After four days, miles of walking, countless face-to-face meetings and more of our industry’s products in one place than anywhere on earth, the 2012 SHOT Show is in the books — and it’s officially a record-breaker.
But, you know, fewer people are choosing to own guns, and the industry is really in decline. Just ask our opponents.
I got to see the decline last year at the NRA show. Just 71,000 people show up to the show. What a decline.
I think future attendance may only be restricted by the size of the venue and the length of the event!!
Sebastian said, “But, you know, fewer people are choosing to own guns, and the industry is really in decline. Just ask our opponents.”
The only thing that I can plainly see in decline is our opponents mental faculties.
And if you believe those who poo-poo new media, a significant portion of SHOT Show was nothing but know-nothing bloggers clogging up the aisles at Range Day.
Funny, old media is old. I’d have to wait till next month’s issue of black rifle and rails to find out what happened at SHOT.
Sort of off-topic, but were there any demonstrations against the event this year? I don’t recall reading about any myself.
The attendees were paid shills for the gun industry. The same industry that is overproducing guns to hide its own decline. Normally, this would be an insane way to run a business, but you have to remember that the NRA is also shipping guns to criminals. So undoubtedly the gun industry is getting kickbacks from robberies and drug dealers. I really don’t need a sarcasm tag or a smiley face here, do I?
Hmmm. I thought it was the Administration of our Dear Leader that was shipping firearms to criminals. Perhaps more of our citizens recognise that firearms and ammunition are a better investment than a time-share on the beach.
Enjoyed it last year; missed it this year.
The folks at SHOT are good people. It’s not the normal “gun show” we all know and love. It’s folks working to get their products into as many heads as possible. There is some huckstering and the occasional booth serving up gimmicks (aka: free beer), but all in all it’s a professional affair.
Even as an avid gun guy, I can say that the multitude of similar products is a bit much – I am glad that the non-industry public does not get in there, because they would be overwhelmed by 400 copies of the same designs over and over again. There were so many AR/M4 guns that I literally did not want to see another one for months after the show. I brought someone along who is not quite familiar with guns in detail, and his view was, “So basically everyone sells the same damn thing but tries to make it seem unique in some useless way?”
Pretty much.
I hope the manufacturers are starting to break out of the “Clone Wars” and start making really innovative and new form-factor products. The Kel-Tec KSG (still vaporware) was a hit last year, mostly because it was something new.
My point: If we want more people to join our side and be interested in guns, we will need more form-factors and designs to excite new people. And by new stuff, I mean more than pink furniture.
From the outside looking in, we can seem a bit insular at times. Maybe new people will bring ideas with them. I, for one, would love to see more diverse products and designs.
One exception to the “one size fits all” industry mentality: knives. My friend is a knife guy and was impressed with the multitude of designs or formats. I think we need the same kind of approach to firearms (more work, I know) to get more people into the sport.
“Attendees were paid shills for the gun industry”?! Cool!! Where do I send the bill to get reimbursed for my expenses?!