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How Committed To The Cause Are Gun-grabbers?

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Jim Braaten

Right now…in Minnesota…a skirmish for our gun rights is taking place. On Monday, President Obama was in Minneapolis to underscore his support for sweeping new gun control legislation—both federal and at the state government levels. Then on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week the Minnesota House of Representatives are holding a series of hearings on a handful of bills that, if they became law, would make Minnesota one of the most restrictive places in the country to own most guns.

And so, I’ve listened to the debate so far both yesterday and today. In essence, it’s the same old story we’ve heard for years with now the emotional twist of some mass shootings thrown in for good measure. Will the testimony really have an influence on the legislative committee? I doubt it…I think both sides are pretty well set with how they will eventually vote. In some ways these committee hearings take place just to give both sides a chance to air their views…to feel better somehow their message was at least listened to.

But, today’s hearing was most striking to me. The author of HF241–Assault Weapon Ban Bill in presenting her opening remarks to the hearing about the bill had a decision to make. Does she stay and fully introduce the bill while being available for questions, or does she leave the hearing early to attend a speaking engagement at a nearby theater for a bunch of school students? Tough choice, huh?

On one hand she’s presenting legislation for enactment directly impacting everyone’s constitutional rights. On the other hand, she certainly wouldn’t want to disappoint a bunch of school kids who my guess is doesn’t even know who Rep. Hausman is anyway. Check out the video beginning at the 17:30 minute point and see what she decides.

More importantly, Rep. Hausman didn’t even turn her duties over to a co-author of the bill. Nope! Instead she turned her duties over to Heather Martens who is the executive director of Protect Minnesota. To me that act alone shows a real lack of legislative commitment to one’s cause and duties as a legislator.

Frankly, I wonder how committed many sponsors of gun-grabbing legislation are no matter what legislative body they exist in. They don’t have the facts on their side…so, instead they peddle raw emotion. And that sometimes works great when terrible events are vivid in people’s minds and it overshadows logical thinking. Yet, the truth is most poor decisions people tend to make in life are those based purely on emotion. Take emotion out of the equation and allow logical, open-minded thinking to replace the discussion.

Right now it’s obvious the gun-grabbers are throwing lots of misguided gun legislation out there hoping something will stick. I truly believe in their hearts they are not as committed to their positions as those of us who push for gun rights are committed to our beliefs.

There are many battles yet to be waged. There will be lots of misinformation disseminated and twisted in the media about these and other proposed new gun control measures. But in the end, if we are battling an opponent who lacks the commitment level we have as gun owners possess, their actions and words will ultimately ring hollow and will have no merit in our society.

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues, Gear, Politics | Tagged: assault weapons, gun control | Comments Off

Of Band-aids, Guns, Preschoolers and Politicians

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Jim Braaten

From time to time my four year old will come running to me in obvious pain and crying. She’s not looking for real medical attention of any kind—there often is no blood involved. Nor, does she want daddy to simply kiss her boo boo or give her a big, tight hug. As her daddy I know what gives her the most comfort in these situations. She needs a band-aid.

Now, mind you, the band-aid is not covering a real wound…just a perceived wound in the mind of a preschooler. Nothing…and I do mean nothing…relieves her stress in these situations better or faster than a band-aid expertly applied.

And sometimes one is not enough. When I see she is still fighting back the tears after sporting a freshly applied band-aid, I will occasionally grab one more…and another…and another. You see, when a problem continues to persist I’ve learned that applying multiple band-aids on one tiny leg will eventually cause us both to break out in laughter. Voilà! Problem solved.

Right now gun owners are dealing with lots of band-aids. Oh, these aren’t band-aids to help heal any emergent medical problem we have as a group. Nope, they are band-aids some folks believe are necessary to solve a societal problem through restrictive gun legislation. Unfortunately, a series of evil events have occurred in our world and a faction of lawmakers, along with the media, have devised their own form of a band-aid approach.

Now, I’m certainly not here to suggest we shouldn’t learn from and try to prevent future tragedies in our society. Quite the contrary. It’s the manner in how we react that displays if we deal with it like a 50 year old, or a four year old. One expects that an adult has a certain maturity level suggesting a logical and well-thought out response. A young child? Well, of course they will be more reactionary looking for whatever gives some immediate resolution to a perceived terrible problem.

