NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

May 21, 2012

Vol. 13 No. 19

This Week:

Industry News

Government Relations

News of Note

 Videos NSSF Members

Shaping Up for London

Coming soon from NSSF: Video shooting tips from USA Shooting Team members, including Rachael Heiden (shotgun) and Amanda Furrer (rifle).

U.S. OLYMPIC SHOOTING TEAM . . . Vincent Hancock, Cory Cogdell and Glenn Eller--some of America's top international shotgun shooters--nailed down berths on the U.S. Olympic Team last week and will begin preparing soon, along with other Team members, for the Olympic Games in London this summer. Also last week, three-position rifle shooter Jason Parker showed he was in top form by winning gold at the World Cup in Milan. The U.S. Team's final slots will be determined at the smallbore trials in June. NSSF, a major sponsor of USA Shooting, will bring you results of all the Olympic shooting events and, we hope, our medal winners. Also, to help you shoot like an Olympian, NSSF will be providing you with video tips from USA Shooting Team members in future issues of the Pull The Trigger newsletter and on NSSF's YouTube channel. Read more about the USA Shooting Team.

Industry News

  • SMITH & WESSON BOOSTS 4TH QUARTER SALES OUTLOOK . . . Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:SWHC) today boosted its sales outlook for the fourth quarter. The company said it now expects fourth-quarter net sales from continuing operations to be $129 million, up 28 percent from its previous estimate of between $113 million to $118 million. Smith & Wesson also said that its firearms backlog increased to $439 million as of the end of the quarter, up from $187 million at the same period last year. The company said the increases were driven by continued strength in orders across its product line, including M&P branded products such as pistols, modern sporting rifles and the new Shield.

  • FREEDOM GROUP SALES UP 17% IN FIRST QUARTER . . . Freedom Group Inc. on Friday announced that first-quarter sales were $206 million, up 17 percent from $176 million for the same period last year. Net income was $6.3 million, compared to a loss of $9.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Based in Madison, N.C., Freedom Group's brands include Remington, Bushmaster, DPMS/Panther Arms, Marlin, H&R, NEF, Dakota Arms, LC Smith, Parker, AAC, Barnes Bullets, EOTAC, INTC and Mountain Khaki.

  • SPATE OF JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS WARRANTS REMINDER OF FIREARMS INDUSTRY JOBS FEATURE ON NSSF WEBSITE . . . The generally thriving shooting, hunting and outdoor trade is a bright spot in the national economy, and one example is recently published job openings on NSSF's Firearms Industry Jobs page. Remember, NSSF's website always has a listing of job opportunities, posted by member companies and accessible to all website visitors.

Government Relations

  • URGING ACTION ON RIGHT-TO-CARRY RECIPROCITY . . . Passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last November, the "National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act" remains stalled in the Senate. Recently, Attorneys General from 22 states and the territory of Guam sent a letter to the bill co-sponsors Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Heath Schuler (D-N.C.) detailing their support for the legislation and urging the Senate to act. H.R. 822 would allow any person with a valid state-issued concealed carry firearm permit to carry concealed in any state that issues such permits or does not prohibit concealed carry for lawful purposes. Urge your Senator to support H.R. 822.

  • TRADITIONAL AMMUNITION AMENDMENT IN DEFENSE BILL . . . The U.S. House of Representatives last Friday passed the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4410) that contained an amendment of vital importance not only to the Department of Defense but also to all gun owners, the firearms and ammunition industry and the nation's law enforcement agencies. The amendment, sponsored by Congressman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), clarifies that the Environmental Protection Agency does not have jurisdiction over traditional ammunition containing lead components. If traditional ammunition were banned, its cost would skyrocket for all users, causing people to shoot and hunt less, thereby reducing funding for conservation and harm national defense as the ban would apply to the U.S. military. This is the second time the House has passed language to make it clear the EPA does not have jurisdiction over ammunition.

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  • MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATORS TAKE TO THE RANGE . . . Last Friday the Gun Owners' Action League and the National Shooting Sports Foundation held the Fifth Annual Firearms Safety and Education Day for Massachusetts Legislators at the North Leominster Rod and Gun Club. Legislators, their families and staffs were invited to a day at the range. Without the generous support of industry members, this event would not have been a resounding success. A record number of attendees (over 60 legislators and staff), both experienced and first timers, enjoyed the opportunity to try their hand at various shooting disciplines ranging from trap and skeet to rifle and handgun. NSSF extends a special thanks to Federal Premium for supplying the ammunition and to Smith & Wesson, Kahr Arms/Auto Ordnance, and Savage Arms (all Massachusetts-based firearm manufacturers) for bringing numerous firearms and a team of representatives. Also, a thank you goes to all the instructors for providing a safe and fun environment and the North Leominster Rod Gun Club for supplying first-class facilities.

  • REP. YOUNG MEETS WITH ATF ABOUT BOUND BOOK REQUESTS . . . The Alaska Dispatch reports that according to a press release from Rep. Don Young's (R-Alaska) office, the congressman has met with ATF regarding Young's concerns about reports that ATF agents were requesting records from firearms dealers in Alaska. Federal law forbids the removal or copying of such material unless there's an official criminal investigation. Rep. Young reported that ATF Deputy Director Tom Brandon assured him that this is not an accepted practice and that ATF will remedy the situation to ensure this won't happen again. The ATF apparently is acting on a suggestion by NSSF that the bureau hold a seminar, according to Rep. Young, "to listen and work with Alaskan gun shop owners to make sure their questions are answered and all of their concerns are heard."

