NSSF Preparing for 2011 Congressional Fly-In
 INDUSTRY LEADERS WILL HEAD TO WASHINGTON IN APRIL . . . Officials from NSSF and executives from the Foundation's Voting Member companies will travel to Washington, D.C., April 6-7 to meet with key lawmakers and help advance the industry's federal legislative priorities. Building on the success of past Congressional Fly-Ins, representatives from the industry will meet face-to-face with congressional leaders about their concerns. Participation in the Fly-In is a Voting Member benefit. All Voting Members are strongly encouraged to attend this key government relations effort. This year's Fly-In will be held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. If you are interested in attending and receiving additional details as they become available, please contact mswarts@nssf.org.
Industry News
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 WHAT'S SELLING WHERE? . . . Each issue of SHOT Business magazine includes a section on what products are selling at stores in different areas of the country. Store owners and managers in four regions provide insight on current trends they're seeing. Take a look at what's selling where this month.
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OLIN: 4Q AMMO SALES DOWN, BUT SECOND MOST PROFITABLE YEAR . . . Olin Corp. (NYSE:OLN), maker of Winchester ammunition, reported that fourth-quarter sales in its Winchester division were $112.7 million, down from to $126 million in the same period last year. The company said that commercial sales declined compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. "Winchester's fourth quarter earnings were $3.6 million and full year 2010 earnings were $63 million, which represented the second most profitable year in its history," said Joseph D. Rupp, Olin chairman, president and CEO.
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ATK REPORTS THIRD-QUARTER RESULTS . . . ATK (NYSE:ATK) reported third-quarter sales of $1.1 billion, relatively flat with the prior-year quarter. The company reported strong sales in its Armament Systems group and Security and Sporting group (up eight percent and 25 percent, respectively).
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JANUARY 2011 NSSF-ADJUSTED NICS BACKGROUND CHECKS UP 9.7% . . . The January 2011 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 784,856 is an increase of 9.7 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 715,309 in January 2010. For comparison, the unadjusted January 2011 NICS figure of 1,312,544 is an increase of 18 percent over the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,112,312 in January 2010. The adjusted NICS data was derived by NSSF by subtracting out NICS purpose code permit checks used by several states such as Kentucky and Utah for CCW permit application checks as well as checks on active CCW permit databases. While not a direct correlation to firearms sales, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data provides a more accurate picture of current market conditions. Questions concerning NSSF-adjusted NICS data should be directed to NSSF research at 203-426-1320 or research@NSSF.org. In addition to other purposes, NICS is used to check transactions of firearms sales and transfers on new and used handguns and long guns. Click here for additional information on NICS or to view a complete set of the current monthly NICS reports. NSSF members may access historical monthly NICS reports in the members log-in section of nssf.org.
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"Modern Sporting Rifle," an 80-page report, has been posted online. |
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NSSF LAUNCHES REVAMPED RESEARCH WEBPAGE FOR MEMBERS . . . The NSSF research section in the members log-in area of nssf.org has been recently redesigned. Free data available to all NSSF members include historical NICS and NSSF-adjusted NICS figures, concealed carry and silencer/Form 4 state charts, 2010 firearms retailer survey report, historical survey tracker and market indicators, HunterSurvey.com topline summary and several recently updated Industry Intelligence Reports. The most recently posted report, titled "Modern Sporting Rifle," is an 80-page comprehensive consumer report outlining ownership, usage and attitudes toward modern sporting rifles. For your membership log-in ID and password, or to become an NSSF member, please contact Cindy Brutting at cbrutting@nssf.org or 203-426-1320.
Government Relations
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SENATE PASSES 1099 REPEAL AMENDMENT . . . The U.S. Senate adopted an amendment repealing the new Form 1099 reporting requirements. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), is a complete repeal of the law. NSSF, which strongly supported the repeal of this burdensome mandate, helped to bring the problems of the reporting requirement to the attention of Congress. Among the NSSF concerns, small businesses would have been forced to issue hundreds or even thousands of forms each year, track cumulative payments to vendors and obtain tax identification information from each vendor -- including law-abiding gun owners looking to sell a firearm. House Republicans have made 1099 repeal one of their top priorities, but it is unknown if the Stabenow "pay-for" model will be acceptable to the majority or if an alternative Republican vehicle for passage could pass the Senate.
