Wyoming governor Matt Mead has signed legislation allowing the state’s hunters to use suppressors for hunting.

According to the American Silencer Association, 39 states now allow the tools for hunting.

Virginia is one of them.

This is a sensible law.

What is a big thing we always hear when the Sunday hunting debate comes up? “Gun shots are disturbing!”

Well, anybody who has shot a suppressed deer rifle knows that it’s not silent. Heck, even a suppressed .22 (my buddy has an awesome squirrel-hunting rig) makes a little noise.

But suppressors do reduce the report. Not enough to avoid spooking game (as some opponents say), but enough to reduce the amount of noise your neighbors will hear (Perfectly illustrated in this image by photographer and blogger Oleg Volk) and enough to reduce potential damage to ear drums for those who shot a lot.

Is there a downside to suppressors for hunting? Well, the Wyoming Game Wardens Association opposed the legislation saying that it could give hunters an unfair advantage over game  and that it could make it more difficult to stop poachers.

The first argument is a non-starter. As for the second, I’m going to stick with what I’ve heard Virginia’s conservation police officers say: Poachers will be poachers. A new law doesn’t suddenly turn a law-abiding citizen into a criminal.

Do any of you hunt with suppressors? Let’s hear about your experiences.

Congratulations to the Franklin County High School air rifle team.

The 13 shooters took the title at Air Force JROTC national championship match over the weekend at Anniston, Ala.

The Eagles topped 163 other teams. You can read Duncan Adams’ full story from The Roanoke Times HERE.

The shooters use Crossman Sporter class air rifle, shooting at targets 10 meters away from prone, kneeling and standing positions.

Kudos to the Eagles and their coach, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Tracey Carter!

I didn’t get to see the entirety of Piers Morgan in  Gun Country on CNN last night, but caught snippets as I was trying to get the kids to bed.

Tactical Firearms in Katy, Texas, hosted Morgan. The men at the shop were quite polite and not at all condescending. They allowed him to shoot several different firearms at their range. And they gave him a chair so he could interview Texas attorney general Greg Abbott and the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent.

Actually, the exchange with Nugent wasn’t really an interview.

Now, some might take issue with the gun shop for even letting Morgan — who is one of the most vocal anti-gun media members out there — into their shop. You all know how I feel. I think it’s great. I call this Taking the High Road.

You know that there is less than a ZERO percent chance of Morgan going in there, firing off a few rounds and saying, “Hey, this is kind of fun. Now I get it.”

Oh, well. He shot the guns.  He (hopefully) learned a few things. It might have planted that “OK, I can see how people enjoy this” seed. Or maybe not.

But it can’t hurt. Again, the more people on all sides of an issue interact, the more those people should learn about each other.

As for Nugent, he’s about the 180 degree polar opposite of Morgan. He’s out there. So you knew it was going to be interesting. ( If you missed it, check out parts of the clip here.)  But unlike some gun people I’ve seen on national TV during this whole thing, the Nuge is darn smart. He made good points without coming off as a nut job. (I’m guessing some may disagree with me on that one!)

From what I’ve been reading today it seems many gun rights folks are thinking Nugent more than held his own. But I bet gun control people probably feel the same about their man.

Watch the clip and let us know what you think.

If I had some extra cash, the Browning BAR Short-trac Hog Stalker in .308 would be on my short list.

As I worked this week on my Firearms FAQ (it ended up being firearms 101), one thing that became clear was that offering a firearms primer for non-shooting general public in 1,000 words is tough. As I told my wife last night, “You need a book.”

I have gotten one mild complaint this morning. A reader wished I had pointed out the difference between “magazine” and “clip.” I wrote that magazines are sometimes called clips. That’s accurate. But the two are different and I know it’s an annoying pet peeve of some firearms folks to hear magazines called “clips.” But as I pointed out to this reader, who was nice about it, if you go to the firearms glossary at the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s website and look up “clip,” the definition is “See magazine.”

Anyway, please give my piece a read if you get a chance and feel free to offer suggestions on other items and issues that I and others who cover firearms should keep in mind as we write about this for the general public.

Clearly this Smith and Wesson M&P 15 in .300 Whisper caliber is an assault rifle, right? Nope.

We’ve been talking for a few days on this blog about the Harrisburg show’s cancellation.

After spending some time at the Virginia Huntfest on Friday I felt the show’s cancellation was worth my writing about for my Sunday column in The Roanoke Times, which you can read HERE, with the added context of having talked about the development with some vendors who planned to be there.

