I received an email from author Paul Barrett (my review of Glock: The Rise of America's Gun is here) this afternoon with a link to this article. The most interesting thing I found was the following:
Apparently, the executives at Glock Inc., the Smyrna, Ga., subsidiary of Glock GmbH are worried about the book’s look behind the scenes at the company. So Glock Inc. forced the National Shooting Sports Foundation to rescind my press credentials for the 2012 SHOT Show expo floor. Talk about disrespect for First Amendment free speech rights!
What?
Okay, so the First Amendment doesn't always apply to non-government actors attempting to silence or restrict your access information. But even if it isn't actually a First Amendment issue there are some principles involved here.
I can understand Glock being miffed at the revealing of some unsavory insider details in the book. But this is shutting the barn window after the horse has left, found a mare or three, and established a herd on the open plains.
I could see Glock employees refusing to talk to Barrett and maybe even asking him to leave their booth. But putting pressure on NSSF to rescind his press credentials? That's way out of line. It was also stupid. Can you say, "Streisand Effect"?
And NSSF went along with this?
Shame on both of them.