I’m in the press room (!) sitting next to Ambulance Driver who is also typing out a blog post. The exhibit hall will open in just a few seconds and we’ll be off for Day One of the 2014 Annual Meetings and Exhibition.

The atmosphere here is different than last year. First, there are a number of gun raffles going on. Last year the firearms situation was so tight and uncertain that people could have raffled off a chance to hold a firearm for five minutes and made money. There was also what I’d call uncertainty as the shooting world waited for the legislative fall out from Newtown to hit.

A year later that’s gone, firearms are plentiful, ammunition supplies are up, along with prices, and the Administration has had a serious case of legislative fail. The feeling is much more upbeat, but not complacent because the enemies of gun owners aren’t giving up, they are just changing tactics.

In the press room, it’s time to renew old acquaintances, meet new people, both bloggers and real media. In a few minutes we’ll head out to the exhibit hall and see what’s new.

Over the next few days, I’ll post pictures and of course comments. Because I wouldn’t be a blogger if I didn’t have a comment for every thing.