Wednesday afternoon of SHOT Show once again showcased NSSF’s new, and amazingly important, role as the organization leading the way when it comes to the more politically nuanced world of lobbying at the state level. While the NRA is a bit tied up at the moment in a New York City courthouse, NSSF was here in Vegas bringing together seven key governors who recognize the value of the firearms industry.

Beyond the pure constitutional argument of 2A rights, NSSF has been working closely with state leaders on the one thing that most governors prize above all else – jobs. With northeast governors maliciously playing politics with the firearms industry, southern and western governors, who more often than not embrace the rich cultural traditions of hunting and shooting, are welcoming firearms makers to their states. Because with those relocating companies comes jobs and increased tax revenues.

The seven governors attending this year’s forum would rather put their citizens to work, food on their tables and roofs over their heads than take away their constitutional rights solely for political gains. And as Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas pointed out, the business of firearms isn’t just one of individual security but one of national security.

NSSF’s Joe Bartozzi took to the podium at yesterday’s Governor’s Forum, giving welcoming remarks to a packed house. The National Shooting Sports Foundation has quietly – and effectively – stepped into the leadership role of being the main voice in state capitols and Washington, DC on behalf of firearms and ammunition companies, as well as the broader key issue of individual 2A rights.

SHOT Show showed up when it came to this year’s Governor’s Forum. a good 50 or so attendees were left standing through the hour long discussion led by NSSF’s Larry Keane. Absent the usual red meat political discourse one might assume would come from a devoted pro Second Amendment group, Keane gave the governor’s the opportunity to showcase their individual efforts on economic development, key legislation protecting firearms businesses, and, of course, their personal support for hunting and shooting traditions.

It was indeed standing room only as the attending governors spoke about their states’ willingness to work hand-in-hand with companies looking to relocate to a better, and more friendly, business climate. Each spoke to the importance of the economic benefits that comes from firearms industry jobs creation in their states.

Another significant VIP meeting, though one decidedly smaller than the Governor’s Forum, took place later in the afternoon yesterday as a select group of industry media gathered for a presentation by David Štěpán, CSG's Investment Director for Foreign Projects and CEO of the CSG Ammo+ division. CSG – Czechoslovak Group – is maybe the most talked about company among industry watchers, and yet the least well known.

For those unfamiliar, CSG in the midst of a deal to purchase Vista Outdoor’s ammunition business for a reported cool $1.9 billion. CSG already owns Fiocchi, and most recently purchased 80% of famed shotgun maker Perazzi. Yesterday’s meet and greet gave American firearms media members a chance to not only learn about CSG’s larger business but to fire off questions directly to Štěpán.

David Štěpán opened the invitation-only gathering with a brief and highly entertaining presentation about Czechia for an entirely American audience mostly unfamiliar with this NATO ally. Štěpán addressed two important points during the Q&A session. The first was dispelling the false rumor that CSG – a significant defense contractor in the Czech Republic that has been an early supplier to Ukraine’s defense forces – has any ties to Russia. A seemingly silly notion considering NATO nations, especially those that far east, already know what it means to have lived under Russian rule. The second issue he addressed was that CSG is not a private equity firm. CSG is a family owned business and the largest such company in the Czech Republic. Their purchases of both Fiocchi and Perazzi demonstrate CSG’s deep affinity for family businesses.

The private meeting did a lot to assuage any misconceptions industry watchers might harbor about CSG’s taking over of the Vista ammo portfolio.

– Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network