The Army has released a pre-solicitation contract request, a Pentagon procedure to determine if anyone is interested in bidding for work on a replacement for the [...]]]>

The M-16 and its variants have been a soldier’s companion and lifesaver for almost 50 years. Now the Pentagon is looking to replace the venerable rifle.

The Army has released a pre-solicitation contract request, a Pentagon procedure to determine if anyone is interested in bidding for work on a replacement for the M-4 carbine.

“If the air conditioners are broke, they would rather repair them or they’re just going without it because they can’t afford to repair it,” said United Electrical Systems owner Tim Toole.

The owners are the first to admit they’ll do [...]]]> In a non-descript warehouse, practically on the railroad tracks is a struggling small business.

“If the air conditioners are broke, they would rather repair them or they’re just going without it because they can’t afford to repair it,” said United Electrical Systems owner Tim Toole.

The owners are the first to admit they’ll do almost anything to stay alive.

“If I had to wear a monkey suit and walk up and down the street and I thought it would bring in business, I would do it,” said Jim Harden.

If they had to give away shot guns to bring in business, they’d do it and they are.

“We’ll run a background check and if we approve them, we will give them a shotgun,” said Harden.

A Remington Model 870, 12 gauge shot gun – for free with the installation of a brand new air conditioning system.-[source]

Dick Dyke, the former owner of Bushmaster who bought it out of bankruptcy in 1976 from [...]]]> With Bushmaster Firearm’s sudden announcement last week that it will close March 31 and lay off 73 employees in the process, the property’s owner, state and local leaders are scrambling to replace one of Windham’s best-known and most successful companies.

Dick Dyke, the former owner of Bushmaster who bought it out of bankruptcy in 1976 from a Bangor start-up and grew it into one of the most successful and recognizable military and civilian gun makers, is working behind the scenes this week with local legislators and the governor’s office. The group hopes to either find new employment for Bushmaster’s employees or bring another company into the 60,000-square-foot facility located in Dyke’s Windham Business Park, off Route 302 in North Windham.-[source]

Established as a quiet operation 32 years ago in Windham, Maine, the family-oriented [...]]]> As part of the one of the world’s largest group of firearms and ammunition marketers, Bushmaster Firearms still hasn’t grown too big to remain supportive of popular target-shooting activities like the CMP’s National Trophy and Games Matches.

Established as a quiet operation 32 years ago in Windham, Maine, the family-oriented company grew steadily over the years and in 2006 caught the eye of Wall Street giant Cerberus Capital Management who purchased the company. Former owner Richard Dyke said at the time that Bushmaster had grown to the point where it needed someone with deeper pockets to manage its potential growth.

Since then Cerberus has formed a holding company, the Freedom Group of Companies, which is a now a Who’s Who in the firearms, ammunition and accessories industry including Remington, Marlin, Bushmaster, DPMS Panther Arms, Harrington & Richardson, New England Firearms, L.C. Smith, The Parker Gun, EOTAC, INTC and Barnes Bullets. -[source]

Each scout that participated on the conservation [...]]]> The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF) and the Crosman Corporation have partnered to offer boy scouts from across the nation and around the world special passports that guides them through the 17- acre conservation trail that is part of the Boy Scouts’ National Jamboree.

Each scout that participated on the conservation trail will receive a small passport with that allows them to get stamps from all of the different stations that they attend while travelling through the trail.  At each station, the scout will be shown another facet of the many ways in which wildlife and nature are conserved in this country.

The first National Jamboree was held in Washington D.C. in 1937.  Over the years it has grown from 25,000 scouts in attendance to between 40 and 50,000.  This year’s National Jamboree also celebrates the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th anniversary.

Throughout its history, Crosman has helped support a variety of conservation and youth causes.  One of the largest is supplying all of the air rifles used by the Boy Scouts of America during their National Jamboree gathering.  Crosman has also been an indispensable partner for seven years with the USSAF and its Trailblazer Adventure Program which has turned into the largest outdoor education effort in the nation.  Later this year, Trailblazer will reach a major milestone of its own by having its one millionth participant.-[source]

The [...]]]> Legislation brought before the state senate recently, known as the microstamping bill, has generated quite a bit of publicity. The measure is gun control under the guise of crime prevention. I voted against the bill and am pleased to say it was pulled from the senate floor after failing to garner enough support for passage.       

The legislation (senate bill 6005) would mandate the use of a patented, sole-source technology called “firearms microstamping,” that would, in theory, imprint the make, model and serial number of the firearm onto the cartridge case when a gun is fired. Proponents say this will help police track down criminals who use a gun in commission of a crime. However, the sad truth is that this is nothing more than a smokescreen.-[source]

Workers at the plant in North Haven say they’ve been told all 265 employees will lose their jobs.

Jessica Kallam, a spokeswoman with [...]]]> NORTH HAVEN, Conn. — Marlin Firearms Co., a 140-year-old company which made a gun that was a favorite of Annie Oakley, is closing its Connecticut plant, company officials said Friday.

Workers at the plant in North Haven say they’ve been told all 265 employees will lose their jobs.

Jessica Kallam, a spokeswoman with Madison, N.C.’s Remington Arms Co. Inc., which owns Marlin, said the Connecticut plant will close by June 2011 and employees would be offered severance and help finding jobs. She said Marlin is relocating its manufacturing operations to an undetermined site.

She read a company statement that says Freedom Group, which owns Remington, must reduce its costs to remain competitive.

“Although long term prospects of the business look positive, economic factors beyond Freedom Group’s control related to increasing costs and pricing pressures within the firearms industry are impacting the entire Freedom Group of companies,” the statement said.

Remington Arms bought Marlin for nearly $42 million in 2007.

Marlin’s Web site says John Marlin opened the company in 1870 in New Haven after having worked at the Colt plant in Hartford during the Civil War. The company says its lever action 22 repeater was a favorite gun of Annie Oakley. – [source]

The Remington parkerized shotguns, with fourteen inch barrel, modified choke, Wilson Combat Ghost Ring rear sight and XS4 Contour Bead front sight, Knoxx Reduced Recoil Adjustable Stock, and Speedfeed ribbed black forend, [...]]]> The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) intends to purchase sixty Remington Model 870 Police RAMAC #24587 12 gauge pump-action shotguns for the Criminal Investigation Division.

The Remington parkerized shotguns, with fourteen inch barrel, modified choke, Wilson Combat Ghost Ring rear sight and XS4 Contour Bead front sight, Knoxx Reduced Recoil Adjustable Stock, and Speedfeed ribbed black forend, are designated as the only shotguns authorized for IRS duty based on compatibility with IRS existing shotgun inventory, certified armorer and combat training and protocol, maintenance, and parts. – [source]

Who still thinks these won’t be used to tax the middle-class?