I wanted to take a minute to bring to your attention a couple things in this issue of InSight that I think are relevant to a lot of companies on our mailing list. I know we’re all busy watching the absolutely remarkable situation in Washington, D.C. right now, but here’s a couple things that maybe haven’t caught your attention because of all that.
First, I want to talk to distributors and manufacturers alike about a change in the parcel market that is going to impact the cost of shipping items. Both UPS and FedEx have apparently updated their dimensional surcharges for items over 48 inches. The costs are and can be significant. If you’d like to reference the specific changes, here are links to the 2025 Service Guides for both FedEx and UPS. Search either document for “48 inch” or “handling surcharge” and it will take you to the relevant information about package surcharges in both. Beware, they are both very large guides.
FedEx Service Guide
UPS Service Guide
FedEx and UPS are justifying the extra charges based on the fact that they require more manual handling. There are many boxes in the gun community that are over 48 inches long. But not by much. And many of those boxes, if reconfigured, could be reduced in length considerably.
So what can be done… well, the ask here is that manufacturers and distributors work together collaboratively to reduce the dimensions of the boxes whenever and wherever possible, to make sure that money can be saved on the shipping of items. If new packaging can be developed, everyone will win and shipping fees can be minimized.
The second item I want to bring to your attention is a hearing held February 5, by the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. It’s been a long time since the idea of “debanking” has been a topic given much consideration in Washington, but thanks to the efforts of many industry supporters, the issue was top of mind in Washington, D.C. today.
Here’s a link to the committee’s hearing page, where you can listen in to the full conversation: https://www.banking.senate.gov/hearings.
One of the speakers at today’s hearing was a good friend of NASGW, Mr. Mike Ring, who’s the President, CEO and Co-Founder of Old Glory Bank. All of you who’ve been at our Expo for the past couple years will know that Old Glory Bank has been a major sponsor and partner with the NASGW. And why not, they’re making themselves known as a bank that will take care of you and your banking needs, even though, and maybe specifically because, you are a 2nd Amendment related business.
Ring and other witnesses were able to shine a very bright light on the rampant regulatory discrimination that has been leading to thousands of cases of unwarranted discriminatory banking situations. If you have been around this industry for a while, you’ve certainly heard the horror stories of your colleagues and competitors facing debanking simply because they are in the gun industry. Today’s hearing put some sunshine on this horrible practice of discriminatory banking and will hopefully lead to greater support for fair and honest banking practices for all legal people and businesses.
One final note on the fair banking… Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), with 40 co-sponsors, has introduced the Fair Access to Banking Act, S. 401. The legislation, if passed, will help end the discriminatory lending practices of major banking institutions and prevent regulators from pressuring banks to “debank” industries they may believe to be unfavorable. Instead, the legislation would require banks to provide access to services based on objective financial risk assessments that have nothing to do with their political leanings.
If you get a chance, please contact your senators and ask them to support the legislation. It will be a huge win for fairness and for our industry companies who’ve been facing financial discrimination.
Until next time,
Kenyon Gleason
NASGW President