I agree that it will not PASS this year. Plus, if the refund provision is still part of the bill, paying for a stamp now is moot if you get it back when bill passes.
At best, and probably still I pipe dream, we may get some sort of faster processing.
I think faster processing would be a WAY more attainable goal. Mandate a 30 day approval or denial. Give the ATF the money to modernize their system.
@Huddy does have a point though. If we go out and talk like we're not expecting it to pass, our elected officials feel like it's no big deal. It'll just be another poker chip in their game. They want something to pass and it falls between HPA versus something else, they'll be much more likely to sacrifice it to get support of the other bills if they think we don't expected to pass anyways. It's pretty much a freebie. However, if everybody is going around talking like it is going to pass and then it doesn't, it looks bad on them.
Meh, maybe. I think that's thinking into it too far. In all honestly though, it's not my main concern either. National reciprocity, banning these assault weapons bans, hell, even suppressor reciprocity in all 50 states, etc are what I care most about. Everybody is holding out for HPA to pass to buy any cans. It's an extra $200. Not a big deal (save the lecture, I know it's annoying, unconstitutional, yada, yada, yada). In the meantime, these guys are going out of business and going through lay-offs. Not to mention, having to cut back on R&D.
