Chairman's Message:

Looking Forward to Grapevine

It’s that time of year again, we’re excited to officially open registration for the 2025 NASGW Expo, returning this October 15–17 at the stunning Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas. Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or considering your first trip, this year’s Expo promises fresh opportunities, familiar faces, and the kind of focused, meaningful business conversations that only NASGW can deliver.

If you’ve been around NASGW for any amount of time, you know the Expo isn’t just another industry event—it’s where business gets done. It’s where conversations happen, deals get inked, and long-term relationships are formed or strengthened over a handshake and a shared mission to move the shooting sports industry forward. This year, I think it’s going to matter more than ever.

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FEATURED ARTICLES

2025 Expo Registration

NASGW Expo registration is now open! As mentioned before our process has changed a bit this year as we are using a new vendor to help us manage registration. Exhibitors will purchase badges through an exhibitor portal, similar to last year, however any staff members that you will be purchasing badges for will need to be included in NASGW's membership database. For non-exhibitor attendees, each individual should have received an email with your unique registration code. If you have yet to receive your registration code, please reach out to Kelly Kipping, NASGW's Member Service Director (staff@nasgw.org). We look forward to seeing you all in Grapevine this October.

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Sponsor

NASGW Expo Hotel Blocks Are Now Open

Along with Expo registration, the hotel room block at the Gaylord Texan is available for you to make your reservations. The Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center is the host hotel for the 2025 Annual Meeting & Expo. All hotel reservations will be processed through our authorized housing bureau, Orchid Events. Hotel reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served, space available basis. Submit your request as soon as possible for the best opportunity of receiving your hotel choice.

REMINDER: Please do not book rooms through any other third-party hotel solicitations via email or phone calls. Hidden fees, restrictions or no cancellation policies are typically associated with unauthorized room solicitations. If in doubt, please contact mpawelski@nasgw.org or staff@nasgw.org.

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Q1 2025 Shooting Sports Industry Overview & Strategic Business Recommendations

The first quarter of 2025 paints a picture of an industry working through a challenging—but not unexpected—correction phase. After several years of elevated demand driven by pandemic-era dynamics and geopolitical volatility, the market is continuing to normalize. Compared to the same period last year, most major categories—including firearms, ammunition, and optics—saw notable declines. However, it’s important to keep perspective: Q1 2025 performance still outpaces 2019 levels, which many in the industry recognize as the last “true baseline” before the disruptions of 2020 and beyond.

While the current year-over-year comparisons can feel discouraging on the surface—firearms shipments are down 7.5%, ammunition down 39%, and optics down 11%—much of that contrast is against artificially inflated benchmarks. Q1 2024, for example, benefited from a temporary surge in demand tied to the Israeli-Hamas conflict, causing an outsized spike in retail and distributor activity.

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Firearms Turn-Ins, Worse than Useless?

Once again, Chicago has provided a cautionary tale in gun control. This time the city helped to illustrate the futility of gun turn-ins – sometimes incorrectly termed “buybacks” by those under the misimpression that all property originates from government.

On April 4, the Chicago Sun Times published an item titled, “‘Where is the Glock?’ Gun turned over to Chicago police wound up in the hands of a teenager.” The piece opened by describing a December 2023 gun turn-in held at the St. Sabina Church in Chicago’s Southside.

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2025 Q1 SCOPE Report is Now Available

This quarterly update provides a timely snapshot of distributor shipment data and key trends shaping the shooting sports industry in the first months of the year.

As a NASGW member, you can access the Overview Report—included with your membership—by clicking the button below. For those seeking deeper insight into regional distribution, category performance, and product segmentation, the Detail Report offers a more comprehensive analysis.

The Detail Report is free for current SCOPE subscribers via the SCOPE portal, and available for purchase to NASGW members who are not currently subscribed. It is also provided at no cost when scheduling a demo with the SCOPE team.

Firearms

Ammunition

Optics

Stay Up To Date on Current Bills Impacting the Shooting Sports Industry

With President Trump’s new term underway, legislative activity impacting the firearms industry is accelerating at both the state and federal level. As new bills are introduced and debated—from Second Amendment protections to regulatory and tax proposals—it’s critical for industry professionals to stay informed and proactive.

The NASGW Bill Tracker is your trusted resource for monitoring legislation that directly affects the shooting sports industry. This tool provides real-time updates on proposed, pending, passed, and defeated legislation across all 50 states and at the federal level. Whether it's new firearms regulations, ammunition restrictions, tax changes, or supply chain policy shifts, the Bill Tracker helps you stay ahead of developments that could shape your operations.

Sort bills by progress, category, state, or year to quickly access the information most relevant to your business. In today’s uncertain economic environment—marked by inflation, trade tensions, and ongoing scrutiny of firearms-related legislation—awareness is your first line of defense.

Click below to access the latest legislative updates and see how pending bills may affect your region and sector.

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ARTICLES OF INTEREST

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 13, 2025

NSSF Marketing & Leadership Summit

Clearwater Beach, FL

June 23-25, 2025

POMA Annual Meeting

Oregon, OH

October 15-17, 2025

NASGW Expo

Grapevine, TX

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