Notes from the Front Lines

Sorry for a couple of day's absence...vicious intrusion of the Real World. I may do some Wednesday Gun Porn this afternoon...I'll bet you'd like a look at the new little Detonics' blaster, which does, in fact, feel better in the hand than virtually any of the small 1911s. I've also got to go into Boulder and visit my FFL guy, who tells me there's "product waiting."

In the meantime, a couple of things that caught my eye this morning:

From Daytona Beach, a little tidbit about hookers who've had enough:

Women involved in prostitution in Daytona Beach, Fla., have reportedly armed themselves and are searching for a serial killer behind the slayings of three residents.

"Rather than run from the man police labeled a serial killer, streetwalkers here in Daytona Beach along Ridgewood Avenue say they are seeking the serial killer out," Local 6 reported Tarik Minor said. "They believe the man responsible for murdering three women here is someone they have come in contact with."

"We will get him first," streetwalker Tonya Richardson said. "Yeah, we are going to get him first. When we find him, he is going to be sorry. It is as simple as that."

Good for them! Those of us in the self-defense side of the industry sometimes overlook the fact that self-defense is a basic human right for everyone. If you catch him, girls, you might want to consider turning him over to the law, however...

I've been doing some heavy reading over the last few days, media kits from some of my erstwhile competitors. For those outside the loop, a "media kit" is the pitch package to potential advertisers. The reason I've been sunk in this is I've been outlining SHOOTING GALLERY's Recommended Products Program.

What I'm going to do is have me and our experts pick products we recommend. Those products can then carry the "SHOOTING GALLERY RECOMMENDED" tag. The deal is that the "Recommended" designation is NOT FOR SALE! Companies can't buy our recommendation — it only goes to products we use and can personally recommend.

My rationale here is that we're talking about products that might be used in a life-or-death situation. I'd be more than happy to sell out if the product was, say, Jello or high-end sneakers. In fact, if any sneaker companies (or Jello, for that matter) are reading this, give me a call and I'll sell my butt lickety-split.

But we're talking about guns here. We're talking about products that are associated with shoot-outs. Suffice to say that I believe we in this industry have a moral and ethical responsibility when we recommend product and/or training to be aware of the "what ifs." The SHOOTING GALLERY Recommended program acknowledges that responsibility.

Upon reading through media kits, I found myself amazed at what other people were willing to sell — about 25% more than your average high-end call girl. At least hookers only sell their bodies...apparently some of the "professionals" in this industry are willing to sell their names, their endorsements, whatever they have to sell, as long as the bucks are there. I find it pretty repulsive.

SIGH...I guess that means I'm never going to be able to sell out for the big bucks! Crap, there goes the Lexus!

Oh, one of the biggest secrets in the industry right now is the status of ShootingUSA on OLN. According to show host Jim Scoutten, in an e-mail to me, the show is "evolving, not ending." OLN has jerked the show around pretty badly as that network begins moving in a different direction — think hockey & Survivor reruns — and rumors coming out of the network said the shooting show would not be renewed.

Yeah, we're competitors, but it's not like the airways are flooded with shows about shooting. The loss of one is a Bad Thing. Good luck on that "evolution," Jim!