Let’s be honest. At no other time in American history has the anti-gun movement felt so emboldened and powerful as they do right now. They feel this is their time. High emotions are being stoked on a daily basis with biased news reporting. The enemy isn’t the criminal who commits these cowardly acts…it is the gun…THE GUN I tell you! The gun is ALWAYS the problem. Remove the gun and…Voilà! The problem magically will go away.

Yeah, it will work just like that…won’t it? Maybe in the mind of a small child who wants some immediate action, but not for an advanced society who should be mature enough to know far better.

In the days and weeks to come this blog will expose how gun control is a big hoax being perpetrated by folks who want to take away our freedoms. Folks, it has nothing to do with protecting children in some school classroom or preventing another tragedy in some movie theater. Indeed, this is about a group of politicians who want to take action to appease the whims of their voter base. THEY WANT TO GET RE-ELECTED and they see restrictions on our guns as their first-class ticket to enabling political longevity.

How wrong they are. I’m not about to tell my four-year old that putting a band-aid on an imaginary owie is a silly thing to do. But I sure as hell will tell my politicians how taking a band-aid approach in dealing with gun violence is not the proper American thing to be doing. Any solution that restricts my long-standing, God-given freedom as an American is simply juvenile and should be treated as such.

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues, Gear, Politics | Tagged: gun control, politics | 6 Comments »

Thoughts And Observations From My Local Gun Show

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Jim Braaten

In a few days I will be heading out to the 2013 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) held in Las Vegas, but today I thought it would be interesting to stop by a local gun show where the buying public traffic was rather brisk and certainly actively engaged to purchase. I was in Rochester, Minnesota attending the Minnesota Weapon Collectors Association‘s first gun show of the year.

Most of the day it was elbow to elbow with gun show attendees at this event.

I should note that I have been attending this gun show for over 35 years. I don’t make it every year, but I do try to make it most years as it is one of the bigger gun shows in southern Minnesota. Today, the crowd I witnessed was hands down the busiest I have ever seen. It appears with details on possible new gun control measures being disclosed as early as next Tuesday, many folks were not about to delay making their purchases much longer.

There was certainly much talk among the show attendees of what firearms restrictions might be in the near future. Even though it was a rather solemn mood among those in attendance, I also witnessed a deeper resolve among nearly everyone that is starting to reach the boiling point. Indeed, I did hear one dealer admit to a customer that we are inching closer to a point where gun owners may need to take it beyond just standing up and being heard.

Prices for high capacity magazines were quite reminiscent of what they were back during Federal Assault Weapons Ban, a law which sunset back in September 2004. Magazines holding more than ten rounds that could have been purchased a few months ago for $20–$30 were now being offered for sale more in the $60–$75+ range. I even seen one dealer peddling very well used 30rd AR-15 magazines for $50, although other dealers had them for sale in the $30–$35 range.

The public seemed to be in a buying mood despite the fact prices appear to be on the rise.

I guess the upshot what I took away from this show is there are no bargains to be had any longer. Oh, sure, there may be bargains by today’s standards, but today’s standards are much different than they’ve been for many years. It appears we are entering a new period in gun sales with a market that is highly volatile depending on what legislation may be pending or what rumor seems to be gaining traction.

One thing I did notice which I thought was sort of odd was the lack of Glocks. Admittedly, I am not savvy when it comes to all facets of gun sales, but peering around the masses of people I sensed that Glocks of all models seemed to be more scarce than I would have expected. Again, this may have just been an anomaly and may not be the actual case.

Some of the busiest dealers were those folks who cater to gun magazine sales. This show vendor had hundreds of mags like this for nearly any kind of gun.

I did hear several dealers discuss how certain ammunition is nearly impossible to get these days. In fact, I preface this with a RUMOR ALERT, but one dealer in describing what his factory rep told him was that 5.56mm bulk ammo orders are so backed up that delivery wouldn’t be until 2015. Yup, 2015! Again, this comment was hearsay, but it exemplifies the sort of buzz that folks were hearing at the show.

