Title: In August I Will Start A New Monthly Column Of Vital Importance To All Firearms Industry People
Author: Andrew Molchan
Date: Fri June 10th, 2005
Dear Friends,
(May 11th 2005) Two issues from now, in August 2005, I will start a brand new monthly column: How To Survive The 21st Century.
I am very good at seeing into the future. My objective is to help as many firearms people as possible, to become as effective as possible.
The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (S. 397/H.R. 800) is still up for grabs as I write this column. You should continue to call your Senators. However, above and beyond all of that, it is a grand strategy mistake to be waiting for Washington to give our industry some of our rights back. There are many things we as individuals and companies can do to protect ourselves. Actions that we control, that we can initiate ourselves, and that will protect YOU above and beyond what Washington does or does not do.
Big historical world trends are almost unchangeable. For example, nothing can stop the decline of American power relative to the rest of the world. If Washington, D.C. had more realistic geo-political policies, we could slow America’s decline, but not stop it. You, or I, or the American government, cannot control major mega trends. However, you have great control over your life and actions. What you do, or don’t do, will have a major effect on you and your family. You have tremendous potential to protect you and your family. Our firearms industry has great potential to protect itself. That’s what my new monthly column in AFI will be about. I’m not going to be writing about saving Social Security or Medicare. I’m gong to be writing about saving YOUR retirement. I’m not going to be writing about saving the American dollar.
I am going to be writing about saving YOUR wealth. I’m not going to be writing about saving factory jobs in America. I’m gong to be talking about saving YOUR job and business. I’m not going to be writing about saving the Titanic. I’m going to be writing about you taking responsibility for your life and you being in one of the lifeboats.
Over the last 40 years I have been very good at long-term geopolitical predictions. The factory age is ending, the age of "mass" is ending. The age of individual power has started. Big unions will waste away, the welfare state will go bankrupt, big government will shrink to half of today’s size, and the economic gap between the smart and the dumb will increase. Things like America’s trillion dollar aircraft carrier battle fleet will be neutralized by the Osama bin Ladens of the world. Thinking longer term, I doubt if democracy will survive the 21st Century. Every major cultural change of this magnitude, for the last 3,000 years, has produced a big war and/or several wars.
Many firearms retailers, distributors and manufacturers are pessimistic about the future of our industry. There are many reasons to be pessimistic about the overall future of America in general. I really, really, wish the arrogant people in Washington would stop thinking of democracy as a cure-all religion, and see that power politics has for 5,000 years ruled the fortunes of nations. However, we are part of the defense industry, the police industry and the individual self-defense industry. I sincerely wish that the future would be a future of peace, but the historical odds say different. In time of danger and war, a firearms industry is needed. Even our political enemies will need us. We have already seen some changes since 9/11, and that trend will continue. I’ll give you my suggestions for how best to take care of your business and personal affairs.
We FFL holders are family. America is a collection of tribes. We firearms people are a tribe. We have to take care of ourselves. I’m good at predictions, and I also know many things that the power groups in America don’t want ordinary people to know. I want to help make our tribe become stronger, but you have to help by thinking very seriously about my suggestions.
I’ll tell you a true story. I have a dear friend. He’s a very good person, honest, hard working, just an all around nice guy. He was once the biggest Colt distributor in America. He was once the biggest distributor of specialized target shooting ammunition. He has won literally hundreds of shooting events, including an Olympic Shooting Gold Medal. In other words, he’s definitely part of our tribe. He thought of banks and credit like 90% of the people reading this page think of credit. To make a long story short, he ended up losing almost everything he had worked a lifetime to accumulate. It was, and is, a nightmare.
The tragedy mentioned above didn’t have to happen if my friend was a little less trusting of banks, and lawyers. However, all the wheels were in motion before I learned of the details. At a certain point it is too late.
Millions of people think of "credit" as almost money in the bank. Millions of people assume that their credit will be there until after they die. However, your credit card companies and banks have very different ideas. For example, did you know that the credit card companies, and most banks, can and do legally change the terms on your credit cards and/or credit line? All they have to do is mention the new terms on your monthly billing. 60 days after you pay that monthly billing statement (that you never read anyway) the new terms become binding, as if you had signed a new contract. Yes, for real! So imagine you are older, and become sick, and your creditors find out because all the hospitals share that information with all the credit card companies. Your creditors change the terms on your billing, and 60 days after you pay that bill they demand payment in full of everything you owe-immediately! When you can’t pay everything immediately, the total balance starts compounding interest monthly, usually at 24% - but sometimes as high as 32%! Your creditors will let interest accumulate for 6 months or a year, and then they will sue you. In my opinion most of the Judges, especially in big cities, are in the pockets of the banks and credit card companies. The lawyers will get a judgment against you, and then go after your home, bank accounts, cars and everything of value you own. In most States they can even go after your home furnishings, guns, your watch, even your hunting dog if the dog has resale value. In many States they’ll get a judgment for what you owe, including interest, plus lawyer fees, plus court costs, plus the sheriff’s collection fees. This nightmare happens hundreds of times every day. In fact, one of the fastest growing business groups in America for the last four years have been collection companies. I’ll tell you what to do so you don’t have to worry about the above.
American Firearms Industry Magazine rotates through the total FFL list of 58,000. If you are not a subscriber or member you’ll receive a few issues a year. However, I can’t make you stronger if you’re not reading all the issues. I can’t help you unless you make a choice to not be a victim. Fill out the membership form on the Protective Cover and mail it back, or call in your membership to 954-467-9994.
The firearms industry is a very old industry, and we sell things that are made of steel, wood, leather and so forth. Many people in our industry are making a fundamental business mistake. Many people in our industry still believe that selling physical things is what makes profits. That was true in the 19th and early 20th Century, but not today. Wealth in the 21st Century will mainly be made with knowledge and information. Bill Gates became the richest man in America, a multi-billionaire. Yet, everything he sold and sells can be delivered over a phone line. The knowledge you will receive in future issues of AFI will be worth a fortune. Fill out the membership card on the Protective Cover of this issue or call in your membership today to 954-467-9994.
Best Wishes,
Andrew Molchan
President
PGRA, Inc. and NAFLFD, Inc.
INDUSTRY
INSIGHTS
