NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

April 22, 2013

Vol. 14 No. 15

This Week:

Government Relations

NSSF PAC

SHOT Show

Research

Ranges & Retailers

News of Note

$1 Million for Firearm Safety

NSSF'S COMMITMENT . . . NSSF has announced a $1 million commitment to provide free firearm safety kits, including a lock, in partnership with law enforcement departments, to gun owners through its award-winning Project ChildSafe® program. The initiative will help educate gun owners about responsible firearms ownership and secure storage methods. "With this effort we will continue to be a leading voice in the nation on firearm safety," wrote NSSF President Steve Sanetti on the NSSF Blog. "As responsible firearm owners, we must all take steps to prevent firearm accidents, theft and misuse. Firearm accidents and misuse and the tragic consequences they have on families and whole communities should compel all of us to work even harder to practice and promote firearm safety." NSSF has seen demand for all of its firearm safety materials--brochures, videos and Project ChildSafe firearm safety kits--skyrocket in the first quarter of this year. Said Sanetti, "It only takes a few seconds for an accident to happen, and it takes just as few seconds to prevent one."

Government Relations

  • GUN-CONTROL MEASURES OFF THE SENATE'S TABLE . . . The U.S. Senate last week failed to pass new federal gun-control legislation supported by President Obama. In response, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D.-Nev.) pulled S. 649, the underlying comprehensive gun-control package, from Senate consideration for the time being but pledged to bring it back at a later date. Failing to win the filibuster-proof 60 vote margins were the Manchin-Toomey amendment to expand background checks, a new "assault weapon ban" championed by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) and limiting magazine capacity to 10 rounds sponsored by Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). NSSF issued a statement noting that discussion on guns and public safety in Washington and across the country is not over, pledging to continue work toward real solutions to improve current law, fix the NICS instant background check system so that all appropriate criminal and adjudicated mental health records are entered into the system, and provide law enforcement with the tools they need to stem illegal firearms trafficking.

  • CALIFORNIA: ASSEMBLY ADVANCES ANTI-GUN BILLS . . . The California legislature last week moved forward anti-gun bills ranging from confiscation of legally owned magazines to a ban on traditional ammunition. The Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife heard testimony in opposition from NSSF and others on AB 711, which would extend the limited condor range ban on traditional lead ammunition to the entire state. That bill passed the committee on a 9-5 vote. The Senate Committee on Public Safety meanwhile passed every anti-gun bill on a straight party line vote of 5-2. Those bills went so far as mandating the concept of "owner-authorized" handguns with Senate Bill 293 that bans the sale of all other conventional handguns, to Senate Bill 374 that expands the definition of "assault weapons" to ban the future sale of all semi-auto rifles that accept a detachable magazine. All of these bills head to the Senate Appropriations Committee. NSSF and others need you to contact your legislators and urge them to OPPOSE all anti-gun bills. Watch an aditional video.

  • RHODE ISLAND: ANTI-GUN BILLS TO BE HEARD IN COMMITTEE THURSDAY . . . This Thursday, the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Judiciary will be hearing numerous anti-gun bills as part of a package proposed by Gov. Lincoln Chaffee (I), Attorney General Peter Kilmartin (D), Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (D-13) and House Speaker Gordon Fox (D-4). Rhode Island already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, but that is not stopping leadership from trying to ban AND confiscate all modern sporting rifles in the state. Senate Bill 859 imposes restrictions on the manufacture, transfer and possession of modern sporting rifles and bans magazines containing more than 10 rounds. Please contact members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and voice your opposition.

  • FAMILIES AFIELD IN NORTH CAROLINA MOVES CLOSER TO PASSAGE . . . Dual Families Afield bills in North Carolina were passed out of that state's House of Representatives and Senate, respectively, making them one step closer to becoming law. According to the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA), both chambers passed their own version of the identical bills that would create a Hunting Heritage Apprentice Permit to allow new hunters to try hunting under the guidance of a licensed adult mentor before taking hunter education. One or the other will have to pass the opposite chamber's bill before legislation heads to the governor's desk. Families Afield is an initiative to expand hunting opportunities for newcomers, a campaign that was founded by NSSF, USSA and the National Wild Turkey Federation and now enjoys the support of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and the NRA.

  • NSSF CONGRESSIONAL FLY-IN LARGEST TO DATE . . . The timing of NSSF's annual Congressional Fly-In last week, the largest to date, coincided with the most important day for federal gun-control legislation in 20 years. Executives from the nation's firearms companies met with senators in some cases just prior to votes on a series of amendments to S. 649, as described in a previous item. Fresh from meeting with senators on Capitol Hill, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane appeared on the PBS Evening News from its Washington studio to discuss flaws in the concept of expanding background checks and other issues related to the Senate's actions. To kick off the Fly-In, the NSSF PAC hosted a reception honoring U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.). As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Goodlatte will help shape policies affecting the industry for years to come.

