Here we go again. If you recall, the ATF, unfortunately, has a history of backpedaling pre-established decisions and interpretations of the law and later changing their minds. The Bump Stock Ban is a great example where they took a pre-established firearm accessory and changed the narrative to claim that they are now considered machine guns. If you want to refresh your memory read my analysis of the bump stock ban. Recently news has broken from Congressman Gaetz about the ATF’s secret brace ban.

SIG Sauer GmbH, based in Eckernförde, Germany, is to close down. According to German media outlets, SIG Sauer GmbH’s shareholders are unwilling to invest further funds in the struggling European arm of the company.

The US Marine Corps has recently undergone a top down doctrinal reevaluation of its future role. As part of these changes in the make up of the Corps have been planned and now a brand new initiative has also been launched – Marine Corps Systems Command’s Program Manager for Infantry Weapons has begun a large-scale modernisation program to increase the lethality of the Marine infantry squad.

In December 2019, we reported that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces had completed evaluations for both a new service pistol and rifle. It was announced that they had selected a 5.56x45mm rifle developed by Howa and the Heckler & Koch SFP9. Today, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces unveiled their new weapons and confirmed that the rifle will be designated the Type 20.

Earlier this month we reported that Europe’s IWA OutdoorClassics trade show had been rescheduled due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. IWA was originally postponed until September 2020, but was subsequently cancelled and is now scheduled to be held in next March.

Earlier this week we reported that the US Army had issued its first OTA for the Next Generation Squad Weapon Fire Control optic to Vortex Optics. We now learn that L3Harris Technologies has also been awarded an OTA.

Despite the Coronavirus pandemic the US Army continues its Next Generation Squad Weapon program and has issued an OTA (or Other Transaction Authority) award to Wisconsin-based Vortex soliciting them to produce a prototype Next Generation Squad Weapon-Fire Control (NGSW-FC).

Europe’s IWA OutdoorClassics trade show has rescheduled again. Originally slated to take place last month it had been postponed until September 2020 but this years show has now effectively been cancelled.

If 2020 is a roller coaster ride, the ammunition market is that one part of a track with a huge incline and nothing but blue sky in front of you. Our friends at  National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NAGSW) are getting the initial data on the COVID-19 ammunition market Spike we saw last month. In the first quarter alone, the value of ammunition shipments doubled the entire FY 2019 value. The value of firearm shipments increased by $50M in comparison to the same week in 2019.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently published the essential critical infrastructure workforce in an attempt to provide guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting business shutdowns. In the breakdown of businesses that meet the criteria as essential to commerce and infrastructure, the firearms industry is mentioned specifically as “Workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges”. The guidance is non-binding and the firearms industry is mentioned in the ‘law enforcement, public safety and first responders’ subsection, however, it does not state whom they can or cannot service.

With state and local governments actively trying to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are resorting to classifying businesses as either essential or non-essential for emergency closure orders. In some states, firearms businesses have been labeled as non-essential and ordered closed. A local Kansas City, Kansas Order has all of CZ-USA closed until at least April 23, 2020. The company expects production and shipment delays to be inevitable.

By executive order, the Governor of New Jersey has shutdown the NICS Check system that allows for the sale and transfer of firearms in the state. The NICS check shutdown effectively eliminates all commercial and private transfers of firearms in New Jersey. In addition, judicial processes in the state have been basically frozen, limiting proceedings to critical needs only. Any possible legal challenges to the NICS check system closure in a time of a “non-essential business shutdown” appears to be impossible.

I know what many of you are thinking right now: “Pete, this is a major crisis, no one cares about your g*ddamn short barrels, silencers or vertical fore grips!” That’s where you are wrong, friend. In these times that try men’s and women’s souls, the things that bring us joy are even more important. While you wait for that incubation period to pass, you don’t need an additional timeline weighing you down. Have no fear, our friends at the American Suppressor Association are reporting that the ATF’s NFA Division are processing NFA applications at a standard pace. Insert joke about the ATF, NFA timelines, the $200 ransom and the Constitution here.

We are navigating some strange times my friends. Of all the items I would have expected to disappear from store shelves in a time of crisis, toilet paper is close to last on the list. Am I missing something? Does COVID-19 feast itself on the light and fluffy paper that lives on cardboard tubes?

In light of the current Coronavirus pandemic the NRA have taken the decision to cancel the their 2020 annual meeting. The meeting had been scheduled to take place next month in Nashville, TN, between April 16th – 19th. The NRA annual meeting is one of the shooting industry’s most popular events with hundreds of exhibitors and tens of thousands of people set to attend, with this in mind the NRA have decided that in the interests of public health it is best to cancel this year’s event.

The legal and leadership team at SIG Sauer have announced a victory today in a patent infringement case brought forth by Steyr Arms. The claim, as described in a complaint filed in the Northern District of Alabama in 2017 had previously alleged that SIG infringed on Steyr’s patent #6,260,301. The “301“ patent claim took aim at the plastic frame and metal trigger housing module that is characteristic of the SIG P250 and P320 handguns.

