September 13, 2010

Vol. 11 No. 37

This Week:

News of Note

Legal & Legislative

SHOT Show

Jobs

Crime Rates Continued to Fall
as Firearm Sales Soared in '09

FBI RELEASES 2009 CRIME REPORT . . . As firearms and ammunition experienced record sales in 2009, the nation's crime rates continued to fall, a new report from the FBI shows. During 2009, violent crime declined for the third straight year, with an estimated 5.3 percent drop from 2008 figures. Homicides were down 7.3 percent. The FBI statistics undermine a favorite argument of anti-gun groups and some mainstream media that "more guns equal more crime," especially when you consider that the decrease in violent crime in 2009 occurred at the same time that firearm sales were surging.

News of Note

  • NSSF NAMED FINALIST FOR PR NEWS NON-PROFIT AWARDS . . . The National Shooting Sports Foundation's communications team has been named a finalist in the non-profit/association "Team of the Year" category and also in the specific categories of "Branding" and "Annual Report" of PR News' Non-Profit PR Awards. The nominations were based on the quality and quantity of work completed this year and in the specific categories for NSSF's comprehensive re-branding campaign and its Annual Review, which included the State of the Industry video. Read more.

  • SMITH & WESSON REPORTS FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS . . . Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:SWHC) reported that first-quarter firearm sales were $77.8 million, down 21.9 percent when compared with record sales in the first quarter of last year. Net income was $6.2 million, or 10 cents per share, compared to $12.3 million, or 21 cents per share, for the first quarter last year. "Our first quarter performance was characterized by solid execution in firearms, despite challenging year-over-year comparisons," said President and CEO Mike Golden.

  • TORBECK RESIGNS AS REMINGTON, FREEDOM GROUP CEO . . . Remington Arms Co. and its parent company Freedom Group Inc. announced that their board of directors has accepted the resignation of Ted Torbeck as CEO and director for both entities, effective Sept. 24. Torbeck joined Remington as its chief operating officer in February 2008 and was promoted to CEO in March 2009. "We are sorry to see Ted go," said Chairman John Blystone. "He is a first-class leader and has been instrumental in improving product quality, overall productivity and product development. We thank him for all his contributions to the Freedom Group Family of Companies and wish him well in his new role at Cincinnati Bell." Blystone will chair the board's search committee as they conduct a national search for a new CEO. The executive search firm, Heidrick and Struggles, has been retained to assist the board in the process. Inquiries can be addressed directly to David Joys, Vice Chairman, Heidrick & Struggles, 212-551-0507, djoys@heidrick.com.

    Gun blogger Mike Gallion (aka "Mr. Completely") at the Gun Blogger Rendezvous.

  • NSSF AT GUN BLOGGER RENDEZVOUS . . . Bloggers are playing an undeniably important role providing factual information quickly about shooting, hunting, products and threats to firearms ownership. As it does with all outdoor media, NSSF works to develop good relations with bloggers and, for the second year, attended the Gun Blogger Rendezvous. Held last week in Reno, the informal meeting attracted firearms-enthusiast bloggers from around the country to network and enjoy shooting and discussing their guns -- mostly modern sporting rifles and handguns. NSSF sponsored a dinner, where it provided an update on attempts to ban traditional ammunition and encouraged bloggers to use the Foundation as a resource for their posts. NSSF also thanked the bloggers for their helpful feedback last year about the NSSF Blog, which has gained a significant increase in readership since that time. For a list of many writers who attended the Gun Blogger Rendezvous, see the blog roll at organzer Mike Gallion's blog, Mr. Completely.

Legal & Legislative

  • CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY PREPARES TO CHALLENGE EPA . . . The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) issued press releases last week stating their intention to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) denial of their petition to ban traditional ammunition. The ABC release notes that the CBD has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the EPA to obtain copies of all documents and materials related to the EPA decision.

  • NRA CHALLENGES HANDGUN BAN FOR LAW-ABIDING 18-20 YEAR OLDS . . . The NRA announced that it is challenging federal laws that prohibit law-abiding Americans 18 to 20 years of age from legally purchasing a handgun through a federally licensed firearm dealer. The case was filed Tuesday evening in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas Lubbock Division. James D'Cruz of Lubbock, Texas, is the plaintiff in this case.

  • 'RIGHT TO HUNT' ON STATES' NOVEMBER BALLOTS . . . South Carolina, Arkansas and Tennessee are among states that will vote on "right to hunt" amendments to their state constitutions this November. Similar amendments have been established in 10 other states. They are aimed at protecting the future of hunting in those states.

  • LONGTIME INDUSTRY LOBBYIST BRUNSVOLD DIES . . . Joel Brunsvold, who represented NSSF in the Illinois State Capitol for several years, passed away last week. He was 68. Brunsvold was a former Illinois legislator who also ran the state Department of Natural Resources for two years. Read his obituary from the Quad-City Times.

SHOT Show

  • IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE TO SHOT SHOW PRESS ROOM . . . Media at the 2011 SHOT Show will notice several improvements to the show’s press room. Not only will the room be five times the size of last year's press room, but there will also be some new features that are sure to please the show's growing contingent of working press.

  • REGISTRATION UP AND RUNNING . . . Registration for the 2011 SHOT Show is up and running at www.shotshow.org, and there's no time like the present to complete your registration, gaining the online, preshow discount. The SHOT Show opens its doors to the industry at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas Jan. 18-21. Register today.

Jobs


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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Find NSSF on:


COPYRIGHT © 2010 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.

NSSF.org

Bullet Points Online

Archive

Subscribe

---------------------

---------------------

NSSF Blog

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

---------------------

SHOT Show Blog

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

---------------------