May 9, 2011

Vol. 12 No. 19

This Week:

Industry News

Government Relations

FBI NICS

Outdoor Media

SHOT Show to Stay at
Las Vegas Sands Through 2014

AGREEMENT REACHED . . . The National Shooting Sports Foundation, owners of the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show®, and Reed Exhibitions, producers of the SHOT Show, have reached an agreement with Las Vegas Sands Corp. to present the SHOT Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center through 2014. "SHOT Show attendees have made it clear to us that Las Vegas is their city of choice, and this agreement allows NSSF to meet their expectations and to continue our great relationship with the city and the Las Vegas Sands Corp.," said Steve Sanetti, president and CEO of NSSF. "The Sands has responded to our requests for improvements to the venue that have been very favorably commented upon by exhibitors and attendees alike, and this was a key factor in our decision." The SHOT Show is one of the largest trade shows in North America, featuring 1,600 exhibitors covering 660,000 net square feet of product-display space. Exhibitors, buyers and media from more than 100 countries attend the show. Read NSSF's complete news release.

Industry News

  • SHOOTING SPORTS SUMMIT JUST A MONTH AWAY . . . Next month, the future of hunting and the shooting sports will be the focus of nearly 200 attendees at the 2011 Shooting Sports Summit. Leaders from throughout the industry and the hunting and shooting sports communities will meet in Louisville, Ky., June 7-9 with the collective goal of increasing participation in hunting and shooting. If you have not yet registered for the Summit, please do so today. Your voice and presence are needed. See the list of who is planning to attend and register today.

  • COMMERICIAL, MILITARY AMMO SALES HELP ATK TO STRONG YEAR, 4Q . . . ATK (NYSE:ATK) reported full-year sales of $4.8 billion, led by continued strength in both commercial and military small-caliber ammunition. Sales in the fourth quarter were up 4.2 percent to $1.3 billion, compared to $1.2 billion in the prior-year quarter. ATK said that stronger sales of military small-caliber ammunition and continued strength within the company's commercial ammunition and tactical accessories business contributed to the gain.

  • SURVEY: HUNTERS, SHOOTERS TO MAKE KEY PURCHASES IN 2011 . . . In a survey conducted by HunterSurvey.com, more than 40 percent of sportsmen said they intend to purchase a new rifle in 2011, while nearly a quarter of them anticipate buying a shotgun. Read more about the findings from Southwick Associates.

  • FORBES: WALMART GOES 'BACK TO THE FUTURE' WITH FIREARMS . . . Forbes reported last week on Walmart's return to "heritage" categories that helped the chain achieve success in its formative years. One of those categories happens to be firearms. "We made a business decision to sell them in certain stores because we have realized the appeal was perhaps broader than we thought," a Walmart spokesman said. Read the full article at Forbes.com.

Government Relations

  • OPINION SHOULD PUT END TO JUDGE'S 15 YEARS OF ATTACKS ON FIREARMS INDUSTRY . . . The firearms industry has long complained that Judge Jack B. Weinstein has twisted the law on personal jurisdiction and violated the constitutional rights of members of the industry in order to assert his control over how firearms are sold and marketed throughout the United States, usurping the constitutional role of Congress and state legislatures. A scathing concurring opinion last week validates our industry's long-standing objections. In a blog post today, NSSF's Lawrence G. Keane writes that the days of industry members being improperly dragged into Judge Weinstein's courtroom should now be behind us.

  • BLOOMBERG CONTINUES TO PUSH NEW YORK FIREARMS BAN . . . Legislation (A. 1157) that would mandate the flawed concept of firearms microstamping passed out of the New York Assembly Codes Committee last week and will be headed to the Assembly floor at any time. Independent studies have concluded that microstamping should not be mandated. The Empire State is battling significant economic troubles, yet downstate legislators and anti-gun billionaires like New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are focusing their attention on legislation that will ban all semi-automatic handguns and force jobs out of the state. Now is the time to tell Albany to stop wasting money on gadgets, like microstamping, that don't work. NSSF urges all New Yorkers to contact their assembly members today and tell them to vote no on A. 1157.

