From The Editor...
Anyone who has been to a gun shop, sporting goods dealer or gun
show in the last two years cannot have failed to notice that there hasn't
been a lot new theses venues in that time. A number of factors combined
to make the last several years tough times for the firearms industry.
The aftermath of the passage of the Brady Act, which saw those who could
buy purchase just about anything that went "bang" (good news to sellers
at the time, but with the long-term consequence of a slowdown following
enactment of Brady). Finally, the passage of the 1994 Omnibus Crime
Bill, with its "assault weapons ban" provision made a bid dent in the
manufacture of firearms--none of them "assault weapons." Handgun
manufacturers who had geared up in the '80s to make big guns with large
magazine capacities, were now scrambling both to make smaller guns with
magazines of 10 rounds and under, and convince people who had previously
been able to buy higher capacity guns that the "new" guns were worth the
investment. And, finally, an uncertain economy with very little
disposable income available, made people postpone purchases.
Firearms consumers were confused by the whole thing, and waited
for someone to come out with something truly new, which unfortunately,
took a while.
In the Spring of 1995, smith & Wesson introduced their first
Sigma, in .380, with a polymer slide and frame. Glock debuted the models
26 and 27 that summer, both of which, while meeting the new 10-round
capacity law, accept the older, larger capacity magazines from Models
17, 19 and 22, a bonus for the legions of Glock devotees who already
owned on of the older models. Slowly, other companies brought forward
compacts, such as the Kahr 9, into the semi-auto market.
Revolver makers took a different tack; since semis were now
limited to 10 rounds, they decided to increase the capacity of some of
their products , producing guns with seven-, eight-, and finally 10-round
cylinders.
Late last year, the firearms industry began to feel a little
better about business, and we began to see more introductions, not just in
firearms themselves, but in related products, especially ammunition.
Lest anyone think the industry is going to neglect the women's
market, it should be noted that two major introductions made late last year--
one by Glock of their Models 29 and 30 and the other by Federal Cartridge
Corporation of their new Personal Defense (tm) Ammunition--included
invitations to WOMEN & GUNS to cover the debuts. It is also a fitting
tribute by both manufacturers to the depth of knowledge and writing
skills of the women invited to both events--Gila May-Hayes. Gila's
coverage of the Federal line appeared in last month's issue, and her
exploration of the Glocks is coming as soon as she has the opportunity to
give them a full workout, including the rigorous 5-in-5-at-5 test.
Gila and I had our annual sitdown at the 1997 SHOT Show at the
end of January. The "sit down" portion was most welcome as the SHOT Show
is dauntingly monstrous. (I finally, on day three, took to wearing two
pairs of socks, which kept my hobbling to a minimum.) Both of us were
impressed with the number of introductions and with the positive
attitudes of manufacturers an dealers we had a chance to talk with.
There will be new--really new--things for Gila to discuss with you in the
coming months. And, with the issue, her Personal Trainer column begins a
sequence on the shotgun for self-defense, which I know you will find as
thorough and useful as previous entries in this skill-enhancing series.
I missed seeing Carolee Boyles-Sprenkel in the crush at the
Women's Shooting Sports Foundation reception. I know she's been busy
with work on her book, to appear later this year, on hunting. But, she
too, will have new items to report on. So will Sheila Link, who ran me
to ground in our booth one afternoon and also was enthusiastic about the
variety of introductions. As we sat together she was greeted by any
number of friends who urged her to stop by and visit with them. Our
February issue was available at the show, which featured Sheila's
interview with Kim Rhode as our cover story.
Our two-time Olympic cover girl was a the show, signing
autographs to long and enthusiastic lines. We had planned to get
together, but our schedules kept us apart. I did have a nice talk with
her father, Richard, the very picture of a proud papa. Kim has been busy
with a host of post-Olympic activities, including an incredible amount of
charity work, especially children's charities. And, like any
17-year-old, she's also studying for her SATs and perusing college
catalogs. Richard said she has curtailed her pre-Atlanta training
regimen somewhat, but still took the California State Double Trap
Championship. I expect we will continue to see the achievements of this
young woman in our pages for years to come.
One other W&G alumna was at SHOT--publisher Julianne Versnel Gottlieb.
We hadn't been face-to-face since last fall, even though we talk (and
increasingly, Email) often. What was to be a planned, brief sabbatical
from our back page "Parting Shot" column, has now run longer than either
of us would like. Among her many other hat-wearing activities (and Julie
is one of those people who look great in hats, which is probably why she
has to wear so many) has been that of overseer of postal changes, not just
for this magazine, but for all Foundation business. Like those ducks
pedaling furiously beneath the seemingly-calm water, she's had to manage
the last eight months of new and often conflicting regulations, software,
staff, mainframes, etc., and done her usual great job (wearing, no doubt
her Mary Engelbreit "Oh, No!" baseball cap). The best laid plans of
editors and publishers are subject to all sorts of vagaries, but "Parting
Shot" will return, very soon, I hope. (And in that column's best
tradition: "P.S. to JVH: thanks for the loan of the shoulder, sorry it got
damps.")
The week before the SHOT Show, a chilly Buffalo hosted the 10th
annual American society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET) convention.
Two other W&G stalwarts were in attendance: Lyn Bates and Roger Lanny, I
managed to spirit them away from dinner one night, which as the first time
we had all been in the same place since I first met them in 1990.
Dinner was pleasant, the conversation and company great, even if
my tour guiding skills were not up to par.
Both Roger and Lyn had good ideas for new projects for these
pages, that you will also be seeing in the coming months.
I had the good fortune to observe most of Lyn's class dealing with
teaching women law enforcement recruits shooting. The audience--made up
mainly of men whose job it was to teach others the skills required, were
attentive and many gathered around Lyn after the session to ask further
questions. Lyn used a number of slides in her presentation, and one was
particularly instructive: if featured a male officer's duty belt
festooned with all of the accounterments many officers now carry: holster
and gun, baton, spray, walkie-talkie, flashlight, etc. Below the image
was one of a female officer's belt, which could not have supported that
much gear. Obviously, all women are not the same as each other, let alone
the same as their brother officers. Lyn mentioned the opportunity she had
to do a ride-along with some Buffalo officers. One was a woman, who when
they compared hands, seemed to be exactly the same as Lyn; however,
during their discussion, Lyn found that while the officer was comfortable
drawing and shooting her duty gun, it was not a model which comfortably
fit Lyn's hands.
I hope Lyn's "Defensive Strategies" column in coming months will
highlight some of her other remarks, especially her views on the language
differences between men and women and how it could impact training. And,
if you ever get a chance to take a class Lyn is giving, be sure to do
so! In case you think I'm tooting our own horn, unprompted, a friend who
had attended some of the ASLET sessions mentioned that a fellow law
enforcement professional had told him Lyn's course was the most useful
he attended during the event.
Our editors appear poised to report and instruct on a number of
subjects--new and old--to you this year and I hope you will stay tuned
and enjoy their expertise.
