FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2023   |   SUBSCRIBE

Archery
Bow Spider is pleased to announce the long anticipated introduction of the Crossbow Spider. This new system is designed to accommodate most crossbows on the market today.
Dead Ringer is pleased to announce the debut of its new Equalizer Stabilizer Series. Equalizer Series Stabilizers feature high-modulus woven carbon fiber and dampening technology to reduce weight and vibration for increased shot accuracy, and are available in 6-, 8-, and 10-inch sizes.
Awards & Honors
GPO USA’s 8x32 ED binocular has been named one of the top affordable compact binoculars by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology – the nation’s top nonprofit organization for birders.

Nightstick announces our LGL-160 long gun light has earned Member Tested and Recommended status from the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA). The 1100-lumen rifle light received an overall score of 4.07 on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent).
Hornady® is pleased to announce they have been voted as Best Place to Work as part of the Grand Island Independent’s Best of Grand Island competition.
Consumer Promos
InfiRay Outdoor, in partnership with iRayUSA, will allow all US dealers to temporarily discount the BOLT TL35V2 from $3,299 down to $2,699 and RICO G-Series GL35 from $2,999 down to $2,499, now through October 31st.

Industry Update
NSSF® applauds U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for directly addressing the ongoing and illegal discrimination of the firearm industry by major banks and payment processors. Fox Business reported on this continued discriminatory practice of major banking institutions and payment processors refusing services because officials in those financial sectors politically disagree with Second Amendment rights.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is applauding the 424-1 House vote approving the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, thereby crushing the Biden administration’s effort to block federal funding for school shooting sports programs.
RCBS® is celebrating its anniversary this year, marking eight decades of equipping handloaders with trusted, American-made reloading gear. In the decades following becoming a business, RCBS rapidly grew from a small shop into the nation’s leading maker of reloading equipment.

Media Lodge is proud to announce a strategic partnership with VeteranLife Network to establish advertising sales dedicated to the shooting, hunting and outdoors trade to connect with the highly engaged and influential military audience.
Celerant Technology announced a partnership with Crow Shooting Supply. Through the new integration, dealers can streamline their ordering process and offer more products without stocking the merchandise.
Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) teamed up with Gun Owners of California (GOC) to promptly serve California AG Rob Bonta in a lawsuit challenging portions of SB 2, a bill that anti-gun Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law.

