NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

October 22, 2012

Vol. 13 No. 41

This Week:

#gunvote 2012

Wildlife Conservation Funds
Could Be Raided to Reduce Deficit

BREACH OF TRUST WITH AMERICA'S SPORTSMEN . . . One more negative outcome of the inability of Congress and the Obama administration to reach an agreement on reducing the federal deficit may be the siphoning off of millions of dollars from wildlife conservation funding provided by the 10-11 percent tax paid on new firearms and ammunition under the 75-year-old Pittman-Robertson Act. This eventuality is brought to you courtesy of the so-called budget sequestration measure that forces a $1.2 trillion cut in federal spending should Congress fail to enact a deficit-reduction plan. Because no such agreement is yet in view, draconian mandated across-the-board budget cuts, sometimes referred to as "the fiscal cliff," are what awaits the nation starting early in 2013. Granted, there are larger economic issues posed by our burgeoning national debt and the inability of our elected leaders to reach a comprehensive agreement on taxing and spending, but any funds taken from what is supposed to be a dedicated trust fund to benefit wildlife conservation still constitutes a breach of trust with America's sportsmen and reneges on a promise first made during the height of the Great Depression. Hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts should call their U.S. representatives and senators at 202-224-3121 and tell them to safeguard Pittman-Robertson funds for their historic conservation purposes.

Government Relations

ANTI-GUN CHICAGO POLITICIANS ARE AT IT AGAIN . . . Last week, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle decided to solve their budget problems by attacking law-abiding firearms owners and retailers. The proposed 2013 budget plan seeks to tax all purchases of firearms and ammunition in Cook County. The budget proposal will impose a tax of a nickel per bullet (or shotgun shell) and $25 for each firearm purchased; basically penalizing individuals for exercising their constitutional right. Please contact Board President Preckwinkle and all the Cook County Board of Commissioners today and urge them to oppose this unfair tax on your rights.

#gunvote 2012

JUSTICE FOR THE SECOND AMENDMENT . . . As the election nears, it is important to remember that the battle for our rights is fought not only in the halls of Congress, but also before nine people who are seated in a building just across the street from the U.S. Capitol -- the Supreme Court. The next president could have the opportunity to nominate as many as three new justices to the Supreme Court. The recent Heller v. District of Columbia and McDonald v. City of Chicago decisions illustrate all too well the importance of Supreme Court justices who understand and support the Second Amendment. These victories, which confirmed that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms for all Americans no matter where they live, came by the thinnest possible margin: 5 votes to 4. Read more at the NSSF blog.
A TIPPING POINT? . . . Is the presidential election at a tipping point? The recent national poll from Gallup indicates that Mitt Romney has taken a sharp lead in the national polls after two debates. Now the pundits are arguing over whether the poll is critically flawed. Others are pointing to the poll as evidence that Romney may over-perform in the raw national vote number while still losing the Electoral College. Certainly, other polls of swing states find the gap between the candidates is smaller. Read more.
BACK TO THE FUTURE? . . . During the second presidential debate, President Obama stated in a clear answer to a questioner that " . . . what I'm trying to do is to get a broader conversation about how do we reduce the violence generally. Part of it is seeing if we can get an assault weapons ban reintroduced. But part of it is also looking at other sources of the violence. Because frankly, in my hometown of Chicago, there's an awful lot of violence and they're not using AK-47s. They're using cheap handguns." Read more.
#GUNVOTE . . . NSSF extends its thanks to all in the industry who are helping to spread the word of the 2012 #gunvote campaign -- posting the #gunvote button to their websites, sharing #gunvote information and videos, using the #gunvote hashtag on Twitter. Please, help us spread the word. The votes of shooters, hunters and gun owners can make a huge impact at the polls. Learn more at nssf.org/gunvote.

