ICYMI: Industry News
From April 15–19, 2024
Guns.com First Quarter Local Dealer Sales Surge Despite National Dip
Local licensed firearm dealer sales on Guns.com surged in the year’s first quarter, outperforming the national 4% dip in adjusted background checks reported by the NICS. The 8% increase in first-quarter dealer sales is a result of the online retailer’s commitment to transforming the gun buying and selling experience. With a growing network of nearly 2,000 local licensed firearm dealers and pawnbrokers, Guns.com quickly connects local brick-and-mortar businesses with millions of customers nationwide.
“Our dealer network continues to grow, and the first quarter sales are a testament to our commitment to creating the best online marketplace for their business,” said Guns.com Director of Business Development Jeff Tesch. “As their partner, we help dealers save time and money by handling most of the sales process and keeping costs at a minimum. Our dealer partners can list a new firearm to sell in under 15 seconds, which is why we are the fastest and easiest inventory upload process in the industry.”
The low-cost, user-friendly platform makes inventory management, order processing and customer service simple. For local firearm dealers and pawnbrokers across the country, efficiency is at the core of the Guns.com experience, enabling dealers to reach a vast customer base with minimal effort, eliminating tedious and time-consuming work. The platform’s intuitive dashboard makes keeping an eye on orders and offers a breeze, and real-time data helps dealers make informed decisions and maximize their revenue.
Local brick-and-mortar dealers are at ease knowing they are not competing against big-box stores, private FFLs or non-storefront FFLs on Guns.com. Business owners and managers can also keep their firearms for sale in-store, eliminating the complexity and hassle of having to quarantine inventory.
For more info: guns.com
Aimpoint ACRO P-2 Selected For Walther PDP Pa. State Police Contract
Aimpoint has been selected by the Pennsylvania State Police to supply the Aimpoint Acro P-2 red dot sight to equip their new official duty weapon, Walther PDP Series from Walther Arms Inc.
Built to exceed the demands of professional use, the Acro P-2 sight has been proven to withstand the extreme abuse of a semi-automatic pistol slide and demands facing law enforcement officers. The Acro Series of optics introduced the enclosed emitter design and the fully protected optical channel for pistol optics.
The Walther PDP Compact and Walther PDP F-Series handguns are direct milled to accept Aimpoint Acro P-2 optics. Selected on performance, innovation, and durability features, the Acro P-2 provides up to five years of constant-on use from a single CR-2032 battery, providing law enforcement officers the confidence required while focusing on any imminent danger.
As the originator of red dot sighting technology, Aimpoint is trusted as the worldwide leader of reflex sights in both quality and technical support.
For more info: www.aimpoint.us
NSSF’s Project ChildSafe & Raleigh Leaders/Agencies Address Firearm Safety
NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program, in partnership with the Raleigh (N.C.) Metropolitan Police Department, Wake County Sheriff’s Department and Triangle Shooting Academy, launched a citywide firearm safety initiative to prevent gun accidents, suicides and thefts, which included the distribution of 5,000 free gun locks and educational resources to local gun owners.
“These locks and materials are available to everyone — no questions asked,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF president and CEO. “We want to ensure that gun owners and their families in Raleigh have ample access to the necessary firearm safety and educational resources to keep their homes safe, and we are grateful to have local partners on the ground supporting us in this effort.”
Free gun locks are available at the following locations for pick up:
Raleigh Police Department Precincts
Northwest: 8016 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612
North: 6716 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615
Northeast: 5230 Greens Dairy Road, Raleigh, NC 27616
Southeast: 2800 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, NC 27610
Downtown: 218 W Cabarrus Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Southwest: 601 Hutton Street, Raleigh, NC 27606
Wake County Sheriff’s Department – 330 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Triangle Shooting Academy – 6501 Mt Herman Road, Raleigh, NC 27617
Project ChildSafe encourages gun owners to secure their firearms when they’re not in use with a gun lock, lock box or whatever storage device best suits their lifestyle — recognizing that safe, responsible firearm storage is the number one way to help prevent firearm accidents, suicides and thefts.
The campaign also included two weeks of digital and local radio advertising, which reached more than 400,000 Raleigh-area residents and pointed them to Project ChildSafe’s most popular online resources.
