NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

May 13, 2013

Vol. 14 No. 18

This Week:

SHOT Show

Government Relations

Crime With Firearms at 20-Year Low

AMERICANS UNAWARE OF DRAMATIC DROP . . . The U.S. Department of Justice and the Pew Research Center last week issued studies confirming that crime involving firearms, as well as violent crime in general, has dropped dramatically in the last two decades, even as the nation's population and firearms ownership has increased. Yet, the American public believes that crime is rising. Only 12 percent of Americans surveyed correctly replied that crime has been significantly reduced in the last 20 years, as opposed to 56 percent who thought it was higher. On the other hand, Americans in a new Gallup poll do not rank gun control as a top national priority, placing it next to last on a list of 12 issues on which they think the President and Congress should be working.

SHOT Show

NSSF STATEMENT ON MANAGEMENT OF THE SHOT SHOW . . . NSSF last week announced that it has reached an accord with Reed Exhibitions to terminate the agreement the parties had for the management of the SHOT Show. Effective immediately, Reed Exhibitions will no longer be manager and producer of the SHOT Show. NSSF is actively engaged in the process of identifying a new show management company to manage and produce the SHOT Show beginning with the 2014 SHOT Show. Read NSSF's Complete Statement.
SHOT SHOW AMONG HIGHEST RATED . . . In the Trade Show News Network's listing of the top 250 trade shows, the NSSF-owned Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) ranks 24th in exhibition space at 634,000 net square feet. The SHOT Show attracts buyers from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. SHOT Show 2014 is slated for January 14-17 in Las Vegas. View rankings.

Government Relations

NSSF PRAISES REP. CARTER FOR INTRODUCING SECURE FIREARMS ACT . . . NSSF has lauded U.S. Rep. John R. Carter (R-31, Texas) for introducing the bipartisan Secure Firearms Act that will provide up to a $1,200 federal income tax deduction for the purchase of a gun safe or other safety devices. "Helping firearms owners responsibly and safely store their firearms when they are not in use so that they are inaccessible to unauthorized and at-risk individuals provides a practical and proven way to increase the safety of our homes and communities," said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. Urge your U.S. Representative to co-sponsor HR 1883.
IN CALIF., RAISE YOUR VOICE TO OPPOSE TRADITIONAL AMMO BAN . . . NSSF is continuing to urge all retailers, sportsmen and gun owners in California to call and email members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and their Assembly member asking them to oppose Assembly Bill 711, which has passed the Appropriations Committee and could go to the floor as early as this week. If passed, this bill would extend the now-limited condor-range ban on traditional lead ammunition to the entire state. The ban could go into effect as soon as the 2016 hunting season. This bill will have detrimental effects on the California economy, costing the state over 3,000 jobs, a loss of $320 million in economic impact and a decrease in tax revenue of more than $25 million. Please contact members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee TODAY. For more information on this issue visit: www.huntfortruth.org
NSSF REPRESENTS FIREARMS INDUSTRY, KEANE TELLS KELLY . . . NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane recently took on gun-control advocate Mark Kelly, who had critiqued our friends in the NRA in advance of its annual convention in Houston. Kelly argued that the NRA is working on behalf of the firearms industry instead of its membership. "NSSF keeps close tabs on the legislative and regulatory issues affecting the industry and goes to bat every day to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports industry," Keane wrote.
NSSF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PAGE IS YOUR RESOURCE . . . The NSSF Government Relations Page nssf.org/GovRel on www.nssf.org is your one-stop, go-to source for complete and accurate information on the shooting sports and hunting issues that are before legislators and other policymakers in Washington, D.C., and our state capitals. Use the resources here to track bills or contact your elected representatives. Access industry and economic-impact data that you can use. Find fact sheets and backgrounders on a wide variety of topics, in addition to well-informed commentary and links to helpful articles and videos. Use nssf.org/GovRel as your resource. Our industry benefits from your informed involvement. We're counting on you to be proactive, so please consult us.
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATORS TAKE TO THE RANGE . . . Last week, the Gun Owners' Action League and NSSF held the Sixth Annual Firearms Safety and Education Day for Massachusetts Legislators at the North Leominster Rod and Gun Club. Legislators, their families and staffs were invited to a day at the range. Without the generous support of industry members, this event would not have been a resounding success. Over 40 legislators and staff, both experienced and many first-timers, enjoyed the opportunity to try their hand at various shooting disciplines ranging from trap and skeet to rifle and handgun. NSSF extends a special thanks to Remington for quick delivery of ammunition and to Smith & Wesson and Kahr Arms/Auto Ordnance (all Massachusetts-based firearm manufacturers) for bringing numerous firearms and a team of representatives. Also, a thank you goes to all the instructors for providing a safe and fun environment and the North Leominster Rod Gun Club for supplying first-class facilities.

