June 1, 2010

Vol. 11 No. 22

This Week:

Legal & Legislative

Shooting Sports

News of Note

Jobs

30th State Enacts 'Families Afield' Law

Vermont is the 30th state to pass Families Afield-style legislation aimed at reducing barriers for new hunters. See full-size map.

VERMONT LAW CREATES APPRENTICE HUNTING PROGRAM . . . Vermont has become the 30th state to enact "Families Afield" legislation aimed at reducing barriers for the next generation of sportsmen. Gov. Jim Douglas signed House Bill 243 into law on Wednesday. The new law will allow newcomers to try hunting under the close supervision of an experienced mentor prior to the completion of a hunter education course. "We couldn't be more pleased that Vermont has become the 30th state to embrace mentored hunting and especially that this legislation is not age restrictive in any way," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president. "Now all Vermont residents, no matter whether you are 8 years old or 80 years young, can give hunting a try." The Families Afield initiative began in 2004 through a joint effort of NSSF, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance to reduce barriers to new hunters entering the field. To date, in the 29 states that have enacted similar measures, 418,000 new hunters have purchased mentored licenses making it one of the most successful programs of its kind. Numerous other organizations worked diligently to pass the Vermont legislation, including the National Rifle Association, National Assembly of Sportmen's Caucuses, Vermont Traditions Coalition and Ducks Unlimited.

Legal & Legislative

  • ATF REDEFINES 'TRANSFERS' OF FIREARMS . . . Reversing an interpretation of the Gun Control Act that has been on the books for more than four decades, ATF has posted a ruling declaring any shipment of a firearm by a manufacturer to any agent or business (e.g., an engineering-design firm, patent lawyer, testing lab, gun writer, etc.) for a bona fide business purpose to be a "transfer" under the Gun Control Act of 1968. As a consequence, legitimate business-related shipments will now require the recipient to complete a Form 4473 and undergo a Brady criminal background check. In many instances, these requirements will force shipments to a third party, thereby lengthening the process and the time that the firearm is in transit. Full Story

  • NSSF PRESIDENT ADDRESSES FBI-NICS . . . NSSF President Steve Sanetti last week gave the keynote address for the FBI-National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) User Seminar. In his remarks, Sanetti noted the firearms industry's long-standing support for an instant criminal background check -- support that predates that of any gun-control organization. "For more than 10 years, FBI-NICS has provided firearms retailers with outstanding customer service all the while making continual improvements and enhancements to the instant check system," Sanetti said. "Today, we thank FBI-NICS for minimizing complications and delays, thereby benefiting America's firearms retailers, law-abiding gun owners and the general public."

  • NSSF TAKES ON N.Y. TIMES REGARDING SO-CALLED 'ROGUE DEALERS' . . . In a heated editorial this weekend, The New York Times declared, "Congress also urgently needs to crack down on rogue gun dealers whose sales to straw purchasers help arm the drug cartels and close the notorious loophole that allows gun traffickers to purchase large numbers of weapons from unregulated private sellers at gun shows for shipment across the border." NSSF's question to The Times: What "rogue gun dealers?" Read the full NSSF letter to the editor.

  • OPINION LIMITS MARYLAND STATE POLICE IN DEFINING SO-CALLED 'ASSAULT WEAPONS' . . . Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler has issued an opinion limiting the scope by which Maryland State Police can define a so-called "assault weapon." In the Attorney General's opinion, "To come within the definition of 'regulated firearm,' a copy of a designated assault weapon must be similar in its internal components and function to the designated weapon. Cosmetic similarity to an enumerated assault weapon alone would not bring a weapon within the regulated firearms law." Read the opinion.