  • SEN. GRAHAM NAMED LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR . . . NSSF honored U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) as 2012 Legislator of the Year at the organization's annual dinner last week in Washington, D.C., preceding the firearms industry's annual Congressional Fly-In. Sen. Graham's bipartisan leadership in the Senate in support of hunting and shooting sports traditions and his steadfast defense of our Second Amendment rights over several years were cited in the presentation.

NSSF PAC

  • NSSF PAC 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW NOW AVAILABLE . . . The NSSF PAC 2012 Year In Review highlights the PAC's prior year achievements and its importance in supporting NSSF's government relations initiatives in ensuring that the firearms, ammunition and hunting and shooting sports industry is not outgunned in the "New Era" of gun control sweeping through Washington, D.C. For more information about the NSSF PAC visit www.nssfpac.org or contact Lawrence G. Keane, Treasurer, at 203-426-1320 or nssfpac@nssf.org.

SHOT Show

  • SHOT SHOW ACCEPTED INTO DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PROGRAM . . . The SHOT Show has been accepted into the International Buyer Program (IBP) administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC). Through the IBP the SHOT Show, with support from DOC, will be able to optimally manage and facilitate matching international buyers with exhibiting U.S. companies. The program offers DOC assistance on a variety of issues to assist show exhibitors and to attract international buyers. Acceptance into this program is crucial to NSSF's ongoing marketing efforts to increase international buyers at the SHOT Show. 2014 SHOT Show exhibitors should watch the SHOT Show website and blasts for more information on how they can utilize the benefits of the IBP program. Read more on the SHOT Show Blog.

Research

    See a complete breakdown

  • USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR FEBRUARY 2013 . . . NSSF tracks and reports monthly U.S. import and export units for several sporting arms, ammunition and optics categories from the U.S. International Trade Commission. See a complete breakdown of each category's February 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.

Ranges & Retailers

  • INDOOR RANGE AND RETAIL COMPLIANCE WORKSHOP JUNE 2-4 . . . Black Wing Shooting Center in Delaware, Ohio, will be the location of the next NSSF Indoor Range & Retail Compliance Workshop. If you are a current or prospective range owner or operator looking to ensure that your business practices are in regulatory compliance while determining ways to improve your management practices, this workshop is for you. A team of experts will address environmental law related to shooting ranges, OSHA compliance and inspection, and lead reclamation and range maintenance. Learn more and register now.

News of Note

  • A DAY TO CELEBRATE CONSERVATION . . . Today is Earth Day, a celebration of our planet's natural resources, so let's not forget the major role hunters and all other firearms purchasers play in funding protection for our country's wildlife and wild lands. Since the establishment in 1937 of an excise tax under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act ("Pittman-Robertson"), purchases of firearms and ammunition have raised more than $7 billion in support for wildlife conservation, including more than $520 million in the past year alone. And let's also not forget duck stamps. Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar spent on federal duck stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. See NSSF's The Hunter and Conservation brochure.

  • NRA TO PRODUCE OUTDOOR SHOW IN HARRISBURG, PA. . . . The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center has selected the National Rifle Association to continue its 65-year tradition of hosting a sport show in Harrisburg, Pa., starting in 2014. Recognized as the largest consumer sports and outdoor show in the country, the renamed Great American Outdoor Show will debut Feb. 1-9, 2014.

  • NSSF WELCOMES COMP-TAC VICTORY GEAR AS NEWEST VOTING MEMBER . . . Comp-Tac, manufacturer of holsters and other firearms accessories, has ascended to Voting Member status. The company has shown phenomenal growth, from its one-man, garage-headquartered origin in 2001 to its new facility where dozens of employees now make their living. You can learn more about Comp-Tac by visiting its website.

  • CONCEALED CARRY JUMPS AMONG FLORIDA WOMEN . . . More than 1 million Floridians have their concealed carry permit, but the gender and age bracket showing the largest increase might surprise you--it's women 66 years of age and older. Their numbers have jumped 619 percent since 2004, reports the Orlando Sentinel, and total nearly 35,000 individuals licensed to carry a firearm in the Sunshine State and 35 other states. The Sentinel also reports that women in the youngest age bracket, 21 to 35, with pistol permits increased 463 percent to more than 40,000. While gun ownership is up, the Sentinel reports violent crime in Florida has dropped nearly 60 percent in the last 20 years.

Jobs

  • WANTED: MANAGER, PUBLIC RELATIONS . . . NSSF has a great opportunity for an experienced public relations professional to work on communications activities and public relations with endemic media to promote industry programs and points of view with an emphasis on digital online communications. The position calls for someone with a BA/BS degree in communications, journalism or public relations, or with equivalent experience. Click here to read the full job posting and to apply on the NSSF firearms industry jobs page.

  • 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.



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.

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