Urge Media has launched Freedom Reach. This service uses a proprietary platform that specifically aids sensitive categories, like firearms hunting and archery, allowing targeted advertising on streaming and display networks, ensuring compliance, effective reach and measured results.
NSSF® praised the U.S. Congress for the swift and overwhelmingly decisive vote to rebuke President Joe Biden’s unprecedented move to defund scholastic hunter education and archery programs available for youths.
Blackhawk® has released a statement as a reply to safety concerns that have been issued from firearms manufacturers on the associated use of light-bearing holsters.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Davidson’s is pleased to announce that the company is creating several new remote sales positions across the country. Our Remote Sales Account Executives are responsible for establishing and growing relationships with our customers all across the country through outbound phone, email, sms, and online orders.
MidwayUSA is looking for a highly skilled manager for our Shooting products category. This position, located in Columbia, Missouri reports to the Director of Merchandising – Shooting Division.
WJG & Associates looking to expand its sales force in the Southeastern part of the United States. This position will require excellent communication, organizational skills, self-motivation and familiarity with Microsoft Office software.
Whitetails Unlimited has an immediate opening for a new Vice President of Finance. This professional, salaried, full-time position will work directly from the national headquarters in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Product News
HEVI-Shot is proud to release an expansion of its HEVI-Bismuth Upland product lineup. The new option is a 12-gauge, No. 3, 1 1/4-ounce, 2 3/4-inch load set at a muzzle velocity of 1,400 feet-per-second (fps). With this newly added load, HEVI-Shot’s HEVI-Bismuth Upland product line now consists of three total options: two 12-gauge and one 20-gauge.
trigalight announces the immediate availability of their new knife illumination system to the U.S. market. The patented safety system incorporates trigalight’s self-powered illumination tritium capillaries into both the back-lock, or liner-lock, and knife shaft.
Federal Ammunition announces a new line extension to its popular Hi-Bird upland game hunting product line. Hi-Bird Fiber (Paper) Wad’s cellulose wad construction helps minimize plastic left in the field, yet still offers the same hard-hitting performance as the original.
Show up to that special occasion decked out and looking your camo best in the Realtree Original Sportcoat by Perfect Pattern Sportcoats. Boasting the Realtree Original camo pattern, this blazer shows off a love for the outdoors while offering a polished look for casual or formal settings.
Heritage Manufacturing is thrilled to introduce the new Tactical Rancher. The new Tactical Rancher is upgraded with a top-mounted picatinny rail for optics, accepts 22 Magnum and 22 LR cylinders, and comes threaded for muzzle attachments.
Crafted with super soft, high-quality leather or suede, The Loyal from Tagua Gunleather offers the ultimate in comfort for carrying a concealed weapon inside the waistband. Its optic-ready, multifit design can accommodate a wide range of handguns for a secure fit.
Mission First Tactical (MFT) is pleased to announce their insulated drinkware is available just in time for pumpkin spice coffee season. Whether you’re in a foxhole, tailgating, attending your favorite fall sporting event or sitting in your hunting stand or blind, sip your favorite beverages in style with MFT drinkware.
Heritage Manufacturing presents its debut collection of classic case-hardened lever action guns – the SETTLER family. This series includes the Heritage SETTLER (20-inch), Heritage SETTLER Compact (16.5-inch), and the Heritage Mares Leg (12.5-inch).
The hunters at NOMAD recognized the need for a line of warm weather, early-season clothing designed to get hunters in the game. Constructed of moisture-wicking, quick-dry fabric and designed for freedom of movement, the Pursuit lineup from Nomad is the perfect solution for those early-season hunts.
Riton Optics has unveiled the all-new 5 PRIMAL 15-45x60 Spotting Scope. The 5 PRIMAL 15-45x60 Spotting Scope has been carefully designed with premium features packed into a compact, lightweight package, which provides hunters and shooters unmatched versatility in the field.
Liberty Ammunition focuses solely on self-defense ammunition and makes the best self-defense ammunition. The company publishes kinetic energy results by brand and compares all brands by caliber.
Baschieri & Pellagri USA announces the latest addition to the Upland Game line, the Upland Game Classic. This new product is designed to optimize the performance of bespoke and vintage shotguns.
Millennium Outdoors created its lineup of Buck Hut deer blinds for stealth, comfort and portability. The Solo Buck Hut and Buck Hut Shooting House weigh in at 225 lbs and 323 lbs, respectively, offering incredible features for the hunter looking for a little more than a hang-on or ladder stand this season.
Alien Gear Holsters announces the release of the new Rapid Force Level 2 Slim Holster for the Glock 17 pistol. The Level 2 Slim Shell Holster can be used along with the QDS or Quick Disconnect System base.
Taurus USA announces the launch of the Taurus GX4 Carry, the latest addition to the GX4 series. The Taurus GX4 Carry boasts a larger, but compact frame, delivering the perfect balance of capacity and concealability for armed citizens.
The THROOM 6″ HANGTUFF Series Plate Rack Kit Includes (6) 6″ HANGTUFF Targets and (1) Set of Alpha Stand Brackets all of which require little assembly. Just add standard 2×4’s to build a complete lightweight plate rack that can be used at the indoor range or used and kept outside in any weather condition.
EvoShield’s new line of Realtree camo batter's protective products combines rugged outdoor style with lightweight, durable, ergonomic construction for superior protection and enhanced confidence on the field.
Cupped Waterfowl is excited to announce the launch of its new Comeback Quack Duck Call. Featuring a double-reed design for creating lots of rasp, the easy-blowing duck call boasts a full volume range of crisp tones for plenty of versatility in the field.
THAW helps combat frigid temperatures by offering a wide range of dual-use items to keep users warm. The Heated Seat Pad provides an alternative to sitting on cold plastic, nylon, or ice. Rechargeable heated insoles and rechargeable hand warmers help to make the trip across the ice more comfortable.
Arrowhead Tactical Apparel LLC is proud to announce an exciting new women’s line. Developed in partnership with ROSE by SIG SAUER, the athleisure line is designed specifically to meet the concealed carry needs of women in their everyday lives and personal self-defense journeys.
The highly versatile Scout™ 3.0 is now available for the SIG-Sauer P365 with or without red dot sight. The Scout is constructed with the rough side of the leather out.
The Italian firearms Group (IFG) and Davide Pedersoli and Co. proudly introduce the Model 86/71 Lever Action Droptine. From the big-North woods to the brush country of South Texas, the Droptine delivers a modern twist to this classic, dependable and time-honored platform.
Shows
KOR® Technik will kick off its recently announced partnership with Zarges USA during the 2023 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Meeting & Exposition from October 9-11 in Washington, D.C.
SAR Firearms announces they will be participating in the 2023 Iraq Veterans 8888 Range Day. Please stop by the SAR range lane and checkout their best-in-class firearms and accessories, including the new SAR9 SOCOM and GEN 2 SAR9 Subcompact.
Pulsar is excited to participate in the highly anticipated IraqVeteran8888 Range Day 2023, scheduled for September 29. Pulsar cordially invites all attendees to explore its exhibition and delve into cutting-edge digital thermal riflescopes.
Sightmark announces its participation in the IraqVeteran8888 Range Day 2023. This exclusive event, set to take place on September 29, provides a unique platform for content creators and companies to showcase their premier firearms, accessories, and related products.
Sightmark announces its participation in the Athlon Outdoor Rendezvous at the Bronze Buffalo Ranch in Victor, Idaho. This exclusive event is scheduled to take place from October 2nd to 5th, 2023, and will bring together industry professionals, content creators, and outdoor enthusiasts for an unparalleled experience.
 

