Owen York, State of the Union Transcript
Note: This transcript was automatically generated by artificial intelligence (AI) and therefore typos may be present.
Rob McNealy
Hey guys, today I am talking to Owen York. Once again, he is with gun industry marketplace. And we’re going to just kind of talk about what’s going on the gun industry. It’s getting toward the end of the year, and they do kind of end the year recap about what’s going on in the industry. So I want to welcome back to the show. How are you today? Hey, good, how you doing? I’m good. So what do you been up to?
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Well, lots of lots of work busy, busy over here.
Rob McNealy
It’s been a little crazy here too. So you’ve been on the show before and so you’re kind of like a return. Guest but For the people who are kind of new to the podcast, because we’ve been growing kind of give a little bit of background tell us like, what do you do? And how did you get involved with the gun industry?
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Yeah, well, if I would do a quick recap, I would say, I had an earlier professional career where I sort of grew up with, you know, high tech, and then I sort of evolved into public safety and defense and those sort of markets. And so I have a lot of high tech background, terms of sales, marketing, business development, especially right. And then about five and a half years ago, I entered into firearms. And so now I’ve been in that business for five and a half years to several, you know, kind of endeavors that evolved into what we have, which is called the gun industry marketplace. And the short, short, the short and sweet about what the gun industry marketplaces is, it’s sort of a growing and evolving hub for the firearms industry. And so we’re connected to all sorts of different companies of all shapes and sizes. Huge in the US, as you can imagine, but also, our international market is growing a lot. In fact, over the summer grew three to 7%, somewhere in there just over the summer, which is interesting. And so what we do is we, you know, we help these companies promote their names, their brands, their products, their services. And originally it started as a sort of kind of like a b2b endeavor. But it’s since expanded to, you know, the average shooter, you know, the consumer. So that’s kind of cool, because I think they like it because they sort of get to see things that they don’t normally get to see all the time because, you know, not everyone has the marketing budgets of you know, Ruger Smith Smith and Wesson. So they like that. It’s different stuff. It’s cool stuff. But also law enforcement has really kind of taken to this for so it’s just kind of an interesting thing. It’s sort of evolved into this like One Stop location for the industry. And I mean, it’s growing and the new categories every month. So it’s, it’s cool. It’s cool. It’s but I’d say at the end of the day, it’s kind of like a, it’s a real kind of like marketing, advertising and sort of make connections platform for the industry where it’s like, all in one place. So that’s kind of a recap of what we do.
Rob McNealy
Very cool. And for a lot of people that may, you know, not be in the United States or what have you is that not because the legalities are from a regulatory standpoint, but just from politics. It’s actually kind of challenging for lawful gun retailers to market even though the firearms industry is actually constitutionally protected in the United States. And it’s a huge you know, very well regulated, tested, yeah, protected, but, but one of the things about the gun industry is that they’re treated like a leper when it comes to market. on, you know, like social platforms and Google and things like that and and it’s very difficult for lawful gun retailers and supporting accessory manufacturers and things to actually get their products into the market because of that. And so I think that’s where what you’re doing on with, you know, gun industry marketplace is actually a real big service is because you have to kind of go outside those channels when you’re in this space.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
You have to, you know, basically I kind of prepared some, some notes and and one of the things we do every year is we do a survey, we call it state of the industry, state of the firearms industry. And this survey, this market research is everybody. All right now, not everybody obviously, does it but the snapshot of the industry, these could be manufacturers that you know, tier one tier two tier three manufacturers service providers, your you know, your local ffls gunsmiths gun ranges. You know, Anybody who’s instructors, anybody who actually is in the industry, we send this out to and so we get a very nice snapshot of what’s occurred. And also as kind of a preface to it, it’s, it’s also confidential. So somebody can tell us who they are if they like, but, you know, we want real answers. You know, we want to get the the meat of what’s, what really occurred. So we get some very interesting answers to this and just kind of following what you said. Yeah, that’s a big deal this year. What do you were you were just referring to so it’s, it’s kind of a nice segue into some of these results.
Rob McNealy
So tell me what would be one of the highlights what’s what did happen this year?
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Well, I mean, it’s probably no surprise anybody who’s working in the industry, but you know, they refer to it as the as the Trump slump. So that’s definitely still occurring. I’d say You know, there’s some there’s some gems out there who are doing good. There’s a couple of companies who I know who are doing really well and even expanded, but I would say for the most part 2019 was terrible, especially the summer.
