So the 2014 season comes to an end for Between The Berms, as it always does around this time of year when Christmas is upon us and the Outdoor Wire Digital Network takes a few weeks off before that mad dash for SHOT Show begins in January. Looking ahead to next year, 2015 promises to be, well, another year. It's hard to say what's in store for the industry next year, outside of the obvious cozying up by would-be presidential candidates. This always takes place before an election year when the gun voters, and our associated individual and PAC donations, suddenly become very important. With any luck we might see one or two of them on the SHOT Show floor in January. Next year could be the year of, if not hot sales, then maybe, hot sellers. With the volume of gun sales returned or returning to normal, what's new will be what's hot. Special edition models, with their cosmetic and/or accessory enhancements, will find their way into retailer display cases and on to the covers of popular firearm magazines, making them all the rage with gun buyers already overloaded on the bread and butter models sold over the last few years. This is always the most interesting development within the industry as companies discover the appeal of a special model or two worthy of making it a regular catalog item. And from that we often find a few aftermarket accessories that make the move to standard feature item on the higher end models for several manufacturers. Of course, 2015 will also see its share of regulatory and legislative initiatives designed to curb firearms ownership. With a presidential election primary season on the horizon, how loud those calls for regulation are depends on who's talking. A lame duck administration has nothing to lose politically from pushing gun control through executive order and agency regulations, so expect the brunt of that effort to come from the Executive branch of the government. The legislative branch has learned to speak softly during an election year and swing a big stick after the swearing in. One thing we should see in 2015 that we have not seen in the past, but desperately need, is data on the economic impact of major competitions. Jim Curcuruto, NSSF's director of industry research and analysis, is working on compiling data from major competitions to see what economic impact a big match has on a local community. The shooting sports governing bodies have never really had this info, outside of perhaps the ATA's Grand American which used to pull in a reported $10 to $12 million in economic impact before the event left Vandalia, Ohio back in 2005. Getting updated numbers, and making them part of the discussion with local communities and businesses when a club considers a match will be a most welcome development. Before we look to the coming new year, perhaps Christmas, and the rest of the holiday season, deserves some consideration. To those of you spending time with your families, all the best. For those of you unable to be with your loved ones, our thoughts are with you. And for those of you deployed, or with loved ones deployed, our very best wishes to you in the hope this is a safe and happy holiday season and that your return home is not too far off in the future. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Happy Festivus, for the rest of us. - Paul Erhardt, Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network Got shooting sports news? Send us an email at info@shootingwire.com.