Seems Bank of America no longer wants the business of the firearms industry. It should come as no shock, but that's the gist of a business meeting between a Senior VP of BoA and Kelly D. McMillan of McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, McMillan Firearms Manufacturing and McMillan Group International.

It was supposed to be a routine "Account Analysis" meeting regarding McMillan's business accounts with BoA. In the course of that short meeting, McMillan was told that since their business had "changed" over the past five years and McMillan had become more of a firearms manufacturer than supplier of accessories, Bank of America, bluntly stated, didn't want their business.

McMillan is preparing to move their accounts "as soon as possible" and is looking for a "Second Amendment friendly bank" that wants their business.

Sounds ridiculous, but that search - if McMillan wants a global bank - may be more difficult than anyone could imagine. Hopefully, there are probably a couple of "Second Amendment-friendly" bankers calling McMillan this morning.

Here's a note of warning for you if you're a Bank of America customer eyeballing one of McMillans products. McMillan's facebook page says they'll not be accepting Bank of America credit cards for payment much longer.

McMillan didn't publicize this story, but it has certainly spread throughout the firearms community in a very short order. We first heard about it on Friday evening, but didn't really expect it to have gotten serious "legs" in such a short time.

Another story that has moved quickly -Ted Nugent's once again being in hot water with wildlife officials for a hunting incident, this time in Alaska where he was hunting bear for his "Spirit of the Wild" TV show.

Nugent reportedly took a shot at one bear and it ran away. When there were no indications that it was seriously injured, Nugent took a second bear four days later. That's what landed him in hot water with Alaskan authorities. Seems that once you hit an animal in Alaska, it becomes "your animal". Claiming ignorance of that rule, Nugent subsequently plead guilty to a "misdemeanor Lacey Act charge". He paid a $10,000 fine and will film a TV spot on responsible hunting.

It's the 63-year old rocker's second beef with wildlife officials in the past two years. In 2010, Nugent plead no contest to California charges of baiting a deer and having an improperly signed hunting tag. Nugent was banned from hunting deer in California through 2012. He's now banned from fishing or hunting on any Alaskan or U.S. Forest Service lands for a year, and will then be placed on a two-year probation.

Even for the Motor City Madman it's been a busy couple of weeks. During the NRA Annual Meetings in St. Louis, his remark that "he would either be dead or in jail by this time next year" if President Obama were reelected got him a quizzing by the Secret Service. After the questioning, seems both parties agreed there was not an intended threat to the President. A Secret Service spokesperson said there was no further anticipated action.

And the outdoor industry lost a couple of staunch supporters this weekend. Dr. Don McMillan, former SCI president and lifelong advocate for hunters, fishermen and all outdoor enthusiasts died after suffering a heart attack. Current Safari Club International president Kevin Anderson says "Don was an advocate for all hunters, fishers and individuals who enjoyed the outdoors. I served on the SCI Government Affairs Committee with Don for nearly a decade. His intensity never waned throughout the years. His passing marks a massive loss of energy, enthusiasm and effectiveness for protecting our hunting freedoms."

There's no doubting McMillan's dedication to the outdoors, and we received a touching tribute to "Dr. Don" from longtime friend and associate Mark LaBarbera. It's too-lengthy for inclusion here, but you can read it by following http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/media/tow_linked_4-23-2012.doc>this link.

Many of my friends and colleagues here in the south are also mourning the passing of one of our own. Longtime outdoor editor, writer, radio host, and all-round good guy John Gallaspy died this weekend after a tough fight against cancer.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2061369.jpeg> John Gallaspy

A former editor of Bass Club Digest, President of Hunter's Handbook TV, Director of Marketing at The Nashville Network and Vice President of Bass Pro Shops, Gallaspy was more than just another industry figure. He was a tireless promoter of hunter education and mentor and friend to hundreds of us fortunate enough to have met him.

When I began The Outdoor Wire, Gallaspy took an interest in the idea. Several times over the next couple of years, the phone would ring and it would be John, just checking to see "how it's going." That encouragement was worth more than he'd ever imagine, but it was just the way he was. Gallaspy never missed the opportunity to offer encouragement.

I last spoke with John a few weeks ago, and knew he wasn't doing well. True to form, he didn't dwell on his illness, choosing instead to visit with me about a mild winter and early spring that probably meant we'd all be eaten alive by bugs this summer. It was a hearty laugh that kept the conversation light. It was a conversation I enjoyed at the time- and treasure today.

We are all diminished by their absences.

--Jim Shepherd