NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

July 29, 2013

Vol. 14 No. 29

This Week:

S.I. Masters

Government Relations

Project ChildSafe in New Orleans

New Orleans Police Department Sgt. L.J. Smith and 2012 Olympic Team member Amanda Furrer.
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OWN IT? RESPECT IT. SECURE IT. . . . In partnership with NSSF's Project ChildSafe, the New Orleans Police Department kicked off a citywide firearm safety education effort last Saturday with a press conference in the heart of the tourist district, at Washington Square Artillery Park. In their remarks to the crowd and to media, NSSF President Steve Sanetti, New Orleans P.D. Sgt. L.J. Smith and 2012 Olympic Team member Amanda Furrer stressed the program's Own It? Respect It. Secure It. message. "The number one way to help prevent firearm accidents in the home is to securely store your firearms when not in use," said Sanetti, who encouraged listeners to sign the program's gun safety pledge at www.projectchildsafe.org and take advantage of the program's safety resources such as this Gun Storage for Your Lifestyle infographic. The New Orleans launch, which will be supported by a two-month billboard campaign, was the first of several planned events around the country for the expanded Project ChildSafe program, which the firearms industry is supporting with an additional $1 million contribution this year. Through Project ChildSafe, free firearm safety kits and educational materials are available to all law enforcement departments to provide to gun owners in their community. Firearm safety programs like Project ChildSafe have helped drive down fatal firearms accidents to historic low levels. View coverage of the New Orleans Project Childsafe event from WDSU News.

Shooting Industry Masters

S.I. MASTERS SETS NEW HIGH IN FIRST SHOTS SUPPORT . . . Shooting Industry Masters Chairman and FMG Publications Vice President of Business Development Randy Molde reports that the Shooting Industry Masters--the industry three-gun event held in Cody, Wy., recently--has raised a record-high $70,000 for NSSF's First Shots introduction-to-shooting program. This contribution brings the Masters' five-year total support for First Shots to $211,000. "We at NSSF, and especially those involved with our First Shots program, can't thank FMG Publications enough for this incredible show of support!" said NSSF President Steve Sanetti. "Getting prospective recreational shooters to take that all-important 'first shot' is so important to our entire industry and our way of life. With partners like FMG Publications, and the support of the record number of competitors that came out to the Shooting Industry Masters to have fun and contribute to the ongoing success of First Shots, the future of the shooting sports is bright indeed." Read more on the NSSF Blog.

Government Relations

BI-PARTISAN 'SHARE' ACT HELPS ENSURE HUNTERS', RECREATIONAL SHOOTERS' VOICES WILL BE HEARD . . . The bipartisan leadership of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC) last week introduced H.R. 2799, the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act, as a legislative priority for sportsmen in the 113th Congress. The SHARE Act sponsors are CSC Co-Chairs Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Vice-Chairs Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.). The bill permanently establishes the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee, on which NSSF President Steve Sanetti serves, to advise the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture on wildlife and habitat conservation, hunting and recreational shooting. The Council works to encourage cooperation between the states and federal government and the sporting conservation community, the recreational shooting and hunting sports industry and wildlife conservation organizations.
NSSF DISCUSSES CONN. LAWSUIT ON GUN TALK RADIO . . . Gun Talk Radio on Saturday aired an interview with NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence Keane about NSSF's lawsuit challenging the passage of Connecticut's gun-control law. Listen here (interview begins after the three-minute mark).
LEGISLATION TO AID PHOTOJOURNALISTS ON FEDERAL LANDS . . . A bill has been introduced to Congress that will provide solutions to the problems caused by current restrictions imposed on photojournalists who wish to film on public lands. The Professional Outdoor Media Association, which has championed this cause for several years, reports that efforts by the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus have produced H.R. 2798, the Public Lands Filming Act, which has bipartisan support, as well as the endorsement of NSSF and other organizations. POMA encourages individuals to contact their representatives in support of H.R. 2798.
GOV. NIKKI HALEY TOURS FN MANUFACTURING, TESTS THE PRODUCTS . . . South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley recently toured NSSF member FN Manufacturing in the city of Columbia, where she was not afraid to test fire several of the firearms made there for the military and civilian markets, including a modern sporting rifle and semiautomatic handguns. The governor has earned high marks for her leadership in providing an economic and regulatory environment in the Palmetto State that supports manufacturing employment, including the skilled, high-paying jobs provided by firearms manufacturers. See an article and video. PTR Industries, a manufacturer of modern sporting rifles and NSSF member, is relocating from Connecticut to South Carolina. The NSSF Government Relations and Public Affairs team encourages member manufacturing companies to open their doors to local, state and federal office holders so that they can better appreciate the industry's role in the regional economy, see first-hand the products the industry makes and, as a result, be better informed and more inclined to support industry-related public issues.
BLOOMBERG'S ANTI-GUN GROUP LOSING MEMBERS . . . New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's gun-control group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, has lost more than 50 of its original mayoral members in the last few months, as Fox News, the New York Post and other media organizations have reported. Some mayors have left office. Others have discovered that the group's strong-arm tactics are not only loathsome, but that the group's leadership opposes not just "illegal guns" but has lawful gun ownership in its sights, as well.

