Be OFFENSIVE...

It's time for the firearm industry and those of us in it to be "Offensive." 

That's right… It's time to be offensive. 

No, I don't mean vulgar, crude, or injecting yourself into someone's "safe space" such that they break down. 

 I mean that it is time for us  in the hunting, firearms, and shooting world  to go on OFFENSE. 

I have just returned from the 39th annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, and the mood there was one of almost giddy euphoria- after a collective sigh of relief. 

 For the better part of  three different president's respective terms, and certainly most of the last decade, we have had to entirely play DEFENSE.

 One could argue that for several years under the previous Republican administration we had to constantly play defense with a democratic controlled house and senate. 

 Every time there was a tragedy, we had to fight. We had to be constantly reactive instead of proactive. The tragedy of Columbine high school caused the flurry of new gun control bills across the country, and I'll cry from many people that had previously been "on the fence" to allow  for what had come to be one of the left's favorite terms – "common sense" gun control. 

 As with many things in politics, this deliberate misnomer was used to lead the low-information voter and uninformed general public down a clearly defined path of oppression, registration, and confiscation. 

 The only thing "common sense" about gun control is that it is an entirely ridiculous concept.

Ace Believes that gun control is a foolish concept devised by weak people

 You do not need to petition the government for a speedy trial. You do not need to petition the government or get a permit before you are allowed to keep silent. 

 Our founding fathers were very clear when they added the terminology "shall not be infringed" at the end of the second amendment. They were great discussions about the wording of the Second Amendment and what they meant regarding "the people" and what the term "militia" meant. 

 The entire theory of gun control is predicated upon the fact that criminals, who, by definition, do not obey laws, will all of a sudden decide to obey laws because they are now written regarding guns.
Even worse are what I refer to as the "Double-Dog-Laws" 

What's this? 

It's when some weak politician gets up on a stage using some recent tragedy as a platform for their firearm control agenda and repeats rhetoric such as "Criminals shouldn't be able to have guns," or, "People who are mentally unstable should not be allowed to possess guns." - both of which are ALREADY ILLEGAL- so we, therefore, must now make them "Double-Dog-Illegal" because THAT will change things and we REALLY MEAN ILLEGAL!!

 This past November there was a clear rejection of the policies, politics, and ideals of the most recent presidential administration. 

 For the first time in many years the presidency, house, and senate are all under Republican majority control. 

 Now is the time to be OFFENSIVE. 

We need a clear, decisive and rapid plan for the RESTORATION (no-not EXPANSION- they are OUR RIGHTS that have been taken away)  of our rights. 

Here are a few to start: 

1. Nationwide Concealed Carry Reciprocity. 

We do this already with things like driver's licenses, vehicle registrations, etc. that are privileges rather than rights.My right to protection and self-preservation should certainly not end at state lines. 

2. Removal of Short Barreled Rifle and Suppression devices from the registration list, and elimination of the "tax stamp" in general.
Only the government could come up with these ones- that guns must be loud enough to damage hearing for all and that a large handgun possessed and fired from the hand or two hands is legal- but to fire that same gun from the shoulder is not. 

3. Nationwide transportation standards 

This one is a doozy. The standard for safe transportation of weapons should be just that- STANDARD.

 We once had a client fly through New York once on an African Safari. He had to grab his luggage and proceed through customs. This client is also a smoker, so, after taking his cased, locked, unloaded firearms case off of the conveyor belt, he stepped outside to have a cigarette. 

BIG MISTAKE. 

One of New York's "Less-Than-Finest" came over and engaged him in conversation, asked him where he was going, and what was in the case.
The short story- He was ARRESTED, his rifles and a shot gun CONFISCATED, jailed and missed his flight. The ensuing legal process was actually rather simple- go to New York and fight or pay a massive fine for an "ordinance violation" and another massive "Processing fee" to get his guns back. The best part- there was NO STANDARD set or way to address this situation. 

If my car is legal in Arizona, I don't have to register or do anything different with it when I cross the border into any other state- including CALIFORNIA. This should be the same with guns. 