  • SAVE THE DATE: IMPORT/EXPORT CONFERENCE . . . To help federal firearms license holders stay on top of and in compliance with the myriad federal laws and regulations, a joint presentation of NSSF and the FAIR Trade Group will take place July 31 to Aug. 1 in Reston, Va. Keep an eye on your inboxes for more details coming soon.

News of Note

  • SURVEY: 80% OF DONORS BELIEVE HSUS DECEPTIVELY FUNDRAISES . . . HumaneWatch.org, a project of the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom, has released findings from a survey of 1,000 self-identified Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) donors that found that 90 percent were unaware that HSUS gives just one percent of its budget to local pet shelters and 80 percent believed HSUS engaged in deceptive fundraising projects. Read more about this survey and watch HumaneWatch.org's online video, which parodies the deceptive fundraising practices of HSUS.

  • CONNECTICUT TRAVELERS SPORTING CLAYS FOUNDER DIES . . . Al Anglace, founder and president of the Connecticut Travelers Sporting Clays Association, and president of local fish and game clubs in his home state, passed away last Monday at the age of 73. A great promoter of the shooting sports, Anglace founded the Connecticut Travelers so that the group could visit different sporting clays clubs and courses throughout New England each month in the spirit of friendly competition. Read obituaries of Anglace appearing in the Connecticut Post and on the NSSA-NSCA website.

  • TEXAS EXPANDS USE OF SUPPRESSORS FOR HUNTING OF NON-EXOTIC GAME . . . Officials in Texas have adopted rules allowing hunters to use suppressors on their firearms effective Sept. 1, joining a growing list of states permitting this device on sporting arms. Sportsmen still will have to apply for specific permits for hunting with suppressors in addition to going through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' procedure for acquiring the actual hardware. The regulation was actually approved by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission on March 29, but the final rules are now being prepared for publication in the Texas Register.

  • NHF DAY HONORARY CHAIRMAN TONY STEWART FETED . . . NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and 2012 National Hunting and Fishing (NHF) Day Honorary Chairman Tony Stewart was presented a seven-foot-tall bronze statue of a wild turkey by Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops. The presentation, on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was to commemorate Stewart's driving of the No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/National Wild Turkey Federation Chevrolet in the All-Star Race that evening and to recognize his participation as honorary chairman of NHF Day.

  • TEAM REPUBLICAN WINS 'TOP GUN' AT CONGRESSIONAL SHOOT-OUT . . . The Republic team of shotgunners outscored their Democratic counterparts last week at the Congressional Shoot-Out at the Prince George's County Trap and Skeet Center in Glenn Dale, Md. This year's event drew a record number of Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC) members. CSC Co-Chair and team captain Rep. Jeff Miller (Fla.), joined by his co-captains, CSC Vice-Chair Bob Latta (Ohio) and CSC Vice-Chair James Risch (Idaho), accepted the trophy for Team Republican.

Videos

  • FREE VIDEOS FOR SCHOOLS FROM NSSF . . . NSSF has emailed its annual offer to teachers to receive--free of charge--its Conservation and Firearms Safety Education DVDs. The campaign is off to a fast start, with nearly 3,000 orders received so far. Teachers and students in more than 100,000 public, private and home schools have benefited from the important messages these videos deliver. The Conservation DVD and Firearm Safety DVD can be ordered online, and the three separate videos contained on each DVD can be previewed online as well. Read more on NSSF Blog.

  • NSSF VIDEO WINS BRONZE TELLY AWARD . . . The viewers of NSSF's YouTube channel enjoy a new video tip every week and one of those tips is now a Bronze Telly award winner. The video features Ryan Cleckner, a former Army Ranger sniper team leader, instructor and NSSF staff member, and covers the subject of Minute of Angle. "We knew it was a good tip when we shot it, our viewers confirmed that with their comments and their many positive reviews, and that encouraged us to enter the video," said Dave Miles, NSSF's director electronic media. "Ryan is an expert and his straight-forward delivery combined with a simple educational presentation shot in NSSF's in-house studio makes what many consider a complex subject easily understood." Watch the award winning video.

    WATCH AND VOTE -- HELP NSSF WIN A PEOPLES TELLY AWARD

    NSSF's Annual Report to Members video has been entered in the People's Telly Awards and you can help NSSF win by watching a short excerpt from the video and by giving the show a thumbs-up. Click here to watch and then vote.

 

NSSF Members

  • SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST FOR NSSF VOTING MEMBER FAMILIES . . . Employees of companies that support the NSSF at the highest level can apply for education aid through the NSSF Voting Member Scholarship Program. NSSF is accepting applications for scholarships through 5 p.m. EDT on June 15, and winners will be contacted by email by July 13. Scholarships are available only to employees and their family members of Voting Member companies of NSSF. Click here to learn more about the program.

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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