LAST CALL: REGISTER NOW FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL FIREARMS IMPORT/EXPORT CONFERENCE . . . Registration for this year's Firearms Import/Export Conference will close this Wednesday, July 31, so don't delay registration any longer. On Aug. 6-7 at the Renaissance Washington, D.C., Downtown, 999 Ninth St., NW, NSSF and the FAIR Trade Group are offering presentations on Export Control Reform, Voluntary Disclosures, ITAR, U.N. Arms Trade Treaty; and DDTC Firearms and Ammunition New Guidelines. Additionally, get info directly from ATF about the new eForms 6 and 6A, which authorizes the electronic filing and ATF processing of both forms over the internet, along with digitally scanned supporting documentation. NSSF has long urged the development of IT solutions for paperwork processing and lauds this development as a major step forward. Get more info and register now!

SHOT Show

BEWARE OF SHOT SHOW POACHERS . . . NSSF has received reports that other companies are posing as official travel vendors for the SHOT Show. They are NOT affiliated with the SHOT Show in any capacity. The SHOT Show provides two sources for special hotel room opportunities; one is direct with the Venetian/Palazzo, and the other is through onPeak, the official housing partner of the SHOT Show and the service provider directly linked to the SHOT Show website for all hotels besides the Venetian/Palazzo. Read more on the SHOT Show Blog.
LIMITED EXHIBIT SPACES AVAILABLE FOR SHOT SHOW INDUSTRY DAYS AT THE RANGE . . . The ninth annual SHOT Show Media Day at the Range on Jan. 13, 2014, and the next day's first SHOT Show Buyer Day at the Range on Jan. 14 are set for the Boulder City Pistol & Rifle Range, in Boulder City, Nev., and exhibit spaces, in limited quantity, still remain. The two events will put firearms and accessories into the hands of leading media and buyers and allow exhibiting personnel the opportunity to interact with these two groups. Learn more about the remaining exhibiting opportunities.

Industry News

CABELA'S REPORTS RECORD 2Q RESULTS, SEES NEW CUSTOMERS RETURNING . . . Outdoor retailer Cabela's (NYSE:CAB) on Thursday reported that same-store sales (sales at stores open for at least a year) increased 10.5 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Net income increased 32 percent. The company says it has also seen a rise this year in new customers that have been returning to the store. During Thursday's earnings call, CEO Tommy Millner said, ". . . new-to-file customers are coming back more often and buying more than new-to-file customers did in 2012, and it's a significant change, not a little change, a significant change." The company said that in addition to firearms and shooting-related products, sales of hunting apparel, archery and optics were particularly strong during the quarter.