Rob McNealy
I don’t want to explain that. What is the Trump slump?
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Well, let’s put it this way. You had Obama who was in office, and he was the best gun salesman probably in history. Every time that guy would open his mouth, people would go and buy more guns and ammo, you name it. I mean, it was just it was a feeding frenzy. And I think the only person who probably could have given Obama a run for his money would have been Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and the threat of Hillary as President. I mean, it was a feeding frenzy. And so you had manufacturers who were just pumping the stuff out as fast as they can make it retails. I mean, it was just buying selling you name it was just going on like crazy. But then when Trump one here you have somebody was, you know, more or less friendly to the industry and the Second Amendment, and overnight, everything changed. It’s just simple supply and demand. There was a huge surplus of inventory with the manufacturers and the distributors and the retailers. And the demand just went out the bottom overnight. And so now what you have occurring is a market correction. You know, you had new retail, there’s new online stores, everybody wants to get into the gun industry, and they’re selling and, and so the whole industry just kind of went like this. But then the demand dropped. And so now it’s like contracting. So it’s, it was bloated, it was a balloon, sort of like the real estate market and await and so that’s what’s occurring is a huge market correction. And so that’s really the list of other things occurring was I’ll get into a little bit but that’s what the Trump slump is, is that just the demand has dropped out the bottom and you have the entire industry really sort of returning back to business. As usual as a, you know, as a sporting industry or supporting certain markets, like law enforcement, things like that. So that’s that’s the Trump slump. But the first real point is that 2019 sucked. There’s, there’s no way around it. I mean, again, there’s a few gems out there, but, you know, there’s, there’s dealers who’ve been going out of business. And I don’t want to make this too general. You know, there are, you know, some of the guys who’ve been around for 20 or 30 years, you know, they’re still around, they’re still kicking, there’s not everybody shutting the doors, but there’s enough is worthy of note of how many companies went out of business. And even with the distributors. This has been going on for the last two years now. You know, the shutting the doors, you know, there’s there’s big ones, there’s medium ones. I know that one or two that have went bankrupt, I know some that are, you know, consolidating. So it’s pretty fascinating man. There’s a huge flux going on in the business right now. So that’s another like the first real highlight, you know,
Rob McNealy
and I’d like to point out just, you know, throw my two cents in there is that what’s happening is not that there’s a lot, you know, a loss of interest in guns or firearms. What happened is that during the Obama administration, because of the fear that you know, his anti gun rhetoric instilled in people, the industry basically expanded its capacity massively to meet that demand. And once Trump got into office, the demand basically went back down to pre Obama levels and and now that’s correcting because you had a big expansion and now it’s just that the people are stocked up and and I tell people that people are feel people are more like conservatives are more confident and comfortable with their gun rights when a republican isn’t office versus when a democrat is now I don’t necessarily think that’s smart because Republic given lots of gun control, too. But that’s the general perception I see out there among, you know, concerned.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Well, sure, yeah. It’s swings back and forth. I mean, it’s a big, big cycle to go. Conservatives, liberals, and, you know, I don’t I don’t buy into the two party system myself. I’m not I’m not one of those guys. I feel like it’s all the same Master, you know, so I don’t buy into that. But I do buy into the swings, like, I feel like it’s definitely a controlled thing. Like, all right, let’s go. Let’s go make these guys happy. All right. Let’s make these guys happy. But underneath, there’s still that underlying agenda. I think maybe I think it’s a little different. Now, last couple of years. There’s some interesting things going on, which is a whole different conversation, but just, you know, in regards to firearms, it’s, in fact, I’ll bring up this next point because it’s kind of a good segue. One of the biggest problems this year. Aside from all we need more sales, you know, like we need more sales, we need more customers, blah, blah, blah. I mean, that’s, that’s, that’s a given based on what we are saying. But what I was noticing a lot and this this I saw this last year too, but even more this year, and it’s not going to come as a huge surprise, but this whole media circus, you know, these anti gun anti Second Amendment campaigns, there’s more taxes, there’s more regulations, there’s more government, there’s more new legislation, these politicians. The kickback is even as big this year, and the demand for change is bigger this year, which, you know, isn’t a huge surprise if you’re paying attention to what’s going on. But like, for example, there’s a new, just this one little tidbit. I know in the state of Illinois, there was a new tax dealers, right. And I don’t have all the specifics, but there’s some new tax and dealers where now they have to pay another 1500 dollars a year. You know, which for some of these smaller dealers, it’s another 1500 bucks, you know, so it’s more suppression, but that’s probably the number one thing that I see out there right now, that’s being reported to me from all facets of the industry is just it, they’re getting very tired. The demand for change is huge on end to the point where people are starting to look for legal support, which I also find interesting. You know, they’re looking for legal support, like straight up attorneys. You know, and here’s where I think your There’s your nras and you’re going to have those of America going like, take note guys. I’m sure they’ve got their work cut out for them. But, you know, I think we’re going to start to see even more new Second Amendment groups cropping up To meet the demand.
