June 21, 2010

Vol. 11 No. 25

This Week:

Industry News

Legal & Legislative

Video

News of Note

Threat Returns for Microstamping in N.Y.

BLOOMBERG'S BILL IS BACK. . . After setting aside firearms microstamping legislation (S. 6005A) last week rather than losing a vote on the senate floor, anti-gun New York City politicians are now seeking to bring the bill back and have begun aggressively pressuring senators to flip-flop their votes. Among the tactics being used by these anti-gun politicians is a promise to push back the start date of microstamping -- a false promise since these same anti-gun politicians have pre-rigged the bill with a "cost" trigger to force immediate implementation should someone come along and claim to be able to produce a microstamped firing pin (discounting outside manufacturing costs) for under $12. And even still, pushing the date back wouldn't make this flawed technology -- which has never been produced on a mass basis -- actually function.

NSSF has intensified its radio ad campaign in the Empire State, encouraging New Yorkers to contact their state senator and urge him or her to oppose this legislation. NSSF is also on the ground in Albany working to educate legislators on the flawed technology and the economic ramifications of mandating microstamping. If firearms microstamping passes, manufacturers would be forced to abandon the New York market rather than spend the astronomical sums of money necessary to completely reconfigure their manufacturing and assembly processes. In addition, this bill could result in hundreds of layoffs for New York workers as firearms factories consider moving out of the state.

 

Industry News

  • NSSF ADDS NEW VOTING MEMBERS . . . NSSF is pleased to announce the addition of R/D Tactical Solutions of Ocala, Fla., and Acme United Corporation of Fairfield, Conn., as new voting members. "Voting members make up NSSF's highest membership category and take a special interest in furthering the Foundation's objectives to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports," said Chris Dolnack, senior vice president of NSSF. "NSSF extends a warm welcome to R/D Tactical Solutions and Acme United Corp as voting members." Any industry company interested in becoming an NSSF voting member can learn more by contacting Bettyjane Swann, director, member services, at bswann@nssf.org.

  • ATF POSTS FFL BEST PRACTICES GUIDE ONLINE . . . The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has posted the revised, as of June 2010, Federal Firearms Licensee Quick Reference and Best Practices Guide online at www.atf.gov/publications.

  • HUNTING HERITAGE TRUST RECOGNIZES BARON ENGRAVING . . . Dave Baron, president of Baron Engraving, Inc., accepted the “Heritage Partner” award, presented by Bob Delfay on behalf of the Hunting Heritage Trust, for “…exemplary contributions to America’s hunting and shooting sports heritage through outstanding service, creativity and workmanship in fulfilling the projects of the Hunting Heritage Trust.” Read more about Baron’s many contributions to the trust.

Legal & Legislative

  • FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION EXCISE TAX REFORM LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD . . . NSSF applauds Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) for introducing legislation (HR 5552) revising the Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act of 2010 so that it complies with statutory Pay-Go rules and does not add to the deficit. The bi-partisan legislation has 57 original co-sponsors. This revision would correct a longstanding inequity in the Internal Revenue Code by permitting firearm and ammunition manufacturers to pay the federal excise tax payment on a quarterly basis, like other industries that support conservation through a federal excise tax, instead of the current bi-weekly schedule. The revised bill would comply with Pay-Go standards and completely offset the cost of the legislation by changing the Internal Revenue Code to allow the IRS to immediately assess and collect, as a tax, the restitution debt owed by defendants in criminal tax cases. This provision will not affect conservation funding. Read More.

  • NSSF ADDRESSES ATTENDEES AT MASSACHUSETTS 'GOAL' ANNUAL BANQUET . . . National Shooting Sports Foundation Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane spoke at the Massachusetts Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) Annual Banquet this Saturday. Keane discussed with attendees the firearm industry's substantial economic impact on the Bay State and the industry's position on firearms microstamping. Read more.

  • NSSF INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT SUPREME COURT NOMINEE . . . Following the release of documents from the Clinton Library last week in which it appears United States Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan equated the National Rifle Association (NRA) to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), NSSF has become increasingly concerned about the nominee’s views on firearms issues and her temperament to serve on the high court. The White House has subsequently denied the charge, which appeared in National Review Magazine; however, even if Ms. Kagan did not intend to directly equate the NRA to the KKK, she did undeniably list the NRA as a "bad guy” organization. Read more on the NSSF Blog

  • NSSF PAC UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE . . . The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has launched the NSSF Political Action Committee website at www.nssf.aristotle.com. The NSSF PAC is a non-partisan, Federal Election Commission registered political action committee. The NSSF PAC was established by the NSSF to support pro-Second Amendment, pro-sportsmen and pro-industry candidates seeking election or re-election to federal office.

