March 1, 2010

Vol. 11 No. 9

This Week:

Supreme Court Ready
For 'McDonald v. Chicago'

SEQUEL TO 'HELLER' . . . The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday for McDonald v. City of Chicago, a major Second Amendment case that will determine whether cities and states must honor the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. In 2008, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the Second Amendment as an individual right in the landmark Heller case, but that decision applied only to areas regulated by the federal government, such as Washington, D.C. Gun rights proponents hope McDonald will complete the work of Heller through the application of the 14th Amendment. While the court's decision won't be known for some months, we already know how Americans feel about their Second Amendment rights. Nearly three out of four Americans considered the Second Amendment an individual right to own a firearm at the time of the Heller case, according to a national poll. Read the NSSF Blog for background on McDonald v. City of Chicago and links to expert legal commentary and NSSF's friend-of-the-court brief.

On the Air

NSSF'S NEW RADIO SHOW 'INSIGHTS' . . . With more than 120 stations (and counting) committed to broadcasting the show, NSSF today launched its new daily radio program for all gun owners. Also available as a podcast on iTunes and at nssf.org/insights, "Insights" explores the history, excitement and value of hunting and the shooting sports. "We’re thrilled with the high level of interest by station managers in NSSF's Insights," said Dave Miles, NSSF's director of electronic media. "It's a win-win for them." Station managers interested in the 90-second show should contact Mike Walker at the producing Walker Agency. Listen to today's show.

Industry News

U.S. IMPORTS UP 31 PERCENT IN 2009 . . . NSSF's research department reports that U.S. imports of sporting arms and ammunition were up 31 percent in 2009 to $1.28 billion, compared to $974 million the previous year. Imports of handguns were up 53 percent, while imports of ammunition increased 40 percent during 2009. In the fourth quarter, imports of all sporting arms and ammunition increased 22.3 percent compared to the same period in 2008.
DON TURNER ELECTED TO NSSF BOARD OF GOVERNORS . . . NSSF's Board of Governors has appointed Don Turner, general manager of the new Clark County Shooting Park in Las Vegas, to serve on its board. The NSSF Board of Governors is responsible for overseeing the strategy and finances of NSSF, the trade association for the firearms industry and owner of the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. "Bringing the perspective of shooting ranges and gun clubs to the board, Don will make a great addition to the NSSF governing body," said Robert Scott, chairman of the NSSF Board of Governors. Turner succeeds board member Holden Kriss, director of Florida's Indian River County Shooting Range, signaling NSSF's continued recognition of the role shooting ranges play in the fulfillment of its mission: To promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Read more.
RUGER REPORTS 49 PERCENT INCREASE IN SALES IN 2009 . . . Sturm, Ruger & Co. (NYSE:RGR) reported Wednesday that sales were up 49 percent in 2009 compared to the previous year. Earnings for the year jumped 260 percent compared to 2008. "Our firearms sales grew from $174 million in 2008 to $267 million in 2009 on the strength of new product shipments and overall robust firearms demand, particularly in the first half of the year," said Ruger CEO Michael Fifer. In the fourth quarter, sales rose 9 percent compared to the same period the year before, while earnings rose 24 percent. During the company's earnings call on Thursday, Fifer noted an increase in new shooters and that the company's long-term outlook "is more bullish than it was a year ago."
CABELA'S SETS RECORD STRAIGHT . . . Recently, inflammatory and misleading rhetoric regarding outdoor retailer Cabela's has been circulating, accompanied by requests for donations to "stop corporate-sponsored wolf-killing competitions." Specifically, Cabela's has been linked to three so-called "wolf-killing competitions" in Idaho. Cabela's released a statement setting the record straight.
BROWNELLS EXPANDS . . . Brownells has announced that a 37,000 square foot expansion of their Montezuma, Iowa, warehouse is well under way. Along with the new space, plans call for the addition of several people, plus more technology to assist order picking, packing, and bulk warehouse staff with their jobs.