In closing, I guess the one thing that surprised me was that there still are AR-15′s to be purchased. I’ve heard some dealers say they just don’t have any as their inventory has been wiped out last month. I suppose in some cases those modern sporting rifles were commanding a good price—probably nearly twice what they once were, but they are still available even at public shows like this one.

So, have you been to any gun shows lately? What is the mood of your favorite gun dealer? No doubt about it…we are living during interesting times that promise to only get more interesting in the days and weeks to come.

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues, Events, Politics | Comments Off

Embrace Bloggers and Social Media To Get Message Out

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Jim Braaten

I just have to laugh! Some notions take a long time to die. I could easily make this post my annual rant against the Minnesota DNR and their communication peeps who seemingly don’t have a 21st Century clue when it comes to communicating their message, but if I did the blog posting would largely look like it did last year. (SEE HERE)

So, I’ll spare you all those details once again. Point is I’ve been an outdoors writer here in Minnesota since 1987 and now because most of my communication efforts are online some entities, like the MN DNR, apparently fail to see the value.

Once again, the MN DNR is conducting their annual 2–day #RoundTable and I was not included. Last year I sent a note in advance to DNR Communication Director Chris Niskanen (@ChrisNiskanen1) asking to be included, but alas, the note was never received. Certainly after the blog post I wrote last year I figured I’d be on the radar for the 2013 #RoundTable session…but no such luck once again.

Here I am willing to invest my time and money to report happenings of my state’s fish and game department, but the take away is such information dissemination is not apparently that important. What a shame. Whether it is the MN DNR or even some manufacturer of a new outdoor product, you would think they would be doing their due diligence to include both bloggers and people from all other facets of social media.

Recently I attended a blogging conference and discovered how one of the most aggressive segments harnessing the power of blogging, Twitter and similar online communication tools targets the so-called “mommy blogger.” That’s right, companies who promote diapers, sell mac and cheese products, encourage the use of real butter for cooking, and so on are light years ahead of others when it comes to tapping into these emerging forms of new media.

Back at the farm, I cooked up some brats to serve my hungry hunters during the fall 2012 firearms deer season.

One particular company I’ve been impressed with on Twitter is Johnsonville (@JvilleGrilling) Not only do they tweet often and with content that adds value (not just self-promo), but they also do one of the best jobs of engaging their followers of any company I have seen. I posted a picture back during deer hunting season that they found of me grilling their brats…and days later they were using it, with my permission of course, all over their online marketing efforts.

I can relate many similar examples of how companies or groups are in-step with those of us who blog and tweet. I once ripped a company in these blog pages several years ago about their product in how it was poorly designed. They got upset with me and fired back…but in the end they changed their product design because they new I had some valid points that needed to be addressed.

I will be so bold as to predict that within five years most traditional forms of how people obtain their news will largely lose significance. I’m talking newspaper, magazines, and to some lesser extent even nightly TV news coverage. We are living in a transition period where people demand their news immediately, in a succinct fashion, and when it’s convenient for them to view it. Blogging, social media and videos on demand delivers the message.

Yes, indeed, I find it somewhat odd how a company peddling baby diapers is far better at engaging their audience through the blogger network than my state’s game and fish department continues to be. <Okay, this is where I would ordinarily insert a joke about shit, but I’ve chosen not to do that at this time. Ha!>

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues, Department of Natural Resources, Fish/Wildlife Research and Management, General Outdoor Topics, Hunting, Outdoor Media (TV/Newspaper/Radio), Weblogs | 3 Comments »

How Will You React In The Face Of Protesting?

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Jim Braaten

Back in November 2006 when I hosted then Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty at my farm as part of the Minnesota Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener event, part of our prep work covered what if we have protestors. Quite frankly, protestors were avoided in the first place because the location where the hunting took place was a well-guarded secret until AFTER the deer hunt had taken place.

When protestors get in your face how will you handle the emotionally charged situation with proper tact?

But not all events can be conducted in secret. I’ve dealt with protestors at rodeo events, circus events, heck…even the occasional protestor who proclaims their disdain for fur sales at some high-end fashion store. The point is protesting is meant to grab the public’s attention in a striking way and then twist it for the benefit of their cause.