Rob McNealy
So what do you mean by they’re seeking more legal support? Who’s seeking more legal support?
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Well, you know, like, for example, you know, every time there’s a win in the government for, you know, the second amendment when like, you know, another constitutional carry state, or we’ve made inroads towards that, you know, the sort of, you know, I guess you could say, the liberal agenda, or the anti gun agenda, or whatever you want to term it. I feel like it’s almost a free for all they’re like submitting bills left and right. federal, state, local. And I almost feel like touch slinging these things. And oh, and just kind of taken whatever sticks, you know, like some of them are passing. And then there’s like this little thing that passes over here. And so it’s hard to keep up with, you know, like in terms of sheer volume, and so that’s kind of what I’m gleaning out of here is you know, Like, I know, there was companies were moving to Nevada from California. They were just jumping ship. And now I’ve started to see reports of people jumping, going like I’m out of Nevada, it’s too close to California, we’re going to Idaho. Which is, you know, so there’s there’s definitely a, there’s more of an exodus going to be occurring from these, these states. But you know, there needs to be more legal support, more lobbying support. And if the big dogs on the block can handle it like the NRA and the gunners of America, and there’s some other ones out there, too. That’s why I think there’s there’s a demand occurring right now, more so than ever. And you’re going to start to see some more action there just to handle the sheer volume, you know.
Rob McNealy
Yeah, I think what we’re seeing with artists project and talking to retailers, it’s there’s a lot Fear kind of trepidation out there on what will happen, especially by companies that are in states that are not gun friendly or appeared like they’re going to become gun friendly. Right. And, and, and there’s all sorts of pressures going on, you know, with with retailers. You know, there’s their political pressure. There’s protests, there’s, you know, there’s all these crazy additional hoops and regulations and taxes. But, you know, on top of that, you’re getting the the corporate pressure coming on to these companies are refusing to do business with lawful regulated gun retailers. And you’re now totally, you know, yeah,
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
well, it’s funny like the next points on here, I’m going to give you a few more bullet points, because if you see the sort of perfect storm that’s being created here, we kind of touched on this before a little bit, but like, for example, so we have the government side That was, you know, people were complaining about it last year, but this year, it’s way more. It’s affecting, you know, it’s having an effect. Plus, we’re coupled with the Trump slump. Plus, you know, summers are usually slow in the industry anyway. So you have a slow summer and top of a slow industry on top of the legal stuff plus we still have increased. How do you want to call it? censorship will call it really are discrimination is another one. So you have increased censorship and discrimination from companies like Amazon, eBay, PayPal, the social media giants, you know, like, telling you rob, I won’t be surprised if one day you see Facebook, slash Instagram go, Okay, if you have done anything by I won’t be surprised in the least bit. So you have that occurring. And there’s demand, you know, these companies, they want it, they want to connect to the consumer, the public, but they can’t because of the increased depression, the banking, you know, and this is what I think you’ll find that particularly interesting and the finance sort of money side of it. There’s also there’s still a strangulation of the industry occurring there. Now, that’s what’s happening over the last couple of years especially, and I’ve seen and heard less reports of it this year, but it is still occurring. In fact, I just heard of one yesterday. But there’s this is what I have seen as needed as of this year is companies, Stephen, stay in business need money. Obviously, they need financing. They’re looking for partnerships. And this is where you’re going to be seeing further. You know, what’s the word like? There’s a lot of…
Rob McNealy
Consolidation?
