S.W.A.T. Magazine- Update

[Bullshooter]

Rich, I've been hanging around here for awhile now, and have accumulated a few posts. For myself personally, the title SWAT implies such a specialized publication (and one that I'm not very interested in) that I've never even considered subscribing. Why not change the name of the magazine to "The Firing Line"? Now that you've enlightened me, maybe I'll take a look at it and consider a subscription.

[AAshooter]

Hello Rich,

I subscribed based on the quality of TFL and your information/hard work to make it happen.

I am not quite sure what I will get or if the magazine is worth while for me; however, I am willing to gamble the $ 20.

I am not a Leo but do practice and train for defensive/tactical shotgun and handgun. I assume the information will be useful. I will certainly know more in a few months.

My biggest complaint so far is that I don't have my first issue yet. I am eager to see what I got myself into.

Thanks!

[buzz_knox]

I used to buy S.W.A.T. religiously when I was a kid (about 12 years ago). But, I stopped when the graphics started getting cheesy and the content went down hill (IMHO). It seemed the publisher wanted to fill in for lack of real content with big photo spreads. A lot of the reviews were also out of date (such as reviewing a pistol that had been on the market for years as a "new weapon").

I'm hoping that with Rich at the helm, things will change. So, in order to help make that happen, I'm going to be subscribing.

[Mark Jones]

To those complaining about magazines publishing stories about guns you'll never be able to own: so, it's the fault of the magazine, the editors, the authors, that YOU can't legally own a particular type of gun? "Those cretins in Washington/the state capital outlawed something else, so I think I'll cancel my subscription to [insert name of gunzine here] to show my displeasure."

No, it's not the fault of the magazine, editors or writers that I'm not allowed to own various types of weapons or equipment.

But guess what--it's not _my_ fault, either. I'm one voice in a hundred million.

Nor is it a case of cutting off my nose to spite my face (or shooting myself in the foot). I've _never_ subscribed to a gun magazine, though I've bought quite a few at news stands. Why _should_ I read (or subscribe to) a magazine devoted to glorifying the weapons I'm not allowed to own, and the people who can? [SWAT isn't that magazine; Guns & Tools For Law Enforcement or whatever it's called, very explicitly IS that magazine, and it offends me. A magazine which certainly _sounds_ like its aimed at LEOs--and the mask-wearing, door-kicking, SMG-totin' JBT crowd in particular--isn't going to win any awards from me either.]

Sorry if it bothers you, but Rich asked why people weren't subscribing--and I told him.

[Rich Lucibella]

Jody-
Thanks for the primer and pep talk. I've learned from both.

SodBuster-
The profit from newsstand revs is a bit higher than from the subs. However, be aware that the Sub List is controlled by me personally and the Subcriptions Contractor is under legal obligation to disclose to noone but me. I will neither sell nor rent that list under any circumstances as I detest junk mail myself.

PointBlank-
Email me your name and/or address. I have the files and can check them for you PDQ.

CorG-
July is still available on the newsstands. Try Borders or Barnes and Noble. We have a Distribution Consultant under contract who is working daily to get the distribution up.
Rich.......thinking a new title may well be in order.

[Don Gwinn]

Barnes and Noble doesn't have it in Springfield, IL. I checked. They seem to be cutting back radically on gun magazines in general--they're down to Special Weapons for Law Enforcement and Soldier of Fortune. But you can still get two brands of gay porn and six different model car magazines.

[Ledbetter]

I'm sure my wife would prefer that I get a magazine entitled "Modern Defensive Appliances," but it doesn't matter to me. The benefit to keeping the name is of course keeping the established readers.

Hang in there Rich. The rest of you get your subscription now to a great source of pertinent info and also help a great friend and benefactor to those of us who call this our online home.

Regards.

[.308-Headshot]

Rich,

Two things keep me from subscribing. 1) Having a firearms mag show up on my doorstep broadcasts to the world (well, at least to the postman) that there are guns in the house. While this will most likely serve as a deterrent to break-in, it may also serve as an incentive to someone looking to steal firearms. 2) The name "SWAT" also has negative connotations for me on several levels. Although SWAT teams often serve a viable purpose, the often present JBT attitude and actions of the teams and SWAT leadership are contrary to our goals of ongoing Liberty. Additionally, compare the name "SWAT" to the name "American Rifleman". For me, one conveys a gungho attitude while the other conveys a reverent respect for our hobby and beliefs. I picture myself reading SWAT during lunch time at Junior High, but could see myself reading American Rifleman at an Ivy League College library. This is perhaps a harsh example, but it is nevertheless representative of my opinion.