I did get an email from a guy who took exception to the use of the term “assault weapon” in the headline. I am with him. Writers can suggest headlines, but we don’t write them. (Paper designers are better at it, generally, and also have to work with certain length requirements.)

In an email discussion with my editor and the copy editor who wrote the “hed,” the copy editor pulled up links to a bunch of other news stories that also included “assault weapon” in the headlines. This wasn’t an argument, just a case of someone using a term they assumed to be appropriate because, well, everyone else is using it, too.

I don’t dispute that the term is ubiquitous. What I do believe is that it is misused. It might not be technically incorrect. But it’s not technically correct, either. As we have discussed here, just what is an assault rifle? It is the camo gun pictured here, right? Well, the other gun and the camo gun function exactly the same way.

I actually am starting work on something like a Firearms FAQ. My goal won’t be to try to shape opinions, but rather simply to educate readers (who have an open mind and want to know) about the functions of and differences among various types of hunting, sporting and military firearms and accessories.

This isn’t an assault rifle. Or is it?

I have vivid dreams. I mean, really vivid.

Last night one of them involved my being on a quest for a new pistol.

I went to a Roanoke gun shop and sought guidance for something compact.

The clerk said, “I have the perfect pistol for you.”

He dug deep into his cabinet and pulled out this beautiful little Sig Sauer that fit in my palm. It came outfitted with a night-vision scope (that looked like an EO Tech sight) AND a laser sight. It was chambered in .220 Swift. (Interesting pistol cartridge, huh?) And, again, it fit in my palm.

Where did this come from?

Well, I was admiring the Sig P220R at the SHOT Show. But I’m really not in the market for one. (Not really NOT in the market for one, either.) And, obviously, my work yesterday had guns on my mind for most of the day.

Anyway, this was the coolest pistol ever and I was ready to buy it. I said, “How much?”

He said, “$2,200.”

The dream ended at that point.

Pennsylvania’s Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show, known as the Harrisburg Show, is one of the largest hunting- and fishing-related expos in the East.

It won’t be as large this year.

Exhibitors and speakers are pulling out by the dozens  — the list stands at 200-plus and counting — in protest of the show promoter’s decision to not allow the display of AR-style rifles and accessories at this year’s show.

Scheduled for Feb. 2-10, the show was set to have about 1,200 exhibitors.

Show organizers recently announced “not to include certain products that in the current climate may attract negative attention that would distract from the strong focus on hunting and fishing.”

Show organizers said the move affected just a handful of exhibitors who planned to have tactical firearms and accessories in their booths, but the move produced an immediate and vast show of solidarity.

The list of those pulling out includes retail giant Cabela’s, the NRA, celebrities such as Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, and even Olympic gold medal shooter Jamie Gray (picture here). Many of those pulling out are not directly connected to the firearms industry and shooting sports.

Even as the list grows, Reed Exhibitions is sticking by its decision, which was prompted by the negative attention being heaped on AR-style firearms in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy.

Reed is finding out that taking a political stance — and that’s what this is — can come with a hefty price tag.

I do feel for the exhibitors who count on this show for business. Those who stay risk being vilified, and will likely get less business as a result of reduced attendance. Meanwhile, while those who bailed or will bail must now scramble to find other means to reach potential customers.

I apologize for the delay in reporting from the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas. It’s been all work and no play since I hit the ground. Well, maybe a little play, but no gambling.

I had OWAA-related business until about 2 p.m. yesterday, then finally got to hit the floor. Trying to describe the SHOT Show in writing is kind of like trying to describe the Grand Canyon. Words just can’t do it justice. I tell people to imagine the biggest Bass Pro Shops, then multiply the size by 50. And then add a crowd that makes Black Friday look child’s play. This is not a good place if you have claustrophobia or agoraphobia.

I hit just a few vendors yesterday. Today is the busy day.

Last night I attended the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s State of the Industry dinner, where Elvis on stilts hung out during the reception. It wasn’t all “They are coming for our guns!” fire and brimstone. NSSF president Steve Sanetti had a super speech during which he addressed the challenges ahead as our country’s leaders seek to address gun ownership. The concern is that there is a lot of fear and misunderstanding about guns among non-gun owners and politicians, and that media coverage doesn’t exactly help.

There is no way I can capture everything he said in this brief entry. The summary is that the gun industry supports meaningful and sensible rules that keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them while those of us who own and use firearms responsibly shouldn’t be penalized. I feel the same way, of course.

All for now. Off to the show.

