Editorial

Since Remington Arms Company was acquired by Cerberus Capital Management for $118 million in cash and assuming Remingtons $252 million of accumulated debt, Remington executives were rightly worried that changes were coming. Cerberus is known for bringing in its own management teams to run the companies it has acquired

Among the more shameful items resulting from the Virginia Tech shootings was the political haymaking that anti-gun politicians and gun-control groups tried to create. I thought the NRAs stance of "no comment for now" was the right and reasonable way to proceed, out of respect for the families and loved ones.

Ted Szabo, the president of Para-Ordnance Mfg. Inc., passed away on March 28, 2007, at the age of 60. Szabo founded the company in 1985 with his friend, Thanos Polyzos. Their first offering, introduced in 1987, was an all-plastic, selective-fire paint ball gun called the Model 85 "Dye Marking Tactical Machine Pistol." In full-auto mode, this pistol fired at a rate of 1,200 rounds per minute, and was designed as a close-quarters-combat training device for law enforcement and military personnel.

Thompson/Center Arms, a Smith & Wesson company, has introduced the Icon, its first bolt-action centerfire rifle."While developing the Icon, our engineers and designers worked with numerous master gunsmiths, tactical shooters and hunters to better understand what features they desired in a premium bolt-action rifle," said Gregg Ritz, President of Smith & Wesson Hunting.

Thompson/Center Arms, a Smith & Wesson company, has introduced the Icon, its first bolt-action centerfire rifle."While developing the Icon, our engineers and designers worked with numerous master gunsmiths, tactical shooters and hunters to better understand what features they desired in a premium bolt-action rifle," said Gregg Ritz, President of Smith & Wesson Hunting.

In early March, one of the most anti-gun courts in the country ruled in favor of the 2nd Amendment - declaring the Washington, D.C., gun ban unconstitutional, and much, much more.Two big rulings: The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Second Amendment is an individual right and concluded that the District of Columbias ban on guns in the home is unconstitutional.

Over the years, Gun Tests readers have asked us to alter aspects of what we do. On an issue-by-issue basis, there are always questions about mix (the ratio of certain types of guns compared to others), quantity (the number of guns in a certain test or in a certain issue), and matchup (how closely guns resemble each other in physical configuration).

Smith & Wesson Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Thompson/Center Arms, Inc., a 40-year-old, privately held, New Hampshire-based designer, manufacturer and marketer of hunting firearms, for $102 million in cash. The transaction was expected to close in January 2007.

Following the decision of Lake County, Ind., Superior Court Judge Robert A. Pete, declaring the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act unconstitutional, firearm manufacturers under suit have filed a motion to certify the courts ruling.

As we reported in "Short Shots" some months back, Smith & Wesson has expanded the Military & Police (M&P) Pistol Series to include compact frames. The first compact in the compact line is a 9mm, the M&P9c.

BATFE Modernization & Reform

Microstamping Defeated; NYC Mayor Sued by Gun Dealer: What Did Hillary Know and When Did She Know It?