NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

February 11, 2013

Vol. 14 No. 5

This Week:

Government Relations

Research

News of Note

Jobs

Protect Your Gun Rights!

CONTACT LEGISLATORS VIA NSSF . . . Severely restrictive gun-control legislation has been introduced throughout the country, including in the U.S. Congress and in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota and New Jersey. Other states are expected to follow suit. New York has already hastily passed new anti-gun laws, the severe impacts of which are only just being realized. Firearms owners are turning out by the thousands at state hearings, but just as important is letting your legislators know by letter or phone call that these proposed bills are unwarranted and an assault on your Second Amendment rights. NSSF makes it easy for you to contact your federal or state legislator through our Legislative Action Center website. Take action today to protect your right to own firearms and magazines for target shooting, hunting, personal and home protection and collecting.

Government Relations

COLORADO: MAGAZINE BAN HEARING . . . On Tuesday, Feb. 12, Colorado's House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing at the Capitol on proposed legislation (HB13-1224) that prohibits the sale, transfer or possession of an ammunition feeding device capable of accepting, or that can be converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition or more than five shotgun shells. NSSF urges all Colorado citizens to immediately contact their state legislators and members of the committee and urge them to oppose this magazine ban. Read NSSF's Legislative Alert.
CONNECTICUT: NSSF, MANUFACTURERS RETURN TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY. . . NSSF and Connecticut-based firearms manufacturers were back in Hartford the week of Feb. 4 to answer questions from the Legislative Task Force on Gun Violence Prevention and Children's Safety. Read More.
MARYLAND: NSSF, INDUSTRY TESTIFIES IN ANNAPOLIS . . . NSSF last week testified in opposition of Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's gun-control legislation (SB 281). The state Senate Judiciary Committee hearing drew thousands of gun owners to Annapolis opposing this far-reaching gun-control package. The firearms industry was well represented by Maryland retailers, manufacturers and ranges. Beretta USA General Counsel Jeffrey Reh addressed concerns about the bill's potential impact on Accokeek, Md.-based Beretta. Unfortunately, the Senate committee alotted only eight hours of testimony despite more than 1,000 people signing up to testify. The battle in Annapolis will continue for weeks as this bill and many others will be debated. NSSF will continue to be on the ground in the state and will keep our members posted. More about NSSF's testimony in The Washington Post.
NEW JERSEY: LEGISLATORS SEEK SWEEPING GUN CONTROL . . . On Wednesday, Feb. 13, members of New Jersey's Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing at the Capitol on an enormous number of proposed anti-gun bills which include arbitrarily reducing magazine capacity to 10 rounds, add onerous ammunition restrictions, and make drastic changes to the purchasing process. NSSF urges all New Jersey citizens to immediately contact their state legislators and members of the committee and urge them to oppose these far-reaching proposals. Learn more and contact legislators.
LEGAL CHALLENGE TO N.Y. GUN LAWS . . . The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Westchester Country Firearms Owners Association, the Sportsmen's Association for Firearms Education and AR15.com, with support from the National Rifle Association, have filed a notice of claim as a first step in bringing a constitutional challenge against New York's hastily passed and restrictive new gun laws--the N.Y. SAFE Act. The organizations say the New York act violates their rights under both the United States and New York State Constitutions. Separately, a class action was filed by an attorney in the New York State Court in Buffalo to make similar Second Amendment claims.
LAW ENFORCEMENT LETTERS OPPOSING GUN BANS . . . A number of law enforcement departments have sent letters outlining their opposition to federal and state efforts restricting the Second Amendment rights of Americans. NSSF will share these letters with Bullet Points readers as we receive them. Read the Utah Sheriffs' Association letter to President Obama and the New York State Sheriffs' Association letter and Saratoga County Deputy Sheriffs' Police Benevolent Asssociation letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
U.S. HOUSE DEMS' TASK FORCE ISSUES RECOMMENDATIONS, SENATE DEMS PROCEED DELIBERATIVELY . . . After almost two months, the U.S. House Democrats' Gun Violence Prevention Task Force released its plan on Thursday, to minimal fanfare. Meanwhile, many Democrats in the U.S. Senate have been hesitant to embrace the far-reaching, anti-gun legislation introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and have instead opted to push for measures less polarizing, such as fixing mental health record gaps in the FBI NICS system and expanding background checks. Read the full story at the NSSF Blog.
SECRETARY OF INTERIOR NOMINEE . . . In an unusual move, President Obama has nominated a business person, Sally Jewell, the CEO of the outdoor equipment retailer REI, to replace Ken Salazar as Secretary of the Interior. Nominees for the position usually are politicians whose records on outdoor issues are well known. NSSF will be watching Jewell's confirmation hearings closely to determine her level of support for access to public lands by sportsmen and women for hunting and target shooting, among other issues. Read story.