So, as hunters and gun owners why should any of this really concern us? Well, our day is coming and the best outcomes generally require at least a modicum of preparation so as not to fall into their public relations trap. It should be no surprise to you how we live in strange times and the current climate is not exactly favorable to those of us who carry guns and/or kill animals.

That being said, I want to offer up some tips on how best to deal with protestors to diminish the impact of their misguided acts. Carefully consider these actions when confronted by any protester:

AVOID PHYSICAL CONTACT of any kind. The media is drawn to these events like moths are attracted to fire. You don’t need your name appearing on the evening news nor does the gun owning/hunting community need a big black eye caused by aggressive actions taken against a protester.
ANTICIPATE DISRUPTION. These folks will do whatever it takes to be seen and heard. Don’t allow it to affect your day.
AVOID ANY VERBAL INTERACTION. Remember, if they can engage you in conversation you are slowing falling into their trap. You won’t change their minds…nor will they change yours.
KEEP WALKING. If they get in your face simply smile and walk away. It’s tough to do…but critical you don’t linger and fuel the hostilities.
KEEP EMOTIONS IN CHECK. They are trying to get under your skin so don’t give them that satisfaction.
DISREGARD THEIR ABSURDITY. Accept in advance how their message will be full of lies and other outrageous claims trying to get you to negatively react.
PROFESSIONAL PROTESTERS? It’s possible. These folks may not even hold these deep-seeded feelings, but are moved to be protesting because it only pays the bills.
PAY THEM NO ATTENTION. They are seeking attention so quickly move from the area, especially if you don’t have to be there. Avoid making them the spectacle they so desperately want to become.
IF MEDIA IS PRESENT, AVOID THEM TOO. Most of us are not versed to be articulate spokesmen for our side of the cause. If asked by media for a comment kindly decline and walk away.
NOTIFY EVENT ORGANIZER OF THIS SITUATION. If the protest is just getting underway, quickly notify the event organizer what is happening. Most large events have a protestor reaction plan and will implement it quickly if they know what is happening. Let the professionals defuse what could quickly turn into a highly charged incident.

There you have it. I certainly don’t expect you to memorize all these points, but take some satisfaction in knowing most points are just plain old common sense. By being prepared for what could happen you take away their element of surprise, as well as the emotional shock of what they are saying/doing.

In 12 days I fully expect that Las Vegas 2013 SHOT Show® attendees could potentially see this sort of protest given the current negative climate toward guns. But, in just 8 days I will be attending my local gun show and this same protesting could easily take place there, too. It behooves each of us to be prepared with a plan as to how we best deal with the situation. For the sake of our cause, don’t fall victim to their tactics meant to destroy our heritage in the public’s eye.

Let’s hear your thoughts. Have any of you encountered protestors and what was your experience?

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues, Events, Gear, Hunting, Outdoor Potpourri, Safety | 5 Comments »

Turbulent Times Ahead For Gun Owners

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Jim Braaten

As an American Civil War buff I’ve often read accounts of battles where the soldier lived through a “maelstrom of bullets.” That word…”maelstrom.” Powerful. Very poignant! Describing a situation where nothing is predictable. Literally, a Civil War soldier experiencing a maelstrom of action meant bullets coming from all directions and seemingly non-stop aggression from a relentless enemy.

Quite honestly I have never experienced a “maelstrom” of anything in my life. But my hunch and fear is this sensation could be changing. And the battle could be coming soon.

In case you’ve missed it, gun owners are under attack. Most of us have not experienced the first bullet whizzing by our heads as of yet. But, metaphorically speaking we will be soon. For years various gun groups have postured to vigorously fight all forms of gun control. While many of us have jumped on the bandwagon for support (I’m an NRA Lifetime Benefactor member), many more gun owners just sat idly by with their hands firmly planted under their rear ends.

I honestly believe we are seeing the perfect storm brewing before our eyes. An election barely two months ago that could not have gone worse for gun owners. And now, recent tragedies in theaters, malls and even schoolhouses involving guns are just stoking the fire. Worse yet, we have a media that is so biased toward a liberal agenda that the truth and entire story is often lost, unless of course it serves to support a specific left-leaning agenda.

In this blog post I’m not going to refute or even debate why gun control is all wrong. Those of us with sensible, clear-thinking heads know it doesn’t work. Let’s face it…gun control only affects law-abiding citizens…period, end of story. Is it law-abiding citizens who commit heinous crime? A killer will find some other mechanism to carry out carnage even if guns are not readily available.