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
..and that’s the word Thank you consolidation already occurring. You know, you’ve seen a lot last year too, there’s good there’s more coming, and it’s in there and it’s being asked for just a kind of a float. So financing partnerships are needed. Didn’t want it, but even down into investors, buddy, right, right down to the local place down to the point of sale and merchant processing. You know, these guys are having trouble finding good reputable companies with good rates that are second amendment friendly, that won’t drop them, you know, which is what I think is kind of interesting about what you’re doing with tusken the future like the, you know, there’s a solution in there somewhere, you know. So, I mean, you could see the sort of perfect storm that’s been created.You know?
Rob McNealy
Well, I, you know, on one part, you know, I’d love nothing more to be successful with our project, right. That’s, we all want to be successful. But, you know, I don’t find joy that the industry is suffering. You know, when I came into this project, because we love the industry, and we’re big believers in the industry, and we see that the industry is struggling and we see You know, potential solution to that. And in fact, you know, decentralized finance and things, you know, and some of these other things that are coming out of blockchain, not just what we’re doing with task, but you know, there’s other things coming in the future that I think might actually save some of those other things and be other solutions for the industry itself. Now, you were talking about finance, like, for instance, that can cover things like if someone wants to build a gun range, or build a big gun store that you know, caters to a certain market. There you have a hard time finding people to finance those projects, like totally fall. So there’s going to be your businesses like you’re talking about your business financing, but also the the financing for consumers, you know, that they can finance a consumers purchase. So I’ll just throw that in there. Both of those are what I’m talking about, just to make sure it’s clear.
Yes, indeed. And I think that’s some of the pressure now that’s coming becoming from the political side, the anti gun World is now becoming ever more vocal about Visa and MasterCard, people just using debit cards to buy purchases with their own money. And I think I believe that’s going to be stepped up. And I think it’s going to take over, I only think that’s going to increase. And they’ll be very fascinating when the networks like Visa and MasterCard themselves decide that they’re not going to allow these kinds of transactions to occur.
And I do it will not shock me in the least bit.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
You know, I mean, how, in one of these, I was just reading it this morning, one of the survey results like I said, the tabulations are fully done, but I’ve got enough but one of them I mean, PayPal over and over was in here and then one it was like we should sue Pay Pal and, and they’re just you know, they just won’t accept it. And you’re like, Well, I mean, I that’s I guess that’s a different conversation because it is a private company. I guess they can do whatever they want. But if this were any other industry or anything else, like the discrimination question, would be huge.
Rob McNealy
Well, there are about seven industries that are in that same boat, right? Whereas with PayPal, for instance, when we looked at markets that have a recognized problem with normal banking and financing, right, we did a market segmentation we did some research and, and all there’s about seven industries that have a problem that’s recognized right now. And they’re all distasteful to somebody. So that could be things like cannabis, that can be things like pornography, it could be things like prostitution and gambling, and, you know, refugees and immigrants, remittances, you know, payday lenders, things like that, though, and guns and things like that. Now, you know, it’s funny, because if you’re a conservative, you probably don’t like any of those things, except for one of them. Right.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
I know. That’s, that’s the funny thing is they’re all considered and termed high risk markets, except, you know, there’s only one that’s protected by the US. constitution. You know, like, there’s one that’s written into the senior laws of the land that all the states agreed to, and it wasn’t weed. Well, you know, I find that interesting, like so. But yeah, totally like, you know, I know the conservative crowd is, I would say as a main is not into those other high risk markets, you know, not right. Yeah. You know, I mean, so it’s it’s too bad that it gets grouped in with those when it’s you know, if you know, the industry like you were it like, it’s a very friendly close knit, family oriented sporting industry. So it’s really too bad that it whoops then gets grouped in with other things that it doesn’t need to be.
