Industry Update

Arsenal Inc. calls on the NSSF and firearms industry to unite against Virginia's assault weapons and high-capacity magazine ban, arguing unconstitutional restrictions destabilize lawful businesses and weaken Second Amendment rights nationwide. Arsenal Inc. and K-VAR.com are offering heavy discounts to Virginia residents through June 19, 2026, to help customers receive products before the July 1 deadline.

Arsenal Inc., a premier American importer and manufacturer of Kalashnikov pattern firearms, is offering 20% off its entire catalog to Virginia residents in response to the state's newly signed assault weapons and high-capacity magazine ban taking effect July 1, 2026. The Virginia Crisis Support initiative runs through June 22, 2026, and includes firearms, magazines, and accessories available through ArsenalInc.com and K-VAR.com.

Media Lodge announced a partnership with Lexipol Media Group to represent their first responder digital media network, including Police1, FireRescue1, and EMS1, enabling consumer brands to reach off-duty police officers, firefighters, and EMTs through integrated marketing opportunities.

Celerant Technology hosted its 2026 Client Conference in Dallas, introducing major product updates including Skylar IQ AI retail agent, Customer Engagement Suite, and redesigned POS interface. The event brought together firearms retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and industry partners including SIG SAUER, RSR Group, NASGW, Silencer Shop, and Project ChildSafe to discuss regulatory changes and retail technology solutions.

NSSF wrapped its 2026 Marketing & Leadership Summit in Hilton Head, South Carolina, bringing together firearm industry executives and business leaders to discuss AI, workplace culture, consumer trends, and e-commerce. Platinum sponsor 20North Marketing, silver sponsor Shopware, and bronze sponsors including BigCommerce, Listrak, and Payroc supported the event. The 2027 Summit is scheduled for May 11-13, 2027, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

WOOX, an Italian-American manufacturer of premium gunstocks, axes, and knives, is expanding its Hickory, North Carolina facility with groundbreaking planned for late 2026. The expansion aims to meet growing customer demand while reviving local woodworking craftsmanship traditions in the region.

The NSSF is funding a lawsuit against Virginia challenging HB 217/SB 749, which bans Modern Sporting Rifles, standard capacity magazines, and commonly owned handguns and shotguns. The complaint, filed by Erick Black, Britton Condon, Clark's Gun Shop, Inc., Optimus Arms, LLC, and Hexmag USA, LLC, argues the law violates the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions.

Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC appointed Kristin Marlow as Head of Marketing, bringing over 25 years of marketing leadership experience. Marlow previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at Staccato and Fractional Chief Marketing Officer at CCW Safe, leading brand strategy and digital initiatives across the firearms industry.

Kinetic Development Group (KDG) announced it has officially joined the Worldwide Buy Group to strengthen dealer relationships and support independent retailers in the firearms and outdoor industries. The company will showcase its product lineup including Kinect quick attach systems, SideLok optic mounts, and Optic Hub ecosystem at the Fall Market in Reno.

RetailBI, powered by Gearfire, released its monthly Firearm Sales Index showing a 12.2% year-over-year decline in April 2026 and a year-to-date decline of 7.9%. The index uses same-store adjusted methodology from over 2,000 U.S. firearms retailers to provide accurate new firearm demand data, replacing reliance on NICS figures.

EOTECH announced its Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) Optic Replacement Program, providing immediate temporary replacement optics at no cost to law enforcement agencies whose issued EOTECH optics are removed as evidence following verified OIS incidents. The program preserves training consistency and alleviates emergency replacement costs for departments.

Kinetic Development Group (KDG) has officially joined the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) and will attend the NASGW Expo in October. The company has partnered with Sports South, Zanders Sporting Goods, AmChar Wholesale, and RSR Group to expand its distribution reach and strengthen dealer network support.

We Buy Guns, a national online firearm purchasing platform owned by Chris Wing, announced it has surpassed 1,000 five-star customer reviews while purchasing over 11,500 firearms across all 50 states and issuing $5.4 million in payments to sellers.

Derya, a Jacksonville-based precision firearms manufacturer, launched an advanced AI customer service agent available during business hours, supporting over 30 languages. Vice President Dustin Jones emphasized the company remains committed to hiring and live agent support for complex inquiries.

Tisas Arms USA, the world's largest producer of 1911-type pistols, established customer service operations in Buford, Georgia. VP Operations Tim Mulverhill and CEO Erdal Kaya emphasized the company's commitment to its limited lifetime warranty and world-class customer support for all Tisas-manufactured pistols.

VKTR Industries has acquired U.S. Patent No. 7,735,410 for the Combat Match Bolt from inventor Robert Clark. The company plans to bring the product to market in 2026, leveraging enhanced durability characteristics and improved reliability compared to standard bolt designs.

Target Sports USA has appointed Steven Blinn as Chief Marketing Officer. Blinn brings over 20 years of digital marketing and ecommerce experience, and was recently named a 2026 Top 100 Marketer by the OnCon Icon Awards. He will oversee marketing operations across ecommerce, digital growth, brand development, and emerging AI initiatives.

Southwick Associates released its April 2026 Hunting & Shooting Market Pulse, revealing that hunters and shooters are cutting discretionary spending due to economic concerns but increasing ammunition supplies and planning to spend tax refunds on hunting and shooting products. The quarterly subscription service provides market analysis and industry trends to executives and investors.

Mike Stock, President and CEO of Hodgdon Powder Company, has been appointed to the NSSF Board of Governors. Stock brings over two decades of firearm industry leadership, including previous roles at Winchester Ammunition and service on the SAAMI Board of Directors.

NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi will appear on Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew on Fox Business May 10 to discuss Project ChildSafe secure firearm storage and the Brave Conversations initiative, a partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Department of Veterans Affairs.