June 6, 2006
Connecticut Post

Americans spent more than $2 billion on guns and ammunition in 2005, showing the nation's fascination with firearms is not fading despite concerns raised by gun-control advocates.
The Newtown-based National Shooting Sports Foundation on Monday touted a U.S. Department of Treasury report that said sales of firearms and ammunition increased by 2.6 percent in 2005, while other federal agencies are finding fewer gun-related deaths and crimes. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Centers for Disease Control have not made statistics on gunshot deaths and firearms-related crimes available for 2005, so the NSSF had to rely on data from 2004 and earlier.

In 2005, Americans purchased 4.7 million new guns, the NSSF said, bringing the estimated total of citizen-owned guns to 290 million. These are legal sales; the number of guns sold illegally is not known.

The U.S. Census Bureau said Monday there are approximately 298 million Americans.

NSSF said handgun purchases showed the biggest gain, rising 3 percent in 2005.

Commentary by Larry S. Moore:

What a great headline. Great news for the economy, the firearms and
related merchandise industry, and great for conservation in the United
States.

I do have to wonder why we didn't hear this on the CBS, NBC or
ABC evening news? Of course, they like bad news, so the headline would
have been reversed to somehow spell gloom and doom or perhaps that this
spending will result in blood once again running in the streets.

Click on 'Read More' for Larry's complete commentary.

By Chad D. Baus

Whenver acting in an official role for this political action committee, I am a one-issue, non-partisan operative. But like most grassroots firearms activists, I am involved on a personal level in many other areas of politics than just advocating for pro-gun legislation.

From being involved in various ways local politics and campaigns to testifying in Columbus on other types of legislation, I have gotten to know my elected officials and they have gotten to know me. That last sentence is something I would encourage everyone who cares about protecting their gun rights to make true for themselves over the next six months. Even if you are a one-issue voter, you can positively effect your one issue by getting involved in campaigns that may seem at the time to have little to do with a particular piece of legislation.

For instance, I recently agreed to be the Fulton County Chair for Rep. Mary Taylor's campaign for Auditor of State. Rep. Taylor is not my district representative, and the office of Auditor has nothing to do with firearms. Yet by supporting this pro-gun candidate, I know that I can positively influence politics on many issues that are important to me as an individual. Additionally, should she be elected to this statewide office, I will have helped one more pro-gun candidate into a prominence that could lead to the Governor's mansion.

Whether or not you have experience in working for political campaigns, I would highly encourage you to seek out a candidate this summer and fall that interests you - even for a municipal, township, or county-wide race - and volunteer to help. Whether or not the race has anything to do with firearms, your time and the contacts you make will pay dividends for tomorrow.