Rob McNealy
Well, I think, you know, when I come to Nashville, we should have a long conversation about freedom and what that looks like and, and this is where social conservatives and you know, it’s hard to talk about guns without getting into politics, but this is where social conservatives and allies We kind of missed the boat. Right? Right. As I say, I live a very, you know, personally, I am very, I live a very social conservative life personally, you know, but I also realize that if we want a free society, that what that requires of me as an individual is that to realize and understand and be okay with other people will make decisions and choices about their lives that I wouldn’t like or agree with. And I need to be okay with that. Because the alternative is, is a big government that then can has the power to do whatever it wants. So, on one hand, you know, a lot of people hate the fact that people use the courts to sue everybody out of Oblivion, and then until it affects them, right, and then they say, Well, you know, this private company doesn’t want to do business with us, so we need to sue that. Well. It’s private company, right? You know, on one hand, you know, and and I’m just poking fun here, and I’m not anti conservative or anything, but you’ll see, you know, people conservatives that want to be able to denied service based on you know, they don’t want to bake the cake. Right, you know, but on the same token if someone wants to reverse that, and now they do want to force somebody to bake the payment processing. Right, right. So this is where it gets, you know, we got to be consistent. And again, people are very libertarian when it comes to themselves, but not necessarily other people. And so, and to me, I’m okay with PayPal denying anybody they want i because I believe it’s freedom of association, a private company.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
That’s why I have mixed opinions myself where I want and I don’t like it, but it’s a you know, it’s a bad company. I don’t want anyone telling me what to do with my business. I’ll tell you that, you know, and I so I feel like I can respect the right of somebody else. But you know, like, I love using Dick’s Sporting Goods as an example but you know, like, or Walmart or any of these other ones who kind of hopped on board and the you know, Sort of withdrawing from the firearms industry, even if it just if they don’t want to get sued, whatever it is, you know, let the free market work on them. That’s what I believe. Like, I don’t want anyone tell me what to do with my business. So if I make a really bad decision and decide to alienate, you know, quarter of my customers or clients, oh, hey, it’s gonna hurt my pocketbook. You know, it’s gonna hurt our bank account. So I, it’s I go, you know, that’s, that’s a very powerful message to send to any corporation. Like, I’ll never shop at a Dick’s Sporting Goods again, you know, have have fun. And I’m just one guy. And I know there’s a ton out there and that’s a ton of money. And that’s going to be the biggest point. So that’s, that’s why I believe in letting you know, hey, you want to run your business that way it’s your business or, you know, the shareholders. They want to go into agreement on something, find the free markets going to do its job.
Rob McNealy
I agree. And I think part of it is is that you should vote with your dollars and friends. Not only do I not shop at Dick’s Sporting Goods anymore, because they are anti gun, but I won’t use Uber lift anymore, because they also recently signed on to a letter that, you know, was very anti gun a couple months ago when those hundred plus CEOs of major companies wanted more gun control over and left for both signatories to that, and I won’t use those services. And you know, that’s and that’s a big inconvenience for me for traveling to other cities. And in fact, recently, I was traveling to Las Vegas, and I had to figure out a ride to get somewhere because I won’t download those apps. They were removed from my I canceled my accounts and remove those apps. And so now, it makes it a little harder for me, but I do vote by principles. But I also think when you have private companies making these political decisions, that also opens the door for innovation, and I believe this is one of those things that can drive what we’re doing. So I believe if you close the door in one place in the market, another opportunity opens. And I think this is what’s going to drive the adoption of decentralized projects where we get trusted banks, quote, unquote, out of the loop. Now, wouldn’t it be nice that you don’t have to go through Visa and MasterCard, to do business or you don’t have to go through a PayPal to do business because there’s other systems that are decentralized and don’t have a central control that’s in the middle making those political decisions, and
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
I’m watching for some behind that the less What can I say less regulations, decentralization. I mean, you know, I even this morning was paying a fee for my company, and I’m kind of like, why am I paying a fee for this? I feel like, you know, the founding fathers would roll over in their graves if they saw some of the taxes and regulation like it is completely not what this place was intended to be. And I you know, it wasn’t even a lot of money but the fact that I even had to do it like I have to check for this one stupid little thing that has nothing to do with the government. And I was like, so I, you know, I mean, the push definitely needs to go in that direction. And it’s in being hugely demanded right now.
