NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

July 16, 2012

Vol. 13 No. 27

This Week:

Olympics

Industry News

Government Relations

News of Note

SHOT Show

SAAMI Testifies at U.N. Arms Trade Treaty Negotiations

TALKS WILL CONCLUDE JULY 27 . . . The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI), as a recognized non-government organization (NGO) of the United Nations, testified at the Arms Trade Treaty negotiations last week. Richard Patterson, managing director of SAAMI, addressed the delegates at United Nations headquarters in New York City, stating "that hundreds of millions of citizens regularly use firearms for the greater good" and that a "treaty that does not support the positive use of firearms is doomed to cause more harm than good." The U.N. will conclude negotiations on July 27, at which time the text of the treaty will either be approved by consensus, or the treaty will die. Read the SAAMI press release.

  • SAAMI ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF BALLISTICS INSTRUMENTATION WORKING GROUP . . . SAAMI, the firearms and ammunition industry's technical standards-setting organization, recently announced the formation of the Ballistics Instrumentation working group. In conjunction with an inaugural technical training seminar hosted by PCB Piezotronics of Depew, N.Y., Les Bearl, ballistics instrumentation engineer with ATK/Federal Cartridge, was appointed as the group's first chairperson. Read more.

Sights on London

USA Shooting

A Look at America's Olympic Shooters

THIS WEEK: PISTOL SHOOTERS . . . With the 2012 Olympics just weeks away, Bullet Points each week will offer a brief look at the U.S. Olympic team shooters headed to London. This week are the pistol shooters.

  • Daryl SzarenskiDARYL SZARENSKI . . . Event: 10m Air Pistol, 50m Free Pistol. Hometown: Seale, Ala. Age: 44. Sergeant First Class Daryl Szarenski of the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program began shooting in 1979 when his father enrolled him in a junior shooting program. Daryl is a two-time Olympian who claimed the bronze medal at the "Good Luck Beijing" 2008 ISSF World Cup, which was the first World Cup medal won by a U.S. shooter in Men's 50m Free Pistol since 2000.

  • Jason TurnerJASON TURNER . . . Event: 10m Air Pistol. Hometown: Rochester, N.Y. Age: 33. Was a 2008 Olympic Games Bronze Medalist. Jason earned his first trip to the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and secured two spots on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, finishing in first place at both Olympic Trials. Turner shot rifle competitively for four years before switching to pistol.

  • Jason ParkerSANDRA UPTAGRAFFT . . . Event: Sport Pistol, 10m Air Pistol. Hometown: Phenix City, Ala. Age: 41. Petty Officer First Class Sandra Uptagrafft is a member of the Navy Reserves and specializes in information technology. She is married to Eric Uptagrafft, also a member of the USA Shooting Team competing in Men's 50m Rifle Prone. Sandra has been on deployment since June 2010 with her Seabee unit, Third Naval Construction Regiment in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The unit supported her detour to Munich to compete in the World Shooting Championships.

  • Matt EmmonsKEITH SANDERSON . . . Event: Rapid Fire Pistol. Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo. Age: 37. Sgt. First Class Keith Sanderson started shooting in 1996 in Marine Corps matches. He spent eight years of active duty in the Marine Corps and eight years in the U.S. Army and was the Chief Marksmanship Instructor for Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Keith is currently a member of the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program. Keith won an unprecedented three medals (one gold, one silver and one bronze) in three World Cups in 2009.
    Watch and learn more about Keith Sanderson.

  • Jamie GrayEMIL MILEV . . . Event: Rapid Fire Pistol. Hometown: Tampa, Fla. Age: 44. Began shooting in 1984, practicing air pistol in Levski, one of the biggest sports clubs in Bulgaria. One year later he was introduced to rapid fire pistol and he was hooked. In 2009 he became a U.S. citizen and member of the USA Shooting National Pistol Team. In 2010, Emil and his personal coach, (also Assistant National Pistol Coach) Vladimir Chichkov, established Pardini USA, LLC for sales, service and development of sports pistols and ammunition. Emil is also a member of the Shooting Academy "Pardini USA."

  • Michael McPhailNICK MOWRER . . . Event: 50m Free Pistol. Hometown: Butte, Mont. Age: 23. Nick grew up shooting with his parents and developed a love for the sport. He was the four-time aggregate Collegiate Pistol Champion in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012. He was the NRA National Rifle Junior Champion in Camp Perry, Ohio in 2008.

