NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

July 1, 2013

Vol. 14 No. 25

This Week:

Government Relations

In California, Traditional Ammunition Battle Continues

ACTION IS STILL NEEDED AGAINST AB 711 . . . The California Senate Appropriations Committee last week decided to send Assembly Bill 711, a statewide ban on traditional ammunition for hunting, to the suspense calendar. But this is no time to rest. If passed and signed by the governor, AB 711 would make California the first state to adopt this drastic measure. Even worse, many legislators acknowledge that a ban on ALL traditional ammunition used for the shooting sports will be next. That's why it is imperative for all California sportsmen, gun owners and retailers to continue to oppose AB 711. See the NSSF Legislative Alert here. Earlier this month, NSSF joined some 24 organizations representing millions of sportsmen and traditional conservationists nationally and thousands in California, expressing united opposition to AB 711. NSSF also purchased air time on radio stations in key districts to help persuade legislators to defeat the bill. NSSF will continue to do this until the end of August, but your help in this ongoing effort is essential.

Government Relations

NEW GUN LAWS IN EFFECT TODAY IN COLORADO . . . Ammunition magazine capacity limits and "universal background check" requirements take effect in Colorado today, even as the state's county sheriffs continue their legal battle to overturn the new laws that they argue are largely unenforceable. Although firearms retailers are not mandated by law to do the checks on private transfers, the fee for which is capped at $10, private sellers are required to arrange checks through a dealer before the transfer, according to the new law. In a dramatic gesture on Saturday, Magpul Industries gave away free 30-round magazines to the first 1,500 attendees at Saturday's "A Farewell to Arms" rally in the Denver suburb of Glendale. Some 5,000 people attended the event.
RECRUITING EFFORT FOR FIREARMS MANUFACTURERS CONTINUES, AND SO DOES THE NEWS COVERAGE . . . Last week, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley officially welcomed to her state PTR Industries, a modern sporting rifle manufacturer. PTR is moving from Connecticut following the enactment this spring of new highly restrictive gun laws outlawing the sales of their rifles in that state. The efforts of states such as South Carolina, Texas and South Dakota to attract manufacturers in states that have enacted new restrictions is ongoing and of great interest to the mainstream news media. USA TODAY is the latest news organization on the story.
MAINE HOUSE SUSTAINS GOVERNOR'S VETO OF BACKGROUND CHECKS BILL . . . Gov. Paul LePage's veto of a bill to encourage voluntary background checks for private transfers of firearms in that state was sustained last week in the lower chamber of the Maine Legislature. Under the measure, sellers would face a $500 civil fine if it was found that the person to whom they had sold a firearm was a prohibited purchaser.
REGISTER NOW FOR 12TH ANNUAL FIREARMS IMPORT/EXPORT CONFERENCE . . . In a year of big changes to federal import and export regulations, you can't afford to be on the sidelines. Register today and receive early-bird pricing for the Firearms Import/Export conference, hosted by NSSF and the FAIR Trade Group on Aug. 6-7 at the Renaissance Washington, D.C., Downtown Hotel, 999 Ninth St, NW.

Retailers & Ranges

NICS E-CHECK 2.0 COMING SOON . . . FBI/NICS, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, is in the midst of upgrading its E-Check to version 2.0. Among a host of new features will be the elimination of the digital certificate and the ability to access NICS E-Check using any computer and browser. Target date for deployment is July 16, at which time Federal Firearms Licensees can register for this upgrade. For more information, see the announcement from FBI/NICS.
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.
RANGE REPORT: ELIMINATE MISTAKES . . . "The Difference between Right and Wrong," a feature article in The Range Report, demonstrates with clear examples how following the permit process can eliminate mistakes that otherwise may come back to bite a range. The article, appearing in NSSF's monthly e-newsletter for shooting facilities and housed at RangeReport.org, is written by NSSF's Range Action Specialist Scott Kranz. Click here to read this valuable article.

Industry News

KAHR ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION IN PENNSYLVANIA . . . In a press release issued today, Kahr Firearms Group said it is engaged in discussions with a development group representing Blooming Grove Township in Pike County, Pa., to open a new manufacturing site and relocate the Kahr corporate office from New York to Pennsylvania. Kahr's corporate offices are currently located in Pearl River, N.Y. Kahr's plans include the purchase of 620 acres of commercial real estate. The first step in the multi-phased plan will begin with site preparation and office construction as early as late this year. This will be followed by the relocation of company corporate offices and the research and development department. In the second phase, manufacturing operations will be expanded to the Pike County location to meet the increasing demand for its Kahr Arms, Thompson, Auto-Ordnance and Magnum Research product lines. Read more.
ATK CEO DeYOUNG HONORED FOR STEM EDUCATION ADVOCACY . . . ATK President and CEO Mark DeYoung has been named one of the "100 CEO Leaders in STEM" by STEMconnector^®, a network dedicated to linking those advocating science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. DeYoung was honored for his leadership at ATK and his commitment to advancing STEM for young people in the communities in which the company operates. "I am proud to receive this award," said DeYoung. "But I'm even more proud of ATK's success in engaging our next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers to promote careers in these critically important fields."
ATK COMPLETES PURCHASE OF PARENT COMPANY OF SAVAGE . . . ATK (NYSE: ATK) has announced the completion of its acquisition of Caliber Company, the parent company of Savage Sports Corporation. Savage is one of the world's largest manufacturers of hunting rifles and shotguns. "This acquisition offers a great opportunity to expand our world leadership in sporting and security ammunition and accessories into the long guns market," said ATK President and CEO Mark DeYoung. Read the ATK press release regarding the completion of this purchase.
BLASER USA APPOINTS SOCHER AS NEW CEO . . . Christian Socher, who has served 10 years with Blaser Jagdwaffen GmbH, has been appointed the new chief executive officer of Blaser USA. Since relocating in May 2012 he had held the position of Director of Operations at Blaser USA. "With his in-depth knowledge of the shooting sports industry and his hands-on approach, I am positive he [Socher] will develop our four premier brands of Blaser, Mauser, JP Sauer and Rigby in the United States," said Bernhard Knobel, CEO of Blaser Jagdwaffen GmbH.

News of Note

SUPREME COURT JUSTICE KAGAN TELLS OF HUNTS WITH JUSTICE SCALIA . . . The Atlantic reports that Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, who says hunting is not what they did growing up on the upper West Side of Manhattan, states that it is something she does now. In fact, she says she has hunted both gamebirds and big game with one of her colleagues on the Supreme Court, Justice Antonin Scalia, and now they are planning a duck hunt. Read the article and view an interview between Justice Kagan and Jeffrey Rosen, president of the National Constitution Center, in which Kagan tells of her hunting history.
USA SHOOTING HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT (SPURGIN) PITNEY, WALSH . . . Pat (Spurgin) Pitney and Walter Walsh have been elected to the USA Shooting Hall of Fame, and their induction ceremony will take place on Sept. 21 in Colorado Springs. The USA Shooting Board of Directors and the International Shooting Hall of Fame members vote on inductees every four years following the Olympic Games. Pitney, a shooter since age nine, won four gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Games and was the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team's first Olympic gold medalist after winning the 10m Air Rifle event at age 18. Walsh, 106, is the oldest living Olympian ever. Highlights of his competitive career include the 1940 U.S. Pan American Games in Pistol, the 1948 Olympic Games and a member of the 1950 U.S. World Championship Team, as well as serving as head coach, team captain, leader and assistant leader of U.S. teams. Read more about these new Hall of Famers in a USA Shooting press release.

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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