Rob McNealy
Yeah, I think ultimately, market decisions will drive innovation. And so if people want to be political, that’s their choice. Now, I, I’m old enough to remember when I didn’t know the political affiliations of the companies I did business with when I was growing up. And even when I was in business school, they said, don’t be political, you know, you’re going to alienate your customers and customers are, you know, good thing and, and, and, and I get, you know, with the gun space is political. So I understand that trade off that I’m dealing with in this space. And so I know that I have to basically there’s a line in the sand when you’re willing to be gun friendly or be focused on supporting an industry that has a problem in this space because it is distasteful to some people. But I also think Now that that is what we’re dealing with in the United States, where companies are drawing lines in the sand that this will drive innovation, and I I’m excited. Yeah.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
I it’s funny. I had a, you know, I had the viewpoint was, you know, when I was younger, I didn’t know all the politics. I didn’t even read my constitution what, you know, other people paid attention in their high school government classes or even understood what the hell they were hearing. No, they didn’t, you know, you know, so it’s, it is interesting, like, I used to have that opinion, it is politics when my politics i used to keep it out of business. And then people weren’t so touchy about it. It wasn’t so vicious, you know. Now, you know, I mean, yeah, for one being in the firearms space, you you’ve chosen one side. I mean, this is sort of hard to say like a political there. With the exception that like I said earlier, like the two party system, I don’t prescribe to subscribe to any of that stuff. I don’t affiliate myself with any party I have. I don’t feel like That’s, I don’t know, anywhere in the Constitution, it talks about parties. You know, I don’t like that stuff at all. I think we need to make that go the way of the dinosaur. But, you know, so I can kind of say that stuff. And then in terms of, I don’t know, I sort of consider firearms, it’s too bad that it’s getting the, the precedents getting and how touchy it is. But I it’s a niche market, just like any other sport, you know, you’re a basketball fan, you’re, you know, hockey fan, or, you know, you’re into archery. I mean, these are niche markets. So I mean, it’s, it’s, I don’t know, it’s not political, and it’s just being made political, you know, in terms of the industry, I should say, you know, other than the, again, the second amendment is written in there, and it’s in there for a reason and it’s not so I mean, yeah, of course, it’s so you can protect your family, but it’s, that’s not the real reason that these guys wrote it into the Constitution, like That’s what I think some people don’t, who haven’t read their history or don’t know their history. You know, if you go back and look like Well, okay, well, why? Why are firearms in the senior law of the land? Why did they do that, and you only need to look back from where they came from and what they were handling and realize, you know, had to do with oppressive government, you know, but unless you read your history, you’re like, oh, cool, you know, have a gun and protect my family. And that’s what it’s all about. And you’re like, No, no, that’s not what it’s there for, you know?
Rob McNealy
Well, I think if you want to look at a contemporary example, look at Hong Kong right now.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Fascinating, right?
Rob McNealy
And to me, if those people had firearms, they would not be getting beaten in the streets.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Dude. Well, it blows me away. Rob, like I see in America protests waving the you know, this communist flag, you know, with the the sickle on the hammer, and that’s in the states and then you go over to, you know, China well, Hong Kong right. And and they’re waving the American flag. Is that amazing?
Rob McNealy
Well, you know, it’s ironic that this morning I actually had a conference call to the Ukraine with an exchange that we might be doing business with. And I find it’s interesting talking to Eastern Europeans and Asians versus Americans and Western Europeans. It and what I’m finding is that actually Asians are really pro gun like especially say in like Hong Kong and Japan where they really can’t even own guns. They’re very pro gun, and Eastern Europeans are very pro gun. It’s the western Europeans and the Americans that now have this weird anti gun thing happening. I don’t know what happened to the west. I always tell people to when we talk about banning, you know, immigrants and things like that, but they always say well what the Europeans and I’m like, you know what the Europeans are the ones that invented socialism and invented communism. Okay, so if you want to like ban a certain group of people from coming here maybe it’s the people that invented that garbage in the first place, maybe start there you know..
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
What, and even then like, you know, I agree with you know, immigration in that it should be not stopped. I mean, people come to this country for a reason no, but it should be monitored. There should be rules. I do agree with that. We It can’t just be a free for all, you know.
