Editor's Note: Less than a year ago, it seemed as though only the most vehemently anti-gun politicians wanted to go near the issue of gun control. Polls persistently showed that, by a wide margin, most Americans didn’t support new gun control measures. In the national media, a few articles declared the gun control debate over. How quickly things can change.

As we all know, the horrific mass murder of school children at Sandy Hook Elementary school, just one of a string of high-profile mass shootings, has brought the issue of Second Amendment rights and gun control to the forefront of the current political debate, in Washington and in the media.

It’s a serious issue that deserves serious discussion, but it seems that the voice of hunters and recreational shooters is missing from most of the media coverage.

That’s why Field & Stream has launched this series of interviews on the topic. In the coming weeks, we’ll be talking about gun rights with some of the leaders in the sportsmen’s community—heads of conservation and sportsmen’s rights groups, executives from firearm companies, politicians, industry leaders and representatives.

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By Anthony Licata

Editorial Director Anthony Licata sits down with VP Biden in the first of a series of gun rights interviews. [ Read Full Post ]

Do you have a question for the Obama administration about guns? Now's your chance to get it answered!

On February 14, Field & Stream will conduct an in-person interview with Vice President Joe Biden about the Obama administration's proposals on guns—and we want readers to weigh in. What do you want to know about the administration's plans for and positions on making background checks universal? Limiting high capacity magazines? Banning so-called "assault" weapons? The importance of the Second Amendment? Any question is valid, as long as it pertains to guns.

Submit your questions to askbiden@fieldandstream.com. You must provide your name, address, and daytime contact information in order for your question to be considered. All questions must be submitted by 9 a.m. EST on Tuesday, February 12.--The Editors

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By David E. Petzal

For a number of years, I visited the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The show, which is held in a hideous rambling building originally intended to handle livestock, is a genuine monster. For a solid week, people in the tens of thousands come from near and far to grope sporting goods, book hunting and fishing trips, attend demonstrations, and generally see what is what.

ESS, as it will hereinafter be referred to, is put on by Reed Exhibitions. Reed is the world’s largest organizer of trade shows and the like; the firm handles 500 events in 39 countries in all phases of industry, and included among its clients are the SHOT Show. And, oh yes, Reed Exhibitions is British.

The Brits have never really understood America, and this centuries-old tradition was carried on in a manner that would have made King George III proud when Reed decided that MSRs—Modern Sporting Rifles, or ARs if you prefer—were not appropriate for the ESS and would not be present this year. (They were very much present at the SHOT Show because there, NSSF and not Reed says what will and won’t be exhibited.)

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By David E. Petzal

Those of you who have filled out a Form 4473 since July 9th may have noticed a change in our beloved paper bulwark against crime and poor behavior. In addition to the checkoff box that asks your race, there is a new one that asks your “ethnicity;” specifically, are you Hispanic or Latino? This new box raises some interesting questions.

What’s the difference between Hispanic and Latino?

Why is the ATF interested?

If you are Hispanic or Latino, what then? Do ATF agents in full body armor and facemasks pay you a visit at 3 a.m.?

Some among you may consider this just more pointless nonsense from an agency that, on occasion, acts pretty oddly (See: Waco, massacre at, Fast and Furious, Kenyon Ballew shooting). I, however, view the new box as a first step in the evolution of the outdated, irrelevant Form 4473 into a Document for Our Time and, as a patriotic American, I would like to offer some new questions that are of real use.

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By Chad Love

Is Google unfairly discriminating against businesses that sell firearms, ammo and knives? A recent change to Google Shopping's policies for businesses that prohibits advertising guns, ammunition, knives and other products has many wondering what the omnipresent company is up to.

From this story on Forbes.com:
"...Specifically, they’ve banned results related to firearms and other products that they don’t deem to be “family safe.” Until recently, gun-related products appeared with other products in search results on the shopping section. Many of America’s 80 million gun owners have used Google as a powerful price-comparison tool. Not anymore. 

Google’s new, anti-gun policy, assigns a "family status" to all products. Products that are “non-family safe” are blocked from Google Shopping. This includes guns, ammunition and knives, as well as vehicles, tobacco and radar scramblers.
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