Legal and Legislative

NSSF FIRES BACK AGAINST PROPOSED SHOT SHELL BAN IN CALIFORNIA . . . NSSF criticized the introduction of a bill in California to ban traditional shot shells containing lead shot in state wildlife areas. The sponsor of the bill, Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D), announced the proposed legislation at a press conference, where he was flanked by representatives from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) -- the country's largest anti-hunting group. Read more.
NSSF CONGRESSIONAL FLY-IN . . . The 3rd Annual NSSF Congressional Fly-In is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28, to Friday, April 30. Participation in the Fly-In is a voting member benefit. All Voting Members are strongly encouraged to attend this key government relations effort to help advance our industry's federal legislative priorities. If you are interested in attending and receiving additional details as they become available, please contact Marje Swarts at mswarts@nssf.org. Register for the Fly-In online.
INDUSTRY MATCHES ATF REWARD IN MARYLAND FIREARMS THEFT . . . NSSF and the Maryland Association of Firearms Retailers (MDAFR) have announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the Sept. 3, 2009, burglary of The Bank, a federally licensed firearms (FFL) dealer located at 323 St. John Street, Havre de Grace, Md. Learn more.
GUN RIGHTS ADVANCES GET FRONT-PAGE TREATMENT . . . A story on the front page of Wednesday's New York Times chronicles pro-gun successes across the country. Read the article.
KEANE INSIGHTS BLOG . . . Read the latest posts in NSSF's government relations blog, Keane Insights.

News of Note

NSSF'S SAPIR INDUCTED INTO N.Y. OUTDOORSMEN HALL OF FAME . . . The New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame has announced that its class of inductees for 2010 will include Glenn Sapir, NSSF's director of editorial services. The New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame is an organization dedicated to honoring sportsmen who have made significant achievements in outdoors-related fields. More importantly, they are recognized for their long-time service in preserving our outdoor heritage and helping others experience it. Sapir has spent most of his life as media professional, serving on editorial boards of Sports Afield, Outdoor Life, and regional editorial director of Field & Stream. He also served as editor of New York Sportsman magazine and as president of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the New York Metropolitan Outdoor Press Association.
OHIO REPORTS RECORD YEAR FOR CONCEALED CARRY LICENSES . . . There were 56,691 concealed handgun licenses issued in Ohio in 2009, shattering the state's record of 45,497 in 2004, the Buckeye Firearms Association reports. There were 10,687 licenses issued from October through December 2009, falling just one short of the record set for the same quarter the year before.
IOWA RECORDS SAFEST HUNTING DECADE . . . There were no firearm-related hunting fatalities in Iowa in 2009, bringing the safest decade on record to a close, the Press-Citizen reports.
COWBOYS, COWGIRLS DESCEND ON BEN AVERY SHOOTING FACILITY . . . About 665 shooters from 44 states and five countries took part in the 19th annual Winter Range at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, the Arizona Republic reports. The event drew shooters ages 12 to 80.

Jobs

INDUSTRY CAREER CONNECTION . . . Visit www.nssf.org/jobs for current employment opportunities in the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry. Employers: Log in to post a job opening.

NSSF's Mission

"To promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports."

Click here to visit the NSSF Web site and see how we accomplish this mission.

COPYRIGHT © 2009 by National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. Permission is granted for broadcast, publication, retransmission to e-mail lists, Web sites or any other copying or storage, in any medium, online or not, if 1) the text is forwarded in its entirety, including this paragraph, and 2) no fee is charged. "Bullet Points®," "National Shooting Sports Foundation®," "NSSF®," and all other trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos and images of the National Shooting Sports Foundation appearing in this publication are the sole property of the Foundation and may not be used without the Foundation's prior express written permission. All other trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos and images appearing in this publication are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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NSSF Blog

Covering issues affecting the industry, gun ownership and hunting and the shooting sports.

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SHOT Show Blog

Stay current on news and information about NSSF's SHOT Show -- the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry's largest trade show.

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Keane Insights

An NSSF blog that takes on firearms-industry-related public policy issues.

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