November 1, 2010

Vol. 11 No. 43

This Week:

Election Day

Industry News

Video

News of Note

Get Out and Vote!

TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY . . . As they have in previous elections, the votes of shooters, hunters and gun owners could make a huge impact at the polls on Tuesday. NSSF encourages all gun owners to educate themselves on where their candidates stand on the issues and determine who best will stand up for their rights. To help, NSSF has set up a voter-education webpage with news, polls, profiles of local races and other information related to the mid-term elections. Visit nssf.org/VoterEducation and get out and vote!

Inside the Industry

  • OUTDOOR CHANNEL AND NSSF ANNOUNCE INNOVATIVE MARKETING PARTNERSHIP FOR 2011 SHOT SHOW . . . NSSF and Outdoor Channel have announced an unprecedented marketing partnership for the 2011 SHOT Show. As part of the deal, Outdoor Channel will be the major sponsor of the SHOT Show's State of the Industry gala event. "We are very excited about this agreement with Outdoor Channel that enhances the overall impact the SHOT Show has in our industry and also reinforces Outdoor Channel's position as America's Leader in Outdoor TV," said Chris Dolnack, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of NSSF, owner of the SHOT Show. "We have always had a great working relationship with Outdoor Channel, and their forward thinking has taken them to a new level in our industry." Though all details were not released, NSSF says the agreement makes Outdoor Channel the sole sponsor of the industry's premiere event, the SHOT Show State of the Industry dinner and awards ceremony. The agreement also includes elements that will provide Outdoor Channel with major exposure at the show, including a hospitality suite, branded informational kiosks, signage throughout the Sands Expo and Convention Center and guerilla marketing teams walking the show floor. Outdoor Channel's category-leading talent, such as Ted Nugent and Michael Waddell, also will make appearances in two prominent locations. Additionally, the network will continue to produce and expand SHOT Show TV, the official daily television production of SHOT Show. Read more.

  • NSSF PROMOTES DOLNACK TO CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER . . . NSSF has promoted Chris Dolnack to senior vice president and chief marketing officer, effective immediately. Dolnack, who has been with NSSF for 14 years, will oversee a broad range of NSSF activities, including marketing and sales operations, communications, branding, membership, business development, SHOT Show, partnership marketing and customer recruitment and retention. As leader of the marketing operations, Dolnack is responsible for NSSF's media and industry relations, advertising, interactive and emerging media, marketing communications as well as industry research, websites and social media. He will report to President and CEO Steve Sanetti. Read more.

  • QUARTERLY EXCISE TAX OBLIGATIONS DOWN 16% . . . The latest Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collection report released by the Department of the Treasury indicates that firearm and ammunition manufacturers reported excise tax liabilities of $102.20 million in the second calendar quarter of 2010, down 16.29 percent compared to the same period in 2009. The report, which covers April 1 through June 30, shows that $31.84 million was due in taxes for pistols and revolvers, $28.71 million for firearms (other)/long guns and $41.65 million for ammunition (shells and cartridges). Compared to the same period in 2009, tax obligations were down 5.1 percent for pistols and revolvers, down 32.25 percent for firearms (other)/long guns and down 9.77 percent for ammunition (shells and cartridges). Please note that these figures reflect what excise taxes the manufacturers have filed and do not reflect retail mark up and final retail sales.

  • RUGER REPORTS THIRD-QUARTER RESULTS . . . Sturm, Ruger & Co. (NYSE:RGR) reported third-quarter earnings per share of 32 cents, compared to 37 cents the same period a year ago. Earnings beat analysts' expectations of 26 cents per share. Net sales for the quarter were $58.4 million, down from $71.2 million in the third quarter of 2009.

  • OLIN REPORTS WINCHESTER AMMO SALES DOWN IN THIRD QUARTER . . . Olin Corp. (NYSE:OLN), maker of Winchester ammunition, reported third-quarter sales in its Winchester division were $157.5 million, down when compared to $168.2 million in the third quarter of 2009. The company noted that third-quarter commercial sales declined compared to the same period last year. Winchester's third quarter segment earnings were $18.8 million, compared to the record level of $23 million in last year's third quarter.

  • SMITH & WESSON CFO RESIGNS TO PURSUE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY . . . Smith & Wesson announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer William F. Spengler has resigned effective Nov. 12 to accept a position as president of a publicly traded company in the phytochemical and natural products industry. The company has initiated a search for a new CFO. John Dineen, who joined Smith & Wesson in 1997 and who currently serves as vice president of finance for the firearm division, will assume the responsibilities of interim chief financial officer, while Deana McPherson, who currently serves as vice president and corporate controller, will assume the responsibilities of interim chief accounting officer.

Video

  • SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION . . . NSSF responds to recent erroneous news reports concerning cartel-related violence in Mexico. Most recently, NBC Nightly News ran a story in which the network stated that the majority of firearms being used by cartels are "assault rifles" and ".50-caliber machine guns." The report went on to say that these firearms are being purchased over the counter in the United States. Play Video

News of Note

  • DIVA-WOW INTRODUCES WOMEN TO MODERN SPORTING RIFLES . . . At the first "Ladies-only AR-15 Day" sponsored by DIVA-Women Outdoors Worldwide in Dallas, 120 women experienced the fun and exictement of shooting AR-15 rifles and also learned that these modern sporting rifles are versatile, low in recoil, fire one round with each pull of the trigger just like other semiautomatic firearms and are definitely not "assualt rifles." Industry sponsors included DPMS Panther Arms, Trijicon, Remington, XS Sight Systems, Altus Brands, Pro Ears, MGM Targets (Mike Gibson Manufacturing), Crimson Trace, Cabela's, Proactive Defense, Lone Star Armory, The Winchester Gallery-Fort Worth and McClelland's Gun Shop-Dallas. "This was an important event in the shooting sports," said DIVA-WOW founder Judy Rhodes.

  • NEW WOMEN HUNTERS SECTION COMING TO DEER AND TURKEY EXPOS . . . A new "Garb and Gear Section" of women's hunting apparel and related hunting products designed for female hunters' physical needs will be an exhibit floor highlight at the 2011 deer and turkey hunting expos produced by Target Communications in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. With women being the fastest-growing segment of the hunting community, manufacturers are paying attention to their needs with new products designed specifically for them.

  • NATIONAL FIREARMS MUSEUM RECEIVES PETERSEN COLLECTION . . . More than 400 firearms from the collection of California hunter, shooting sportsman and publishing magnate Robert Petersen have been donated for display at the National Firearms Museum in Arlington, Va. Museum staff has spent the last 18 months setting up a new gallery for the exhibit, which opened in October, reports Connection Newspapers.

  • 17 STATES RECEIVE 'OPEN FIELDS' FUNDING TO INCREASE ACCESS TO PRIVATE LANDS . . . The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation reports that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has announced funding for 17 state public access projects under the Open Fields program passed in the 2008 Farm Bill. Vilsack's announcement was made at the first meeting of the newly formed Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, made up of many industry and conservation leaders, including NSSF President Steve Sanetti.

  • U.S. SHOOTING TEAM EARNS THREE MEDALS AT WORLD CUP FINAL . . . At the 2010 International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup Final for rifle and pistol in Munich, Germany, the U.S. delegation earned three medals and six finals appearances. Read USA Shooting's World Cup Final Report.

  • JERRY MICULEK TEAMS UP WITH MOSSBERG . . . O.F. Mossberg & Sons is moving forward into the competitive shooting field by teaming with one of the world's best competitive shooters, Jerry Miculek. The many-times national and world shooting titlist already has three championship wins this season using the Mossberg 930 shotgun.

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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.

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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.

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