Enablers!

I must have quite a number of enablers among my friends and acquaintances.

First, I was pondering whether to renew my Curios and Relics FFL. I’ve held the license since 1996 and it due for renewal. The pro’s and the con’s made renewing it a toss-up.

On the plus side, while the flood of milsurps from the 90s and early 2000s has dried up, more and more sporting rifles are becoming eligible. The FFL allows me to have eligible firearms shipped directly to my home and I don’t have to pay a transfer fee to an 01 FFL. Further, if I decide to thin out the herd, it will facilitate shipping the firearm to a new owner. Finally, as the Complementary Spouse reminded me, it is only $30 for three years. One argument against renewal meant I could destroy my A&D Bound Book. Unlike a regular dealer, I don’t have to submit my records to the ATF. The other was that I just don’t use it that much anymore.

I put a note up on the C&R FFL mailing list and did get some good advice. The first argument for renewal was that the cost of just one transfer fee paid for the license. The second, from someone who had let his license lapse and then reapplied for it, was that it was harder for the ATF to deny a renewal than to deny a new application. I think this given the Biden Administration’s hold on the ATF is what really convinced me. Thus, my renewal application as well as my notification letter to my local chief LEO went in the mail this morning.

Second, I was undecided if I could make the SHOT Show work in my schedule. While I am now retired from day job and don’t have to worry about missing work, the schedule can still get crowded. I have already planned to attend the Dallas Safari Club Convention and the Safari Club International Convention. The former is being held January 11th-14th while the latter is January 31st- February 3rd. The Complementary Spouse and I had planned to drive to Dallas for the DSC Convention which is a 2-day drive each way. The SHOT Show, if you include Industry Day at the Range, runs from January 22nd through January 26th. I would barely be back from Las Vegas before we hit the road for Nashville and the SCI Convention.

I’m not sure my next move was the smartest thing to do but I posted a query on Facebook asking for advice. And advice I got!

Yehuda reminded me that Southwest was having a sale on airfares. Amanda said I’d have FOMO (fear of missing out) if I didn’t come. Ace asked if I was kidding. Rob said it was the social event of the season. Kat wondered why anyone would want to go to Industry Day (it can be a zoo). And Michael was more interested in the fact that I was going to South Africa next June.

The bottom line is that I booked my flight on Southwest (which will disappoint my brother-in-law who is a retired Delta captain) and it was the cheapest I’ve ever seen it. I booked a room at the Flamingo at what seemed an Off the Strip price.

Going or not going was never an issue of cost but getting these bargains certainly helped make my decision. I think missing the Gun Rights Policy Conference this fall and having to miss the NRA Annual Meeting next May also weighed on me. I’ve made a lot of great friends over the years in the gun culture and I like seeing them face to face at events.

All I can say now is that January 2024 is going to be one busy month but it will be worth it.