NSSF praised South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden for signing Senate Bill 2, which deregulates suppressors in the state. The law was signed at Silencer Central with NSSF Board member Brandon Maddox and NSSF's Moriah Day present, removing suppressors from the state's controlled weapon definition.
Wiley X announced the appointment of Cory Uehlein as Vice President of Marketing & Digital. In this role, Uehlein will lead the company's comprehensive marketing and digital strategy, driving brand growth and customer experience across all channels.
Kovix, a premium titanium suppressor manufacturer, relocated its headquarters from Lake Norden, South Dakota to Kalispell, Montana. CEO Luke Hanson stated the move enhances team synergy and positions the company more centrally for operations while maintaining seamless customer service.
ATF Deputy Director Robert Cekada, President Trump's nominee to lead the agency, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and pledged to focus on violent crime while protecting Second Amendment rights. The NSSF expressed strong support for Cekada's confirmation, praising his three decades in law enforcement and commitment to not burdening lawful gun owners.
RetailBI released its January Firearm Sales Index showing a -6.2% decline compared to January 2025. Gearfire's RetailBI provides data-driven retail performance metrics using point-of-sale transactions from over 2,000 U.S. firearms retailers, offering manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accurate consumer demand insights.
Silent Steel USA announced Kim Jensen's appointment as Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Jensen brings over 30 years of outdoor industry experience, including 20+ years at Robinson Outdoor Products and recent leadership at X-Vision Optics, to drive brand awareness and channel partnerships for the premium suppressor manufacturer.
Todd Seyfert, President and CEO of Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., has been elected to the NSSF Board of Governors at the 2026 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Seyfert brings extensive industry experience from previous roles at FeraDyne Outdoors, Vista Outdoor, and other manufacturing enterprises.
HeadHunters NW President Shaylene Keiner will conduct face-to-face executive recruiting consultations in the Phoenix area from February 10 through March 5, 2026. Organizations can meet directly to discuss 2026 hiring needs, gain market intelligence on talent expectations, and develop customized talent strategies with no obligation required.
Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing announces Anne Mauro as director of special events and technical services specialist. Mauro, an NRA Certified Advanced Shotgun Coach Level 3 and 2025 NRA Golden Bullseye Award recipient, brings extensive experience from roles at Syren USA, Caesar Guerini USA, Fabarm USA, and Blaser Jagdwaffen GmbH.
Beretta USA kicked off its 500-year anniversary celebration at the 2026 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, featuring an exclusive Range Day with over 200 media members, Team Beretta ambassadors, and partner brands including Sako, Tikka, Burris, and Garmin. The celebration unveiled a limited-edition Beretta x Garmin MARQ® Commander watch and a commemorative medallion designed by the Italian State Mint, with anniversary events continuing throughout 2026.
GunBroker.com and Master FFL announced a collaboration to improve firearm transfer processes. FFL licensees are encouraged to claim dealer profiles through Master FFL to ensure accurate information, reduce manual steps, and support more efficient transfer workflows for online transactions.
The 2026 SHOT University, presented by NSSF, attracted over 3,100 retailers and industry professionals during SHOT Show. The event featured comprehensive sessions on compliance, marketing, and workforce development, plus a debut Suicide Prevention Town Hall led by mental health advocates. NSSF continues education year-round through SHOT University Online with on-demand compliance and business modules.
Silencer Central supports South Dakota legislature efforts to deregulate suppressors by removing them from the state's controlled weapons definition. The bill, which passed the South Dakota senate unopposed, would eliminate Federal Stamp requirements. Silencer Central and the National Shooting Sports Foundation are working across 17 states with similar suppressor regulations to advance comparable legislation.
Seven governors including Jim Pillen, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Greg Gianforte, Joe Lombardo, Mark Gordon, Larry Rhoden, and Brad Little pitched their states' pro-Second Amendment policies at the 5th Annual NSSF Governors' Forum at SHOT Show 2026, with Montana's Gianforte highlighting recruitment of firearm manufacturers and South Dakota's Rhoden praising Silencer Central's Brandon Maddox.
RetailBI, powered by Gearfire, released its 2025 Shooting Sports Executive Report showing same-store new firearm unit sales declined 13% year-over-year. The report, built on point-of-sale and eCommerce data from over 2,000 U.S. firearms retailers, reveals continued demand compression and ongoing inventory correction across the shooting sports industry.
FastBound has launched TraceDesk, a compliance tool designed to help Federal Firearms Licensees respond to ATF firearm trace requests through FFL Direct while maintaining audit trails and limiting data collection to legal requirements. The platform modernizes trace management by replacing phone, fax, and email workflows with a centralized system that integrates with FastBound's compliance platform or operates standalone.
Thomas Thacker has been named Chief Executive Officer of Azimuth Technology, effective January 12, 2026, succeeding co-founder Len Zaiser IV. Thacker, a firearms industry veteran with 30+ years of experience, previously served as Chief Operations Officer and held senior positions at Ammo Inc., Armalite, and FN America.
Orchid announced its Winter ONEderland Promotion running January 10–February 20, 2026, offering FFLs up to $10,000 in software credits. The company introduced Orchid POS Spark, a cloud-based solution for startup and small retail FFLs at $99 monthly, and will exhibit at Camfour Dealer Show, NSSF SHOT Show, NBS Spring Market, and Sports Inc Outdoor Show.
Brian Hedeen, President of Viridian Weapon Technologies, discussed the company's Weapon-Mounted Camera system on iCrime with Elizabeth Vargas, highlighting how the purpose-built law enforcement tool captured crucial evidence in a Vernon, Texas case that led to successful prosecution.
Range USA, the nation's largest indoor gun range and firearm retailer, contributed $25,000 to NSSF's Protect Liberty PAC to support candidates dedicated to preserving Constitutional rights and Second Amendment protections ahead of the November 2026 election.