To date, Project ChildSafe has launched Focus Community initiatives in more than 10 cities across the U.S., partnering with law enforcement agencies, state representatives, city councilors and local community leaders to make millions of free gun locks available nationwide. The program’s Focus Communities are in addition to the thousands of communities in every state and all five U.S. territories that partner with Project ChildSafe.
For more info: projectchildsafe.org
Shoot United’s “Straight Shooter” Profile Features Olympian Dania Vizzi
Shoot United launched a new “Straight Shooter” profile focusing on Dania Vizzi, a member of Team Winchester and Team USA who is one of eight elite shotgun athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Nicknamed “Shooterina,” Dania Vizzi is an accomplished dancer, even earning a spot at Juilliard, the renowned arts school in New York City. However, her love for the shooting sports took her on a different path. Vizzi has been earning international medals since 2015, with 2022 and 2023 being her strongest years. After being named the 2022 Women’s Skeet World Champion and earning gold at the 2023 ISSF Lonato World Cup, she will be representing Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Dania’s path in the shooting sports has been nothing short of unique and her dedication and talent are inspiring,” said Jason Gilbertson, director of marketing for Shoot United. “Telling stories like Dania’s illustrate how people from all walks of life, no matter their background, can find success in the shooting sports. That’s what Shoot United is all about.”
The “Straight Shooter” video series, presented by Shoot United, explores the human element of the shooting sports. Millions of firearm owners have been positively impacted by the shooting sports and Shoot United serves as a resource to share those stories.
Vizzi’s story can be accessed on ShootUnited.com as well as on the Shoot United YouTube channel.
For more info: shootunited.com
Grasso Holdings Makes Sizable Protect Liberty PAC Contribution
The NSSF’s Protect Liberty Political Action Committee (Protect Liberty PAC) received a sizable contribution from Grasso Holdings that will be utilized to help identify and support the election of candidates who are dedicated to preserving and protecting liberty, freedom and the Constitutional rights of all Americans. The $10,000 contribution will benefit Protect Liberty PAC’s efforts ahead of the November 2024 election to ensure voters in key battleground states and congressional districts across the country are informed about candidates who will fight for their Constitutional rights and not carry out a “woke,” progressive, far left political agenda that threatens those rights.
“We are extremely grateful for the generous contribution from Grasso Holdings and for the leadership of Ed Grasso and his belief in Protect Liberty PAC’s mission to elect candidates who will fight for our liberties and freedoms, including the Second Amendment,” said Lawrence G. Keane Protect Liberty PAC’s treasurer.
Grasso, Grasso Holdings CEO, stated, “It’s critical that we do all we can to help NSSF’s Protect Liberty PAC to be successful in its mission because there are hundreds of thousands of hard-working, law-abiding Americans in our industry and we want to keep it that way.”
Protect Liberty PAC is a federally registered “super PAC” founded in 2023 by NSSF. Protect Liberty PAC is an independent-expenditure-only political committee and can accept unlimited personal and corporate contributions from companies in or outside of the industry, so long as they do not have federal contracts. Protect Liberty PAC will expressly advocate for the election or defeat of specific candidates and that advocacy will be completely independent of any candidate or political party.
For more info: protectlibertypac.com
Winchester Engages Members Of Congress
Winchester Ammunition recently hosted legislators and outdoor industry representatives at a special event in Washington, D.C., to discuss Winchester’s commitment to providing the U.S. military with the highest quality ammunition as well as the positive impact of shooting sports, hunting and responsible firearm ownership.
“As the largest manufacturer of small-caliber ammunition for the U.S. military, we are proud to communicate our continued commitment to innovation and manufacturing excellence with Members of Congress,” said Ken Lane, president and CEO of Olin Corporation. “It’s also exciting to showcase the positive impact the shooting sports has on more than 60 million U.S. citizens each year. These are critical messages to share.”
More than 40 members of Congress and leadership from the shooting sports and hunting industry were in attendance, coming together to discuss important topics.
Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester, said, “This event was an opportunity for us to communicate our commitment and ask for continued support in both ammunition manufacturing for the U.S. military and growth in shooting sports participation.”
Members of the shooting sports community, including educators and shooting sports professionals, were present at the event. They shared compelling stories about how shooting sports have positively influenced their lives, underscoring the importance of these activities.
For more info: winchester.com
