March 7, 2011

Vol. 12 No. 10

This Week:

NSSF Grants

News of Note

Government Relations

Jobs

Great Opportunity for Shooting Ranges

$500,000 IN GRANTS FROM NSSF . . . The National Shooting Sports Foundation will award up to $500,000 in grants to help public and private shooting facilities attract more participants. The announcement marks the fourth year NSSF will provide funding to qualifying ranges through its Range Partnership Grant Program. "Having purchased firearms and ammunition in record amounts in the last few years, people are excited about target shooting," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "We want ranges to tap into that enthusiasm and these grants will help shooting range managers test new strategies to attract customers." NSSF encourages the owners and managers of target shooting facilities to review the grant guidelines and, if they have a qualifying program, to apply for assistance. Private shooting ranges must have a public-participation option to qualify. "The best way to increase participation is to enhance and promote shooting opportunities at the local level," said Melissa Schilling, NSSF recruitment and retention manager. "We're looking for unique proposals that motivate people of all ages to enjoy target shooting." Shooting ranges interested in applying for a grant can view case studies of previous grant recipients and learn more about NSSF's Range Partnership Grant Program at http://nssf.org/shooting/grants.

News of Note

  • T. BOONE PICKENS IS NHF DAY HONORARY CHAIRMAN . . . Since 1972 National Hunting and Fishing Day has had many honorary chairpersons, including professional baseball players, NASCAR drivers, musicians, presidents (George H. W. Bush), actors and comedians, but never a businessman--until now. T. Boone Pickens, the well-known philanthropist, successful businessman and sportsman, has added a new role to his illustrious career--honorary chairman of National Hunting and Fishing Day 2011. The annual celebration is set for Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. Developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, NHF Day is now managed by Wonders of Wildlife Museum in Springfield, Mo. Read More.

  • SSSF PARTNERS WITH KIDS AND CLAYS . . . The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, administrator of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), recently announced the designation of Kids and Clays as the official charity for SCTP. "Because SCTP is a youth development program we feel it is important that our athletes learn that it is important to give back," said Russ Arnold, executive director of SSSF. Learn more about the Kids & Clays Foundation.

  • FORMER OWAA PRESIDENTS IN THE NEWS . . . Two distinguished past presidents of the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) have made news for very different reasons. Mike Levy, OWAA president 1993-1994 and the most recent recipient of the organization's award for devoted past service, passed away of congestive heart failure on March 2. He was the retired outdoor columnist for the Buffalo (N.Y.) News. Read a moving tribute from one of his former colleagues. Mark LaBarbera, the communicator group's president in 1995-1996, has been named chief marketing and development executive by the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF). He had served MDF in 2010 as its executive advisor.

  • NSSF VIDEO EMPHASIZES SAFETY AT INDOOR SHOOTING RANGES . . . NSSF recently released its latest addition to a fast-growing library of instructional and education videos for gun owners and shooting sports participants."Introduction to Range Safety and Etiquette" seeks to educate new and inexperienced shooters for whom a trip to an indoor shooting range can be intimidating. All shooters will better understand what's expected of them at indoor ranges after viewing the video and, as a result, will be more comfortable the next time they head to their favorite shooting facility. "Introduction to Range Safety and Etiquette" can be viewed on NSSF's You Tube channel. Shooting range managers interested in showing their customers an "Introduction to Range Safety and Etiquette" can request a free DVD from NSSF. Read the full press release for more information.

  • SARAH PALIN EFFECT? MORE WOMEN HUNTING . . . Whether it's the "Sarah Palin Effect" or not, more women are taking up hunting and are buying hunting equipment, as reported in this ABC News online story. Comment at the NSSF Blog.

  • ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION SUPPORTS FORT HOOD VICTIM WITH HUNT . . . The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) opened its convention Thursday in Reno by presenting Staff Sgt. Patrick Zeigler with the elk hunt of his dreams. Zeigler, a survivor of the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, later told an Army chaplain of his dream to go elk hunting. Word of the 29-year old soldier's dream eventually reached members of RMEF, and one member, Paul O'Connell, who has an annual spot reserved to hunt elk on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Northern Arizona, decided to give this year's spot to Zeigler. Read more. View the video broadcast from Channel 2 News in Reno.

Government Relations

  • ATF ANNOUNCES REVIEW OF TRAFFICKING STRATEGY FOLLOWING PRESIDENT'S REMARKS . . . A day after President Obama appeared with Mexican President Filipe Calderon to discuss solutions to cartel-related violence in Mexico, ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson announced his intention to ask a multi-disciplinary panel of law enforcement professionals to review ATF's current firearms trafficking strategies. In his remarks, President Obama stated his support for the Second Amendment while noting the need to address the role that straw purchasing plays in illegal gun trafficking operations. As part of this strategic review, NSSF is urging ATF, Congress and the administration to adequately fund the Don't Lie for the Other Guy anti-straw purchasing program. "As an industry, we have always taken the illegal acquisition and misuse of firearms very seriously," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. "By adequately funding Don't Lie, Congress and President Obama can help firearms retailers make sales only to those legally qualified to purchase firearms."

  • INDUSTRY LEADERS WILL HEAD TO WASHINGTON IN APRIL . . . Executives from NSSF and SAAMI voting member companies will travel to Capitol Hill, 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 to discuss matters affecting our industry. 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. The cut-off for the NSSF room block (the night of April 6) is one week from today (Monday, March 14). Voting Members interested in attending and receiving additional details as they become available should contact mswarts@nssf.org.

  • CONNECTICUT BILL INTRODUCED TO BAN POSSESSION OF ALL MAGAZINES OVER 10 ROUNDS . . . A bill raised in the Connecticut General Assembly (Bill Number 1094) would ban the possession of any magazine (rifle, pistol or shotgun) capable of holding more than 10 rounds. Despite earlier rumors, there is no sponsor of the bill. It was raised by the Judiciary Committee. If this bill passes, law-abiding gun owners will have to begin surrendering their magazines by July or face confiscation by the state police and a felony charge. Again, this proposal would not only ban the sale of these magazines, but would also make simple possession a felony. Any gun owner found in possession of any magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds will be in violation of this proposed law. Read More.

  • BILL IN MICHIGAN WOULD REDUCE YOUTH HUNTING BARRIERS . . . Identical Families Afield legislation has been introduced in Michigan's Senate and House of Representatives that would allow young people of any age to hunt under the guidance of an experienced mentor while creating a mentored youth hunting program administered by the state's Natural Resources Commission for those under the age of 10. Under current state law, youth under the age of 10 are prohibited from hunting, even if under the supervision of an adult mentor. The bills aim to increase youth involvement in hunting by allowing young hunters to safely experience outdoor hunting traditions under the supervision of an experienced mentor. Read the full story.

Jobs


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COPYRIGHT © 2011 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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