Industry Steps Up for STEP OUTSIDE

ONCE AGAIN, SHOOTING INDUSTRY MASTERS  HITS THE MARK . . . Leaders from across the firearms industry came together in St. Cloud, Minn., Sept. 22-24 to compete in the fourth annual three-gun Shooting Industry Masters to benefit NSSF's STEP OUTSIDE program. The event was sponsored and produced by FMG Publications. "STEP OUTSIDE provides the framework for shooters and hunters to introduce someone -- often a friend, co-worker or family member -- to shooting and hunting," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president. "Thanks to FMG, we raised over $11,000 that will increase the reach of STEP OUTSIDE. By the end of this year, STEP OUTSIDE will have helped introduce 500,000 new shooters and hunters to our sporting traditions. That's 500,000 potential new customers and, according to follow-up surveys with past STEP OUTSIDE participants, that translates into over $234 million in sales for our industry." Match sponsors of this year's event included DPMS Panther Arms, Black Hills Ammunition, Winchester Ammunition, Howard Leight, Action Target, Champion Traps & Targets, Smith & Wesson, Sturm, Ruger & Co., Brownells, Aimpoint, Benchmade and FMG Publications. A total of $11,435 was raised for STEP OUTSIDE.

• HOUSE PASSES ATF REFORM BILL . . . With a 277-131 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives last week passed HR 5092, the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Modernization and Reform Act of 2006." The legislation, which represents a major advance in protecting the rights of firearms retailers, now heads to the Senate. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have threatened to stall Senate consideration. The bill will bring consistency to ATF enforcement actions and provide ATF with additional compliance tools short of license revocation.  See how your representative voted on HR 5092 and contact them.

• FAMILIES AFIELD REACHES 5 MILLION POTENTIAL MENTORS . . . Fall hunting seasons are barely underway. But for NSSF, the National Wild Turkey Federation and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, 2006 is already being remembered as a trophy year. The "trophy" is actually a collection of recent legislative and regulatory successes creating new opportunities for families to hunt together. Across 11 states, about 5 million licensed hunters―more than a third of the U.S. total―now have more opportunities than ever to introduce their sons, daughters or other newcomers to the sport. Read more.

• 'SHATTERING NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS OF GUNS' . . . "Some 1,500 young Tennessee shooters are shattering more than clay targets. They're shattering negative perceptions of guns and shooting," writes The Tennessean's Larry Wood. The Scholastic Clay Target Program, he writes, is "evidence that with proper education, supervision and care, guns are safe." As SCTP continues to grow each year, it is producing a growing number of positive stories in the media about youths, firearms and safety. A great example: On Nashville's WKRN, the evening news featured an encouraging story of a young female shooter that attended SCTP's recent Junior Olympic Development Camp. Watch the video here. 

  NSSF's Scholastic Clay Target Program will hold its first SCTP International Shotgun Championships Oct. 6-8 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

• SCTP GOES OLYMPIC-STYLE . . . Nearly 100 youths will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., this weekend to compete in the Scholastic Clay Target Program's first SCTP International Shotgun Championships, an event the U.S. Olympic shotgun coach says he is very pleased to see. The event will include team competitions in the international versions of trap and skeet, both of which are shot in the Olympics and at other world events. "When I look at the people who are trying to make our Olympic team or world championship team, I've got 120. That's nationwide. In Italy, they've got 80,000 to 90,000," said Lloyd Woodhouse, U.S. Olympic and national shotgun team coach. Woodhouse said SCTP's growth and its participants' increasing involvement in the international games are encouraging. "To potentially have 8,000 kids to draw from, it's the most marvelous thing in the world," Woodhouse said. This year, there were 8,300 youths from 41 states that competed in SCTP trap, skeet and sporting clays, a 40 percent increase from 2005. 

• ILLINOIS SELECTED FOR WINGSHOOTING USA TEST MARKET . . . Illinois has been selected as a special testing ground for NSSF's fledgling Wingshooting USA campaign. Nationally, Wingshooting USA launched last year to help activate latent hunters by raising awareness of today's bird hunting preserves through a free, searchable Web site, www.wingshootingusa.org. A series of Wingshooting USA ads are running in sporting magazines and on outdoor television programming. Also to air nationally this fall and winter is a unique half-hour TV special. For the Illinois-specific campaign, NSSF will launch a separate, targeted, print and TV advertising blitz during the last four months of 2006. The goal is measuring the ads' cumulative impact on hunting participation in the Prairie State.

• JEFF COOPER DEAD AT 86 . . . John Dean "Jeff" Cooper, noted firearms expert who is commonly referred to as the father of the modern technique of handgun shooting, died Sept. 25 at his home in Arizona. He was 86. "Jeff Cooper was a great teacher, innovator and advocate for gun safety. He and his Gunsite Ranch have made a lasting contribution in the use of small arms for personal defense by the military, law enforcement and civilians," said Doug Painter, NSSF president. Read the Los Angeles Times' obituary for Cooper.

• CONGRESS PASSES LANDMARK DISASTER RECOVERY LEGISLATION . . . Congress on Friday passed a measure to prohibit the confiscation of legal firearms from law-abiding citizens during states of emergency, reports NRA. H.R. 5013, the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act," was introduced in the House by Congressman Bobby Jindal (La.) passed the House on July 25 with a 322-99 vote. Sen. David Vitter (La.) introduced the Senate version of the bill, which the Senate passed 84-16. The bill now heads to President Bush.

• 2006 GUN RIGHTS POLICY CONFERENCE A SUCCESS . . . The 2006 Gun Rights Policy Conference, held Sept. 22-24 at the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel in Charlotte, N.C., was an informative success, reports the Second Amendment Foundation. The conference included speeches by many prominent figures defending gun rights and was recorded by Charles Heller of Liberty Watch Radio. The recording is available on a single disc for $21. A recording of all conferences, from 2003 through 2006, is available for $35. To order, send cash or check to: Charles Heller, 7311 E. Brooks Dr., Tucson, AZ 85730. Include name, mailing address, city, state, zip code, phone number and e-mail address. The 2007 GRPC will be held Oct. 5-7 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

• SCI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO RETIRE . . . Tom Riley, Safari Club International executive director, has announced his retirement effective Sept. 30. During his tenure as executive director, SCI enjoyed growth in membership as well as record-breaking revenue and attendance at SCI's annual convention. Read SCI's press release.

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