SHOT Show

ARMALITE RETURNS AS TITLE SPONSOR OF SHOT MOBILE APP . . . ArmaLite Inc. has again signed on as the title sponsor of SHOT Mobile for the 2013 SHOT Show. With its renewed sponsorship, ArmaLite joins Outdoor Channel and NBC Sports Network as major industry supporters of the SHOT Show. SHOT Show attendees will find the SHOT Mobile app an invaluable tool for searching exhibitors, navigating the show floor via interactive maps, finding new products, learning about show specials, viewing the show's education schedule such as for SHOT Show^® University^SM, setting up appointments with exhibitors, requesting callbacks and finding show services. Read more at the SHOT Show Blog. Sign up to be notified when the 2013 SHOT Mobile app is ready to download to your smartphone
VIDEO: 2013 SHOT SHOW NEWS UPDATE . . . The 35th Anniversary SHOT Show is just a short time away, and there's no time like the present to start planning your show. Watch this brief news update for details on what you need to know about the 2013 SHOT Show. SHOT Show will run Jan. 15-18 at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas. Register now: Attendees | Media
EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION AND DASHBOARD TOOL ARE NOW LIVE . . . SHOT Show exhibitors may now order show credentials for booth personnel on the Exhibitor Dashboard. All exhibit staff must wear credentials at all times in order to gain access to the show floor. Order your credentials today and avoid on-site lines and fees. Get more details at the SHOT Show blog.
NANCY FRIEDMAN, 'THE TELEPHONE DOCTOR,' TO SPEAK AT SHOT SHOW UNIVERSITY . . . Among the all-star faculty at the 2013 SHOT Show University on Monday, Jan. 14, will be Nancy Friedman, president of Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training, who will be delivering a content-rich program designed to get your customers swearing by you, not at you! This excellent program blends sales and customer service skills that, when employed, will delight your customers and increase your sales. Friedman will also cover techniques on how to navigate customer phone inquiries. If your store gets calls from people who wish to get a price and then hang up after you give it to them, this program is for you. Take a look at the entire lineup of speakers (click on their names for even more background information) and then register for SHOT Show University--before it reaches its usual sold-out status.
JOIN NSSF FOR $35: GET SPECIAL MEMBER PRICING ON SSU . . . To celebrate 35 years of NSSF's SHOT Show, NSSF retail/range memberships for a limited time are as low as $35. Retailers can take advantage of this offer while registering for the show or by visiting nssf.org. In addition to all of NSSF's retailer-specific benefits -- including access to ATF compliance consulting, FFL Hotline, NSSF research and more -- retailer members benefit from special pricing when signing up for SHOT Show University.

Ranges/Retailers

PATRIOT RANGE DAY . . . Shooting facilities and shooting-competition organizers are urged to participate in the inaugural Patriot Range Day, Nov. 8-11, which will support the efforts of Folds of Honor. It will allow shooters to help families of our nation's heroes and will draw attention to the meaning of Veteran's Day as a time to honor those who have served to protect our freedoms. Patterned after a similar Labor Day program that allows golfers to add to their greens fees to make a donation, this program, endorsed by NSSF, will allow shooters registering for a scheduled competition, through a donation check box on the entry form, to make a donation. Learn more and act quickly to become part of this new program.
NSSF OFFERS RETAIL MEMBERS FFL COMPLIANCE CONSULTING OPPORTUNITY . . . Did you know that NSSF offers federally licensed firearms retailer (FFL) members the opportunity to work with experienced advisors who, as former ATF officials, understand what it takes to stay compliant with ATF rules and regulations? Read more at the NSSF Blog.

News of Note

SHOOTING INDUSTRY MASTERS RIDES INTO CODY, WYO., FOR 2013 EVENT . . . Organizers of the Shooting Industry Masters announced the 11th annual match will be held at the Cody Shooting Complex in Cody, Wyo., July 19-20, 2013. The purpose of the match is to raise awareness and funds for NSSF's First Shots program, which helps introduce individuals to shooting and gun safety. The Masters has raised $141,000 for First Shots during the last four Masters events. The Shooting Industry Masters is owned and operated by FMG Publications. For Masters team entry and sponsorship information, contact Elizabeth O'Neill at elizabeth@shootingindustry.com or 1-888-315-3641. For more information on the Shooting Industry Masters, visit shootingindustry.com/masters.
ATK AWARDED $32 MILLION AIR FORCE AMMO CONTRACT . . . ATK (NYSE:ATK) announced that the U.S. Air Force awarded the company a $32 million contract to produce 30mm tactical (PGU-13) and training (PGU-15) ammunition. The ammunition is used by the U.S. Air Force's A-10 Thunderbolt cannon.
NATIONAL SPORTING CLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS OCT. 23 . . . The National Sporting Clays Championship gets underway tomorrow at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas, and will conclude with a new national champion determined on Sunday, Oct. 28. Some 1,800 shooters have signed up, with 1,637 of them opting for the main event, shattering the previous registration record. You can get forms and links to registration and activities, view or download the program and get an updated map of the complex's layout at the National Championship webpage.

Jobs

FIREARMS INDUSTRY JOBS . . . Visit www.nssf.org/jobs for current employment opportunities in the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry. Employers: Log in to post a job opening.

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 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.

Share this email

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

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.

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

NSSF Marketplace

The firearms industry's search engine

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