The Spencer Rifle, which seen limited use during the Civil War, was one of several guns the soldiers said could be “loaded on Sunday and shot all week long.” By today’s standards even this 150 year old classic firearm could be classified by some gun-banners as an “assault weapon” only suitable for war.

So, how do we know when this battle has begun? Well, much like the Confederates fired upon Fort Sumter nearly 152 years ago, I believe we are only days, if not hours, away from hearing that first serious shot in our modern day civil war battle. Indeed, the gun-banners are feeling they have lots of wind in their sails to move forward.

Tomorrow, Senator Diane Feinstein is rumored to be introducing a bill that is “swinging for a home-fun” in this debate. If enacted, it would essentially make criminals out of current law-abiding, gun owning citizens. Worse yet, especially for the State of Illinois, but it is believed that tomorrow will also see legislation introduced for fast track (Governor’s signature by Friday) calling for the outright ban and confiscation of nearly all gun types by the IL State Police.

Seriously, brace yourself as this is only the beginning. There are many people WE VOTE INTO OFFICE who believe we cannot be trusted with guns. Their mission is to take them away from us. Yet, the electorate continues to vote these idiots into power.

And don’t get caught up in the semantics of, “well, we really don’t need assault rifles anyway.” When Diane Feinstein tells Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday that she doesn’t know a single hunter who uses an assault rifle for hunting it only proves how out-of-touch and fact-avoiding the Senator really is. Truth is, the modern sporting rifle (the proper name it should be called) is the gun of choice for many hunting situations.

If you own even one gun it is time to get involved. The very foundation upon which this great country is built is dependent on personal liberties—of which gun ownership should be one undeniable right. Let your voice be heard. Join the NRA. Stay tuned to current events. And above all, don’t sit idle while cheap shots are being fired all around you and from every direction.

The battle has begun…and folks, the maelstrom of propaganda and legislative attacks is viciously swirling all around us. To survive one needs to fight back and not just stay hunkered down.

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues, Gear, Outdoor Potpourri | Comments Off

I’ve Done Some Thinking….

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Jim Braaten

While I’ve taken a break from blogging (see previous post) I haven’t stepped away from reading other outdoor blogs or following the current “hot-button” issues that surround us in the outdoors world. What suddenly occurred to me is the notion I think many of us fail to consider when we form our thoughts and opinions on the outdoors.

What is our ultimate goal (or what should it be)? Seriously, as a group of outdoor users what should we all be striving towards to accomplish in our outdoor pursuits? Mind you, I’m not talking personal goals here…I’m talking identifiable benchmarks we can collectively use to determine we’re achieving something good and proper for each of our various outdoor activities.

Only by sharing a common goal for how we should be enjoying the outdoors can we expect to achieve success and harmony in all of our outdoor pursuits.

Let me provide an example. Yesterday I read on Facebook where someone posed the question should crossbows be used during the regular archery deer hunting season. In many states, and my home state of Minnesota being one of them, crossbow users are greatly restricted to use only during select times and/or by persons showing a doctor diagnosed disability.

Now, on one hand those individuals suggesting “yes” point to the fact that as a hunter ages it gets increasingly difficult to pull back on a bow, even today’s modern compounds incorporating marvelous engineering designs can still be too much for muscles enduring atrophy. Yet, traditional archers understandably have reason to limit an expansion of deer hunter opportunities leading to increased competition on a limited commodity.

So, we have a standoff between two factions of sportsmen each with a personal vested interest in rules being construed to their recreational advantage. Emotions over the issue build, eventually one side or the other starts to undermine the other’s stance with negativity, and suddenly sportsmen are at odds over a matter that should not even be occurring. Why? Because inherently we let selfish desires sway our thinking (and acting) due to the fact we’re all not operating toward an established outdoors goal.

Here’s another example. In Minnesota, like a growing number of states, we’ve been experimenting with various deer management principles involving antler point restrictions (or APR’s). The thought being if hunters are required to count a certain number of points on a buck to make it legal, this will help shift the buck population to one that is more mature, hence more trophies.