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MARYLAND LEGISLATORS SEEK MAGAZINE LIMIT -- AGAIN . . . On Thursday at 1 p.m., the Judicial Proceedings Committee will hear testimony on SB 162, which seeks to once again limit magazines in the state of Maryland. Legislators have already limited magazine capacity to 20 rounds, but have now decided to further restrict firearms owners by seeking a 10-round limit. NSSF is encouraging all gun owners and retailers to contact members of the Judicial Proceedings Committee and express your opposition to SB 162.
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CONNECTICUT EYES MAGAZINE BAN AND OTHER LEGISLATION . . . This past Friday, members of the Connecticut Judiciary Committee decided to move forward with drafting legislation to ban what they call "high capacity" magazines. NSSF will continue to monitor the situation and inform everyone about the bill once it is drafted. Also, the Public Safety Committee will be holding a hearing on Thursday at 10 a.m. in Room 2A of the Legislative Office Building. Two of the more onerous bills scheduled are HB 5800, requiring the registration of all firearms every five years, and also SB 42 (language yet to published), which seeks to establish safety standards for all ranges throughout the state. NSSF is encouraging all sportsmen and gun owners to express their opposition to HB 5800 and SB 42 by contacting members of the committee.
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UTAH CELEBRATES JOHN M. BROWNING DAY . . . Jan. 24, 2011, was John M. Browning Day in Utah, highlighted by a noon ceremony on the Capitol steps at which Gov. Gary Herbert presented the official state resolution of the day to Christopher Browning, the great grandson of the honoree. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Utahan John M. Browning's design of the 1911 pistol, legislation for which is in the works to designate that gun as the Official Utah State Firearm.
News of Note
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MIT'S FUTURE SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS ARE ALSO ELITE MARKSMEN . . . Known more as a training ground for scientists and engineers, many people aren't aware that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is also home to an elite group of shooters -- some of which had never handled a firearm before attending the university. The Boston Globe on Sunday included a feature story on the MIT shooting team, one of 38 college shooting programs to recently receive a grant through NSSF's Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative.
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 STREAMING NSSF SAFETY VIDEOS . . . New, higher-definition versions of NSSF's firearms safety videos are available online, including for the first time in its entirety "McGruff on Gun Safety," the educational video for students in grades K through 6. Also available for viewing are "It's Your Call: Playing It Safe Around Guns" designed for students in grades 6 through 9 and "Firearm Safety Depends on You," which provides a review of firearm safety rules for audiences of all ages. The two firearm safety videos for students have downloadable teacher discussion guides. NSSF asks that you bring these videos to the attention of your child's school or teacher, or that you view them with your children so that they understand how to safely respond if they should encounter a firearm in an unsupervised situation. Read NSSF's news release.
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'TOP SHOT' SEASON PREMIERE TUESDAY . . . The second season of History Channel's "Top Shot" kicks off Tuesday at 10 p.m. EST. The reality competition series features 16 marksmen vying for a $100,000 prize. According to the show's website, "Weapons this season include more than 20 weapons including the iconic Tommy Gun, the .44 Magnum and a .50 caliber sniper rifle. Not just firearms, the competition also includes archery and primitive weapons as well."
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TENNESSEE CPA OFFERS GUN SHOP GIFT CARDS TO CLIENTS . . . Richard Grassano is a certified public accountant. He is also a partner in All American Gun Shop. Those two businesses share a building in Athens, Tenn., and the gun shop advertises tax preparation services along with a gift card ranging from $5 to $25 at All American, depending on the amount of the tax return. Grassano said he's noticed that gun and ammo sales pick up every year around the time people get their tax returns, so he resorted to this cross-marketing technique.
NSSF Membership
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STILL TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2011 . . . NSSF reminds all of its members that if they haven't renewed their membership for 2011, there is still time. Renewing online at nssf.org is easy. All members will need is their member ID and password. If members can't remember their ID and password, please contact Cindy Brutting at cbrutting@nssf.org or 203-426-1320.
Jobs
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