S&W is getting hammered on these forums, but they are mostly the victim here. S&W has to operate in a particular social and political climate, one that they have not created. Creating that climate is the responsiblity of others, like us. If we, individually and through the NRA and other organizations, had successfully persuaded the public to our position on gun rights, then S&W would not have found itself in the fix it was in. The Clinton Administration would not have had the temerity to launch its legal strategy if public opinion were clearly on the side of gun rights and maintaining the Second Amendment. But we have largely failed in that attempt to persuade. The result is that a clear majority of Americans favor stronger gun controls and would probably vote to repeal the RKBA tomorrow if they could. That is not the fault of S&W. As a company, they simply have to play the hand they have been dealt, to operate as best they can in the social and political climate that exists. We have failed S&W, not the other way around. What to do? The NRA, etc. need to examine the tactics of the opposition and to finally get serious about how people are persuaded away from one position toward another. Logic and evidence are important, but they pale to insignificance in comparison with the importance of appeals to emotion. Our not taking this fact seriously, while the other side uses it constantly, has allowed them to use us for a punching bag in the arena of public opinion, with predictable results. Here's what I suggest: NRA must buy 15- or 30-second TV spots that present real people giving emotional testimony about how they saved themselves or others because they had a firearm. The woman attacked by rapists, the homeowners whose door was kicked in, the store owner who was threatened by thugs, the driver assaulted by carjackers, etc. All of them pleading to maintain the right that gun grabbers want to deprive us of, the right to self defense. Tearfully: "Otherwise, I wouldn't be here to tell you my story! I could be your wife (son, brother, etc.) or I could be YOU!" This is the Achilles Heel of the anti position, and the NRA, GOA, etc. have not even begun to exploit it, preferring to make their arguments in the abstract, with zero impact. Having apparently slept through Persuasion 101, they are playing a fool's game, and S&W and the rest of us are paying the price for their ineptitude.