April 23, 2012

Vol. 13 No. 16

This Week:

Ranges and Retailers

Industry News

News of Note

NSSF Members

Industry Leaders Meet with
U.S. Senators, Representatives

WRAP-UP FROM NSSF'S 2012 CONGRESSIONAL FLY-IN . . . Executives from the firearms industry were in Washington, D.C., last week for NSSF's 5th Annual Congressional Fly-In. A record number of attendees came to Capitol Hill this year to help advance the industry's legislative priorities. The week began on a high note with the House passage of the Sportsmen's Heritage Act (H.R. 4089), a bill that contains the industry's top priority -- the Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act (H.R. 1558). Overall, the Fly-In was a great success, and NSSF looks forward to building upon its momentum through the rest of the year. Watch a video recap of the Fly-In.

  • HOUSE PASSES 'SPORTSMEN'S HERITAGE ACT' . . . With a 274-146 vote, the House of Representatives last week passed the Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012 (H.R. 4089). Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), who NSSF honored Wednesday night with a Legislator of the Year award, the bill combines four legislative priorities that will expand recreational hunting, shooting and fishing opportunities and also reaffirms existing law and heads off determined bureaucratic efforts to deny hunters and shooters from using traditional ammunition. This important legislation is supported by more than 35 national conservation and sportsmen's groups. Read more.

  • FIREARMS INDUSTRY HELPS LEAD ECONOMIC RECOVERY . . . In Washington, D.C., on Thursday NSSF released a newly commissioned report detailing double-digit gains in jobs and other data showing the industry has been a leader in the nation's economic recovery. The report can be viewed at http://nssf.org/impact. Firearms industry members on Capitol Hill were briefed on such remarkable statistics as the 30.6 percent increase in jobs between 2008 and 2011, a 66.5 percent increase in economic impact and a 66.5 percent increase in federal taxes paid by industry companies. Read more.

  • TESTER, MILLER HONORED AS NSSF'S 2011 LEGISLATORS OF THE YEAR . . . NSSF honored Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) as NSSF's 2011 Legislators of the Year at an NSSF Political Action Committee (PAC) reception Wednesday evening in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the firearms industry's annual Congressional Fly-In. Read more.

  • HEARING ON PITTMAN-ROBERTSON, NAWCA BILLS . . . Two bills discussed at the NSSF Fly-In last week are up for review at a Senate subcommitte hearing tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. The bills are S. 1249, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, which would allow states to expend their Pittman-Robertson funds to develop or expand public target-shooting facilities, and S. 2282, the North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act of 2012. NSSF urges support of both bills. Read the NSSF alert.

Ranges and Retailers

  • RANGE AND RETAIL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP IS A SELL-OUT; WAITING LIST FORMING . . . A stellar lineup of range-industry speakers has created a sell-out for NSSF's Indoor Range & Retail Development Workshop, scheduled for June 18-21 at the Doubletree Hotel at Westport, in St. Louis, Mo. The workshop's agenda is tailored to people exploring the idea, or currently in the planning stages, of opening an indoor range/retail business. If you would like your name put on a waiting list, should an opening occur, please contact Cathy Walker, email cwalker@nssf.org, telephone 203-426-1320. The registration fee is $400 for NSSF members, a $100 savings compared to the nonmember rate. Learn more about the development workshop.

  • RETAILER EDUCATION SEMINAR IN NEW YORK STATE . . . New York Federal Firearms Licensees should have received postcard invitations from NSSF to attend the Foundation's next Retail Education Seminar, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, May 23, in East Syracuse, N.Y. Presented in cooperation with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the free seminar provides guidance and education on the rules and regulations governing the sale and transfer of firearms. New York FFLs receiving an invitation must contact Cathy Walker by email (cwalker@nssf.org) or phone (203-426-1320) and provide the pass code appearing on the invitation to secure their reservation. The next two scheduled seminars, for which invitations will be sent at a future date, are set for Las Vegas on June 20 and Richmond, Va., on July 25.

Industry News

  • USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR FEBRUARY 2012 . . . NSSF reports that overall U.S. imports (in units) in six sporting arms and ammunition categories increased 36.5 percent in February 2012 compared to February 2011. February 2012 imported units in tracked categories totaled 122.2 million, up from 89.5 million reported in February 2011. Overall U.S. exports (in units) in six sporting arms and ammunition categories decreased 57.2 percent in February 2012 compared to February 2011. February 2012 exported units in tracked categories totaled 43.2 million, down from 100.9 million reported in February 2011. All figures sourced from U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). See a complete breakdown of each category's February import and export data. NSSF members may access additional historical import and export data by logging in at www.nssf.org/members and clicking NSSF Industry Research.