Following the postponement of the 2020 IWA OutdoorClassics and Enforcetac trade shows, due to fears surrounding the Coronavirus outbreaks, the shows’ organisers have announced the rescheduling of the show for September 2020.

IWA OutdoorClassics 2020, Europe’s largest outdoor and firearms trade fair, has been postponed. The event was due to take place on 6-9 March, at the NürnbergMesse convention centre in Nuremberg, Germany. ENFORCE TAC, a defence and security trade show which preceeds IWA OutdoorClassics (on 4-6 March), has also been postponed. Although the announcement states the events will be rescheduled to later this year, there is no update on when this may be.

Full Conceal, who made big waves by releasing a foldable Glock, is releasing its newest foldable Glock, the M3D-S6. Why S6? Because it will be offered for sub $600. Sub 6. S6. You get it. Still based on the Glock 19 Gen 4, the M3D-S6 offers 21+1 rounds of 9mm in a folding package not much bigger than a cell phone.

Okay. It looks a little odd. But I am actually super impressed by Tandemkross’s new chassis for the Ruger PCC, the Upriser. It adapts the Ruger PCC to take a standard AR-15 buffer tube and stock, along with an AR-15 grip. It also comes with a bunch of quality of life improvements to Ruger’s already excellent PCC.

Dillon Aero, makers of the M134D Minigun that is currently in service with the US Military, has come out with a new force multiplier. The Dillon Aero 503D is a tri-barrel 50-caliber rotary machinegun. It is entirely configurable for use aboard helicopters, boats, humvees, or armored vehicles. In other words, it’s a really, really big gun.

Sons of Liberty Gun Works, a boutique AR-15 manufacturer, has introduced the Broadsword at SHOT 2020. The Broadsword is a Precision Rifle Shooting focused AR-15. It is specifically designed as a law enforcement marksman rifle, that excels at short range high-pressure engagements.

Well known and highly regarded for their drop-in AR-15 and AR-10 triggers, CMC has now moved into the rimfire world. Their newest offering is a drop-in trigger pack for the Ruger 10/22. Guys I’ve gotta say I’m really excited about this.

Fiocchi, well known for its high-quality ammunition to suit whatever your need, has at SHOT unveiled its newest line of ammo. The Blue Guardian series is designed as defensive and duty ammunition for both civilians and law enforcement.

At SHOT today, ELEY, the well-regarded makers of 22LR precision rifle ammunition unveiled their first foray into centerfire cartridges with both a 9 Major offering and a 38 Super Comp offering. ELEY has a long history of making high-performance precision cartridges for competition, and they’re bringing that expertise to centerfire cartridges. Competition shooting was at the forefront of both rounds design, with an emphasis on USPSA and IPSC matches.

Well, that title is a little gibberish-y, but I promise it’s completely accurate. At SHOT 2020 today Safety Harbor is showing off its newest product, an AR lower designed specifically to work with both the Grand Power Stribog upper and Glock magazines at the same time. It is almost, but not quite, an AR-9 lower that’s been modified for the Stribog. As I’m sure you are all aware, the first question anyone asks about any new gun that takes a pistol caliber cartridge is whether or not it takes Glock magazines. Well, now the Stribog does indeed take Glock magazines. As long as you’re willing to buy the Safety Harbor lower for it.

Armaspec is known for its recoil management systems, especially their Stealth Recoil Spring. They also manufacture a variety of other AR products, including magwells, safety selectors (ambidextrous of course), extended mag releases, and so on. Today, at SHOT 2020 Armaspec’s booth was showing off their brand new Rifter Linear Muzzle Brake. Through the use of internal channels, the sound moves forward, away from the shooter. Importantly, it also sends the sound and concussion away from anyone standing off to the side. The ports on the top of the shield control the gas and help to both mitigate muzzle rise. Additionally, they direct recoil back toward the shooter. Gasses move through the aforementioned interior channels in order to delay their expulsion.

MAC, LLC, the Mississippi-based lightweight polymer tech specialists, have won a $10 million indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity contract to provide the US Marine Corps with uptp 2.4 million rounds of hybrid polymer/brass-cased .50 calibre ammunition. The contract will allow the USMC to evaluate the new ammunition in user trials

SIG Sauer have announced that their light weight medium machine gun, the MG 338, has been purchased by US Special Operations Command (US SOCOM). The guns weigh under 20lbs and are chambered in .338 Norma Magnum giving the gun an effective range out to 2000 metres. The gun uses a short-stroke gas piston system and SIG Sauer’s proprietary recoil mitigation system, it can also be re-chambered to 7.62x51mm.

About a year ago we reported on the possibility of easing the burden on Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders in terms of the International Trafficking of Arms (ITAR) regulatory requirements. ITAR for FFLs is inherently confusing: while dealers usually aren’t required to obtain an ITAR license, manufacturers can be subject to the regulations, even if they have no plans to export any products. For a small FFL manufacturer who mainly engages in gunsmithing or builds a few guns, a $3,000 fee for not exporting a single item can cut into their bottom line.