New law enforcement products among 2013 SHOT highlights

by Michael A. Black

The 35th SHOT (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade) Show opened on Jan. 14 at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas for the fourth year in a row. With a record-setting number of attendees this time, the show is both a national and international event, hosting participating exhibitors from all 50 states and over 100 countries.

This year, however, the controversy of the recent national debate about gun control lingered in some areas like the proverbial elephant in the room. But people were no less enthusiastic about what they had come to see: the latest weapons and equipment from the gun industry. And for the most part, things were put in the proper perspective and a strong support for the Second Amendment was evident. Donations to the organizations fighting against overly restrictive gun control laws were plentiful. (For an outstanding editorial and a really good perspective on the Sandy Hook tragedy, see Joseph Tartaro’s editorial, “Newtown, CT, school shooting reignites usual gun law debate,” in the January, 2013 issue of this magazine.) While supporters of the Second Amendment braced for the coming fight, the enthusiasm for the show was not dampened whatsoever. In fact, the attendance for the show set a new record with over 60,000 in attendance.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend Media Day at the Range this year, but I was able to check out the myriad of booths while walking through the 12.5 miles of aisles in the convention center the following four days. Once again, Colt brought their brass-barreled replica of the Bulldog Gatling Gun.

This predecessor to the modern machine-gun was invented in 1877, and the replica can actually be fired by rotating the rear crank, as participants of last year’s day on the range will attest. Unfortunately, “the Bulldog” didn’t make it to the range this year, but was resplendent on the convention floor. There were some modern machine guns there, too. There’s something about a .50 caliber that commands respect whether it’s cast in black or blue.

On the lesser caliber scale of things, there were also guns of various colors aplenty. I felt like a character in a James Bond novel holding a gold-colored 9mm pistol from SAR Arms (www.SARARMS.com). To appeal to the distaff side there were a variety of pistols in pastel colors, such as the partially pink Taurus 738 TCP, a .380 that is so lightweight it only scales 10.2 ounces.

Parenthetically, it should be noted that the number of women gunowners has been increasing every year. There has been a 51.5% increase in women involved in target shooting since 2001.

The girls know that guns are fun to hold whether it’s the small ones or the huge Taurus Raging Judge Magnum which can fire a .45 ACP round, a .454 Casull, or even a .410 bore 2.5-inch shot-shell. Conversely, I was more interested in the smoothness of the S&W .38 Airweight. These small, hammer-less revolvers were originally designed for plainclothes police work so the hammer-less pistol, with an internal striker, would allow a quick draw, unencumbered by snags on shirts or coats.

The police-related products were well represented in the Law Enforcement section. From the ballistic shields, several of which had been field tested by live fire, to the tactical blanket barrier offering portable cover for officers in the line of fire, there was something for everyone. One British company, Selecta DNA, featured an interesting new product, the High Velocity DNA Tagging System. These special gelatin-filled pellets, which can be fired from an air pistol or rifle, can deliver a special tracking stain on the suspect’s skin that is only visible under ultraviolet light. Each pellet in the pack of seven contains the same unique DNA code. The effective range is approximately 150 feet. Such a device would be invaluable for tagging a suspect in a crowded or riot situation, where an immediate arrest would not be feasible. A later apprehension could then be made. For more information go to www.selectadna.co.uk.

The LG-402M side-mounted laser sight (www.CTCDEFENSE.com) on a Beretta 92 F demonstrated the importance of being able to acquire the target if the pistol is fitted with a sound suppressor. Note how the upper ridge of the suppressor makes the traditional three-dot sight alignment impossible.

These laser light sights are also invaluable when firing around ballistic shields.

I was also impressed by Turtleskin’s CP Black gloves which are very comfortable and will protect your hands from the unexpected threats of needle sticks, sharp metal edges, and glass shards. They’re the ideal companion for street searches, prison yard patrolling, and cell extraction. (See more at www.turtleskin.com.) It was also good to see a few old friends. Five-time Olympic shooting champion Kim Rhode was present with her impressive collection of Olympic medals. Kim was as gracious as ever and even allowed me to touch the newest gold from the London games last summer. She said she’s looking forward to the next Olympics. I also got to chat with UFC champion Matt Hughes, who looked fit enough to take on all comers. Instead, he talked about his plan to retire from fighting at the end of January. Once again, the line to get an autograph from R. Lee Ermey, aka “The Gunny,” (Courtesy of SOG Knives & Tools) was as long as a military chow line on bivouac.

Jane Derning, owner of Gun Tote’n Mama’s of Northbrook, IL, was there with her latest line of purses designed for the fashion-conscious ladies who are into concealed carry with panache.

These purses are not only stylish, but they’re designed to fit a woman’s hand and allow for a quick retrieval of her handgun. Each year Gun Tote’n Mamas donates a portion of their sales to organizations that help prevent abuse against women. Check out the latest models at www.GunTotenMamas.com.

I also saw my friend, Belgium police officer Francis Dorao. A few years ago Dorao started PJL Targets, using the idea of life-like, illustrated targets for the police shooting range. These targets can easily be modified with various overlays that can transform a gun in the bad guy’s hand into something as innocuous as a soft drink bottle, an ice cream cone, or even a badge. They’re ideal for training officers in “shoot, don’t shoot” scenarios.

Dorao has recently added a lifesized portrait of himself to his array of targets. Although he’s based in Europe, Dorao has several outlets in the United States. He can be contacted at www.pjltargets.com.

Hats off to the National Sports Shooting Foundation for hosting the great Press Room, which not only had a variety of press related information packets, but also had a complimentary booklet, The Writer’s Guide to Firearms & Ammunition. It’s a nice little reference and guidebook that helps writers get it right. (See more at www.NSSF.org.) I made several attempts to stop by the Second Amendment Foundation booth to see my friends there, and did get a chance to chat with Peggy Tartaro, the editor of Women and Guns magazine. We talked a little about the Second Amendment Foundation’s ongoing fight for the rights of gunowners, plans for educational programs, and the recent passage of New York’s restrictive new gun law.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect with her hard working father, Joe Tartaro, the president of the Foundation, and executive editor of TheGunMag.com. He was busy making the rounds and attending meetings.

The show closed down on Friday, Jan. 18 with the promise of being even more spectacular next year. I, for one, can’t wait. It’s going to be an interesting year, during which many of the new gun and outdoor products exhibited will be taking their places on dealers’ shelves.

Michael A. Black is a former police officer and free-lance writer who has written several mystery novels.