4. Withdrawal of federal funds for cities that infringe on the rights of their citizens to keep and bear arms.
See: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York. 

Enough said. 

Will the incoming administration hold to their promise of "gun rights" and protection of the Second Amendment? 

Time will tell, but things look good so far. 

So, what do YOU think?
Is it time to "be offensive?"
Let Ace know in the comments below!


"Ace" Luciano is a Hunter, Fisherman, Outdoorsman, Sales Executive, Author, Writer, and, perhaps most importantly, husband and father to 4 great kids.
Learn more about Ace through his website, www.AceLuciano.com

I Just Learned About The Best Restaurant in the World...

If I asked you to tell me what you thought the BEST restaurant in the world was, you'd most likely name off some well known chefs, exotic locales, and differing ethnic choices....

...but if you think the BEST restaurant is the MOST SUCCESSFUL restaurant, there is one, clear choice-

MC DONALD'S. 

McDonald's Restaurant is arguably the most successful in the world. 

Yes, the iconic "Golden Arches" that now span the globe took a small hamburger joint in California from 15 cent hamburgers to HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS in annual revenues.

There's a new movie in theaters starring Michael Keaton called, "The Founder"- about the building of the McDonalds empire by Ray Croc.
It is mistakenly getting what I would consider to be rather mediocre reviews.

 I believe the reasoning behind it is that, as in most of life, only a select type of person will understand it.

 This movie is a character study of a salesman- One that was relatively successful, in the waning years of his career, and who had recently gone through a patch of difficult times.

 It is the study of a man with a drive to succeed – something that seems awfully absent for the majority of today's population.
 It's not that people don't want to succeed – it's that most people are perfectly happy working in a "job" that keeps them in one place, doing one thing, for a very, very long time (if they're lucky) and have a "steady" and "average" income which allows them to buy an "average" home   and lead an "average" life.
(Note- when you look back to your aspirations as a child, do you ever recall wanting to be "Average?")

 There was a point in the movie where Ray Croc  is talking to his wife. It's a difficult discussion.

 If you're an entrepreneur or sales person, you've had this conversation.
 It's a conversation about how hard you work, how much they do alone, about how many years is it going to be before you slow down, stay home, go to the club, etc. …
 It is that same conversation is one that has signaled the beginning of the end of many marriages, and why many successful people are married multiple times.

I hope  that you are lucky enough, as I am, to have a special significant other that "knows the drill" and has chosen to partner rather than prevent your success. The attitude of many is to "settle, " but what do you do when you just can't SETTLE?
You work HARDER, that's what.

This story is one of the "American Dream."

The "American Dream" is a concept that has built this country to levels far and above all others in the world.
It is a story of a lifetime of struggle, of small failures and large failures, and, finally, what is arguably one of the greatest successes the world has ever known.
It's a story of "partners," of teamwork, and of FAMILY.

I was fortunate to grow up not far from Ray Croc's first franchise in Des Planes, to know several McDonald's franchisees, and to have visited and known people at McDonalds HQ in Oakbrook, IL.
As a matter of fact, one of McDonalds' CEOs was my father's fraternity brother, and their head chef for most of the 90's was a family friend.

This movie is a great story, and the observant viewer will note many things (and, no, the insinuation that Ray Croc "stole" McDonald's from the McDonald brothers is not one of them).
It was not an easy journey, There were difficult times. There were times when Ray Croc was broke. Times when he had to find a solution to a unique problem. There were many more failures than successes.
Yes, there are lots of lessons on business, ambition, success, and perseverance- and several others on human nature, resilience, and heartache.

I rank is as one of the best sales movies of all time.

Have you seen "The Founder" or any other great business or sales movies? Are there parallels to YOUR "story" and life to that of Ray Croc's?

Please, share your thoughts in the comments below.

Let Ace know in the comments below! 

"Ace" Luciano is a Hunter, Fisherman, Outdoorsman, Sales Executive, Author, Writer, and, perhaps most importantly, husband and father to 4 great kids. 

Learn more about Ace through his website, www.AceLuciano.com