  • OREGON STATE POLICE CHANGE FIREARMS POLICY FOR NONRESIDENTS . . . It recently came to the attention of the Oregon State Police that its policy of allowing the sale of long guns to nonresidents from only 20 specific states needed updating based on a recent ATF newsletter. The state police reviewed its internal policy and concluded that a change was necessary. The state police now allow nonresidents from all other states (except California, which is prohibited by law) to purchase a long gun in Oregon as long as the purchaser complies with the requirements of his or her home state. NSSF thanks the Oregon State Police for its review of the matter and for making the policy change.

  • MICHIGAN 'FAMILIES AFIELD' BILL CLEARS SENATE . . . The Michigan Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill that would eliminate the state's minimum hunting age and create a mentored youth hunting program for those under the age of 10. The bill, which passed by a vote of 30-6, would allow youths to hunt under the supervision of an experienced adult mentor. It now moves to the House, where an identical bill is already pending. The legislation is part of the nationwide Families Afield effort to increase youth involvement in hunting by allowing young hunters to safely experience outdoor hunting traditions under the supervision of an experienced mentor. Read more about the bill.

  • ALASKA COURT FINDS FIREARMS RETAILER LAWSUIT BARRED BY PLCAA . . . In October of last year, an Alaskan trial court dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Brady Center against Juneau firearms retailer Rayco Sales on the grounds that the case was barred by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. The Brady Center is appealing the decision. The case stems from the fatal shooting of Simone Young Kim by drifter Jason Coday outside a Juneau grocery store in 2006. The gun used in the incident was a Ruger .22 rifle stolen by Coday from Rayco two days before the shooting. Rayco had reported the theft to the Juneau Police Department immediately after Coday fled the store with the gun. Coday was convicted and is currently serving a 101-year sentence. It was reported that less than two months prior to the incident, Coday had at least 18 run-ins with police throughout the West, including in Nevada and Washington State. Rather than detaining Coday based on his extensive criminal record and registered felon status, Nevada law enforcement released Coday to the custody of his father, and he subsequently jumped bail. On his way to Alaska, Washington State police stopped Coday but released him presumably without ever checking whether he had any outstanding warrants.

FBI NICS

  • UPDATES FROM NICS . . . The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has provided NSSF with several new updates on issues including an upcoming NICS outage on May 23, a new NICS Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Quick Reference Guide and more.

Outdoor Media

  • NSSF AT NOWA CONFERENCE . . . Members of the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association recently gathered in Bellingham, Wash., for their 38th Annual Conference. Sponsoring a luncheon, NSSF recapped the wide-ranging accomplishments of its 50-year history to help those in attendance better understand the role industry's trade association plays in promoting, protecting and preserving hunting and the shooting sports. At the Saturday evening banquet, NOWA Board Member Tim Christie, assisted by Outgoing President Adela Jackson and Executive Director Debbie Kerr, presented the Excellence in Craft Awards. Winners of the craft contest will be posted on the group's website soon.

  • COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN ATTEND POMA CONFERENCE . . . The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) is offering 15 college students the opportunity to explore outdoor industry communications careers and rub elbows with top industry communicators and business professionals during POMA's four-day annual business conference in Ogden Utah, August 10-13, 2011. Learn more.

NSSF History Snapshot

Throughout its 50th anniversary year, NSSF each week will be spotlighting various moments from the Foundation's history.

  • LITERATURE . . . NSSF created in 1967 the "Firearms Record Book" for retailers, part of a literature program that by 1969 boasted 41 titles on firearm safety, the hunter’s role in conservation, hunter ethics and getting started in the shooting sports. Learn more at nssf.org/50.

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.


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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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2011 Shooting Sports Summit, June 7-9

Help NSSF continue to increase participation in hunting and the shooting sports. Register today for the 2011 Shooting Sports Summit.

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