NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

June 25, 2012

Vol. 13 No. 24

This Week:

Retailers/Ranges

Government Relations

Import/Export

News of Note

Jobs

Microstamping Dies in New York, Again

New York State Capitol

DESPITE HOUSE PASSAGE, BILL FAILS FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR . . . Late last week, New York state's microstamping bill died in the Senate after being passed by the Assembly, though with five fewer votes than in years past. Despite being backed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and gun-control groups like the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, the bill failed for the fifth consecutive year. Earlier in the week, a Baltimore Sun editorial unwisely suggested that Maryland adopt microstamping, a suggestion which drew a published response from Jeff Reh, general counsel and vice-general manager at Maryland-based Beretta USA, who noted in his letter that implementing microstamping would be cost prohibitive to both manufacturers and to gun buyers. Read a recap of the busy "microstamping" week in the NSSF Blog.

Traditional Ammunition

  • NSSF FILES MOTION TO PROTECT TRADITIONAL AMMUNITION . . . As it promised to do, NSSF today filed a motion to intervene in the frivolous lawsuit brought on June 7 by the anti-hunting Center for Biological Diversity and six other organizations to force the Environmental Protection Agency to ban traditional ammunition containing lead components. By intervening in the case, NSSF seeks to ensure that the interests of the firearms and ammunition industry are protected and to ensure that hunters and target shooters still will be able to select the ammunition of their choice. For a recap on the issue, read today's NSSF press release.

Retailers and Ranges

  • SELL-OUT CROWD OF NEARLY 100 ATTENDS RANGE & RETAIL WORKSHOP . . . An unqualified success is one way to describe the recent NSSF Indoor Range & Retail Development Workshop held in St. Louis from June 18-21. The seminar provided an opportunity for people in the developmental and exploratory stages to network and gain a wealth of insights from successful range/retail owners who addressed the attendees. A video created from the workshop proceedings is being developed, and when completed, NSSF will announce details of availability.

  • NSSF RESPONDS TO JESSE JACKSON'S ATTACKS ON FIREARMS RETAILERS . . . In a blog post last week, NSSF pointed out that the Rev. Jesse Jackson has revved up the blame game against law-abiding, federally licensed firearms retailers in the suburbs of troubled cities like Detroit, attempting to make the argument that the legal sale of firearms is somehow the cause of urban violence. His "guns out, jobs in" campaign ignores that the firearms industry has been responsible for a 30.6 percent increase in jobs from 2008 through 2011, keeping thousands of workers off unemployment lines and homeowners off foreclosure lists. Read more.

  • NSSF LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE COMPLIANCE RESOURCE CENTER . . . The NSSF's new Regulatory Compliance Resource Center now provides one convenient and centralized hub devoted to helping industry members operate their businesses in compliance with the ever-changing terrain of laws and regulations. The website offers an array of practical and essential compliance resources, including articles, videos, products and solutions, on-demand training courses, and much more. Federal Firearms Licensees can also order free Don't Lie for the Other Guy retailer education kits and access information about NSSF's ATF compliance consultation program and NSSF-endorsed Firearms Business Insurance providing up to $25,000 in defense coverage against any ATF record-keeping or administrative action.

  • FFLs: BECOME A MEMBER AND LET NSSF WORK FOR YOU . . . The benefits and resources afforded to NSSF member FFLs are often free, if not substantially discounted from standard service rates. These benefits include expert guidance to maintain ATF/legal compliance and everything from a Form 4473 overlay to a new hotline just for retailers, the opportunity to work with experienced ATF compliance advisors, business property and casualty insurance including ATF defense coverage, discounts on the industry's benchmark research and much more. Not yet a member? Click here to learn more and join NSSF today so we can grow stronger together.

Government Relations

  • HOLDER HELD IN CONTEMPT OVER FAST AND FURIOUS . . . The U.S. House Government and Oversight Reform Committee voted 23-17 last Wednesday to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for failing to turn over documents connected with the "gun-walking" operation known as Fast and Furious. According to a Washington Post story, a House floor vote could be taken on the matter as early as this week. Hours before the committee voted, President Obama asserted executive privilege to withhold the documents. See Holder's letter to Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the committee, on the matter.