Industry News

ATK TO ACQUIRE PARENT COMPANY OF SAVAGE . . . ATK (NYSE: ATK) announced today it has reached agreement to acquire Caliber Company, parent company of Savage Sports Corporation, one of the world's largest manufacturers of hunting rifles and shotguns, for $315 million in cash. "The acquisition will complement ATK's growing portfolio of leading consumer brands," said Mark DeYoung, ATK president and CEO. "This opportunity will allow us to build upon our offerings with Savage's prominent, respected brands known for accuracy, quality, innovation, value and craftsmanship. Savage's sales distribution channels, new product development, and sophistication in manufacturing will significantly increase our presence with a highly relevant product offering to distributors, retailers and consumers."
ATK NAMES JOHNSON VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS . . . ATK announced Bill Johnson has been promoted to vice president for government relations, reporting directly to ATK President and CEO Mark DeYoung. In his new role, Johnson is responsible for leading all ATK government relations activities at the federal and state level. Since joining ATK in 2007, he served as vice president for congressional relations. Before entering private industry, he held several leadership positions on Capitol Hill and as an officer and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy.

Research

USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR MARCH 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 March 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.
IIR ON FIREARMS-RELATED INJURY STATISTICS, UPDATED. . . NSSF has posted an updated Industry Intelligence Report to www.nssf.org/research. The report utilizes data from sources such as National Safety Council and Center for Disease Control & Prevention to highlight declining trends in firearms-related injuries and fatalities.
Click here for a PDF of the report.
BEST HUNTER SAFETY STATS IN PENNSYLVANIA . . . The Pennsylvania Game Commission reports that 2012 was among the safest in the nearly one hundred years the agency has been keeping records, including that no firearm hunting-related fatalities were recorded last year. According to PGC, firearms-related hunting incidents have declined 45 percent from a decade ago. The Lehigh Valley Express Times story written by Mark Demko cites NSSF statistics demonstrating the overall safety of hunting when compared to other activities such as football and basketball.
HOW MANY HUNTER ED GRADUATES BUY A LICENSE? . . . A new report provided by NSSF examined hunter education graduates from 2006 to 2011 and found that 68 percent of graduates went on to purchase a hunting license. Review data from 12 participating states in this informative report.

Retailers & Ranges

WHAT'S SELLING WHERE? . . . SHOT Business magazine regularly interviews store owners and managers across the country to find out what products are selling. Stores in four regions provide insight on current trends they're seeing. Take a look at what's been selling recently.
THE RANGE REPORT: PRODUCTS TO ATTRACT WOMEN CUSTOMERS . . . As the number of women coming into the shooting sports continues to increase, making your range women-friendly isn't just good business; it's also survival. Now that women are sampling shooting, it is incumbent upon range operators to make sure they stay. So writes Carolee Anita Boyles in the May Range Report, telling range owners the many product options they could incorporate into their facility to attract and keep women customers. Visit The Range Report website to see all of the features and departments in the latest edition, as well as fresh range news updates.

Shooting Sportscast

MORE THAN 2,600 YOUTHS COMPETE AT NEBRASKA'S CORNHUSKER TRAP SHOOT . . . The largest youth shooting sports event in the world took place May 1-3 just south of Grand Island, Neb., as more than 2,600 high school- and junior high school-aged competitors descended on the sleepy town of Doniphan at the 44th Annual Cornhusker National Junior/Senior High School Shoot. The annual event is the culmination of the season for many school-sponsored shooting programs in Nebraska, where many students earn varsity letters that recognize their efforts. It is hosted by Nebraska Game and Parks and the Nebraska Trapshooting Association. For a glimpse of the excitement watch this week's NSSF Shooting Sportscast video.

News of Note

WATCH AND VOTE: HELP NSSF WIN A PEOPLES TELLY AWARD . . . One of NSSF's most watched videos on its YouTube Channel, "Rifle Sight-in Process," which features long-range shooting expert Ryan Cleckner, has been entered in the People's Telly Awards. You can help NSSF win by watching the video and by giving the show a thumbs-up. Click Here to watch and then vote.
HANCOCK SHOOTS 250 STRAIGHT AT SPRING SELECTION MATCH . . . Two-time Olympic gold-medal winner Vincent Hancock of Eatonton, Ga., achieved a personal first in competition by connecting on 250-straight targets to win USA Shooting's Men's Skeet Spring Selection Match. Previously, his personal best, done twice, had been 249 out of 250. The Spring Selection Match determined World Cup selection for the final two ISSF stops on the calendar and for the World Clay Target Championships in Peru in September. Read the USA Shooting press release.
BROWN GETS GOLD, CHRISTENSON SILVER, AT ISSF WORLD CUP USA . . . Will Brown of Twin Falls, Idaho, won the gold medal in Men's 10m Air Pistol at the ISSF World Cup USA competition in Ft. Benning, Ga. He becomes only the 11th American pistol shooter to ever win World Cup gold. A day earlier, USA Shooting's Dempster Christenson of Sioux Falls, S.D., captured the silver medal in the Men's 10m Air Rifle event.

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.

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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