Do you by chance have an FFL License? i think they are beyond impossible to score unless you involved in the gun industry, procuring firearms, and/or media. even most high-ranking military, LE, and security company individuals are specially invited by SHOT, other movers in the industry, or personal friends.
SHOT really tries their utmost to screen and weed out people who don't belong there and I heard they really scrutinize all vendor and attendee applications. i only know this because a relative of mine who works in a unit in lasd thats helps the assistant sheriff with all the equipment forecasting and budgeting for the depts annual budget, even they have a hard time trying to get extra tickets for other officers and such in the dept.

Hi John, Unfortunately its almost impossible unless you can get a guest ticket from a friend in the industry but actually all the attendees of the show are pre-booked and must have already put in their guest names when they signed up online. Here are their policies on this and the credentials you would need. http://shotshow.org/policies/