  • BRADY CENTER'S DAN GROSS INSULTS FIREARMS INDUSTRY . . . During a debate about microstamping on MSNBC, Dan Gross, president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, hurled this insult at firearms manufacturers, saying, "This is an industry that at all costs wants to protect its profits, and it does it at the cost of human lives." Go to the 5:00 mark in the video to hear it. Members of our industry who make and sell products that people around the world own in order to protect their lives should be aware of this highly offensive remark from the leader of this anti-gun group. In response, read the challenge offered to Gross by NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane at the end of this blog post.

  • SUNDAY HUNTING BILL INTRODUCED IN DELAWARE . . . State Rep. John Atkins has introduced Delaware HB 367, which would amend Title 7 of the Delaware code relating to the prohibition on Sunday hunting. The bill would allow Sunday hunting on private properties after noon.

  • HOUSE PASSES BILL BENEFITTING PUBLIC-LANDS SHOOTING RANGES . . . With broad bipartisan support, the U.S. House of Representatives last week passed the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (H.R. 3065) as Title XII of the Conservation and Economic Growth Act (H.R. 2578). Sponsored by Rep. Heath Schuler (D-N.C.), the legislation provides state game and fish agencies with more flexibility and discretion to use Pittman-Robertson (Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund) funds for the creation, enhancement and maintenance of public shooting ranges. Read the NSSF press release.

  • FEDERAL JUDGE RULES AGAINST PART OF CHICAGO GUN LAW . . . U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan has ruled that the Chicago firearm ordinance banning permits for people convicted of unlawful use of a weapon that is a firearm is vague and unconstitutional, reported the Chicago Tribune. Shawn Gowder challenged the city's gun law after he was denied a permit because of a misdemeanor conviction, and the judge said the law, "unconstitutionally void for vagueness," violated the plaintiff's right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment, reported the Chicago Sun-Times.

Import/Export

  • REGISTER TODAY FOR FIREARMS IMPORT/EXPORT CONFERENCE . . . To help Federal Firearms License holders stay on top of and in compliance with myriad federal laws and regulations, a joint presentation of NSSF and the FAIR Trade Group will take place July 31 to Aug. 1 at the Hyatt Regency Reston Town Center in Reston, Va. Last year's event was sold out, so please plan ahead in getting registered. Learn more and register today at nssf.org/ImportExport.

SHOT Show

  • NORTH AMERICAN ARMS SUPPORTS SHOT SHOW BIRDIES FOR THE BRAVE . . . The 2013 SHOT Show Birdies for the Brave fundraising golf event scheduled for Jan. 12 and 13 received a boost with the announced supporting sponsorship of North American Arms. Last year's event raised $70,000 for several military homefront groups, and the goal for the 2013 event is to surpass that amount. Learn more about the event and how you can get involved.

  • 5 REASONS WHY SHOT SHOW ATTENDEES WILL BE RETURNING IN 2013. . . While reviewing our post-SHOT Show survey, we noted that the vast majority of our attendees are completely or very satisfied with SHOT Show's ability to deliver against their top five reasons for attending. View the top 5.

News of Note

  • HENRY REPEATING ARMS STEPS UP FOR ROGER MARIS CANCER CENTER . . . Henry Repeating Arms presented a $61,000 donation to the Roger Maris Cancer Center at the 2012 Roger Maris Celebrity Golf Tournament banquet on Sunday night. An active participant in the tournament auction since 2006, Henry Repeating Arms auctioned 50 limited edition rifles last year in honor of the 50th anniversary of Maris breaking Babe Ruth's record with 61 home runs in 1961. The special auction raised $43,000, and the company contributed an additional $18,000 for a $61,000 gift. Read more.