  • NSSF SIGNS LETTER SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR OIL SPILL . . . NSSF was the first of 23 organizations to join Ducks Unlimited and other members of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners in signing a letter to House Appropriations Chairman Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) and Ranking Member Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) offering support for an amendment to add $85 million in additional supplemental funding to the President's Deepwater Horizon oil spill legislative package. The amendment is being requested by Reps. John Dingell (D-Mich.), Lois Capps (D-Calif.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Charlie Melancon (D-La.), who also distributed a "dear colleague" letter to the House urging support for the amendment.

  • SURVEY RESULTS FOR NSSF CONGRESSIONAL FLY-IN . . . Results from the NSSF Congressional Fly-In survey have been collected and reviewed. When asked about their general impression of the fly-in, 100 percent of respondents rated their experience as excellent or good. Similar high scores were received for all other areas about which NSSF inquired, including quality and thoroughness of the NSSF welcome packet, logistics and overall organization for fly-in meetings. When asked what was the most important issue covered, a majority of respondents chose traditional ammunition. Information attained from the fly-in survey will be utilized in organizing the 2011 fly-in, for which preparations are already under way.

  • TWO SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON IN FIREARMS THEFT . . . Three Georgia men were sentenced on Friday on charges related to the theft of 40 firearms stolen from a licensed federal firearms dealer in Jasper, Ga. Read more from the Department of Justice.

  • ATF ONLINE EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS . . . ATF has begun posting online educational video seminars that are designed to aid Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs) in dealing with the requirements of firearms transactions. Additional topics of interest will be added in the future.

  • LEGISLATION WOULD ENCOURAGE HUNTING ON MILITARY BASES . . . Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) last week filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that encourages recreational hunting and fishing on military installations.

Shooting Sports

  • U.S. SHOOTERS WRAP UP SUCCESSFUL WORLD CUP COMPETITION . . . For several American shooters, there's no place like "home." The most recent World Cup competition ended over the weekend, and the Fort Benning, Ga., venue seemed to be comfortable for members of the USA Shooting team. "We were in every final. We are contending everywhere," said Rifle National Coach Dave Johnson. Among the American standouts were Matt Emmons, who took gold in the Men's 50m Rifle 3-Position and a bronze in Men's 50m Rifle Prone; Jamie Beyerle, the gold medalist in Women's 50m Rifle 3-Position; Jason Parker, who captured third place in the Men's 50m Rifle 3-Postion; Eric Uptagrafft, who earned silver in the Men's 50m Rifle Prone; and Daryl Szarenski, who captured silver in Men's 50m Pistol. For Parker, it was his first international event since returning from deployment in Afghanistan; Beyerle had to overcome health issues. View more on these performances at the USA Shooting and ISSF websites.

  • BIANCHI CUP CHAMPIONS EMERGE FROM MISSOURI EVENT . . . Doug Koenig (Open), Jessie Abate (Women's Overall), Robert Vadasz (Metallic) and Kyle Schmidt (Production) were winners crowned at the 2010 MidwayUSA/NRA Bianchi Cup Pistol Championships held May 26-29 in Columbia, Mo. Read more on the event from the NRA Blog.

  • INTERNATIONAL REVOLVER CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR THIS WEEKEND . . . This weekend, the quiet seaside community of San Luis Obispo will be inundated not with surfers or tourists, but gunslingers armed with their competition revolvers and a desire to capture a title at the Smith & Wesson International Revolver Championships (IRC). For the past 11 years the San Luis Obispo Sportsmen's Association has played host to the annual shooting competition, which this year will draw 190 top wheelgunners from throughout the U.S. and six other nations. Read more about the event.

  • SPORTSMAN'S TEAM CHALLENGE NATIONALS SET FOR JUNE 11-13 . . . The 22nd annual Sportsman's Team Challenge National Championship will be held June 11-13 in San Antonio at the National Shooting Complex. The Sportsman's Team Challenge is a team event combining all three shooting disciplines (rifle, pistol and shotgun) in six fast-paced events. Learn more at www.sportsmansteamchallenge.com.