The problem is not everyone wants to deer hunt with those added restrictions. Indeed, one faction of hunters wants the DNR to mandate certain criteria to theoretically increase the number of trophy deer bounding through the woods. On the flip side are deer hunters who prefer doing things the traditional way allowing every hunter to determine what they consider to be a trophy. Bottom line…selfish personal desires place otherwise regular, agreeable sportsmen at great odds.

Okay, enough talk about a goal. Let’s establish a common goal among all sportsmen that should be widely understood as well as embraced. The goal needs to take “what’s best for me” out of the equation. The goal needs to be so ridiculously simple that everyone understands it. The goal needs to resonate and become woven into the fabric of everything we do, henceforth, when it comes to hunting, fishing, trapping, etc.

The goal needs to rejoice in the fact that although many of us choose to enjoy the outdoors in slightly different ways, our differences should never become kindling used for torching fellow sportsmen. Indeed, the goal might need to re-focus our thinking for the greater good of our beloved outdoor pursuits, but that’s okay and a healthy step in the right direction.

THE GOAL: All laws, rules and regulations should be developed and construed allowing the MAXIMUM number of people to participate and to enjoy the outdoors. There you have it! Notice I didn’t say to enjoy the outdoors a certain way at the expense of how others might enjoy it. Of course, the underlying caveat to this goal must always consider what is good for the natural resources first and foremost.

Honestly, folks, I’ve really growing tired of the divisiveness prevalent within our ranks seemingly motivated by pure selfish thinking. It’s a cancer and needs to be dealt with before it spreads out of control. As a group, we can’t afford to alienate other sportsmen (or future sportsmen) because we strive to push for personal agendas losing sight of what should be the greater goal. Then, of course, if we all choose to continue operating without a common goal for our beloved outdoor activities we simply continue on a destiny of eventual doom.

Your thoughts?

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues, Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement, Outdoor Potpourri | Tagged: archery deer, deer hunting season, outdoor users, outdoors, traditional archers | 3 Comments »

Twitter Holds Exciting Possibilities At SHOT Show 2012

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Jim Braaten

Let’s face it…if I was to poll my Facebook friends I would guess less than five percent own a Twitter account. Of that dismal number, my guess is even a smaller percentage really understand the social media concept of “tweeting,” “following” and as far as “hashtags” go—let’s not even start that discussion.

But it’s such a shame. Twitter is an awesome social media tool that has possibilities reaching far beyond our current imaginations. And few places or events have the necessary ingredients to maximize the effectiveness of Twitter than at the annual SHOT Show where thousands of exhibitors, dealers, manufacturer reps and media converge.

Certainly the only event that comes to mind as having better exposure for Twitter than SHOT is the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) also held in Vegas. Not only does this show attract the so-called geeks that would obviously have a stronger affinity to use this technology, but CES annually itself attracts nearly 150,000 people to the Las Vegas Convention Center. In fact, just registered media alone typically attracts three times as many media individuals as does SHOT. (side note: CES begins its annual show this week—one week before SHOT in 2012)

But my intent is not to compare numbers between SHOT and CES, per se. Each event stands largely on its own. Yet, if you look at a typical list of names who use Twitter at the CES it’s pretty impressive. Consider this list of nearly 500 tweetin’ individuals compared to the overall attendance at CES and it still represents a number less than one percent of total attendance. The point is there’s plenty of room to grow and for those people who have invested in learning, understanding and using Twitter, their pay-back potential can be huge.

Times Are A Changin’

Back during the fall of 2009 my very first tweet consisted of announcing what I was cooking the family for supper on the grill. Yeah, I know, rather boring I agree. But then several months later, and still a newbie at this Twitter game, I tried to connect with people at the 2010 SHOT Show on a more professional level. As I recall, there might have been, at best, 30 or 40 of us tweetin’ fools talking about the show that year.

Then, in 2011, I saw the number increase substantially. If I was to render a guess, I would say there were approximately 200 people talking about the 2011 SHOT Show and using the #SHOTshow hashtag. Now, that’s not to say more people might not have talked about the show last year…but if the hashtag doesn’t get used within their tweets they have virtually no readership, but for their followers.

