Across the country, response to Saturday's horrific shooting in Tucson, Arizona ranges from condolences to the families of those killed to accusations that today's toxic political environment is to blame for the attack. That seems to be an attempt to assign a rational explanation to an irrational act. The shooter, twenty-two year old Jared Lee Loughner, seems to be yet another irrational person out of touch with reality. Like others before him, he turned to violence. At this writing, Loughner is offering no explanation for his actions. Instead, he has invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to speak with authorities. He will be arraigned on five federal charges later this afternoon in Phoenix. State charges were still pending. His actions, whatever the twisted reasoning, are deplorable. Traditionally, the final week before SHOT Show is a quiet week of frantic activity. There are releases coming into the newsroom, but many are marked "EMBARGOED until..." with dates that correspond to the opening of SHOT Show. Meanwhile, we're not quite frantic, but our organization efforts to prepare to cover a "scaled down" trade show that covers only 625,000 or so square feet of any sort of outdoor, technical or tactical gear imaginable is also occupying the front part of our planners. The Archery Trade Association has just wrapped their 2011 show, and exhibitors had the fun experience of trying to breakdown a trade show while the hometown Indianapolis Colts fans flooded the area all around the convention center as their NFL playoff game with the Jets got underway. That's one show breakdown that may spawn some classic "you'll never believe this one" stories about trade shows. As our archery editor on the scene, J.R. Absher reported, the Indianapolis residents were prepared for anything, but pulling for a Colts win because they, well, hate the New York fans. This year's SHOT Show probably won't be remembered for a single new product being rolled out. Being remembered for the large number of new firearms being introduced might be a better expectation. Ruger, Colt, Smith & Wesson, and the other biggies all have new products - many of which have already been reviewed here, but other companies including Kel-Tec with their bullpup shotgun, will be making their presence known. We're hearing that 2011 SHOT won't be remembered as the year that black guns fell from favor. In fact, it seems the new surge in personal responsibility and disaster planning is driving the personal defense sector again. One big question- what will the military budget cuts mean to those companies who derive a large portion of their income from the military? It might be premature to consider, but the cutbacks may actually accelerate the introduction of formerly military-only upgrades into the civilian marketplace. Look for optics and other high-tech areas (including night vision) to lead that de-militarization trend if it happens. And we're also seeing a growing trend toward sound suppression that (we hope) means the industry is going to make a concerted effort to get suppression off the ATF's class-three restrictions lists. As more and more law enforcement groups realize the dangers of unsuppressed firearms in almost any setting, we're hoping the industry will start the education process that will -eventually- get sound suppression add-ons removed from the same restrictions as full-auto firearms or destructive devices. Not everyone wants a machine gun, although we support anyone's right to own one if they choose- and can afford it. Everyone, however, has hearing and most of us want to either keep our hearing intact, or preserve what we have left. Noise suppression, not firearms regulation, is the answer. In fact, a good case could be made that public safety concerns should require suppression of law enforcement weapons. Elsewhere, remember the 2004 video that showed a DEA Agent (Paige, I believe?) telling a group of school students "I'm the only one in this room qualified to handle this GLOCK 40" just before he managed to shoot himself in the leg? The video went viral, and the agent in question sued his former employer, the DEA, for allegedly leaking the video. That case has been settled. Remarkably, the agent didn't get some fat settlement for "pain, suffering, embarrassment, humiliation and mental anguish" because the video turned him into the poster child for negligent discharges- and cosmic justice. A U.S. District Judge ruled against the agent's suit, saying there was inadequate evidence of the source of the leak. The agent in question represented himself in the lawsuit, proving the old legal saw "the lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client." We'll keep you posted.