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Negative Gunshow Commentary Feedback

Not everyone agrees with me about needing a new Gun Show Promoter.  Here is a guy that just isn’t getting what I was driving at.  He’s one of the crotchety dealers I must have seen selling overpriced guns that don’t meet a fraction of the value being asked:

It is possible to overdo it. However, sales are better, and shows last longer, if there’s a certain amount of merchandise for spouses and kids. The “All we allow is guns” shows suck dead donkeys, and are run by humorless losers who clearly doubt their masculinity.

My tables are right next to the guy roasting the fresh almonds and fudge. It draws traffic like nobody’s business, and also means more money for the show, not the fairgrounds food concessionaire, who sells better than average but still overpriced crap.

Why should dealers bother sticking to guns when you’re going to bitch just as much about their product? “Waah, waah, they didn’t have what I liked, and some of them don’t share my expertise or taste!” You want the gold nuggets, you have to put up with the moss-covered sandstone. That’s how the game is played.

And if you don’t like beef jerky, you’re just not a man. Not to mention raping a sterling with a wuss-length barrel and an EoTech. Grow up, Mall Ninja.

Here’s a thought: Why don’t you stop going if you don’t like it?

You want to know who’s killing the shows? Look in a mirror.

Really?  So your only real defense regarding all the Junk was that it was bringing more traffic pass your table?  So people were not going to your booth… but just by it so they could get to the snacks.  So, if people are going to the Almonds and Fudge booth – why are you not selling Almonds and Fudge?  Because you obviously don’t think people are going to these things to see GUNS.  Guess what… They are.  That’s the draw.  That is why people are paying the 10 bucks to get in.  To see guns.  Guys want to see cool firearms and have a chance to buy them.  This is why you see mostly guys, and not mothers with kids in tow pushing shopping carts. It’s called a Gun Show for crying out loud.  How thick do you have to be to not get that?  It’s not the Fudge and Almond show.  People paid money to see guns.

You are not getting what I was talking about… Let me use smaller words and I’ll talk slower and louder.  I want the Gun Show to be a Gun Show.  Well, actually, I would like it to be a Consumer Oriented version and not a Dealer Oriented version of the SHOT Show.  Well, you probably don’t know what that even is as they don’t have Crystal Figurines and Indian Princes Fantasy Art.  So let me break it down to you… Shooting… Hunting… Outdoor… Trade.  Basically everything having to do with those key things… Outside shooting and hunting.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy beef jerky.  I even enjoyed the almonds.  And I got a wonderful Strussel for all the Crusader Guys.  We all agree, it was good.  Not exactly fresh, but it was good.  But that’s not what I went to the gun show for.  Oh, I like good food.  I am surprised that no one has done a BACON Booth.  Candied bacon, BBQ bacon, Spicy bacon… I mean, if you don’t like bacon, you probably prostitute yourself in downtown San Fran working a glory-hole to satisfy that void in your soul for not being a real Gun Show Guy according to your own failed logic.    But that’s not what I am talking about.

I want to see something better than a Junk and Food Show.  I’m talking a real gun show where the draw isn’t the bloody almonds and fudge.  But everything having to do with the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoors trade.   Get it?   Apparently not. That’s because you are entrenched in the stagnant lameness that is a gun show and are offended at the idea of change.  You are afraid that if they don’t have Fudge, no one would go to your dusty old table.  I can understand that.

And you want to talk smack about the Sterling?  Really?  The 16 inch barrel is necessary because that classifies it as a rifle. A simple 9mm Rifle according to the State of Utah and the ATF… so we can have the folding stock and all that goodness with no special paperwork, no six month background processing and no $200 dollar tax stamp for a Class III gun.  (Do you even know what that is, Fudgy?) This allows any Citizen to legally and easily buy a Sterling as easy as it would be to buy your ruined, bubbafied, .303 Enfield for 380 bucks when it’s only worth 25.   The great thing about the Sterling – if you knew anything about it – is that the owner can then, in his own time and pleasure, process that paperwork on his own and then he could drop in an original short Sterling barrel, trigger parts and have a legal real honest to Rat Patrol looking British Sterling.  The Optics Mount, was done per customers request, and can be added or removed just as easy as the barrel.  For anyone clever enough to position his booth near the Fudge, or could field strip a 1911, could add or remove the mounts at whim.  And if you actually fired some guns once in awhile instead of letting them collect dust waiting for some Almond Muncher to glance at it – you would know that shooting and hitting is more effective with a good quality optical gun sight. Some customers have made note of that, and inquired about, and we provided it.  See, we want to give people what they want, not hoping someone is bored enough to look over your wares while waiting for their almonds.

Maybe you should open up a Bacon Booth.  But if you do, I get 20%. But I doubt you could pull it off, because you obviously lack vision and imagination.

(Actually, that’s a damn good idea.  “WORLD OF BACON”.  Hell, maybe I should open up that booth!)

The Gun Show

Crossroads of the West Gun Show… We had a great time at the Crusader Weaponry table.  We really did.  Sold a ton of Slipstream, which was great.  Interestingly, one of the biggest draws was the Sterling.

Walking around the Gun Show, I found that half of it was total bullshit.  Fake indian jewelry, Jerky, a freaking bakery, china, and assorted flea market crap that in my opinion should all be boosted out of the gun show.  The gun show promoters, the Crossroads of the West group – they themselves are ruining the ancient tradition of the gun show.  I know the show has to fill the tables, but they need to outreach to the dealers and guys actually in the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoors Trade.  And don’t let in anyone else.  No Beef Jerky, no jewelry… No Fuzzy Slippers.  Yes, there was fuzzy slippers.  WTF?