.308-Headshot

[B9mmHP]

Rich is offering a Magazine subscription to S.W.A.T. for a fair price. I subscribed to a Magazine I never seen? I`m sure I will enjoy it.

Sometime back I and others offered to send Rich donations to help out on some legal expense. Not asking for anything in return, it was just the right thing to do. He would not take any.

I have no idea what it costs Rich to keep this Web Site going in $$$s let alone the time he has spent to give us one of the best on the net. You don`t see a bunch of advertising banners when you log on, it`s all coming out of his pocket. Now he want`s to give us something in return for a $20 bill.

It`s time to step up to the plate and drop a $20 bill in.

[Legionnaire]

Rich, my check is going in the mail today. I'll give it a year to check it out. But if there are a bunch of glossy reviews that never touch on the drawbacks of the item in question, I'll probably check out . . . like I've done with almost every other gun rag I've subscribed to.

[Rich Lucibella]

Legionnaire-
I'll do better than that. Take the first issue and cancel the rest if it doesn't meet expectations. There's a "Money Back on all Unmailed Issues" policy in the signup form.

All Others-
I really appreciate the support. And we can use it. However, we'd rather you not purchase a subscription if you're only doing it to help us out. The success of this magazine is dependent on our ability to provide great value for the buck...not our ability to strong arm our friends. (We do that at election time )

So, understanding why individuals might be reluctant to subscribe is every bit as important, in the long run, as getting "subscriptions of conscience". It helps us to make the publication stronger. I hope that makes sense.
Rich

ps: As concerns "glossy reviews", Denny recently referenced a Beretta Shotgun as "designed by chimpanzees for use by apes" in a review. Seen anything like that in a gun mag (other than SOF) of late?

[Joey]

Years ago I read SWAT every now and again. However, it went downhill with flash pictures and no meat to the articles.

When I stumbled across TFL I stopped purchasing all but a very few magazines and then only rarely. Think I've purchased 3 so far this year.

I've been seriously thinking about subscribing to SWAT now that Rich has purchased it. The last few issues I looked at were not all that good (It's been 6-8 months since I've looked at a issue) but if TFL is any indacation SWAT will become a excellent magazine.

[Byron Quick]

Rich,

In reference to the name of the magazine, I must admit to not being enamored of it myself. However, when I thought of changing the name, I was concerned what the reaction of the current subscriber and purchaser base would be. I think someone suggested changing it to The Firing Line.

What do you think about changing it to S.W.A.T.-The Firing Line. With SWAT bigger type. Then as time goes by start changing the relative size of the type between SWAT and The Firing Line until eventually SWAT is dropped altogether?

[Gary H]

Rich:

The title, "SWAT" would not have me opening the magazine at Borders. I don't think that my politically correct Borders would stock a magazine of that title. I prefer to stay away from lawyers and SWAT teams. I subscribed in support of your efforts and in the hopes that I would find topics of interest. My interest involve defensive use of weapons and unarmed defense. I'm also interested in the sporting use of guns, reloading and the protection of our rights. I would like to see folks like Jim March garner support and perhaps encourage imitators.

[USP45]

Hi Rich,

I am in bookstores 2 - 3 nights a week. I'll thumb through a 'zine, and if i like what i see, i'll buy that issue. I don't subscribe to any 'zines or newspapers.

~USP

[bookkie]

I sent my subscription off by pony express the first week. Why? Only one reason. I've told Rich and others many times that if there is anything I can do to help....... Well I'm a man of my word.... Quite frankly I don't care if the magazine is any good (but knowing Rich it will be).

For what Rich and the crew here at TFL has done for us over the past three or four years.... I don't think we can thank them enough. $20 bucks? Peanuts compared to the many hours I've spent here learning and sharing ideas. I have not learned everything I've learned regarding the 2nd on TFL, but I'll bet I've been pointed in the right direction for the orginal documents more times than I can count. And I don't know of any other forum where you had better have the documentation to back up your assertion or you will get corrected post hast by people who have their heads screwed on right.

For those of you who have not put in your subscription yet and who have ever asked a question here and gotten good advice...... how much was that advice worth to you? Remember without Rich and crew there would not have been TFL around for you to turn to for the answers.

Thanks Rich and all of you at TFL,

[Jody Hudson]

Hi again Rich,

Here is another Web marketing based magazine that may give you some marketing and online ideas for your new magazine.