Ranges & Retailers

RANGE ACTION SPECIALISTS TO THE RESCUE . . . Read about the proven NSSF member benefit that allows shooting facilities to gain a partially subsidized consultation with an expert in the field. NSSF's Range Action Specialist program has already proven its value to a number of ranges, and the August Range Report features an article, Range Action Specialists to the Rescue, that explains the program and details a couple of successful case histories.
SHOT BUSINESS: SECOND-SEMESTER ECONOMICS . . . SHOT Business Magazine's regularly appearing section "Retailer Toolbox" provides operational tips for the firearms retailer to help tune up his/her business. The most recent article, "Second-Semester Economics," will help firearm retailers determine the viability and health of their business with some key financial ratios for liquidity, profitability and productivity. Read the article.
RETAILERS GIVE SHOT UNIVERSITY HIGH RATING . . . Retailers formerly have always had to travel to the SHOT Show to attend SHOT University, and those that made the trip were happy they did. "I really love the opportunity NSSF provides to get quality information to help me and my business," said William Brandenburg of BodyGuard Sports in North Richland Hills, Texas. "I always learn and gain new insights and ideas when industry peers can share and learn," added Tom Grice of Grice Wholesale in Clearfield, Pa. Now many firearms retailers can attend SHOT University, perhaps much closer to home, when the event takes place in Louisville, Ky. It begins with a reception on Sunday evening, Aug. 11, followed by a full-day schedule of classes running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. There, leading experts in the retailing field will offer cutting-edge strategies to help you as a retailer grow sales while protecting your business. The following day will feature a free Retailer Education Seminar focused on ATF compliance. Cost for the entire event will be $199 to NSSF members, $299 to others. Don't miss your opportunity. Seating is limited, so register today. Get more information on this exciting program and register.

News of Note

RECORD PARTICIPATION IN SCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS . . . More than 2,000 shooter athletes, an increase of 30 percent over last year's participation, competed in the SCTP/ SPP national team championships at the World Shooting & Recreational Complex in Sparta, Ill., July 15-20. In the Scholastic Clay Target Program, some 600 participated in skeet, 500 in sporting clays and 1,600 in trap--some competed in more than one discipline. More than 160 teams from 26 states were represented, setting a new SCTP attendance record. The first-ever National Action Shooting Event in both centerfire and Rimfire for the Scholastic Pistol Program was held, with 200 shooters representing 25 teams and 47 squads. The National Shooting Sports Foundation originated SCTP and handed over its administration to the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, which NSSF continues to support.
STATE OF DELAWARE ACQUIRES SHOOTING SPORTS FACILITY . . . Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is moving ahead on a long-anticipated deal to acquire Owens Stations, a privately owned sport shooting facility in Sussex County, east of Greenwood. The 104-acre facility features the state's only sporting clays course, with approximately 60 shooting stations, a trap field and 5-Stand. In addition, it is managed as a conservation education center and offers several miles of trails and three small catch-and-release fishing ponds.
PISTOL CHAMPIONSHIPS PRODUCE NEW JUNIOR TEAM MEMBER . . . Two centers of marksmanship came together at USA Shooting's 2013 Progressive-Position Pistol National Championships when the U.S. Army's Marksmanship Unit in Fort Benning and the Colorado Springs Olympic Shooting Center hosted the event. The two-site system fulfilled planner's hopes by drawing a record number of athletes--more than 100 for the first time--by making travel easier and the event more attainable for participating families. Highlighting the event was relative newcomer Joshua Yoo of Irvine, Calif., who won the title in the Men's International Standing Division and earned a spot on USA Shooting's National Junior Team. Read about the entire event and view the complete competition results.
FIRST SHOTS' BIG CITY TOUR IN HOUSTON THIS WEEKEND . . . The First Shots Big City Tour is heading to the Houston, Texas, area Aug. 2-4. Four ranges are on board for the event. Area facilities offering NSSF's introductory shooting seminar will be: The Arms Room, in League City; Spring Guns & Ammo, in Spring; American Shooting Center, in Houston; and High Noon Indoor Pistol Range, in Crosby. Learn more about these free classroom and live-fire events and claim one of the remaining available slots at the First Shots website.

NSSF Political Action Comittee

NSSF PAC: IT'S ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR FUTURE . . . The NSSF PAC -- a cornerstone of NSSF's government relations efforts in Washington, D.C. -- is asking NSSF members to join and fight back against President Obama, Mayor Bloomberg and their anti-gun, anti-industry allies who are determined to bring gun-control legislation up for another vote when Congress returns from August recess. If you care about your company and our industry, you need to make it your business to get involved -- and stay involved -- in the political process, by joining the NSSF PAC today. Our friends on Capitol Hill need us now more than ever.

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.

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