March 5, 2012

Vol. 13 No. 9

This Week:

Industry News

Government Relations

Ranges and Retailers

NHF Day

NSSF Launches Voter Education Campaign

TRACKING THE 2012 #GUNVOTE . . . The ballots of shooters, hunters and gun owners can make a huge impact in the 2012 election. To this end, NSSF has launched GunVote, a voter education campaign. To reach the most voters possible with this educational effort, NSSF is encouraging Twitter users to tag their election-related tweets with #gunvote and to keep track of related issues on NSSF's Facebook page. The GunVote website provides links to voter registration information for all 50 states, a guide to political races in voter districts, the latest polls and a selection of news articles so voters can read the coverage of journalists and others who are following the campaigns and providing insights.

Visit nssf.org/gunvote | NSSF Press Release

Industry News

    Dick Hammett

  • CHANGES TO NSSF BOARD OF GOVERNORS; HAMMETT THANKED FOR YEARS OF SERVICE . . . The NSSF Board of Governors has announced several changes. Richard Hammett, one of the board's longest-serving members, resigned his seat. Hammett, who has retired as president of Winchester/Olin, also served as treasurer for the Board of Governors for many years. "We thank Dick for his leadership and service to NSSF and our industry," said Bob Scott, chairman of the Board of Governors. Two new appointments to the board were made. Brett Flaugher, vice president of marketing and sales for Winchester, will be Hammett's replacement. Kent Williams, owner of Quincy, Ill.-based Williams Shooters Supply, fills the distributor's seat that was vacated by the recent resignation Richard Lipsey from the board.

  • SHOT SHOW HEADS TO IWA SHOW IN GERMANY . . . Anyone headed to the IWA Show this week in Nuremberg, Germany, is invited to visit the SHOT Show staff inside the USA Pavilion, Hall 5, Booth No. 136. IWA exhibitors are encouraged to send their international retailers/distributors to the SHOT Show booth so they can be added to the SHOT Show's special VIP Program for international attendees. It's an invitation-only program that will allow invitees to take advantage of VIP amenities during the 2013 SHOT Show. For those who are already SHOT Show exhibitors, Reed Exhibitions' Dave Jeanette will be at the booth to answer questions regarding booth assignments.

  • FEBRUARY 2012 NSSF-ADJUSTED NICS BACKGROUND CHECKS UP 31.4% . . . The February 2012 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,266,344 is an increase of 31.4 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 963,746 in February 2011. For comparison, the unadjusted February 2012 NICS figure of 1,734,646 reflects a 18.6 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,463,138 in February 2011. This marks the 21st straight month that NSSF-adjusted NICS figures have increased when compared to the same period the previous year. Read more and view charts.

  • NEW CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS AT LEUPOLD & STEVENS . . . Jim Clark has been appointed chairman of the Leupold & Stevens board of directors. Don R. Kania and Dennis Spindler have been named board members. Clark's appointment follows the retirement of Don Gobel, who served the board for 16 years. Clark has more than 20 years of leadership experience with companies in the outdoor recreation market and has served on the Leupold & Stevens board since 2007. Kania is president/CEO of FEI Company, a manufacturer of electron and ion beam microscopes, and Spindler retired from a distinguished career at Big Rock Sports, where he was senior vice president of purchasing and marketing.

Government Relations

  • HOUSE TO VOTE ON SPORTSMEN'S HERITAGE ACT; CONTACT REPRESENTATIVES TODAY . . . After passing a House committee last week, the "Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012" (H.R. 4089) now moves to the full House where a vote could come as early as this week. The bill combines four legislative priorities that will expand recreational hunting, shooting and fishing opportunities while also protecting the firearms and ammunition industries from detrimental regulations under the Environmental Protection Agency. Learn more and contact your legislators today.

  • NSSF CONGRESSIONAL FLY-IN APRIL 18-19 . . . Officials from NSSF and executives from the Foundation's Voting Member companies will travel to Washington, D.C., April 18-19 to meet with key lawmakers and help advance the industry's federal legislative priorities. 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.