Rob McNealy
But it’s been commies I start there. Let’s Yeah,
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
I mean, you know, but the the interesting thing, though, is like there’s people who come to this country, who appreciate it more than the people who were born here, who may grieve gotten soft over the generations like they know. They know what this place is. And they compare it to their home. Like an interesting factoid about Nashville that I didn’t know was there was until I moved here is there’s a, a large Kurdish population here. And they were refugees from whenever that was in, I think, was early 90s, or something like that. And I’ve talked to some of these people, and I, one of them was a neighbor of mine, and they’re very, they get it, and they really appreciate the freedoms that they have here that they didn’t have, where they were absurd of being, you know, run out and murdered. You know, and so, I guarantee you the commie flag waving portlander that I saw and was watching. If their life was in danger from the government that they you know, like if they were being run out of there. homes and areas. It would be a very different story. They wouldn’t be buying into the propaganda, which is what it is, you know, and I and there’s one thing you said that I like make comment down to the, you know how anti gun America’s that’s not true. There’s a percentage. There’s a percentage there’s there’s definitely a group, but I would still be willing to defend that the large percentage of Americans are, you know, pro firearms pro constitution, you know, it’s, I don’t buy the mainstream media’s reports, poll or anything like that. I go, who did you pull? I’ve never been pulled. And in my 40 years of existence, I’ve never received one survey or one poll from any of you guys. Like who you ask it. You know, I could go poll right now. Like, I can go call 50 people who I know we’re all firearms friendly and have one set of answers. Or I could go you know, and do you know, major city and walk around where it’s a little more liberal and get 50 sets of other answers doesn’t make it a correct survey.
Rob McNealy
You know, true and and and i and i agree with that. I mean, it’s poll taking is very partisan regardless and an inexact science, but I can tell you through what I’m doing with crypto, I’m traveling a lot, and I’m going to go to California go to New York to go, you know, all over the country. And I definitely see a big difference from people that grew up. And you know, in, you know, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and call, you know, California. The people in those places now, never were exposed to guns growing up, largely. And I think that’s a big deal. And I just saw an article this morning about people, you know, surprisingly, you know, that people that are exposed to guns, don’t fear them as much. But I think the problem is a lot of people like in New York City or some of these places where basically guns are essentially outlawed. They’re not growing up around them so they don’t even understand the culture and they and everything they know about guns is either from the media it’s either from the movies or it’s from the news and or and and that’s both usually propaganda on both sides too. Right and I think so.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
I grew up and I was a boy scout we shot the 22 rifle slowly it was no big deal.
Rob McNealy
Nobody here nobody cared in but you know I’m also a Gen X or so you know, I think it’s different now and look at the Boy Scouts are dying as an organization to so you gotta take that a good segue me there’s fewer Boy Scouts now.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
So I was just reading there are there’s a set of girls, I think it was in Indiana who opened their own Boy Scout troop, but it’s all girls and like, isn’t that just the Girl Scouts?
No, it’s not actually, you know, I’m going to say an unpopular opinion. I actually support that. Yeah. And you know why? This because there’s so here’s Think about this, and I was a boy scout too. I didn’t get my Eagle back. I close. That was a life scout. But here’s the thing. There’s no equivalent The Girl Scouts to becoming an Eagle Scout. And there are societal benefits to being an Eagle Scout. Like for instance, if you’re an Eagle Scout, you start you go to basic training the army you’d be hearing from day one. You know, for instance, you can get scholarships for college, it’s considered something you would hire on, it’s a hiring bullet point. So and the Girl Scouts don’t have an equivalent and on top of that the Girl Scouts don’t really focus on the outdoor activity part of scouting like the Boy Scouts do. And in fact, you know, it’s interesting, I live in Utah and the churches basically was at one point the the LDS church was like the biggest, like every church had its own truth that was kind of a church and the church has ended that relationship and they’re they’re weaning themselves off that relationship right now. But my I would love for my my one daughter who’s of age to be a Boy Scout, because I think they learned
It’s interesting. I didn’t know those details because like in terms of this whole thing, Gender garbage with fully I think that’s crap. I that actually makes sense in terms of, I guess you would just eliminate it and just call it scouts
Rob McNealy
Right now. And that is how it is in other countries too, by the way, they were they’ve actually had the thing. The Girl Scouts, though and getting getting political is that the Girl Scouts are very political to very left wing. And so, and I and, you know, I want my kids to be very accurate. My I have four kids, two girls, two boys, and I want them all to have both vocational skills, survival skill, shooting skills, and stem based academic skills. And so to me, that’s important and I would love there to be, you know, a good scouting program that my girls and my boys could all learn the same skills. You know, and and, you know, we’re going to we’re going to look at that, but it’s just one of those things that you know, lots of people don’t look at it like that, because, you know, if you’re an Eagle Scout, though there are societal benefits and
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
What is the data in the media? Well, you just said that whole point. It’s a very good point when it’s a reported that in the media people be like, Hey, I could see that because you’re telling me and I go, yeah, I could see that I can. I think that’s actually great. If there was just a scouting program for kids, period. That’s great. Because you’re right, if it’s a if the programs aren’t comparable, but just pushing it for the sake of this whole genders lame, yeah, I’m like, Okay, guys, like enough. You know..
