Late last week, Howell Munitions and Technology, and its associated companies (Freedom Munitions, Howell Machine, Xtreme Bullets, and Ammo Load Worldwide and Range Time Training Ammo) all availed themselves of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

For most of us, it was an unexpected happening, but as stories start to trickle out of Lewiston, Idaho, it seems there had been trouble on the horizon for some time. Depending on whom you ask, the company either “grew too-fast” or “hired a bunch of high-dollar managers who got rid of the people who made the company and hired their high-priced friends.”

No comment on either position, other than in those kinds of situations, the truth usually lies somewhere between the two extremes. 

In the meantime, the most common question asked is “what about their ammo?”

According to an email statement from HMT, the company is still making ammunition.

Which makes sense. After all, they’re seeking creditor protection in order to restructure (Chapter 11 bankruptcy), not release from obligations so they can dispose of the company (Chapter 7 bankruptcy).  Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows the business to continue until such time as the debt situation can be resolved- or it becomes obvious there’s no way to fix the situation. At that point, HMT, et al, would be entitled to seek to amend their filing to Chapter 7 (the liquidation option).

According to their statement, they’re not looking at dissolution. Instead, they say there’s an “ongoing commitment to provide affordable ammunition to shooting sport enthusiasts around the country.”

“Freedom Ammunition,” they say, “will continue to manufacture ammunition, ship orders and provide the best service we possibly can.”

Hopefully that’s true, because the last thing the industry needs is another ammo manufacture fiasco. 

In the meantime, Newell Corporation’s disposal of Rawling Sporting Goods has started familiar whispers around the fishing side of the industry- again. 

The whisper? “Whatcha hear about Pure Fishing - they on the block or not?”

The answer to that is a definite “maybe.” 

Despite the industry presumption that a sale’s coming, no one’s talking-on or off the record - at Newell. 

It does stand to reason that Pure Fishing is for sale - heck, Newell has said as much. But there’s a small challenge that would have to be overcome in order for it to join an existing company’s portfolio. Pure Fishing is one of the largest companines in the fishing industry - worldwide- and, despite Newell’s having indicated sales were down “slightly” at the end of the year, it’s still selling a lot of product. 

Consider the brands Pure Fishing encompasses (Berkley, Abu Garcia, Penn, Fenwick, Sterns, Mitchell, Pfleuger, Shakespeare, Ugly Stik, Spiderwire, Sebile, Hardy and Greys), you could almost outfit an entire tackle shop -including some decidedly upscale fly fishing gear.

So the speculation continues, but until there’s a deal announced, the so-called news really is nothing but speculation. And as ICAST grows ever closer, expect to hear, see and read even more about what “might” be happening.

And today’s news section has a low-key announcement from Arizona’s famed Gunsite Academy that has almost nothing to do with shooting and a lot to do with business. 

For quite some time, Gunsite has been involved in an ongoing dispute with credit card processor Intuit. Intuit suspended Gunsite’s credit card processing account because Intuit apparently didn’t believe that firearms sales had to be made face-to-face. 

That presumption put Gunsite in violation of Intuit’s policies - and their credit card account was suspended.

On top of the suspension, Intuit refunded all the money they’d already received from Gunsite-to the customers. That’s despite the fact the majority of them had already received either the goods or services (training) - or both- they’d paid for by credit card. And I know first-hand that Gunsite spent a considerable amount of time and effort calling students and others who had made purchases there via credit card.

Sounds like another one of those “they’re discriminating against us again” stories, doesn’t it?

It’s not. 

After a rather involved educational interchange between Gunsite and “senior management” at Intuit, a surprising twist of events. 

On Tuesday, Intuit called Gunsite and voluntarily offered what Gunsite management called “fair compensation” for the losses incurred in the hours spent contacting customers who had received goods or services from Gunsite, but had their money refunded.

Like the yanking of Brownells YouTube channel last weekend, the Gunsite Academy problem with Intuit had been touted as even more examples of discrimination against the entire firearms industry.  

That’s not what the facts would indicate. Intuit’s decision to suspend Gunsite’s account was based on ignorance, not willful action. 

I’m all for not doing business with companies that willfully choose to put ridiculous restrictions on gun owners, donate their money to anti-gun causes, or hire “gun-control lobbyists” to push for more regulations.  

They’ve willingly made their choices. They can’t claim a “misunderstanding” or expect outraged gun owners to do business with them going forward. Essentially, they’ve told gun owners they don’t want their business - which incenses me, but it’s still their right. While I don’t like it, I wouldn’t ever suggest forcing anyone to do business with anyone else.

But I also believe it’s possible for companies to make honest mistakes. We all do. 

Forgiving honest mistakes rather than launching into a hue-and-cry only makes our case stronger with people who don’t already have an opinion on gun ownership one way or the other. Behaving like adults quickly shows the irrationality of others.

—Jim Shepherd