Various banks, credit card companies and shippers have recently implemented policies that will unnecessarily, and unjustly, restrict the Constitutionally recognized Second Amendment rights of gun owners. Such actions serve as a troubling forecast of a contentious future as it pertains to all Americans’ ability to protect themselves and their families. NRA has been leading the charge against such anti-gun infringements since its early years. And largely thanks to those efforts, our country still enjoys the freedom-preserving and life-saving benefits of the uniquely American way of life.
That life includes hunting, sport shooting, gun collecting and self-defense—all of which are pursued by a vast community of law-abiding citizens. They are privileged to be served by a vibrant and professional firearm industry that daily undertakes the daunting task of identifying the need for, and painstakingly developing, high-quality new rifles, shotguns, handguns, ammunition, optics and accessories. It is an industry that reportedly accounts for $70.5 billion in economic impact in our economy and sustains more than 375,000 jobs.
Of course, those activities and the products that result from them are what we strive to cover in these pages each month—it is nothing less than our staff’s personal contribution to the cause of freedom. Following are a few examples from this issue of how the American firearm industry continues to serve a growing demand for guns and gear, along with one from days gone by.
Our resident enthusiast for all things 5.7x28 mm FN, Senior Executive Editor Kelly Young, has written a fine piece on the latest entrant into that market. In “LC Carbine: Ruger Doubles Down On The 5.7x28,” he evaluates the new gun and explains why such “Personal Defense Weapons” still deserve to occupy the otherwise unsatisfied niche in a marketplace awash with 5.56 NATO pistol, carbine and rifle platforms.
In “Savage Renegauge: Diversifying The Portfolio” Field Editor Aaron Carter highlights two new models in the firm’s line—the Security and Competition—which are tailored to their respective purposes right down to their finishes. A serious competitive shotgunner himself, Carter found both to be solid performers and a testament to a company also well known for its super-accurate rifles.
Fabrique Nationale expert and longtime contributor Anthony Vanderlinden, in “The FN Browning Model 1922 Centennial,” provides a thorough retrospective on why that pistol became such a success and how it paved the way for the predominance of compact semi-automatics for personal protection that is a still-growing phenomenon today. In fact, in an unusual juxtaposition, both the 1922 and an FN pistol introduced this year appear in this month’s “Opening Shot.”
In “Remington Core-Lokt Tipped Rifle Ammunition,” Field Editor John Haviland offers his insights as to why a projectile introduced some 83 years ago has created such a loyal following and continues to evolve even in the modern era. It is a testament to how the ammunition segment of the industry never ceases to innovate.
So, whether the news is in rifles, shotguns, pistols or ammunition—or in the variety of optics and accessories that support their use—we’ll continue to keep you informed. And we’ll do the same in our Official Journal pages as to the latest threats to your firearm rights. After all, most Americans are sensible, earnest people who want to protect their families and who prize their independence—and they know that firearms help guarantee those objectives.
As a community of firearm owners, we also know that only by sticking together will we help all freedom-loving Americans continue to prevail against the many forces that would prefer to see this country’s unique way of life diminished.