This year I can already tell things are going to be much different at SHOT…and I dare say exciting for those of us who thrive using Twitter. The hype over this year’s show began several weeks ago on Twitter and I have to believe it will crescendo into raw excitement by the time the show finally opens its doors next week.

Honestly, if you are new to Twitter I can’t teach you how to be savvy using the social media forum within a single blog posting. Yet, that’s one of the great things about Twitter. People need to understand that you can learn and discover what people are saying on Twitter even if you don’t want to actively participate.

Over the next week or so readers with limited experience using Twitter should remember this link: #SHOTShow (note: if this link doesn’t work on one browser, try a different one) By clicking, it will provide you an opportunity to eavesdrop on what those of us are actively doing, saying and experiencing while at SHOT 2012. By reading our tweets I hope it eventually inspires greater participation in this social media forum to discuss important matters about hunting, shooting, etc. Seriously, the learning curve for using Twitter is not that great to overcome.

As always, if you want to follow just what I am saying on Twitter, or perhaps you want to connect and follow me, you can use the following link: www.Twitter.com/jim7226 I promise, now 2 1/2 years into this Twitter experiment, occasionally my tweets get a bit more exciting than announcing what I’m planning to eat for supper.

Tags: SHOT+Show, Twitter

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues, Events, Web/Tech | 3 Comments »

So, What’s This SHOT Show All About?

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Jim Braaten

First off, let me say that for everything OFFICIAL you’ll need to discover about the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show I must direct you HERE.

Now, for the “unofficial” take on this extravaganza. Let me tell you…the gathering is truly like no other on the planet. Oh, I’ve heard foolish people talk about going to this sportsman’s show or that convention…but I guarantee that every event of its kind pales in comparison to SHOT. In fact, as far as commercial trade shows go…the SHOT Show has grown to become the 13th largest North American trade show, according to Trade Show Week magazine back in 2009. That means hunting, tactical and the firearms industry is very big business.

Another interesting fact is during SHOT’s 34 year existence, Las Vegas has hosted nearly half of all shows with other notable venue cities being: Dallas, New Orleans, Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, San Francisco and St. Louis. That being said, seven of the past ten venues have been in Vegas and both the 2013 and 2014 shows are scheduled for Vegas, as well.

The SHOT Show floor is always a busy place.

Okay, enough statistics and background. What I don’t think many people fully grasp is how SHOT is a trade show and the public is restricted from attending. I so often hear people say something like, “one of these years I have to go to the SHOT Show.” Good luck with that! Several years ago you might have been able to pull that off…but not anymore. The National Shooting Sports Foundation who owns SHOT has gone to great lengths to ensure only bona fide trade attendees gain access. This became especially noticeable last year as security in the registration process ramped up making it necessary to prove credentials to gain show access.

Think about it. The exhibitors want a qualified audience of buyers, industry reps and media to maximize their time and benefit from the show. They don’t need hallways filled with gawkers there only for their own personal interest. I hand it to SHOT, doing a better job regulating who can attend ultimately ends of benefiting all qualified attendees. So, not to burst any bubbles here…but if you want to someday attend SHOT you will then need to somehow become part of the trade industry in which the show caters to.

The enormity of SHOT is too difficult to comprehend without pictures.

My first SHOT Show was back in 1989 when it was held in Dallas, Texas. To this day I remember my reaction walking into the exhibit hall for the first time. My eyes grew big…my heart pounded a bit faster…my palms got sweaty…and the emotion I had to fend off was feeling totally overwhelmed. The best way to equate walking into SHOT is like a kid walking into a large candy store. In so many ways if your passion is hunting and the shooting sports THIS IS YOUR HEAVEN!!

During the course of the four days the show runs you’ll see more equipment than a person could ever comprehend is made for the industry. Consider this. You’ve probably seen how Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops’ master catalogs are several inches thick. Well, now consider that really only the cream of the crop of outdoor products usually appears for sale by these retailers. In other words, SHOT is everything the shooting and hunting industry represents. From the small 10’ booth selling a specialty gizmo you may never see marketed by the big retailers to the large expansive booths by brands well known by everyone in the hunting community…SHOT has them all.

