Smith and Wesson: New England's Legends

The Smith and Wesson M&P 40 VTAC

According to USAtoday, the firearms company Smith and Wesson had recently received great product sales, beating revenue expectations and quarterly earnings, but sales of stocks and shares have disappointed the legendary company. However, the United States Army is searching to replace their standard Beretta M9 9mm handgun with a polymer framed pistol. Of course, Smith and Wesson, Glock, Beretta, and Sig Sauer will be competing, as they were the main competitors in the U.S. military's quest to replace the Colt M1911 .45 ACP caliber handgun. Also, the civilian market for an affordable handgun seems to compete between the striker-fired handgun manufacturer Glock and the Smith and Wesson M&P series, which also runs off the same hammerless, striker-fired system. However, Smith and Wesson knows when to limit their civilian market. Due to California's microstamping of bullets, in an attempt to limit crime, Smith and Wesson has stated that they will not sell many of their handguns to the idiotic state. Along with the bullets being microstamped, the firearms would also be required to have said microstamping as well. This ridiculous idea of microstamping would have no effect on crime, and the price of firearms and ammunition would skyrocket. I personally believe that California's microstamping is not an attempt to limit crime, but instead just another one of California's anti-gun dreams of banning all firearms. Unfortunately, Smith and Wesson was not always as popular as it has been in recent days. During President Clinton's anti-gun presidency, the firearm manufacturer had decided to give in to the demands of the federal government, instead of stand up and fight against a lawsuit for gun violence that the manufacturers of firearms should not be accountable for. What someone does with a firearm after it is purchased from a company is not the manufacturer's responsibility. This action by Smith and Wesson was extremely frowned upon by the pro-gun society of America, causing their sales to plummet for a period of time. Smith and Wesson is firearm manufacturer that has had many "ups and downs," but it is most certainly on an up at the moment.

The Smith and Wesson Model 500: the world's largest caliber
handgun.