  • CHICAGO MAYOR AND ANTI-GUN LEGISLATORS PUSH EXTREME BILLS . . . Lawmakers in Springfield, Ill., have been busy trying to further strip the constitutional rights of firearm owners and retailers in Illinois. The House Executive Committee last week voted on two pieces of anti-gun legislation: House Bill 5167, which would impose a 2 percent sales tax on ammunition, and House Bill 5831, which would impose handgun registration throughout the state. Please continue to contact your state representative today and urge him or her to oppose HB 5167 and HB 5831.

  • SECOND AMENDMENT NOT CONFINED TO HOME . . . A federal court in Maryland just ruled that the Second Amendment right to bear arms extends beyond the home. In the case brought by the Second Amendment Foundation, Wollard v. Sheridan, a Maryland resident was denied a concealed carry permit renewal and the court determined that citizens may not be required by the state to offer a "good and substantial reason" for concealed carry. U.S. District Court Judge Benson Everett Legg explained that ". . . the Second Amendment's protections must extend beyond the home: neither hunting nor militia training is a household activity, and 'self-defense has to take place wherever [a] person happens to be.'"

Ranges and Retailers

  • MORE THAN 300 NEW SHOOTERS IN MIAMI, SACRAMENTO . . . More than 300 first-time shooters came out to the six ranges in the Sacramento, Calif., and Miami areas this past weekend to attend NSSF's First Shots events. The 20 filled-to-capacity seminars in these two areas was yet another demonstration of the growing interest in gun ownership across America. "A sincere thank you to the ranges, their staff, volunteers and participants for making these events a huge success and a great day at the ranges," said Tisma Juett, NSSF's First Shots manager. "First Shots also thanks Remington for providing all of the .22 ammo and Birchwood-Casey for the Shoot N See targets." Miami-area ranges that took part were Hollywood Rifle & Pistol Club, Arizona Shooting Range and National Armory. Sacramento-area ranges that held events were Sacramento Valley Shooting Center, El Dorado Shooting Range and United Revolvers Club. Learn more about First Shots at nssf.org/firstshots.

  • 12 STEPS TO CREATING A SUCCESSFUL SHOOTING RANGE . . . Interested in opening a shooting range? NSSF offers these 12 steps for creating a successful range. NSSF also encourages those with an interest in the shooting-range business to keep an eye out for information on an upcoming Indoor Range & Retail Development Workshop that NSSF will be hosting in June. Details to come next week.

  • ATF COMPLIANCE: FFLs DON'T HAVE TO GO IT ALONE . . . Did you know? NSSF offers federally licensed firearms retailers the opportunity to work with experienced advisors who, as former ATF officials, understand what it takes to stay compliant with ATF rules and regulations. This service is a key benefit available only to NSSF retailer members; it alone can be worth the price of a retailer membership. Overview | Meet the Team | Compliance Resources

National Hunting & Fishing Day

  • TONY STEWART NHF DAY HONORARY CHAIRMAN . . . Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Tony Stewart is National Hunting & Fishing Day's honorary chairman for 2012. He joins an elite list of entertainment and sports figures that have served in this capacity, including Hank Williams Jr., Travis Tritt, Jeff Foxworthy and Terry Bradshaw. “It’s a pleasure to be this year’s honorary chairman of National Hunting and Fishing Day,” Stewart said. “I love the outdoors and everything that goes into maintaining the outdoors." NSSF is the founding sponsor of NHF Day, which is managed by Wonders of Wildlife Museum. Set for Sept. 22, NHF Day encourages participation in traditional outdoor activities and celebrates sportsmen's contributions to conservation. Read the release.

Jobs


NSSF's Mission

"To promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports."

Click here to visit the NSSF website and see how we accomplish this mission.

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COPYRIGHT © 2012 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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