NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

February 25, 2013

Vol. 14 No. 7

This Week:

Summit

Government Relations

Retailers

Research

In The Courts

News of Note

Connecticut Firearms Industry, Employees Speak Up in Video

NSSF FIGHTING BACK IN CONNECTICUT . . . NSSF today launched a video in which management and employees of three Connecticut-based companies, O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Stag Arms and Ammunition Storage Components, talk about the importance of their jobs and their significant impact on the state economy. The video release follows the announcement late last week by Gov. Dannel Malloy that he was proposing severe new regulations governing firearms ownership. Following release of the governor's proposal, NSSF issued a statement saying, in part, "We are troubled by the governor's apparent change in attitude and seeming impatience with the approach of the General Assembly's bipartisan Gun Violence Task Force and even his own commission. We do not believe a rush to quick-fix legislation is likely to produce real public safety solutions, while it holds the clear potential to hurt good-paying manufacturing jobs in our state." NSSF and member companies based in Connecticut and western Massachusetts have been working for several weeks to help educate legislators, the media and the public not only about the economic impact of the firearms industry in the Constitution State, but also what measures are most effective at keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals and unauthorized individuals. As a central part of that effort, NSSF President Steve Sanetti authored an op-ed in the state's largest newspaper, The Hartford Courant, entitled "Focus on Gun Access, Not Gun Ban."

Shooting Sports Summit

  • NSSF SHOOTING SPORTS SUMMIT POSTPONED . . . NSSF's Shooting Sports Summit, set for June 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., has been postponed to June 9-11, 2014. "We have postponed the Summit so we can fully focus our resources on the legislative and regulatory challenges our industry is facing," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "We remain committed to working with our Task Force 20/20 partner organizations to increase hunting and recreational shooting participation by 20 percent by the end of 2014." Formed in 2008, Task Force 20/20 Steering Committee consists of key individuals from 15 organizations representing the industry to assist with reaching the stated goal. The top initiatives that surfaced from Task Force 20/20 were to develop programs and efforts to serve as models for many motivated groups to use and to lower costs for implementation. Existing and effective programs were enhanced to reach the most people possible and are referred to as "Models of Success" programs. Read NSSF's press release.

Government Relations

  • U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE HEARING ON MSR BAN . . . The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a "Hearing on the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013" on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m. in Room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) will chair the hearing. NSSF encourages all hunters, recreational shooters and firearms enthusiasts in the Washington D.C. metro area to attend, as anti-gun forces were out in full force during last month's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "What Should America Do About Gun Violence." Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced that he will proceed with mark-ups on several bills but the timing is yet to be determined.

  • COLORADO: SENATE SET TO VOTE . . . The Colorado General Assembly last week passed some of the most sweeping anti-gun legislation the state has ever seen, including a bill limiting magazine capacity. Colorado-based Magpul has threatened to move out of the state if the bill passes. The legislation now moves to the state Senate, where it is expected to be voted on within the next two weeks. Please contact your state senators and tell them to oppose anti-gun legislation and arbitrary magazine capacities.

  • CONNECTICUT: LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD . . . Gov. Dannel Malloy has decided he would like to bypass the deliberate consideration of proposals to address unauthorized access to firearms in the state and go with a laundry list of ineffective proposals. To oppose these proposals, NSSF is urging all sportsmen, hunters and gun owners to contact your state representative and senator immediately. Read NSSF's Legislative Action Alert.

  • ILLINOIS: HOUSE VOTE TUESDAY . . . Tomorrow, Feb. 26, the Illinois House will consider outright bans and onerous restrictions on Illinois citizens' rights through a number of anti-gun bills. It is not yet clear what measures will be considered. NSSF is urging all sportsmen, hunters and gun owners to contact your state representative immediately. Read NSSF's Legislative Action Alert.

  • MARYLAND: SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES GOVERNOR'S GUN-CONTROL BILL WITH 7-4 VOTE . . . Even after a more than eight-hour hearing on Feb. 6, when the Judicial Proceedings Committee silenced many gun owners by not allowing them to testify, the committee last week gave initial approval to Gov. O'Malley's SB 281 by a 7-4 vote. There were numerous amendments proposed, and a vote on the bill did not take place until close to midnight on Thursday. Please continue to contact your state senator and urge him or her not to approve this bill, which bans modern sporting rifles and arbitrarily restricts magazine capacity to 10 rounds. More on the committee's passage of the bill from the Baltimore Sun.

  • MINNESOTA: MODERN SPORTING RIFLES, MAGAZINE CAPACITY WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED . . . Senate leaders in Minnesota have declared that a ban on modern sporting rifles and other firearm restrictions like magazine capacity will not be under consideration. The Senate, however, held hearings Thursday on legislation requiring background checks for nearly all firearm transactions. More from the Star-Tribune.

  • NEW JERSEY: 22 BILLS PASS HOUSE, HEAD TO SENATE . . . As expected, anti-gun legislators in the New Jersey General Assembly passed a package of 22 gun-control bills last week. The fast-tracked package includes legislation that would once again arbitrarily restrict magazine capacity in the state from 15 to 10 rounds. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where the bills will be debated in committee over the next couple of weeks. NSSF urges everyone to contact their state senators. More on the bills' passage from the The Star-Ledger.