 

A meeting took place last week in Aurora on the medial campus of the University of Colorado. It was a gathering of experts, community leaders, organizational representatives and members of the firearm and ammunition industry.

Over 40 people met, for the second time now, for the NSSF/VA LMS Roundtable. What is LMS, you ask? LMS stands for Lethal Means Safety, and ‘lethal means safety’ in suicide prevention terms involves making a lethal method less available and less likely to cause death in a suicide attempt. The goal is to make suicide methods – or means – more difficult to access when someone is at risk for suicide.

If you mentally stumble over that three word phrase you’re not the only one, so welcome to the George Orwell Semantics Club.

But, if you google the term you’ll find your way immediately to the suicide prevention help line and resources. One of the first links you’ll see it that to the Veterans Affairs site addressing ‘Lethal Means Safety & Suicide Prevention.’

For obvious reasons, the Department of Veterans Affairs is leading the charge in studying suicides among our military and veterans to find the best courses of prevention. We’ve all heard, or should have heard by now, the statistic of 22 a day, which references the number of veterans, active-duty troops, guardsmen and reservists combined that die by suicide each day.

It’s an alarming figure, as it should be. But simply repeating that stat, wearing a t-shirt referencing it, or posting it on social media, while creating awareness of the problem doesn’t actually address the problem.

That’s where the NSSF/VA Roundtable comes in. Led by Joe Bartozzi, the president and CEO of NSSF, the firearm industry has joined the effort to address suicide prevention and safe storage of firearms.

NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi addresses the assembled roundtable participants, at least a third of which were from the firearm and ammunition industry. Photo by P. Erhardt

The industry has already been the driving force behind reducing accidental deaths by firearms in the home through the industry’s Project ChildSafe. Thanks to the education efforts and distribution of free firearm safety kits – think free cable-style gun locks – NSSF is not new to the safe storage effort. NSSF founded Project ChildSafe back in 1999, so they have been working on this issue, formally, for the last 24 years, and with excellent results.

So when Joe Bartozzi connected with Dr. Matt Miller, Executive Director of Suicide Prevention for the Office of Mental Health in the Department of Veterans Affairs, to help the VA address the issue of suicide prevention, he and the industry already had a solid track record of limiting access to firearms – the lethal means – through proper and effective safe storage.

You may ask why firearms are such a focus point in suicide prevention. That’s easy. Dr. Miller noted in his opening remarks that “veterans die at a higher rate by suicide than their non-veteran peers.” The fact is that 70% of veteran suicides are by firearm while the number is 50% for non-veterans. And it’s 50% overall.

Sitting in the auditorium listening to the VA’s experts who have been researching suicide prevention it quickly became clear that there is no single cause behind a suicide attempt and there is no single one-size-fits-all approach to combatting the issue.

Instead, to reduce suicides among veterans and the general public takes a patchwork approach. There are a number of factors that enter the equation but there is one stat that really speaks to the importance of safe storage.

Dr. Emmy Betz, Professor, Emergency Medicine at the Colorado University School of Medicine, explained how having a firearm locked up, off the premises, or stored with a family friend can dramatically impact a suicide attempt.

She pointed out that the final decision to attempt suicide often occurs within only minutes, and it’s getting the person through this short period of high risk where safe storage plays a key role. Putting time between an individual and the means to commit suicide means the difference between keeping a friend or family member or losing them forever.

Dr. Betz noted that the reason pills are now provided in blister packs is because it makes it harder to take too many when having to work your way through the whole blister pack. In other words, it puts time between the person in crisis and the act of attempting suicide.

NSSF brought a lot of help to the fight to advance the VA’s work on suicide prevention. Among those from the industry sitting in the room were representatives from Sig Sauer, Vista Outdoor, Glock, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Hornady, NSSF, Bass Pro Shops, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Bristlecone Shooting Training & Retail Center, USCCA, Leupold, Ruger and Walk The Talk America.

They were joined by those from other groups and organizations including American Legion, Hold My Guns, Overwatch Project, Disabled American Veterans, Forefront Suicide Prevention and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

After going around the room for introductions it became very clear that those in attendance weren’t there for the feel good aspect of helping veterans, or scoring ‘good guy points’ on social media. No, they were there because nearly all of them have dealt with suicide in their immediate circle of friend, family and colleagues.

It is a real good group that the VA and NSSF have brought together. They are serious people working together, sharing ideas, and finding out what works and why. They do so in order to tackle one of the most heartbreaking aspects of our society. And each deserves our thanks and our support.

— Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network

 
Archery Wire - 2271 N Upton St., Arlington, VA 22207
Copyright © 2019, OWDN, All Rights Reserved.