September 6, 2011

Vol. 12 No. 36

This Week:

Government Relations

FBI NICS

SHOT Show

News of Note

Resources for Ranges and Retailers

TWO SITES OFFER ACCESS TO HELPFUL TOOLS AND INFO . . . Are you a range owner or firearms retailer -- or both? NSSF recently launched two new sections of nssf.org that are great resources for all ranges and retailers. The ranges site includes links to research, a digital library covering the many aspects of range ownership and functions, a list of suppliers and consultants, archives of The Range Report magazine, information on NSSF's Five Star rating and many other helpful tools. The retailers site includes videos and webinars, publications, research, links to ATF and NICS, Don't Lie for the Other Guy information and more. Be sure to bookmark your respective sections at nssf.org/Ranges and nssf.org/Retailers.

  • RETAILERS AND RANGES: JOIN NSSF FOR JUST $50 . . . For a limited time, NSSF is offering shooting ranges and firearms retailers the opportunity to become an NSSF member now through all of 2012 for just $50. Become a member today.

Government Relations

  • NSSF WELCOMES BACK CONGRESS WITH D.C. ADS . . . With Congress heading back to work from its August recess, NSSF is reminding legislators, via D.C.-based print and digital ads, of the industry's economic impact on the nation's economy and the pivotal role that excise taxes, paid by manufacturers, play in funding wildlife conservation throughout the United States. Key statistics that are highlighted in the NSSF ads include the more than 183,500 jobs created by members of the firearms and ammunition industry, paying more than $8.2 billion in wages annually and having an overall economic impact of $27.8 billion.

  • PA. HUNTERS URGED TO ATTEND SEPT. 15 SUNDAY HUNTING HEARING . . . Sportsmen in Pennsylvania who would like to see the state's ban on Sunday hunting come to an end should "speak now or forever hold their peace," state Rep. Ed Staback tells the Pennsylvania Outdoor News. Sportsmen are urged to learn more and attend a Sept. 15 public hearing at 6:30 p.m. at the East Allen Township Municipal Building in Northampton, Pa. Also, please continue to contact members of the House Game and Fisheries Committee and urge them to support HB 1760, which would permit hunting on Sunday.

  • FINAL WEEK OF CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION . . . Adjournment of the California legislative session is scheduled for Friday, and NSSF is urging all firearm owners and retailers to contact their appropriate legislators to voice their opposition to two bills. SB 427, which would implement a handgun ammunition registration law (AB 962) and add new provisions impacting retailers, is currently awaiting a vote on the assembly floor. Please contact your assembly member. AB 809, which would require firearms retailers to report the same sale records for long guns that they currently collect for handguns, is awaiting a vote on the senate floor. Please contact your senator. Don't let these bills pass in the final days of session.

  • COURT SAYS GUN MAKER HAS NO DUTY TO RECALL . . . Last week a federal appeals court affirmed the dismissal of a products liability lawsuit brought against Smith & Wesson in Alaska by the parents of a child accidentally shot and injured by a revolver manufactured by the company in 1972. Among the claims against Smith & Wesson were negligence for failing to include a safety lock at the time the revolver was made, failure to warn and failure to retrofit the gun with a safety lock years later. Under applicable Alaska law, Smith & Wesson had no duty to include a safety lock on the gun when it was produced in 1972, and nothing in the record supported imposing a duty on the company to retrofit or recall the gun after it was sold. Furthermore, the appeals court found that the firearm functioned as intended, so it was neither necessary for Smith & Wesson to include a warning with the gun nor would a reasonable firearm consumer expect to see such a warning in 1972.

FBI NICS

  • NICS RESOLUTION CARD . . . The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) section has announced a newly developed tool for firearm retailers and their customers. NICS has noticed an increased propensity for a denied or delayed customer to be unsure about the best avenue to pursue when receiving a delayed or deny response from their NICS background check. So, in reply, this NICS Resolution Card has been created. Read more about it.

    View full-size chart.

  • AUGUST NSSF-ADJUSTED NICS BACKGROUND CHECKS UP 13.5% . . . The August 2011 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 815,858 is an increase of 13.5 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 718,971 in August 2010. For comparison, the unadjusted August 2011 NICS figure of 1,300,433 is an increase of 20.2 percent over the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,082,360 in August 2010. This marks the fifteenth straight month over month increase in NSSF-adjusted NICS figures. Full Story

SHOT Show

  • SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR 'BIRDIES FOR THE BRAVE' EVENT . . . Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Birdies for the Brave charity golf outing that will be held the weekend before the SHOT Show at TPC Las Vegas. Proceeds from the event will benefit eight military homefront groups that are supported by PGA TOUR players, which provide critical programs and services to meet the specialized needs of wounded warriors and military families. Contact Nicole Tassone at nicoletassone@pgatourtpc.com for information on becoming a sponsor or to enter a foursome.

  • OCT. 3 DEADLINE FOR SHOT SHOW BOOTH PRIORITY POINTS . . . NSSF reminds all members that Monday, Oct. 3, is the deadline for SHOT Show exhibitors to receive five extra booth-priority points. To receive these points, it is required that your NSSF membership is in good standing by Oct. 3, when a list of all current members will be sent to Reed Exhibitions for processing. Members that are in good standing will automatically receive priority points. Members will also receive recognition in the SHOT Show Directory, My Show Planner and SHOT Mobile with an NSSF logo next to their name. If you are interested in becoming a member, or want to check your membership status, please contact Samantha Hughes at shughes@nssf.org.

  • SHOT SHOW MEDIA REGISTRATION NOW OPEN . . . All working media professionals interested in covering the 2012 SHOT Show can now register for press credentials. Media who have attended the SHOT Show in previous years and for which NSSF had a valid email address today received a fast-track registration form. Media members who did not receive this email (even if they've attended SHOT Show in the past) should register using the online form at shotshow.org. Reviewing the "badge types" and "proof of eligibility" explanations before filling out the online form will help speed the application process. All approved media will be invited to also register for Media Day at the Range. Questions? E-mail SHOT@compusystems.com or call 708-786-4105 or 866-585-4105. Read the press room guidelines.

News of Note

  • BERETTA USA NAMES COOPER GENERAL MANAGER AND COO . . . Beretta U.S.A. Corp. has hired Jeffrey Cooper to serve as the company's general manager and chief operating officer. Cooper comes to Beretta U.S.A. from Stanley Black & Decker, where he served as global president of Black & Decker Products.

  • CALIFORNIA FIREARMS RETAILER IS 'WOMEN FRIENDLY' . . . A new firearms retail store in Fresno, Calif., is designed to be inviting to women, the Fresno Bee reports. Owner Leona "Lee" Stone says, "For women especially, buying a firearm is a bit intimidating. I wanted something that was woman friendly."

  • HUNTER'S POCKET FACT CARD . . . At some point, nearly every hunter will be called on to point out the merits of hunting. Will you be up to the task of defending this great tradition by citing well-sourced facts in your discussion? NSSF can help you make your points with its newly updated Hunter's Pocket Fact Card. The card is free and available online at nssf.org/lit and in bulk quantities to your hunting club, shooting range, conservation organization or firearms retail store.

NSSF History Snapshot

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

  • TV TRAILBLAZER . . . NSSF, a pioneer in bringing the shooting sports to television, developed the first all-shooting sports series for broadcast on ESPN in 1992 -- Chevy Trucks Shooting Sports America, hosted by Grits Gresham, later joined by son Tom as co-host. Learn more at nssf.org/50.

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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 © 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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