  • EMPHASIZING THE 'FUN AND SOCIAL' ASPECTS OF SHOOTING . . . A key finding of an NSSF study on the shooting sports may sound obvious, but it was so important to survey participants that it bears emphasizing: Both newcomers and experienced shooters participate to "have fun." Newcomers, especially, said that they valued the "fun and social" aspects of target shooting and hunting. Because this is a great time of year to introduce newcomers to the shooting sports, NSSF reminds sportsmen and women to take the study's findings to heart and keep it "fun and social" when introducing a newcomer. Read the NSSF press release and the full report.

  • RENT A USA SHOOTING TEAM ATHLETE FOR YOUR INDUSTRY MASTERS SQUAD . . . Teams competing at FMG's Shooting Industry Masters on July 20-21 can "Rent-a-Ringer" by participating in a fundraiser that will put a member of the USA Shooting Team on their roster, even adding them on to an already filled squad (Only the top four scores on your team will be counted.). The bidding starts at $400 for one of five shooters, available to seven teams, and closes on June 30, with the winning bids supporting USA Shooting. The shooters (with their specialties) are Jake Turner (trap), Collin Wietfeldt (trap), Jaiden Grinnell (skeet), Amy Sowash (rifle) and Brian Beaman (pistol). Submit bids (specify the desired shooter) and questions regarding this "blind auction" to Elizabeth O'Neill at Elizabeth@shootingindustry.com. You will be notified if you are not one of the four highest bidders and will be given the opportunity to increase your bid until the deadline. All winners are automatically moved in to the Open division.

  • NSSF 'STATE OF THE INDUSTRY' VIDEO WINS TELLY AWARD . . . The National Shooting Sports Foundation has received it second Telly Award of the year, this one a People's Telly for the "2011 Report to Members," which debuted at the State of the Industry Dinner at the 2012 SHOT Show. The Telly Award is the premier award honoring the finest film and video productions, groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films and outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs. The video, produced in NSSF's full-service studio by David Miles, director of electronic media, is available for viewing on NSSF's YouTube channel. There, you can watch all NSSF videos, which together have received more than 3.3 million viewings.

  • N.Y. FASHION SHOW AIMED AT WOMEN GUN OWNERS . . . The Woman's Concealed Carry Holster Fashion Show, a first-of-its-kind event, is drawing national attention. Sponsored by a local rod and gun club, the event is scheduled for July 21 in the upper Hudson Valley community of Churchtown, N.Y., to demonstrate various types of holsters specifically for women, and how to wear them and draw from them. Outdoor writer Dick Nelson's column quotes local competitive pistol shooter Trish Cutler as saying, "The show's mission is about educating, empowering and enabling women to be safe and responsible firearms owners."

  • OUTDOOR WRITING ICON HOMER CIRCLE PASSES AWAY . . . The sporting community mourns the passing of Homer Circle, 97, an iconic outdoor communicator remembered best for his magazine and book writing and participation in films on largemouth bass fishing. The past president of the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) and namesake of the Professional Outdoor Media Association's most prestigious sportfishing communicator award actually worked in the shooting sports industry at one time, serving as an Arkansas Game and Fish commissioner and vice president of advertising and public relations for the Daisy BB Gun Company. To learn more about this remarkable man, read a tribute after his death published by Bassmaster.com and an article written for OWAA several years ago.

  • LAPUA OPENS SERVICE CENTER IN ARIZONA . . . Lapua recently opened a rimfire service center in Mesa, Ariz. Patterned after its Lapua Service Center in Schönebeck, Germany, the facility gives American shooters the same opportunity to test not only various types, but also different lots of rimfire ammunition, in their firearms, under tightly controlled conditions. Read more.

  • CARL ZEISS SPORTS OPTICS RELOCATES U.S. HEADQUARTERS . . . Carl Zeiss Sports Optics has announced the relocation of its U.S. headquarters to North Chesterfield, Va., from Chester, Va. The move to the larger facility provides expanded office space to accommodate additional personnel needed for the company's rapid growth. The company's phone numbers remain the same.

Jobs


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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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