The primary weapon used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was reported to be a Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle. The shooter allegedly used magazines that could hold up to 30 rounds of ammunition each. (Photo credit: Bushmaster Firearms)

Some of you have likely read the story we had in today’s Roanoke Times regarding Virginia setting a single-day record for firearms sales background checks on Saturday. If not, you can read the story HERE. (The online version includes fitting headline, unlike the paper version today which was “Giles gun store sees weekend sales boom.” That’s technically accurate, but the boom wasn’t just at Atlas Tactical, who, by the way, deserve credit for being willing to speak with our reporter.)

If you’ve been to a sporting goods, gun or outdoors retail store you probably didn’t need to see the figures. (Background checks up 30 percent over the same Saturday last year.) You’ve seen the crowds at the gun counters.

Christmas is always a busy season for firearms sales. But I don’t think anyone would say that this surge is due only to holiday-related shopping.

The horrific tragedy in Newtown has stirred up more talk about gun control than any incident in recent memory. While high-profile crimes often produce a spike in gun sales, this time it’s different.

Are buyers arming themselves for protection? Maybe a few.

But I think most of us can agree that the impetus is concern that stricter gun control is enivitable. There was some general concern after the 2008 election, and again after this November’s election, which led to big gun sales surges. But my sense is that people see Newtown as a game-changer. I think we’re seeing ample evidence of that as some previously staunch gun rights advocates are publicly saying, essentially, enough is enough. Previously the thinking was, “Stricter gun control may be coming.” Now the thinking might be, “Stricter gun control IS coming so I better buy this while I still can.”

I think most of us will also agree that this is a complicated issue that is further clouded because emotions play such a big part on both sides of the debate. The fact that there is a lot of misinformation, misunderstanding and hyperbole out there doesn’t help. (For example, while there have been a lot of folks jumping on the NRA-bashwagon, I haven’t seen one reference to the number of  lives likely saved by the NRA’s Eddie Eagle gun safety education program, which has reached  25 million kids.)

As another example of misunderstanding, someone I work with said on Monday that he thought that an “assault rifle” was fully automatic. Many people don’t realize that AR-style rifles are, in terms of basic functionality, pretty much the same as that Browning semi-automatic 30-06 your grandpa bought for deer hunting 45 years ago. That said we know there are some differences, such as the adjustability and flexibility with accessories. And there are those high-capacity magazines.

Remington is among the firearms companies that offer AR-style semi-automatic rifles specifically for hunting. The rifles come with four- to five-round magazines, but are compatible with aftermarket magazines capable of holding more rounds. (Photo Credit: Remington Arms)

I am not getting on a soapbox here. What I would like to do is to bring up some of the questions being asked, and get some honest feedback. I do that here because Wild Life readers have proven themselves as being able to participate in rational, cordial debates about some controversial topics.

-If you are among those who have been crowding gun counters right now, what is your thinking? Is it because you feel stricter gun control is inevitable? If so, do you foresee a repeat of the Clinton-era “Assault Weapons Ban”? Or something different?

-Some of you own AR-style rifles. Can you expound on why a regular citizen has a need or even a want to own an AR-style rifle? Hunting? Target practice? Personal protection? Combination? Read more »

Officials in Bristol have announced that Cabela’s will anchor a shopping development in the city.

According to a city press release, construction on the store could start as soon as next summer, with a target opening date of October 2014.

The nearest Cabela’s is a store that just opened in  Charleston, W. Va., about three hours from Roanoke.

There are two Bass Pro Shops super stores within three hours of Roanoke, one near Charlotte and another in Richmond.

Bristol officials are counting on the Cabela’s location to be more than just a big retail store, but for it to be a tourist draw.

That the stores will draw big tourist crowds is often cited by Cabela’s and Bass Pro leaders as they seek store locations, with their decisions often hinging on generous  financial incentive packages. However, some analyses, including one  cited in this recent article,  dispute the idea that  public investment in the large stores is a wise investment.

Here’s the full release from Bristol:

Bristol Virginia Lures Cabela’s To The Falls

BRISTOL, VA – The City of Bristol, Virginia has lured an important anchor store to a new retail tourism site located on 140 acres within the city’s limits. City officials announced today that signed documents are in hand from outdoor outfitter giant, Cabela’s, who will be the first of two anchor stores at The Falls. With 38 retail stores worldwide, the Bristol store will be the first Cabela’s in Virginia.

“Cabela’s has a deep customer base not only in and around Bristol but across the region, people who share our passion for the Great Outdoors,” said Tommy Millner, Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer. “These outdoorsmen and women have supported Cabela’s for a long time, shopped with us via our catalog and online, so it was time to bring them the unique Cabela’s retail experience.”
Read more »