  • NEW YORK: OPPOSITION TO ANTI-GUN LAWS MOUNTS ACROSS STATE . . . NYSAFEResolutions.com has created a map and list illustrating the growing official opposition to the hastily passed anti-gun legislation (referred to as NY SAFE) in New York State. Its map and listing indicates that at least 24 counties, 17 towns, one state law enforcement association and seven county law enforcement agencies and associations, and the New York State Association of County Clerks have passed resolutions or in other ways have officially expressed their opposition to the legislation. The list also shows that 22 other counties have resolutions in opposition pending.

  • WYOMING: GOVERNOR SIGNS HUNTING WITH SILENCERS BILL . . . Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead has signed into law SFO132, legislation allowing sound suppressors to be used by hunters after varmints, big game and "trophy animals." This law, which goes into effect on July 1, makes Wyoming the 28th state to allow hunters to use sound suppressors while hunting.

Retailers

  • OPERATIONAL BOOK SERIES WRITTEN FOR FIREARMS RETAILERS . . . NSSF has worked with noted author Tom Shay to create a series of operational books geared toward managing a firearms retail store. The first book in this series, Financials for the Firearms Retailer, provides a detailed overview of the numbers that go into running a business and understanding and interpreting them to determine the financial health of that business. These books are available as a free download on the member-only section of the NSSF website. Bound copies may be ordered from Ann Siladi (free to members, $15 to nonmembers). Email her at asiladi@nssf.org

  • NSSF RETAILER SEMINARS OFF TO GREAT START . . . The National Shooting Sports Foundation held its first retailer education seminar of 2013 on Feb. 12 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. FFLs from Florida filled the seminar to capacity to hear presentations on Form 4473 compliance training, straw purchase awareness, store security, inventory control and the FBI/NICS process. "It was one of the most informative and educational seminars we have ever been to," said Ron and Michelle Goodenow of Outpost Range in Crystal River. Next month, retailer education seminars are scheduled for Nashville, Tenn., on March 12, and Montgomery, Ala., on March 14. FFLs in those two states should have received invitations, but any questions may be directed to Patrick Shay, NSSF director, business development, at pshay@nssf.org. View the full schedule of retailer education seminars in 2013.

Research

    View Graph

  • USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR DECEMBER 2012 . . . NSSF reports that overall U.S. imports (in units) in six sporting arms and ammunition categories increased 82.7 percent in December 2012 compared to December 2011. December 2012 imported units in tracked categories totaled 237.8 million, up from 130.1 million reported in December 2011. Over the fourth quarter of 2012, total units imported in the four sporting arms categories rose 53.3 percent, while the two ammunition categories increased by 52.1 percent as compared to the same time period in 2011. NSSF reports that overall U.S. exports (in units) in six sporting arms and ammunition categories decreased 6.8 percent in December 2012 compared to December 2011. December 2012 exported units in tracked categories totaled 60.3 million, down from 64.7 million reported in December 2011. For the final quarter of 2012, total units exported in the four sporting arms categories declined 21.4 percent, while the two ammunition categories decreased by 35.3 percent. Telescopic sights for rifles were up 40.4 percent over the same time period in 2011. All figures are sourced from U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). See a complete breakdown of each category's December import and export data. NSSF members can access additional historical import and export data by logging in at www.nssf.org/members and clicking NSSF Industry Research.

In The Courts

  • FIRST-IN-THE-NATION STATE PLCAA CASE RULED ON BY ALASKA SUPREME COURT . . . In a much-awaited decision, the Alaska Supreme Court has become the first state supreme court in the nation to consider and uphold the constitutionality of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) since the federal statute was passed in 2005. On appeal before the court was the 2008 wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Brady Center seeking to hold a Juneau firearms retailer responsible for the fatal shooting of Simone Kim by fugitive Jason Coday. An Alaskan trial court originally dismissed the case on the grounds that it was barred by the PLCAA, and the Brady Center appealed, questioning the constitutionality of the statute. The appeal drew considerable attention, notably from the U.S. Department of Justice, which intervened in the matter to defend the law. The case now goes back to the trial court for further proceedings on the sole issue of whether the firearm used in the crime was stolen by Coday from Rayco Sales or was sold to him by the retailer.

  • COURT OF APPEALS UPHOLDS ILLINOIS CONCEALED CARRY LAW . . . The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has let stand a December ruling by a three-judge panel of the court that forces Illinois to adopt a concealed carry law, thus affirming that the right to bear arms exists outside the home. The ruling came in Moore v. Madigan. Read the press release issued by the Second Amendment Foundation, which had filed the case, as well as press releases leading up to this decision.

News of Note

  • NSSF PRESIDENT'S EXTENDED INTERVIEW WITH PBS FRONTLINE . . . PBS last week devoted unprecedented airtime across all of its news programming platforms to coverage of violence in American society and gun-control issues. As part of that coverage, NSSF President Steve Sanetti agreed to participate in an extended sit-down interview for PBS's Frontline program. Frontline has posted its complete interview with Sanetti in written Q&A format.
    Interview Transcript | Frontline Broadcast

  • MARCUS RAAB NAMED USA SHOOTING'S NATIONAL RIFLE COACH . . . Longtime rifle coach Marcus Raab of Van Buren, Ark., has been selected by USA Shooting as its new national rifle coach. Raab replaces 1992 Olympian Dave Johnson, who held the position since 2002 before being promoted to director of operations after the 2012 London Olympic Games. Raab has been a USA Shooting coach for nearly a decade, having guided U.S. National, Development and Junior Team members at international competitions. Read USA Shooting's announcement.

Jobs


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.



COPYRIGHT © 2013 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

Share via Twitter Share via Facebook Share via Email Share Other

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

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

Promote | Protect | Preserve