And that being said…if you’re serious about making a living within the hunting or shooting industry I truly do not know how you can skip attending SHOT. If you’re a dealer it’s imperative to check out the new products and to pre-order goods at special low SHOT Show pricing. If you’re an industry rep…the networking and contacts you will make are basically all in one place waiting for the connection. If you’re media…whoa! Networking with peers, discovering new story angles, reporting on the latest products, and yes…even marketing yourself to editorial buyers who expect to see you there if you’re a legitimate player in the outdoors industry.

Ah, yes…the good ol’ SHOT Show. If ever there was a heaven on earth for those of us with a passion for hunting and shooting it would have to be at this show. Every year I think four days is plenty of time to navigate the show…then I realize how in reality there is just too much to do and see that no amount of time is truly adequate. If you’re a person working behind the booth as an exhibitor…then day four perhaps seems like an eternity away. Yet, for those of us walking the isles trying to see as much as we can and meet the contacts we’ve scheduled to connect with…well, there’s just never enough time to visit all 1,600+ exhibitors in attendance.

Showing "Media Day At The Range" held the day before SHOT officially opens.

Indeed, the SHOT Show is a spectacle that deserves to be experienced in-person by everyone. And while that’s not possible for the reasons I’ve already explained…most readers of this blog must rely on us poor media hacks to report on what we are discovering at the show.

During upcoming blog posts leading up to the January 17^th opening of SHOT, I’ll be blogging on various topics to provide more background on how this show requires special preparation. In the meantime, if you have any questions about SHOT please don’t hesitate to ask.

Tags: SHOT+Show

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues, Events | 1 Comment »

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Posted on January 2, 2012 by Jim Braaten

It’s no secret how sometimes in this world where we hunt, fish and trap there are folks who vehemently oppose what we do. This I understand and I attempt to be tolerant of the fact they see things differently than I do. And on occasion those of us who communicate the sporting experience get hate mail. Mostly, it’s just some innocuous drivel where the sender is trying to vent by getting some issue off their chest.

Yesterday, I received such a comment, and while I don’t often share them, I think occasionally we can learn something from their communication effort. In this case it was a comment made to a blog I posted back in 2009 where I made mention how ammunition prices could be rising due to the precious metals market at the time. Enjoy the read:

“Sir, with all due respect, i hate you. I hate you and everything you stand for. The NRA is nothing but a band of war criminals. I wish my Earth Mother Godess would smite the world of all weapons and bullets that kill her children. I pray your bullets become as expensive as diamond so you cannot use your weapons to shatter poor mother earths crust ever again.” ~Love Peacehope

This sender claimed to use an address from a major animal rights organization, but I was not able to verify the source. Yet, that really doesn’t matter. And quite honestly, when I receive content like this the person spewing forth such hatred really doesn’t matter. More importantly, the name they used Love Peacehope is totally a misnomer given the vile words they attempted to communicate.

So, why even give this person any recognition whatsoever in this blog? Well, I considered hitting the “delete” button more than once. Quite frankly, it is apparent the two of us would never see eye-to-eye on such matters. But the more I thought about things I do see some value in such commentary opposing what we talk about on this blog. Will or could it ever change the way I think…HELL NO! Perhaps quite the opposite as it strengthens my resolve to continue my sportsman ways.

Yet, even when people so harshly oppose the very core of what you believe in and do as a person it makes me do some introspection to further cement my personal beliefs. In my heart of hearts I know which one of us is misguided on this matter. When I carry out my sporting traditions ethically and with great care I absolutely find no dishonor in my actions. Furthermore, I can establish with the utmost certainty how the money I’ve spent on license fees, Pittman-Robertson taxes, and charitable donations to conservation organizations have done great things for wildlife that even Ms. Love Peacehope can now enjoy.

In closing, here is what I say to folks who might take issue with this blog and leave comments similar to the one above. I always listen to you. I have great tolerance for you even when you say despicable things that might sometimes threaten me or even my family. I will never hide in fear behind silly names because I am not a coward.

And quite honestly why should I be fearful. I took my own advice back in 2009 purchasing plenty of ammunition to supply my firearms for some time to come. Oh, and by the way…the next time you care to leave a comment on this blog sign your REAL NAME and constructively add to the discussion or you can expect a quick “delete.”

Filed under: Current Outdoor Issues | 1 Comment »

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