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NEWS
Shopify bans the sale of guns
One of the things that makes this more
challenging for businesses like Spike’s
Tactical is that Shopify’s platform is entirely
proprietary, meaning the information
stored on their platform cannot be easily
transferred to another online platform.
“We have invested more than $100,000 in
the development of our Shopify store, which
will disappear once these policies go into
eff ect,” said Leleux.
As for when these new policies will go
into eff ect, that remains a mystery. When
representatives from Spike’s Tactical reached
out to Shopify to try to learn more, Shopify
refused to answer any questions and directed
Spike’s Tactical team members to the legal
department, which at the time of this news
release, has yet to respond.
Ironically, when challenged by critics
about selling Breitbart products in 2017,
Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke said: “We
don’t like Breitbart, but products are speech
and we are pro free speech. Th is means
protecting the right of organizations to use
our platform even if they are unpopular or
if we disagree with their premise, as long as
they are within the law.”
“It now seems that Shopify has reversed
course on their previous belief, as our
products are not only legal, but also used
by many law enforcement agencies,”
commented Leleux.
Another gun company that will feel the
pain of Shopify’s recent decision is Rare
Breed Firearms. Rare Breed announced the
launch of its new Spartan lower receiver
last week and the product is also sold online
exclusively through Shopify.
“We have spent the last three years
developing the Rare Breed brand and more
than $40,000 developing our Shopify site,”
said Lawrence DeMonico, president of Rare
Breed Firearms, an Austin, Texas based
fi rearms company. “Depending on how this
policy is rolled out, this is a move that could
put companies like ours out of business, and
we will undoubtedly be looking to pursue
legal options.”
Any other gun manufacturers or retailers
who are also experiencing issues related to
this new policy are encouraged to contact
Spike’s Tactical, as they are looking at legal
options to potentially fi le a class action
lawsuit.
Th e NSSF (National Shooting Sports
Foundation), the fi rearms industry trade
association in America, had the following to
say, in a prepared statement: “NSSF is aware
and monitoring the recent policy changes by
Shopify. Th is policy update is misinformed
and doesn’t contribute to increasing public
safety. Instead, it limits customer choice and
alienates law-abiding gun owners. Today’s
gun owners can trust NSSF-member
retailers, who off er online services, to
provide them with the respect, dignity and
service they have come to expect. When
gun owners support these NSSF-member
retailers, they contribute to a variety of
industry-driven and eff ective public safety
solutions.
“Th ose initiatives include NSSF’s
FixNICS, the Own It? Respect It. Secure
It. initiative, which is built on the fi rearm
industry’s long-standing commitment to
safety and was developed to promote and
encourage fi rearm safety and secure storage.
It also serves to enhance and amplify
the messages of ongoing fi rearm safety
and education campaigns such as Project
ChildSafe.
“Other NSSF initiatives in cooperation
with federal law enforcement include the
Don’t Lie for the Other Guy anti-straw
purchasing retailer education and public
awareness program and Operation Secure
Store that provides fi rearms retailers with
information to help them better secure their
facilities from theft.
Th e fi rearms industry welcomes
participation in the conversation across
the nation to make our communities and
our schools safer. We will continue to lead
and participate in fi nding and enhancing
practical solutions that protect lives and
preserve our citizens’ liberties.”
CROSMAN CORPORATION ANNOUNCES
FORMATION OF VELOCITY OUTDOOR
About
Since its founding in 1923 as
Crosman, now a Velocity Outdoor
brand, has been driven by the
steadfast pursuit of quality and
innovation. Crosman’s history
is rooted in the airgun industry,
where today it remains the
market leader in airguns, airgun
ammunition, and consumables.
Velocity Outdoor has a diversified
product lineup in the outdoor
sporting goods industry that
includes airsoft , laser aiming
devices under the Lasermax
brand, and archery and firearms
optics products under the
CenterPoint brand.
• Continued from page 3
Crosman Corporation,
a subsidiary of Compass
Diversifi ed Holdings, has
announced that its board
of directors has approved
its holding company’s new
name: Velocity Outdoor. Th e
new corporate identity better
refl ects the diverse portfolio
of brands currently under the
Crosman Corporation umbrella
and highlights the company’s
strengths in the hunting,
shooting and outdoor markets.
Th e name change does not
impact any of the marketleading
consumer brands,
among them Crosman and
08 www.guntradeworld.com
Benjamin Airguns, CenterPoint
Archery and Optics, LaserMax,
Copperhead, and GameFace
Airsoft. Velocity Outdoor
will encompass these historic
brands, which are known
for innovation, performance,
quality, and value.
“Our company’s roots have
been in the airgun category
for more than 90 years, and it
will continue to represent an
important core of our business,”
said Bob Beckwith, Chief
Executive Offi cer. “We have
also seen signifi cant growth
in our CenterPoint Archery
brand and recently acquired the
LaserMax commercial business.
Th e Velocity Outdoor name will
be a strong corporate umbrella
to represent a diverse product
portfolio and position us for
future growth in the outdoor
sporting goods market.”
Product branding and
packaging will not change, and
our various branded websites
will remain the primary
consumer-facing e-commerce
and customer service websites
for the near term. Corporate
information will be available on
the website.
www.velocity-outdoor.com
/www.guntradeworld.com
/www.velocity-outdoor.com