  • BILL DUNN NAMED NSSF MANAGING DIRECTOR, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS . . . NSSF has promoted Bill Dunn to managing director, marketing communications. In his new role, Dunn will be responsible for overseeing a staff of 11 communications professionals and developing communications strategy, messaging and branding. Dunn joined NSSF in 2005 and has worked in several communications roles with increasing responsibility, most recently as director of emerging media. Dunn is a former daily newspaper editor and reporter and is an avid shooter. Read NSSF's press release.

  • BUSHNELL TO ACQUIRE PRIMOS . . . Bushnell Outdoor Products, manufacturer of sports optics, eyewear and outdoor accessories, and MidOcean Partners, a middle-market private-equity fund, have announced an agreement to purchase Primos Hunting of Flora, Miss. Primos began more than 35 years ago and has established itself as an industry leader in game calls and a variety of other hunting gear. Read more about this announced purchase.

  • REMINGTON CONTRACT TO CREATE UP TO 50 JOBS . . . The Utica Observer-Dispatch reports that Remington Arms, with a plant in Ilion in New York's Mohawk Valley, will create up to 50 jobs in the community in the fulfillment of an $83.9 million contract for the manufacturing of more than 100,000 M-4 rifles for the U.S. Army. The contract will allow the plant to buy new equipment and expand its facility.

  • ADVOCATE TO INDUSTRY AND HUNTERS, MCMILLAN DIES AT 74 . . . The conservation community and the firearms industry are mourning the loss of Don McMillan, president of the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance. Here are some words from Federal Premium Conservation Manager Ryan Bronson: "Don McMillan was always an advocate and friend to hunters, and the firearms industry. Whether he was working in Washington, D.C., on international conservation, or in St. Paul playing a pivotal role passing two constitutional amendments for sportsmen, Don McMillan left his mark for sportsmen. He was always the first person I called for advice and help on policy issues." Read more.

  • INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTES SECOND GRANT INSTALLMENT TO SUPPLEMENT NAWCA . . . Demonstrating its continued support for conservation, members of the firearms industry, through NSSF, have donated $150,000 to supplement congressional funding of the North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA), a grant program providing federal cost-share funding to support the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This year's payment of $150,000 is the second part of an NSSF five-year initiative that will total $750,000 to support wetlands conservation. Read more.

News of Note

  • RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY NAMES NEW PRESIDENT . . . The selection of John B. Eichenger as the Ruffed Grouse Society's new president and C.E.O. was announced by the society's board chairman, Dr. Gayen Byker. Eichenger formerly served as executive director of Safari Club International and as an officer for other conservation organizations. His term begins May 21, at which time he will succeed current President/CEO Dr. Mike Zagata, who announced his retirement in Oct. 2011. See the Ruffed Grouse Society's press release on this announcement.

  • NEWS COLUMN SAYS SPORTSMEN STARTED 'EARTH DAY' WELL BEFORE 1970 . . . When President Obama credited Sen. Gaylord Nelson with calling on Americans to take action on behalf of the environment in 1970 and creating Earth Day, Humberto Fontova felt compelled to deliver the message in Townhall.com that hunters and fishermen, and the supporting industries, were taking action on behalf of the environment--and its wildlife and fish inhabitants--long before 1970. Citing statistics from an NSSF study, Fontova stressed the financial contributions of sportsmen dating back to the 1937 passage of the Pittman-Robertson Act imposing an excise tax of 10 percent on firearms and ammunition and praising hunters' and anglers' $1.5 billion per year contribution over the last 20 years.

NSSF Members

  • PAYMENT ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL (PAI) IS ONLY NSSF-ENDORSED CREDIT-CARD PROCESSOR . . . NSSF reminds members that Payment Alliance International (PAI) is the only endorsed credit-card processor for NSSF. Contact NSSF today to learn more and to become a member to take advantage of this benefit.

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Find NSSF on:


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.

Share this email
Share via Twitter Share via Facebook Share via Email Share Other

---------------------

NSSF.org

Bullet Points Online

Archive

Subscribe

---------------------

NSSF Blog

Covering issues affecting the industry, gun ownership and hunting and the shooting sports.

---------------------

SHOT Show Blog

Stay current on news and information about NSSF's SHOT Show -- the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry's largest trade show.

---------------------

SHOT Business

The modern magazine of the shooting sports industry and the official publication of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

---------------------