NASGW Announces the Nominees for the 2025 Appreciation Awards

The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) and its wholesale members are proud to announce the nominees for the 2025 Appreciation Awards. Each year, these prestigious awards recognize the top optics, accessory, ammunition, and firearms manufacturers, along with the leading importer and innovator, who demonstrate exceptional commitment to two-step distribution and deliver outstanding service and value to the industry.

Wholesaler members cast their votes based on four key criteria:

• Distribution policy

• Marketing, sales, and promotion

• Logistics and operations

• NASGW and industry support

This comprehensive evaluation process ensures nominees reflect the highest standards of performance and partnership in the shooting sports industry.

NASGW & POMA Announce the Finalist for the 2025 Caliber Awards

The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) in partnership with the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), has chosen the top three products in seven categories including Best New Rifle, Best New Handgun, Best New Shotgun, Best New Ammunition, Best New Optic, Best New Accessory, and Best New Suppressor. An independent panel of 18 industry judges, comprised of NASGW members and POMA members, selected the finalists in each category. In order to qualify, manufacturers needed to be a NASGW member in good standing and the product must have been publicly released after November 1st, 2024. 

"Once again, it was another strong year for Caliber Awards submissions," said Kenyon Gleason, NASGW president. "When the market gets tough, this industry innovates. There was a variety of really great new products and ideas to pick from this year, making the voting challenging to select just one product in each category."

Join Us for the Annual SCOPE Update at the NASGW Expo

This year’s session will showcase SCOPE 2.0, including the new dashboards and reports designed to deliver more actionable insights. These enhancements are the direct result of feedback from our Partner + meetings with SCOPE users, ensuring the platform continues to evolve around your business needs.

You’ll also hear a market update from NASGW’s Director of Data Programs, Tom Hopper, and see firsthand how the latest SCOPE tools can help you make faster, more informed decisions.

Have You Downloaded the NASGW Expo App Yet?

Make the most of your time at the NASGW Expo by downloading the official Expo App. Available now on iOS and Android, the app puts everything you need right at your fingertips—from the full event schedule and floorplan to exhibitor details, the New Product Showcase, and more. Whether you’re an attendee planning your meetings or an exhibitor updating your profile, the app is your go-to tool for navigating the show with ease.

Open Carry Comes to Florida

On September 10, the First District Court of Appeal of the State of Florida struck down the Sunshine State’s prohibition on open carry as a violation of the Second Amendment in the case McDaniel v. Florida. Enacted in 1987, the same year Florida became a Right-to-Carry state for concealed carry, the open carry statute (F.S.A. § 790.053) had provided that, with minor exceptions, “it is unlawful for any person to openly carry on or about his or her person any firearm or electric weapon or device.”

The court’s decision rested on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the NRA-supported case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022). In Bruen, Justice Clarence Thomas’s opinion made clear that in order for a firearm regulation to survive a Second Amendment challenge, “the government must demonstrate that the regulation is consistent with this Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”

Rule Change Rolls Back 

The Firearm Industry Trade Association, hails the Revisions of Firearms License Requirements Final Rule posted in the Federal Register by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). The Final Rule rolls back the export restrictions for firearms and related ammunition and components. The BIS determined that the Interim Final Rule, published by the Biden administration, should – and will – be rescinded in its entirety.

NSSF led the effort to repeal the export restrictions imposed by the Biden administration. NSSF worked diligently to ensure firearm, ammunition and components manufacturers and exporters were properly represented in opposing the IFR. NSSF worked closely with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the Trump administration to remove these onerous, overreaching and punishing export restrictions that did not improve public safety in foreign countries and only served to starve U.S.-based businesses by eliminating the ability to compete in global markets. The Biden-era export restrictions cost the firearm industry an estimated $500 million in lost business annually.

Big Changes to SCOPE in SCOPE 2.0

As you all prepare to head to Texas for the NASGW Expo, keep in mind that big improvements are right around the corner with the upcoming release of SCOPE 2.0. The next generation of SCOPE delivers updated reports and dashboards designed to provide even more actionable insight to help guide your business decisions.

Don’t forget to join us for the Annual SCOPE Update at the NASGW Expo, where we’ll officially preview these enhancements and walk through how SCOPE 2.0 will empower your business with smarter data tools. Be sure to reserve your spot today!

With legislation like the State Assault Weapons Ban Act (S. 359) currently under consideration, it’s more important than ever for shooting sports businesses to stay ahead of policy developments. The NASGW Bill Tracker is your go-to resource for monitoring Federal and State legislation that could impact our industry. From proposed restrictions to regulatory changes, NASGW members can quickly access and sort relevant bills to understand where things stand—and what may be coming next. Stay informed, stay prepared.

Google Eases Community Guidelines, Will Gun Content Eventually Benefit?

With the free speech debate recently co-opted by one TV host’s use of false and incendiary remarks about his political opponents, it might have been easy to miss another important First Amendment story last week. Alphabet, home to Google – which in turn owns YouTube – announced that it was easing its “Community Guidelines” around material dealing with COVID-19 and the integrity of the 2020 presidential election. Along with allowing a broader range of discussion on these topics, it announced that it would provide an opportunity for creators whose accounts were terminated under the old rules to rejoin the platform. While this is welcome news from the host of the planet’s largest digital town squares, it begs another question: When will Alphabet relent on its clampdown of firearm-related speech?

Alphabet’s change of heart follows a House Judiciary Committee investigation of the Biden-Harris administration’s attempts to pressure tech companies to remove content and creators contradicting the administration’s messaging on COVID-19 and election integrity. A lengthy letter from Alphabet’s attorneys to Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), dated Sept. 23, 2025, detailed Alphabet’s version of events.