NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

August 20, 2012

Vol. 13 No. 32

This Week:

Government Relations

Industry

Retailers/Ranges

SHOT Show

News of Note

NSSF President Named to Federal Advisory Group

SANETTI WILL SERVE SECOND TERM . . . Stephen L. Sanetti, president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, will serve a second term on the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council. Sanetti is one of 18 people to be appointed to the council, an advisory group established in 2010 that will help promote and preserve America's hunting heritage for future generations. "I am honored again to be named to this council by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack," said Sanetti. "I look forward to working with the other distinguished appointees to secure the successful future of America's hunting and recreational shooting sports heritage. I commend Secretary Salazar and Secretary Vilsack for continuing this council and its important work." Read the NSSF press release.

Hunting

  • HUNTER NUMBERS UP 9 PERCENT IN LAST FIVE YEARS . . . According to preliminary figures released last week by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Department of the Interior, the number of hunters age 16 and older in the United States increased 9 percent between 2006 and 2011, reversing a previous downward trend. Figures show an increase from 12.5 million hunters in 2006 to 13.7 million in 2011, and that hunters spent $34 billion in 2011 on trips, firearms and equipment, licenses and other items to support their hunting activities. Final data will be included in the upcoming USFWS 2011 National Survey Report. USFWS has conducted a national survey every five years since 1955, the last being the 2006 National Survey, released in 2007. Read the NSSF press release.

Government Relations

  • VICTORY ON SB 249 IN CALIFORNIA . . . In response to overwhelming grassroots opposition from law-abiding gun owners and California's firearms industry members, SB 249, which would have resulted in the unconstitutional confiscation of lawfully purchased rifles, was pulled from committee last week. Since no action was taken and the deadline passed on Friday evening, the bill is effectively dead for the year. Congratulations to everyone who responded to NSSF's legislative alerts and radio ad and called their California state legislators to oppose SB 249. Without your efforts, this victory would not have been possible.

  • URGE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO VETO SB 1315 . . . NSSF is urging all California sportsmen, retailers and firearm owners to contact Gov. Brown's office and urge him to veto SB 1315, which would repeal the current state preemption over local laws affecting the manufacture, sale, possession or use of Airsoft, BB or pellet guns in the County of Los Angeles and in any city located within the county. SB 1315 would allow each local government to adopt its own different local ordinances and set a dangerous precedent that could spread to the rest of the state and to all firearms as well. Please contact the governor and urge him to veto SB 1315.

  • PRO-GUN REFORM LEGISLATION MOVING IN MICHIGAN . . . Last week, the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation to repeal Michigan's "permit-to-purchase" (HB 5225) and the state's registration requirement for handguns. HB 5225, along with companion bills HB 5498 and HB 5499, seeks to make substantive changes that will benefit federally licensed retailers and their customers. NSSF is urging you to please begin contacting your state senator and ask him or her to support HB 5225, 5498 and 5499.

Industry

View full-size chart.

  • USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR JUNE 2012 . . . NSSF reports that overall U.S. imports (in units) in six sporting arms and ammunition categories increased 41 percent in June 2012 compared to June 2011. June 2012 imported units in tracked categories totaled 203.2 million, up from 144.2 million reported in June 2011. NSSF reports that overall U.S. exports (in units) in six sporting arms and ammunition categories decreased 15 percent in June 2012 compared to June 2011. June 2012 exported units in tracked categories totaled 66.3 million, down from 77.9 million reported in June 2011. All figures sourced from U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). See a complete breakdown of each category's June 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.

  • FORMER NSSF CHAIRMAN PASSES . . . Gerald W. "Jerry" Bersett, who served on the NSSF Board of Governors from 1985 through 2001 and twice served as chairman, died on Aug. 12 at age 71. A big man with a big voice, Bersett spent his early career at Olin/Winchester, where he rose to become president. Later, he was president and chief operating officer of Sturm, Ruger and then president of Blount's Sporting Equipment Group, which included Federal Cartridge. Bersett also was a board member of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, Wildlife Management Institute and Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. "I knew Jerry for more than 25 years, first on the NSSF and SAAMI Boards, and later as president of Sturm, Ruger," said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. "He was always willing to tackle difficult problems with intelligence and gusto, and was one of those outwardly gruff people who never shrank from a good argument. He even took on Bill Ruger on many occasions, which was no mean feat! I will miss his guidance and steadfast friendship. The industry has lost a true giant." Read Jerry Bersett's obituary.

  • FREEDOM GROUP NAMES SCOTT BLACKWELL PRESIDENT . . . Freedom Group, Inc. (FGI), which includes Remington, Bushmaster, DPMS, Marlin and others, has named Scott Blackwell as president. He had served as FGI's chief sales and marketing officer since 2010. As president he will oversee all revenue, branding, marketing and communications for FGI.

