance apparel are introducing new Zeolite-based UA Scent Control Technology in its 2012 Whitetail Collection. This helps hunters remain undetected when in the field via a silver anti-microbial that promises to last 10 times longer than commonly used carbon-based technologies. There is a saying that some predators can smell fear, but now the hunted won’t smell the hunters!

SHOT Show 2012: Writing in the Rain

In this high-tech era with texting, email and video chat sometimes the older technology gets left behind. But there are still times when you might need to write something down on actual real paper. But try taking that paper out in the rain, or even on a run or bike ride where sweat will get it wet, and you end up with soaked pulp. Water and paper don’t mix – at least most of the time. We’ve seen waterproof cameras, waterproof headphones so why not waterproof paper?

At SHOT Show in Las Vegas this week we were shown Rite in the Rain, a new type of waterproof paper that can survive rain, sweat and spills. The company has introduced a variety of paper products, including a nifty Outdoor Journal that can allow hunters, hikers, and just about anyone else who still take handwritten notes to have a notepad that can survive the elements. Read more

SHOT Show 2012: Kryptek Gets Cryptic

Camouflage is something that many people probably don’t think much about, except to note that it is used by military forces around the world to help the wearer blend in. It also has used for hunters, and anyone who doesn’t want to be so easily seen. The first true “camouflage” was arguably just sand colored clothing used by the British military in India in the 1840s and 1850s – and this took its name from the Persian word for sand, which just happens to be “khaki.” Today we think of khakis as a comfortable type of pants, or a color. Likewise, camouflage clothing has become a bit of a fashion statement, while still serving a purpose.

And camouflage has also gone digital, with the current U.S. military utilizing patterns that are more random and thus blend in more with the environment. Rather than just stopping with what it has, the U.S. military is reportedly evaluating this, and Krypek Outdoor apparel has been named a finalist in the process to select new U.S. military camouflage patterns. While we won’t likely see this in army/navy stores for a while, these patterns could be the next fashion wave in a few years – and will likely be embraced by hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.

SHOT Show: Tenzing Bag Packs It In

Having the right bag for all your outdoor needs is a tall order, but the Tenzing TZ 2220 is up to the challenge. The bag is just four pounds, yet offers storage capacity of more than 2,200 cubic inches.

It features 1111 total compartments and six specialized zip pockets, along with a side pack that is H2O compatible (2-liter) with a hydration port, while two compression straps on the lower part enable additional attachments of more gear. The TZ 2220 also features advanced strength panels reinforced with Dyneema to ensure an incredibly light yet rip/ puncture resistant. Time to pack it in!

Tenzing Outdoors Official Website

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