We don’t usually do stories on press releases in the GunsAmerica Blog but this one is just so different than most that we felt we have to post it. Smith & Wesson has created a special rebate program for retired, injured and active duty military personnel. The details of the program are at www.smith-wesson.com/nationsfinest .

The Nation’s Finest program is just one of the many ways that the Company is showing its appreciation toward members of the United States Armed Forces community who actively participate in the shooting sports.

From now to December 31, 2011, any current active duty, retired or disabled member of the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserves is eligible to receive a rebate with the purchase of any qualifying Smith & Wesson firearm*. The Nation’s Finest program offers eligible military personnel and disabled veterans a $100 mail-in rebate for the purchase of a qualifying M&P15 rifle, and a $50 mail-in rebate for the purchase of a qualifying M&P pistol or Smith & Wesson revolver. Please visit www.smith-wesson.com/nationsfinest for complete details on the Nation’s Finest program and to learn more about qualifying Smith & Wesson products. The incentive program is limited to the purchase of one model per firearm category.

The Slide Fire is a $369 replacement stock for your AR-15 that when used properly, simulates automatic fire. Since the invention of the semi-automatic rifle people have been learning to do what is called “bump firing” the gun. You hold the gun in a loose way and allow it to rock back and forth against the trigger finger, which simulates automatic fire. It is fun, but it burns a lot of ammo without any real ability to aim at anything.

Your local supermarket magazine stand should have gotten a supply of the new Guns & Ammo “Book of the AR-15.” On the cover is a unique rifle that was built by the editors with the help of Bravo Company USA to be used as a charity auction for HAVA, which stands for Honoring American Veterans Afield. This auction went live on Sunday, Febuary 27, and will close on Sunday, March 13th.

As you may know, we occasionally sponsor UFC fighters from time to time. Recently we decided to pull away from sponsoring the smaller names and grabbing sponsorship deals here and there and put all of our UFC investment in one fighter who is a good role model for our sport.

Shane Carwin is who we decided on. Shane is a genuine gun guy, hunter, and shooting sports enthusiast. He is also known throughout the UFC community as a nice, personable and stand up guy. I have personally followed his career since his first fight and Shane is second to no fighter in the world.

We have been invited by Armalite to participate in an industry partnership to benefit the National Shooting Sports Federation. Armalite and AR10T.com have engraved a special AR10(T) in .338 Federal and all kinds of great features built stock into the rifle.

This message is about the 3rd party payment service for guns known as Gpal, or GunPal before that. Down this message a bit you will see a link to file a complaint if you feel you have been wronged. The image on the right here is the form. If you have not been involved with making or taking payments through Gpal this message does not affect you.

ARKANSAS, February 16, 2010 – The Republican Party of Arkansas presented keynote Speaker Sarah Palin with an engraved Henry Repeating Arms Big Boy 44 Magnum rifle tonight at their fundraising event at the Verizon Arena in Little Rock. The rifle was personalized with serial number PALIN-001, the brass receiver was inscribed with ‘Presented to Sarah Palin – February 16, 2010 – Republican Party of Arkansas’ and the Republican Party of Arkansas’ logo was carved into the buttstock.

Palin began her keynote speech in front of a cheering crowd of 5,000 by thanking the Republican Party of Arkansas for the beautiful rifle, noting that she even called her son Track to tell him about it, and stated, “It’s great to be in a state where it’s okay to cling to your guns and religion.”

President Lincoln was presented with a Henry rifle during his presidency. It hangs in The Smithsonian and has become a priceless national treasure.