Rob McNealy
and, and, and I think part of the boyscout problem, I know a lot of scout leaders. And so and I think part of the problem is as well as that the Boy Scouts are losing membership radically. And I think that’s part of the problem, too. Now, don’t get me wrong. I do believe there’s a lot of crazy people that just want to file lawsuits to be jerks right there is trying to push a point and that drives some of this too. So, you know, the world is not a black and white place as much as I want it to be. Now, life would be so much simpler if it wasn’t for people. Right. So what else have you What else are you seeing in your numbers in your survey so far?
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
I got it. A few more points I can that are kind of interesting. You know, there was there was quite a bit of bad like, you know, we’re going to there’s more closures coming. That’s coming, we’re going to see more big small ones. It’s not done yet. And there’s been a lot the last couple years. There’s similar things that I see every year that are still occurring that they’ll probably always occur like the brick and mortars versus the buying power of the big box retailers, the internet giants, you know, that’s occurring. You know, Hey, can you guys the manufacturers, can you guys enforce your map pricing? That’s always a big one that I hear every year, the shrinking margins I hear every year. So that hasn’t changed. That’s continued. A positive note was, you know, Black Friday, I think the whole Black Friday weekend was good this year. In fact, I think it was number two in terms of records. Nice was over like 200,000 federal background checks. So we know at least 200,000 firearms sold. So that was kind of cool. So There was there’s an uptick there. That was positive.And I think another interesting thing I did see, which I wasn’t totally sure of, because I get mixed reports on this, but I had people throwing in, you know, go Trump 2020. You know, there was there was kind of a lot. So there’s still, I think the, as a whole, and, again, these are sort of general it’s not every single person. These are just kind of highlights that I took note of. But I it still appears that Trump is very much supported by the industry, at least for the most part, from what we could see. But I In summary, you know, there’s the I’d say the senior things that I could really tell you are the discrimination. And all what I said the media, the government regulations, all that stuff. That’s still huge in the tech companies. You know, the strangulation of the market is still occurring? And, and I would Oh, I want to give one shout out again, I don’t know who said this, but just somebody did say, the best part of their 2019 was the gun industry marketplace, and they said keep it up. So, whoever you are, thanks for that.
Rob McNealy
So, you know, question strangulation now, we do have merchant processing that’s still out there. So, R is the current merchant processing, what would be the strangulation part of that I do know that there are gun friendly, you know, merchant processing services out there. Is it just not are they not adequate to meet the demand right now?
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Um, some are, some are, you know, but like, for example, I was talking to a dealer yesterday, and he was making a switch from one who was a firearms friendly payment. processor but the rates were just this is a local dealer nice company but small you know so it just not affordable you know they’re not getting he wasn’t getting the benefits of maybe a larger supported payment processing company that I don’t know so just price out a little bit what kind of rates are they getting? I don’t know the specifics of the rates I just know he was leaving one who I’m not gonna say who it is but I know who it is and he’s making a move to another one which was a new name for me which I think is a local or regional company so new to my radar anyway
Rob McNealy
Well, you know, it’s good to hear what’s going on the industry and and that’s what I really like you as a respected stores because you know, you your got your ear to the street out there. So where can people find out more?
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Well, we’re let’s see, we don’t really publish this. You know, I usually okay. So, but you know, if they want to find us, we’re just gun industry marketplace calm. And the one the one final point that I’d like to just kind of get out there for anyone listening here is, you know if you really want to help the firearms industry right now, like the thing that I would probably tell you to do as of December 2019, just go buy a gun, go buy another one. You know, if a lot of people did that right now, it would, it would just like help move, move things a little bit more. So, go buy guns, man, exercise your exercise. You’re right. That’s what I would tell people to do to help right now.
Rob McNealy
I can’t think of better advice. Thank you somuch for coming on today.
Owen York – Gun Industry Marketplace
Thanks for having me. Again, Rob.
