That's because the mid-term elections were generally perceived by leaders in the firearms industry and community as one of historic gains regarding the furthering of pro-firearms legislation, sportsmen's issues and protection of Second Amendment rights.
Simply, among gun folks, the election that took place on Nov. 2 qualified as the biggest overall news story of the 2010.
Candidates for U.S. Congress endorsed by the National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund were victorious in 85 percent of House races, and 19 of 25 Senate races. At the state level, many pro-Second Amendment governors were elected on Nov. 2, including some in key states. Of the 21 gubernatorial candidates endorsed by the NRA-PVF, 15 were victorious.
Regarding pro-firearms issues, perhaps no state made more significant gains than Wisconsin. In coming days, Scott Walker will succeed Jim Doyle, who was considered by many to be the most anti-gun governor in state history. In addition, another longtime friend of gun owners, J.B. Van Hollen, was re-elected as State Attorney General.
During his two terms as governor in the Badger State, Doyle twice vetoed right-to-carry measures. Throughout his campaign, governor-elect Scott Walker vowed to support concealed-carry and "castle-doctrine" legislation.
The NRA has already announced it will make the passage of Wisconsin's Right to Carry law one of its top priorities of 2011. According to the NRA, using the existing statutes of Alaska and Arizona as model legislation will set the standard with a law that recognizes the citizens' constitutional right to carry firearms for self-defense along with a provision to provide for the streamlined issuance of a state permit that can be used for reciprocity purposes in other states.