The other thing ruining the gun show are the old standby grouches.  “Look but don’t touch” grumps that come out to every gun show and have tables full of crap.  I saw several SMLE Enfields… Classic .303 British rifles.  All in the same condition, but prices going from 79.99 to 380 bucks.  One .303 for 380 bucks was totally ruined by a 12 year old’s attempt at Sporterizing it.  Okay, I don’t know if a 12 year old did it – but it looked like it.  I looked at it, and said “Are you serious?”  The guy grumbled, “Price is negotiable.”  “Really?  I’ll give you fifty bucks.”  The man didn’t answer, but he knew that I knew that I should have wrapped that barrel around his neck.  The gun was just flat ruined and he wanted a beyond what a collector condition rifle would have been worth.  These guys… they are killing the gun show.  The fastest way to clear out a 50 foot radius in a Gun Show is to throw down a copy of an gun values Blue Book.  All those dealers would scramble to get away from it.

I watched people get totally taken… Yet I saw a couple guys get some real steal deals… Like a Winchester shotgun for 60 bucks.  Read that again.  A Gem.  It’s kinda like Gold Panning… lots of dirt with an occasional nugget in there.

We need a new gun show promoter in Utah.  Because there were people there walking around that should have had booths.  Fitzen Knives, Jager from Ops Gear.  They were browsing… they saw it.  Yet they wouldn’t be bothered putting up a booth at the current gun show.  We need a gun show that has these guys saying “We’re Not Missing It.”

 

Gun Show

Crusader business is going to be the priority… But I’m going to be on the prowl for a couple items:
Glock, in 10mm.
S&W 4″-5″, .44 mag.
My Rock River is going up for sale… So Joe can build me a Crusader.  And maybe something else.  But I want a handgun I can hunt with.  I don’t need a .460, but a 5″ would be slick.
Also, bringing out a few copies of Uprising USA, for sale and autographs.

Police raided HK?

I don’t have the link, but The Blaze reported that HK was raided by German police. Charges of bribing Mexico.
Ah… It’s Mexico… That’s how you do business there. If you don’t, you don’t get anything done. It’s pay for play down there.

Favorite Carmageddon Moment.

I’ve posted about favorite car movies and chase scenes… But I’ve never brought up this one.

Now, I am not a huge fan of George Looney Clooney, but he does a great job in this film  “The Peacemaker”.  In this scene, we have a car chase up to the point that Clooney says “Screw This” and turns the table.  He stops running and then uses his big Merc as a warhammer and demolishes the two little Bimmers that are chasing him.  You almost feel sorry for the little guys.  Almost.

 

Nicole Kidman spends a lot of time showing off how good her bottom looks in slacks. Eh, pretty good actually. The rest of the movie is fun, but not to be taken seriously. Nicole’s character is the least believable out of all of them. Oh, I also like the scene when Clooney jumps from chopper into the truck. That’s good stuff.
So, what is your favorite Carmageddon Moment?

This week on WeTheArmed…

Interesting things this week on WeTheArmed.com.
First off, WTA Staffer “Khorne” has started his newest book (he has a ton of them) in the R&R/Creative Writing section. It’s untitled at the moment… it’s the thread called “Historical/fantasy/horror“.

Next up.  Taurus has made a Max Brooks approved handgun.  The thing about zombies, is that they are little threat alone or in small groups. The first group, this gun could handle.  But gunshots attract even more Zeds.  And that’s where this gun would leave the owner up crap creek.  In short, Taurus has made a Zombie Gun that would be the last such gun you would want in case of Zombies.

In the Shotgun Section, Winchester’s new Blindside load has been called into question.  I shot this load at the Media Range Day at SHOT last January and was able to smoke more clays than I had ever been able to break before.  Local shooters have confirmed good results as well, save for one fell who reported similar results to Deathrider1579’s.  So it seems Blindside is a Love it or Leave it shell.  I think to play it safe, I’d stick with Federal’s BlackCloud.  Really, why would we need anything else for knocking feathers out of the sky?  I even suggest including it in your tactical kit to extend your shotshell reach.

There are a lot of gun forums out there… come check out WTA.

Aging Eyes.

As those close to me know, I’ve had issues with my eyes since about September 2010.  Specifically my right eye… and specifically going blind in it.  It’s been getting better and it’s now doing just fine.  Today I spent some time at the Optometrist.  I am pleased to report that my eye is back to full health with good blood flow and it’s only just like any other guy my age. Which means the lenses in my eyes are slightly cloudy, which is usual, and I have a hard time focusing far and near, again usual… and my eye’s astigmatisms are about the same.  The downside though is that while I don’t need bi-focals now, I will probably need them next time I come in.  So later next week I’ll be able to pick up my new glasses, with new frames, and I’ll bet much of my headaches will be remedied.

Growing old sucks.

The Litany Against Fear

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

The Bene-Gesserit “Litany Against Fear”… I say this when I am dealing with great pain.  I know this sounds stupid, but when I recite this in my head, usually by the third or forth repetition I am back in control and can continue with what I am trying to do… such as standing up on a broken ankle, or other severe mind-numbing pain.    I said this when I shattered an ankle.  I said this when I took a round to my vest…

I also said this before I shot a 298 at the MAG-40 class.  It’s not necessarily about fear… but more about focus.  I can’t explain it, but it works for me.  It might work for you too.