The New York Times reported today in a front page story that S&W “has backed away” from key provisions of the agreement that it entered into last month. (The heat from gunnies must have been pretty intense.)

One point that has been the subject of a “clarification” on the company’s web page (www.smith-wesson.com) was one in which the company agreed that its dealers “must make no sales at gun shows unless all sales at gun shows are conducted only upon completion of a background check.” S&W is now saying that this “applies only to Smith & Wesson products and does not apply to private sales” at gun shows.

S&W is also offering a “clarification” of the term which limited its dealers to selling only one gun a day to a customer. S&W has now said this only applies to its products and not to ones made by other companies.

My read is that this is a company which had a squad of lawyers review the agreement before it was signed. It knew perfectly well what it was agreeing to last March. The heat from the shooting public has been so intense S&W wants to back off (and stay in business). Thus, the “clarification”.

Smith & Wesson STILL SOLD OUT. What the company says now will not change that fact.