  • All photos and text courtesy of USA Shooting.

Retailers

  • NSSF COMPLIANCE CONSULTING PROGRAM RECEIVES DESERVED PRAISE . . . NSSF has added three new advisers to its popular retailer-compliance program, so that now four former ATF officials are available to provide FFLs who are members of NSSF in-store customized service and training while reviewing the FFL's compliance procedures. This customized all-day training package (a $2,000 value) costs NSSF's members only $499. Praise from FFLs who have used this service has been given in the article, "From My Side of the Counter," in the April/May 2012 SHOT Business, in an email from NSSF member William R. Laughridge and in "NSSF Delivers Value" in the upcoming August-September Edition of SHOT Business magazine.

  • Michael McPhailFREE FIREARMS RETAILER SEMINAR SET FOR JULY 24 IN RICHMOND . . . NSSF will continue its nationwide series of free Firearms Retailer Education Seminars on July 24 in Richmond, Va. NSSF will sponsor a total of eight retailer education seminars this year. The seminars provide federally licensed firearms retailers (FFLs) with guidance and education on the rules and regulations governing the sale and transfer of firearms. The free seminars are only for FFLs and their employees. The seminar in Richmond will run from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Hampton Inn at 5406 Glenside Drive, Richmond, Va. Those FFLs interested in attending may register by contacting Cathy Walker at 203-426-1320 or emailing cwalker@nssf.org or registering online at nssf.org/retailers/seminars. Learn more.

  • INDIANA RETAILER: SALES TO WOMEN UP 40% SINCE NOVEMBER . . . NSSF member retailer Freedom Firearms in Fort Wayne, Ind., was featured last week on its local television news station. Like many other retailers, the business has seen sales on the rise, including a 40 percent increase in sales to women since November. See the news coverage from Indiana's NewsCenter.

  • ATF ANNOUNCES NEW WEBINAR TO AIR ON JULY 20 . . . ATF announced it will host a webinar for FFLs on July 20. The webinar promotes firearms accountability, security of your business and your inventory and best practices in tracking firearms inventory. Space is limited to 300 licensees, so if interested, send an email to FFLonlineseminars@atf.gov to reserve your spot.

Ranges

  • ELECTRONIC RANGE REPORT, NEW WEBSITE DEBUT ON WEDNESDAY . . . The much-anticipated debut of the exclusively electronic Range Report magazine on a new website is scheduled for this Wednesday. Visit the website regularly to get news for the shooting range community and read the magazine, in a digital or printable PDF format. Also, learn more at the website about advertising in "NSSF's Magazine for Shooting Facilities," as well as sponsorships on the website.

Research

View full-size chart.

  • USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR MAY 2012 . . . NSSF reports that overall U.S. imports (in units) in six sporting arms and ammunition categories increased 38.7 percent in May 2012 compared to May 2011. May 2012 imported units in tracked categories totaled 248.7 million, up from 179.4 million reported in May 2011. NSSF reports that overall U.S. exports (in units) in six sporting arms and ammunition categories decreased 0.5 percent in May 2012 compared to May 2011. May 2012 exported units in tracked categories totaled 68.5 million, down from 68.8 million reported in May 2011. All figures sourced from U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). See a complete breakdown of each category's May 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.

  • REPORT IDENTIFIES SUCCESS OF FARM BILL HUNTING ACCESS PROGRAM . . . Through a grant provided by AFWA, Southwick Associates studied the impacts of the 2008 Farm Bill's Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, formerly known as Open Fields legislation, which provided sportsmen access to nearly one million acres of quality lands. Results show program approval from both landowners and sportsmen alike. Additionally, the economics of the program revealed a 99 percent return on investment. Review the Executive Summary or read the Full Report.

  • ATF RELEASES 2011 INTERIM REPORT ON U.S. FIREARMS PRODUCTION . . . ATF has released its 2011 interim Annual Firearms Manufacturers and Export Report (AFMER). The interim report shows U.S. firearms production in 2011 totaled 6,398,854, a 17.2 percent increase over 2010. Additional details can be found on ATF's website. View chart.

Government Relations

  • AN ILL-WIND TOWARD SPORTSMEN . . . NSSF last week responded to comments made by a wind energy spokesman who misleadingly claimed that the use of traditional ammunition by hunters and illegal shooting were doing greater harm to bald eagles than wind turbines. In a blog post, NSSF pointed out that the issue of eagle mortality is being overstated by the media and environmental groups given that bald eagle populations are soaring. Whatever the unfortunate causes of incidental eagle mortality, such as collisions with power lines or the giant blades of wind turbines, the species is doing very well population-wise. Read the NSSF blog post.