It is Media ByPass Magazine

http://4bypass.com/

And many more on line magazine ideas for those of somewhat similar content... firearms, freedom and the preservation of the second amendment and the constitution.

http://pages.prodigy.com/geoffc/mags.htm

[rock_jock]

Rich,

I did subscribe several days ago by snail mail since the secure order form was not yet in place. Part of the reason I did subscribe is that I am letting my other gun rag subscriptions lapse and the other, more important reason, is that I am happy to support the endevour of someone who has had the nerve and dedication to bring us TFL.

That said, if I were not a member of TFL and saw SWAT on a newstand, I probably would not buy it. Don't get me wrong - after picking up a copy at the grocery store, I thought the magazine is very well made, very professionally written, very nicely illustrated. BUT, it still seems to be a periodical for the LEO, of which I am not one. Plus, the title does bother me a little. I felt very comfortable leaving my gun rags around the house because I don't care if visitors think I am a gun nut. BUT SWAT in BIG letters seems to say, "hey, look at me, I'm a cop-wannabe." Not comfortable with that. Also, the articles are very heavy on tactics (yes, I know that is the magazine's title). I know little about, and care even less, about LE tactics. I guess from a curiosity standpoint they have some value for me, but I try to limit my time to things that pique my interest. Second amendment issues are not given much play, probably because that is not too much of a concern for LEOs since they get to carry and keep guns galore (I, on the other hand, find my RKBA a daily fight, but that's another story). Finally, I would like to see more emphasis on the weapons part of the magazine. I enjoy firearms, and they are the reason I spend so much time at TFL.

In closing, I hope you are not offended by my comments. Again, I have subscribed and look forward to receiving my first issue, and who knows, maybe I will learn to enjoy the magazine as much as I do whiling away the hours here.

rock

[duck hunt]

I didn't subscribe because we'll already have one copy coming to this address.

I did, however, include a link and a plug on my livejournal (which gets way more hits than my actual webpage).

[Legionnaire]

Rich,

I've been enjoying this thread, especially hearing others' thinking about S.W.A.T. Magazine and gun rags in general. I concur with many of the comments about the name seeming to be directed to LEOs or cop-wannabes, but as has been said, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." To me, it's the content that matters. You said:

As concerns "glossy reviews", Denny recently referenced a Beretta Shotgun as "designed by chimpanzees for use by apes" in a review. Seen anything like that in a gun mag (other than SOF) of late?

No, I've not seen anything like that recently. Sounds promising, as long as detail is provided regarding why this conclusion was drawn. I'm not looking for "inflammatory" comment - just accurate evaluation and overall assessment. Tell me the good, the bad, and the ugly, and then let me decide. I'm looking forward to receiving my first issue.

An idea: How about a new forum within The Conference Center dedicated to rants and raves about S.W.A.T. Magazine? We could let you know what we think of articles and reviews, you could consider the input in the same line as letters to the editor, maybe even publish some comments from the forum in the magazine as a way to more tightly draw the link between the two. Just a thought.

[John/az2]

The only reason I have not subscribed is because of finances. It wouldn't matter if it was only a $1 a year right now. That is changing, however, and as soon as we can afford to get my wife what she has been asking for, I'll be putting in an order.

[whitebear]

I subscribed right after the on-line form was available. Looking forward to receiving my first copy.

[JerryM]

Rich,
I'm going to examine a copy of the magazine today. As for me, I have very little interest in such things as I perceive SWAT covers. I didn't care for Guns and Weapons for LEO, (I think that is a close title). I subscribed to it and some others for awhile, but found little of interest to me. I don't really care about things such as "How to clear a house." I'm not saying that someone shouldn't care. If I were a LEO such topics would be very important to me.

I have no interest in SWAT type gear.

I am in fact reducing greatly the number of magazines to which I subscribe, due to a lack of interest in reading the same things over and over.I would be interested in tests of products that would apply to the civilian market. However, too many writers never saw a product that wasn't top notch. Even if it doesn't work "I know so and so and I am sure he will correct these things in the first full production run. Highly recommend it."

Hope you don't take this to be a put-down on the magazine. My interests are just limited in this field. I am going to look at the mag this afternoon.

Jerry

[Rich Lucibella]

John-
No offense taken. I posted here to find out why people might not wish to subscribe, not to shame anyone into doing so. We want to direct the magazine to the segment of shotters that is serious about personal tactics, training and gear, but we recognize that many prefer not to get that info from a print magazine.

So, to the extent we receive honest comments, we're greatly appreciative.
Rich

[houndawg]

I'd subscribe today if it weren't for the fact I can't afford the extra $20 right now.