2000 SHOT SHOW
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS

LAS VEGAS -- Record setting attendance and extremely strong sales highlighted the 22nd annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) SHOW, which turned out to be the largest and one of the most successful SHOT SHOWS ever.

Happy to be back in Las Vegas, exhibitors and retailers were upbeat throughout the four-day event at the Sands Expo & Convention Center January 17 - 20. With 10,784 buyers filling the show on the first day--a record number -- sales were strong right from the opening bell.

Total attendance for the Show was 29,607, a number that pleased organizers who had been forced to move the show at a late date to Las Vegas. The move occurred after scheduled host New Orleans filed a lawsuit against firearms manufacturers. Of the total attendance, there were 16,745 dealers -- nearly 3,000 more than the previous year -- and 10,738 exhibitors. The remainder consisted of media representatives and guests. There was a total of 2,894 international buyers and exhibitors.

The show also set a record for the number of pre-registered attendees, which was 19,145, more than double the amount of last year's show in Atlanta. 

"This show continues to build on the history based on all of the previous successes," said Steve Hornady of Hornady Manufacturing. "It was a real bin-buster." While at the show, Hornady was named the industry's Man of the Year by SHOT Business magazine.

Yet another attendance record occurred in the press room, where 1,353 members of the outdoor and general media were registered to cover the event. The media included national television news crews from ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, as well as journalists from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press.

"This successful SHOT SHOW proves to any that would doubt it that our industry is in very good shape and is thriving despite considerable challenges we face," said Bob Delfay, president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which owns the SHOT SHOW.

Despite inconveniences created by the last-minute move of the show and fears that the Sands Convention Center was too small to adequately house the largest shooting and outdoor trade show in the world, industry representatives had nothing but praise for the event, which covered 465,600 square feet of floor space to earn the distinction of largest SHOT SHOW ever.

               

One of the record number dealers was Larry R. Smith of Trader's Gun Shop in South Carolina, who said, "I spent two days buying and I am worn out."

After a stroll through the show's New Products Center, which highlights products released in the last 12 months, Rege Kostrub of Vinay's Gun Shop in Homestead, PA, said, "This year's new products are incredible."

As always, the SHOT SHOW had its trademark polished and professional look to it, and that prompted Olympic gold medallist Kim Rhode to comment, "Notice the aisles are clear and the booths are filled. I think that makes for a great show." Another observer, world champion IPSC shooter Todd Jarrett, said, "Uplifting, can you believe the show traffic?"

Strong sales covered the entire spectrum of the show, from firearms to accessories to apparel. "We sold hard from opening day until the middle of the third day," said David Robinson of Columbia Sportswear. "We never had a moment to rest. It's been a killer show."

At the state of the Industry meeting on opening night, industry leaders provided an overview of the progress being made in the municipal lawsuits, new programs to promote the shooting sports, and the creation of an industry political action committee to accept and administer political contributions. These aggressive responses to challenges facing the industry were greeted with loud applause. The evening's guest speaker, former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson, put the industry's mission bluntly, "Take part or get taken apart."

From the look and success of the 2000 SHOT SHOW, everyone involved in the shooting hunting and outdoor trade industry has decided to "Take Part."

Bill and I had the "misfortune" of having to go to Las Vegas, ( a little sympathy please) for two good 'ol country boys having to deal with Las Vegas and all the lights, slot machines, fantastic food and all, just to make certain our customers would be able to get the best and most modern big boy toys available. Also, we had to endure the fanfare and cash from three (3) Royal Flushes on the video poker machines, as efforts for two nights of Casino studies.

On the serious side, we did more walking and looking at the Convention Center, than my lazy body was accustomed to. We hope that these efforts will only help our product knowledge to help our customers.

In a more serious tone, I for once did more listening than talking, and one thought that had been in my mind for several months, took a much more solid form.  It had been in my mind for some time, that the Y2K threat was a much deeper running worst case scenario, that had been thrown at the Freedom loving people of this country.

The press and media never came straight out and said that a move toward gun confiscation was going to happen, but with all the talk of Martial Law, and moves against Terrorism, made it seem something was going to happen.

 I truly believe History will speak highly of this generation, because one prominent theme from dealers all over the U.S., and the World, was that the People, yes that silent majority, that seldom speaks, did do one thing-----They went on a War footing, they bought not just food and water to support their families, BUT RECORD AMOUNTS OF GUNS AND AMMO TO PROTECT THOSE FAMILIES------GOD BLESS AMERICA---NOT IT'S PRESENT GOVERNMENT-----Allen R. Repp