Retailers/Ranges

  • INDOOR RANGE & RETAIL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP DVD PACKAGE NOW AVAILABLE . . . The highly successful NSSF Indoor Range & Retail Development Workshop held in St. Louis in June has been captured on a nine-disk DVD package that includes all presentations, panel discussions and materials provided to seminar attendees. The DVD package is an essential tool for anyone exploring the idea or that is currently in the planning stages of opening an indoor range/retail business. Learn more about this DVD package and order online.

  • FORMER ATF DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JOINS NSSF'S IN-STORE COMPLIANCE CONSULTING TEAM . . . Harry McCabe, former official of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with 36 years of service to the bureau, has joined the NSSF's in-store compliance consulting team. In his most recent post with ATF, McCabe was deputy assistant director for field operations, responsible for the entire firearms regulatory policy and inspection program nationwide. In this new consulting position, McCabe will visit NSSF member firearms retailers to review their layouts, procedures and documentation and then make recommendations on how to improve their system of compliance to minimize the possibility of any violations should they be inspected by ATF.

SHOT Show at 35

For those who have been there from the beginning, it may be hard to believe that 2013 will mark the 35th SHOT Show. Throughout the year we'll be looking back at the show's history, from its inception in 1978 and its official opening in 1979, up to where it stands today as one of the largest and most vibrant trade shows in the world.

  • THE ELITE EIGHT: SHOT SHOW'S HOST CITIES. . . Only eight cities have served as home to the NSSF-owned Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in its 35-year history. From a modest start in 1979 in St. Louis, the SHOT Show has increased in size and importance, consistently ranking among the largest trade shows in North America. Read more about the host cities.

News of Note

  • COLLEGES CAN APPLY FOR NSSF GRANTS . . . To encourage collegiate target shooting at both varsity and club levels, NSSF is inviting schools to apply for a total of $300,000 in grants to be awarded through its Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative. "Interest among college students in target shooting and firearms safety is growing at schools nationwide, and NSSF grants are helping to support the programs in which students can participate at whatever level they choose," said Zach Snow, NSSF manager of shooting promotions. NSSF has awarded more than $650,000 to 75 colleges to help establish, expand and sustain shooting clubs and teams. Grant applications are available at www.nssf.org/CSSI/grants.

  • PROJECT CHILDSAFE IN ST. LOUIS . . . The St. Louis City Police Department, seven other area law enforcement departments and seven area hospitals launched NSSF's Project ChildSafe® gun-safety program last week. Chief David Hayes of the Alton Illinois Police Department called on gun owners to prevent firearm accidents by storing their guns securely and away from children. More than 5,000 firearm safety kits, each containing a gun lock and educational brochure, will be distributed free of charge to firearm owners. Safety kits were provided by NSSF, and additional kits were purchased by the participating hospitals. Joining Hayes at the press conference were Douglas Schuerer, MD, of the Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes Jewish Hospital, and Bill Brassard Jr., NSSF's director of communications, who oversees the Project ChildSafe program. Read the NSSF press release and news story.

  • OWAA PRESIDENT, AGENCY HEAD WALKER PASSES AWAY . . . Mike Walker, 64, passed away last week from non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. Walker had been the innovative president of his self-founded public relations agency, The Walker Agency, which serviced many clients in the outdoor industry, and he had been an award-winning outdoor radio producer and host. He had been serving as president of the Outdoor Writers Association of America.

  • NSSF READIES FOR FIRST SHOTS CAMPAIGN IN D.C. AREA . . . NSSF's successful First Shots introductory shooting program offers newcomers to firearms an informative seminar on firearm fundamentals, ownership, safe storage, rules and regulations regarding ownership in their area and then the opportunity to participate in a live-fire session under close, expert supervision. Ranges around the country offer this seminar, but on Aug. 24-28, NSSF is focusing on the D.C. area by working with five ranges in Virginia and Maryland that will be conducting First Shots seminars. Read more about this scheduled stop on the First Shots Big City Tour.

  • OBERT WINS TOP PRIZE AT GRAND AMERICAN . . . Michael Obert took top honors in the $100,000 Grand Challenge at the 113th Annual Grand American World Trapshooting Championships at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Ill. Among Obert's nine challengers in the event was Don Herdes, winner of the 2012 Grand American Handicap, during which he fired a perfect score of 100.

  • WRITER FEARS INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME . . . Widely published author J. Wayne Fears of Hampton Cove, Ala., was inducted last week into the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame at a ceremony and banquet held in Nashville. Among the many honors previously bestowed on Fears have been the prestigious POMA/NSSF Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator and the NWTF Communicator of the Year awards. He has not only demonstrated expertise as a writer but also as a wildlife management professional.

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COPYRIGHT © 2012 by National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. Permission is granted for broadcast, publication, retransmission to email 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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