January, 2003

Computers

Computers can be very interruptive to your ordinary existence at least mine. Because they can enhance productivity and create such opportunities when they work properly, it's easy to become very reliant on them, but at the expense of great vulnerability; when something in the system fails, the interruption in your o.e. (above) can be very rude indeed.

In my personal case, it's the loss of high-speed Internet service (2-way satellite). I won't bore you with the details, but the customer service (or lack of) experience has been very unsatisfactory, and most people who are reading this can imagine what they would feel like if they could no longer 'connect'. Thank goodness I have a local office I can go to bridge the gap but, admittedly, I enjoy being able to do as much as I do from home. Such as monitoring the message board on this site. Which I can't (at the moment).

Computers (systems) have struck me ­ and you ­ again, compliments of the presumed failure of Shooters.com. This loss of hosting service to NAA has temporarily (I think) affected our e-commerce and permanently (possibly) the data we (you and I) have accumulated on our message board. I recall that we've posted a notice to this effect on our home page. As I indicated in an earlier post, we will attack this hosting problem as aggressively as possible to minimize the interruption to you.

Similarly, I was disappointed to learn of the demise of TheFiringLine.com, which was a popular on-line shooters forum. I visited there frequently and learned a lot, as I do from our own message board. Readers should know that there's not a post made on our message board that I don't read (I believe most of our factory does as well), and the feedback that you provide is invaluable. I make very few posts on my own (notwithstanding my recent blurb regarding NAA's new Integral Locking System, below), and would prefer you send a direct e-mail (sandy@naaminis.com) if you expect a response (which every direct e-mail gets). I've resolved to get a laptop in the new year so that I can maintain my responsiveness when away from home. I continue to be amazed and disappointed when people fail to call the factory at 800-821-5783 for immediate answers to any pressing questions ­ please do so!

Not yet ready for news

There are still some outstanding issues to which we don't yet have answers regarding the Integrated Locking System. I expect that the ILS will be the subject of next month's message board. We're also hoping to be able to post a diagram (possibly an animation) which should go a long way to help illustrating the operation of the system. It is sure to open a healthy debate regarding firearms design and public policy issues.

BTW, it's the ILS which has allowed our pistols to return to CA. You should expect to see the 380ACP Guardian on the 'not unsafe' (hysterical nomenclature, no?) list next month, as we've received certification from the local testing house.

I wish all a Happy (and healthy) New Year. I appreciate your business and your interest in NAA.

Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) checks out the latest edition of the North American Arms catalog. He mentioned that he regularly carries two of the firm's firearm products after receiving death threats several years ago. ASSC's 1996 Congressional Leader of the Year Award was presented to Sen. Hatch "in appreciation of his leadership and commitment in defense of our heritage, our industry and our life"


Photo & caption by Robert M. Hausman - used with permission.