Video

  • FIREARM SAFETY TIP VIDEO FROM NSSF . . . In a new NSSF Shooting Sportscast video, Doug Painter delivers a shooting range safety tip for clay target shooters and Bill Brassard reminds viewers that with children spending more time at home during summer vacation, firearms owners should check to make sure all their firearms are stored properly. June is National Safety Month and a perfect time to review the rules of safety while on the shooting range and when storing firearms in the home. NSSF offers a wide selection of firearm safety brochures and videos at www.nssf.org/safety.

News of Note

  • NSSF WEBSITE CONTRIBUTOR EARNS OWAA CRAFT AWARDS . . . Dan Small, who regularly contributes items on hunting and shooting opportunities in 10 states to NSSF’s website, garnered 10 awards for his radio program in the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s annual Excellence in Craft program. Award winners were honored at the OWAA Conference last week in Rochester, Minn., and now have been posted on OWAA's website. Among the categories in the contest were hunting, fishing, boating, conservation and family participation.

  • BILLBOARD URGES COMMUTERS TO TAKE THEIR 'FIRST SHOTS' . . . Scott and Jannette Morris of Freedom Armory in Glenn Rock, Penn., have launched a billboard advertising campaign to reach a new audience for First Shots, the NSSF program that helps ranges introduce newcomers to target shooting. Based on a twice-a-month schedule of First Shots seminars, the Morrises worked with a local company to create a co-branded message that reaches commuters in a big way, 24/7, on I-83 -- a major route between Baltimore and Harrisburg. An estimated 50,000 vehicles per day pass the billboard, which is strategically located before the exit for their facility. Jannette Morris says the billboard, which is one part of an overall marketing campaign, is being noticed. "People are mentioning the billboard to our members, and friends, neighbors and coworkers are coordinating times to attend First Shots together," she said. Freedom Armory's June 26 seminar is filled, and the Morrises hope July's seminars will be, too.

  • NSSF RESPONDS TO EDITORIAL . . . The Hartford Courant unwisely based its editorial last week, "Fewer Guns Means Fewer Deaths," on statistics from the anti-gun Violence Policy Center, prompting a response by NSSF. In its letter to the editor, NSSF pointed out that violent crime and fatal firearms accidents have been declining for years while during that time firearms ownership has increased significantly. Unfortunately, the Courant ignored the more guns/less crime data in its editorial, though the newspaper published NSSF's letter on Saturday. Read the letter on NSSF's blog.

  • AMERICAN SHOOTERS EXCEL AT DIFFERENT EVENTS . . . From World Cup Gold to the Bianchi Cup, from the Sportsman’s Team Challenge to a USPSA Area championship, shooters turned in outstanding performances at recent events. Haley Dunn broke 73 out of 75 targets in World Cup Women’s Skeet competition at Lonato, Italy, securing her No. 1 national ranking. Doug Koenig, with a final day perfect score, took his 12th overall title at the NRA National Action Pistol championship, popularly known as the Bianchi Cup. Koenig also led Team Smith & Wesson to the Sportsman’s Team Challenge title, his 14th in the event’s history. Speed shooter Max Michel claimed another United States Practical Shooting Association title with his recent win at the Area 5 championships in the Open Division.

  • ESPNU TO AIR ACUI COLLEGIATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS . . . Tune in to watch the ACUI Collegiate Clay Target National Championships beginning Tuesday night on ESPNU. In a show made possible through an NSSF sponsorship, the trap, skeet and 5-Stand championships will air June 22, 25 and 28 and July 2, 9, 16, 22 and 23 at 7 p.m. E.D.T. The show features highlights from the record-breaking competition at NSSA-NSCA headquarters in San Antonio that featured 342 competitors from 43 teams representing colleges and universities from across the United States.

  • THOUSANDS SHOOT FOR TENNESSEE SCTP CHAMPIONSHIPS . . . More than 1,000 young athletes competed for state championship titles in the shooting disciplines of trap, skeet and sporting clays earlier this month during the Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program tournament, reports Knoxnews.com. Multiple scholarships were presented, including $10,000 in funds awarded to five high-school seniors. SCTP was founded by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and is currently administered by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation. In its history, SCTP has helped develop more than 30,000 young shooters.

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