Good afternoon, I’m Mike Golden, CEO of the Smith & Wesson Company,
and one of the authors of the NRA Membership Drive that Wayne referred to. Some of us in the shooting
sports industry have formed an ad hoc committee to assist the NRA during this important time because we
see a serious challenge to 2nd Amendment rights, and believe that the NRA has proven to be the most
effective representative for the 80 million U.S. firearms owners that they serve.
The committee is made up of the manufacturers, distributors and retailers listed in the press kit –
each of them is concerned about the mounting challenges to our hunting and shooting traditions. Also
attending this conference today are over 100 leaders and employees of various industry companies who
share the same concerns, and wish to demonstrate their commitment to American heritage values. They
represent the ½ million employees of shooting sports and outdoor products companies whose future
depends upon the outcome of the political struggle that Chris described.
As Wayne mentioned, the committee was formed last Winter at an industry event during an informal
discussion on the state of the industry and the NRA’s role in it. Despite some popular misconceptions
that the NRA is solely a political force, we in the industry know that the NRA is out front on safety,
training, and education areas as well; and is a leading sponsor of competitive shooting, child safety,
women’s training, police shooting competitions, and veterans programs like the U.S. Veteran’s Endowment
and the U.S. Veterans Honor Roll of Freedom.
In short, the NRA represents the needs, and defends the rights, of honored veterans and America’s
millions of gun owners --- that in total comprise nearly 40% of all voting age adults. As an industry that
supplies the products and services that these shooting sports enthusiasts need to pursue their passion, we
believe that NRA represents the hunter and sport shooter’s interests well, and deserves our full support.
To launch the NRA membership drive, we have marshalled the forces of the industry companies and believe
that we can get the important message of NRA support to most of the nation’s shooting sports enthusiasts
repeatedly over the next 6-12 months to accomplish our stated goal of:
Dynamic NRA Membership Growth.
You will see our “Insure Your Gun Rights” message in scores of magazines, on dozens of television shows,
on numerous radio programs, on at least 100 web sites, in brochures and posters in retail stores, and in
mailings --- all with the focused message that joining the NRA is the right choice for hunters and shooting
sports enthusiasts in 2008.
In total, our plan will deliver in excess of 100 million consumer impressions of this message and achieve our growth goals by early 2008.
Next Fall, as the national elections approach, you will see us continue to support the cause by evolving the message to encourage the shooting sports community to “Vote” their sport.
In summary, we would like to again acknowledge the contribution of
all of the shooting sports community in organizing this important
campaign, thank the NRA for representing the hunter and sport shooter
so well, and solicit all of you to support this campaign to protect our
shooting sports heritage.
The NRA is mainstream America
It represents the heritage of a father teaching his son or daughter a
lifetime passion, or a soldier who has served the country’s needs in a far-away land.
It supports the education and training programs that can keep our families safe,
and the law enforcement professionals who defend them.
And it aggressively defends our 2nd Amendment rights.
We in the shooting sports industry are proud to be associated with such an organization and are
dedicated to helping it thrive by delivering our simple message to millions of hunters and shooting
sports enthusiasts:
Insure Your Gun Rights
Join the NRA – Today
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