  • NSSF BLOG: SOROS, S.B. 2099 RUMORS DIE HARD . . . If a cat has nine lives, then a rumor must have 999. Two rumors we thought were tamped out--one about anti-gun financier George Soros controlling Freedom Group, which owns Remington, Bushmaster, Marlin and a host of other industry companies, and the other about bogus Senate Bill 2099 that would require firearms owners to list their guns on their federal tax forms--have flared up again. Neither is true. Read the NSSF Blog post.

  • UNDER THE BIG TOP: COURT ALLOWS RICO CASE AGAINST ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS . . . Last week, a federal court ruled that Feld Entertainment, the owner of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, could move forward with its racketeering and conspiracy claims against the HSUS and other anti-hunting animal rights extremist groups and their attorneys. Feld Entertainment's claims arose out of a lawsuit brought by the groups and a former circus employee in 2000 that accused Feld of mistreating elephants under the Endangered Species Act. In dismissing the prior lawsuit, the Court found, among other things, that the circus employee, Tom Rider, was a paid plaintiff and fact witness with no injury "whose sole source of income throughout the litigation" was provided by his organizational co-plaintiffs and their lawyers.

News of Note

  • NSSF DONATES $100,000 TO USA SHOOTING TEAM . . . The National Shooting Sports Foundation, a longtime sponsor of USA Shooting, has donated $100,000 to help support the USA Shooting Team and shooter development programs. A press release from USA Shooting not only announced the donation but also recognized many of NSSF's other contributions to the governing body of the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team.

  • RECOMMENDATIONS CALL FOR CHANGES IN WISCONSIN DEER MANAGEMENT . . . Texas researcher John Kroll, hired as a consultant by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, has filed a report that recommends scrapping local deer population goals, letting landowners hold hunts on their property and establishing better connections with the public, reports the Superior (Wis.) Telegram. The news report says Kroll's study focuses largely on the Department of Natural Resources' shortcomings, but also states that hunters demand maintenance of a larger deer herd than the habitat can support. Kroll's plan offers compromises, and the governor released a statement calling on the DNR to act on Kroll's recommendations.

  • SIM FIRST SHOTS ORIENTATION FILLED . . . With only a week left before members of the industry converge on the Rockcastle Shooting Center, the 2012 Shooting Industry Masters has filled up its First Shots Orientation. Fifty first-time shooters will be attending the Masters First Shots Orientation -- and their instructors are the best of the best. Six members of the USA Shooting Team will volunteer their time to assist novice shooters on the first day of the match. Read more.

  • NSSF ADDS AUDIO PSA ON FIRE-PREVENTION . . . As it continues to urge members and the media to share fire-prevention messages with target shooters and hunters, NSSF has developed a 30-second audio public service announcement to complement its flyer that was announced in Bullet Points last week. The 30-second audio PSA is suitable for radio and Internet use. Both the audio PSA and the flyer remind shooters that their use of certain types of ammunition and targets in dry environments could accidently ignite a wildfire. As the PSA urges, "Wildfires have many possible causes; don't be one of them!"

SHOT Show

  • EXHIBITORS: SHOOTING AREAS GOING FAST FOR MEDIA DAY AT THE RANGE . . . With the support of NSSF, the eighth annual SHOT Show Media Day at the Range will be held on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at the Boulder City Pistol & Rifle Range, Boulder City, Nevada. Currently there are positions available for long-range shooting (100 to 1000 yards) and a limited number of shotgun stations. There are also non-shooting exhibit areas available. All pistol positions are sold out. Manufacturers may register for the event here.

  • FIRST SHOTS: NSSF HOSTS REED EXHIBITIONS SHOT SHOW TEAM AT THE RANGE . . . NSSF recently hosted the Reed Exhibitions SHOT Show team for a First Shots event at the Fairfield County Fish & Game Protective Association. While several of our counterparts at Reed Exhibitions are avid shooters, for most it was either the first time or the first time in a very long time that they had the opportunity to go shooting. Read more.

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COPYRIGHT © 2012 by National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. Permission is granted for broadcast, publication, retransmission to e-mail lists, Websites 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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