Research

View full-size charts

JANUARY NSSF-ADJUSTED NICS CHECKS UP 94.4% . . . The January 2013 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,790,154 is an increase of 94.4 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 920,840 in January 2012. For comparison, the unadjusted January 2013 NICS figure of 2,483,230 reflects a 81.4 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,368,816 in January 2012. This marks the 32nd straight month that NSSF-adjusted NICS figures have increased when compared to the same period the previous year. The number reported for January 2013 is the second highest monthly figure ever reported for NICS, surpassed only by the previous high in December 2012. Read more.
UPDATED INDUSTRY REFERENCE GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE . . . More than 170 pages of valuable firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports data can be found in the 2012-13 Industry Reference Guide, compiled by NSSF. This new edition provides historical trend data for leading industry indicators: NICS, excise tax, import and exports, and hunting-license sales. Also included is participation data and demographics, safety statistics, Federal Firearms License figures, firearm-production data, concealed carry holder estimates and economic contributions. The publication is available in both PDF and print formats, at a deep discount to NSSF members. Voting Members of NSSF have free, immediate access to the PDF version in the Member Only section of nssf.org. All orders can be placed by visiting www.nssf.org/research/IRG.

News of Note

JOHNSON NEW SAVAGE CEO . . . Ron Johnson has been named chief executive officer of Savage Sports Corporation, succeeding longtime CEO Ron Coburn, whose retirement was announced last week. Johnson brings 25 years of shooting sports industry expertise to Westfield, Mass.-based Savage, which has more than 700 employees. Most recently, Johnson was president of Alliant Techsystems' (ATK) Sporting Group, maker of Federal ammunition. Well known in the industry, Johnson has served as a board member of NSSF, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute and Wildlife Management Institute. Read the press release and news story.
2013 SHOOTING INDUSTRY MASTERS SELLS OUT IN RECORD TIME . . . Team slots for the 11th Annual Shooting Industry Masters have sold out in record time and a record 40 companies have also signed on to sponsor the Shooting Industry Masters at varying levels of participation. Sponsored by FMG Publications, the July 19-20 match has earmarked proceeds to NSSF's First Shots introductory shooting program. Unable to secure a team spot? A limited number of "Partner Passes" are available to qualifying industry representatives. Contact Elizabeth O'Neill at elizabeth@shootingindustry.com for more information.
ELLETT BROTHERS SUPPORTS YOUTH . . . The distributor Ellett Brothers has selected the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance (YSSA) to receive $35,000 raised from the silent auction at the 2013 Annual Ellett Brothers Dealer Showcase in Columbia, S.C. Thanks to generous vendor donations and dealer participation, Ellett Brothers has raised over $103,000 since 2009 for the YSSA. Read press release.
BILL DANCE HONORARY CHAIR OF NHF DAY . . . Known for his work with many philanthropic organizations, three-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year and avid outdoorsman Bill Dance will direct his passion toward another worthy cause this year by agreeing to be the honorary chairman of National Hunting and Fishing Day. He joins a celebrated list of former chairs including Hank Williams Jr., Wade Boggs, Arnold Palmer, the USA Olympic Shooting Team and last year's honorary chairman, NASCAR's Tony Stewart. The annual NHF Day celebration will be Sep. 28, 2013. Learn more about Bill Dance and NHF Day at www.nhfday.org.

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.

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