  • 'TOP SHOT' REALITY TV SHOW DEBUTS SUNDAY ON HISTORY CHANNEL . . . The History Channel this Sunday will debut "Top Shot," a reality competition series that features 16 marksmen vying for a $100,000 prize. The show will air Sundays at 10 EDT. "From a 22-year-old rifle prodigy to a 47-year-old retired city cop, they'll need skill, toughness and nerves of steel to claim the 'Top Shot' title," the History Channel says on the show's official website.

News of Note

  • MAINE RETAILER GROWS FROM $4,000 INVESTMENT INTO $40M BUSINESS . . . It began in 1938, when Philip "Bing" Adams bought a 350-square-foot convenience store for $4,000. Today, the Kittery Trading Post is a 90,000-square-foot facility with gross sales that totaled $40 million last year. The Portsmouth (N.H.) Herald ran a feature story on the business in Monday's paper. Kim Adams, vice president of the Kittery, Maine-based retailer, is a former member of NSSF's Board of Governors and currently serves on NSSF's Association of Firearms Retailers Advisory Committee.

  • GUN DEALER'S NEW LOCATION EVOKES HISTORIC ARMORY . . . "When Andrew Clyde decided to expand his successful firearms business five years ago, he knew he needed to have his own building and he wanted said building to have a unique look," reports the Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. Clyde Armory is celebrating its grand opening in its new building, which was built to resemble the historic Cook & Brother Armory that operated during the Civil War just blocks from downtown Athens. Read more.

  • NSSF MARKETPLACE BEGINS 4TH YEAR . . . NSSF's online industry buyer's guide, the NSSF Marketplace, is now in its fourth year. The NSSF Marketplace is managed in partnership with MultiView, an Irving, Texas-based publisher of digital buyer's guides. "We are very pleased with our relationship with Multiview," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president, "As leaders in the field of searchable online directories and buyer's guides, Multiview continues to expand the quality and depth of services they offer our members. At the same time, the NSSF Marketplace generates support for our many programs and services that seek to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports." The NSSF Marketplace provides members of NSSF and the industry an opportunity to highlight their products on NSSF's websites and provides them with a low-cost way to extend their company's marketing exposure over the entire year. Companies that utilize the marketplace will soon be receiving a call from the MultiView team to confirm their company's information, along with the option to purchase a company listing with graphics, direct website hyperlink and e-mail generation capacity. To learn more about the NSSF Marketplace, visit nssfmarketplace.com or contact MultiView at 800-816-6710 or by e-mail at nssf@multiview.com.

  • LEGACY SPORTS PITCHES IN FOR WOUNDED VETERANS . . . Legacy Sports International announced its second straight year of support of the Wounded Warrior Project. This year, the company is sponsoring a shooting team of wounded warriors at the 29th Annual HOAG Charity Shoot with a donation of $5,000. The company has also again designed a commemorative firearm for 2010. For each gun sold, $25 will be donated to the program. LSI said it hopes to sell enough of these pistols to raise $25,000 this year. NSSF is also sponsor of the Wounded Warrior Project.

  • 'HOLLYWOOD GUNS' AT NRA NATIONAL FIREARMS MUSEUM . . . Firearms from the hands of Hollywood actors and icons will be on display at the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va., beginning June 25. Titled "Hollywood Guns," the exhibit showcases firearms from silver screen classics like "Stagecoach" to 2010's best picture Oscar winner, "The Hurt Locker." Learn more.

  • JEFF FOXWORTHY NEWEST ADVOCATE FOR USSA SENTRY PROGRAM . . . Comedian and TV host Jeff Foxworthy is the newest celebrity to be part of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Sentry Program, the purpose of which is to build an army of volunteers from coast to coast to promote and protect America's outdoor heritage for future generations. There is no cost to participate in the program. "I encourage every sportsman and woman in this country to join with me and become a Sentry," Foxworthy said. Learn more about the Sentry Program.

Jobs


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