NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

August 5, 2013

Vol. 14 No. 30

This Week:

First Shots

Government Relations

Introducing NSSF's Premium Retailer Membership

'NO-BRAINER' TO UPGRADE, SAYS ONE RETAILER . . . Designed to offer the best protection and benefits in the industry, NSSF's new Premium Retailer Membership is now available to any qualifying retailer member with an FFL who has been an NSSF member in good standing for at least a year. At the heart of the program is a defense fund to help retailers protect their business against administrative actions taken by ATF and judicial proceedings challenging an ATF license revocation. NSSF will offer Premium Retailer Members access to a select list of the industry's best firearms defense attorneys and pay all related attorney fees in any ATF administrative action such as a warning conference or legal proceeding appealing a license revocation. "For any retailer, large or small, this membership is a no-brainer. Between the educational materials, access to the best firearms attorneys and other premium benefits, this membership is what many of us have been waiting for," said Joe Keffer, owner of the Sportsman's Shop in New Holland, Pa., and member of the NSSF Board of Governors.

Retailers: Learn more and upgrade your membership today at nssf.org/premium.

Coming Soon: NSSF Premium Range Membership

NSSF First Shots

FIRST SHOTS BIG CITY TOUR HOUSTON WELCOMES HUNDREDS OF NEW SHOOTERS . . . Four ranges in the Houston, Texas, area--The Arms Room in League City, Spring Guns and Ammo in Spring, American Shooting Centers in Houston and High Noon Indoor Pistol Range in Crosby--welcomed more than 200 new shooters as they presented First Shots seminars from Aug. 2 through 4. First Shots is a free introductory program of NSSF that teaches newcomers firearms fundamentals, safety and local regulations in a classroom setting, followed by a live-fire session with certified instructors. "A big thank you goes out to all of the participating ranges who gave a Texas welcome to the participants and the First Shots team," said Tisma Juett, NSSF's First Shots manager. Next stop on the First Shots Big City Tour is planned for Atlanta, Ga. If your shooting facility is located in that vicinity and you'd like to be a host for this event, please contact Juett at tjuett@nssf.org.

Government Relations

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SMITH & WESSON MAKES IMPRESSIVE SHOWING AT GUN LAW HEARING . . . Smith & Wesson CEO James Debney was joined by more than 200 of the company's employees at a public hearing of the Massachusetts legislature's Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Friday in Springfield. While the committee is looking at more than 60 bills, Debney told the legislative panel that, in a state that already has some of the most restrictive laws on firearms ownership, its emphasis should be on ensuring that the state's adjudicated mental health records are sent to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Smith & Wesson has launched a campaign using video, print and outdoor advertising to remind legislators of the significant economic contribution that the company makes to the Bay State economy.
JONES CONFIRMED AS ATF DIRECTOR . . . The U.S. Senate last week confirmed President Obama's nominee, B. Todd Jones, as permanent director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Jones had held the position on an acting basis.
NSSF SUPPORTS KINGSTON AMENDMENT ON LEAD AMMO . . . NSSF late last week wrote U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) to thank him for his leadership in offering an important amendment to the fiscal year 2014 Interior Appropriations Bill that would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using any funds to regulate the lead content of ammunition, ammunition components or fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). In recent years, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has led a small group of environmental and anti-hunting organizations in a relentless pursuit of litigation to compel a ban on lead ammunition. The Pittman-Robertson excise taxes raised from the sale of ammunition to hunters and target shooters is a primary source of wildlife conservation funding in the United States. An EPA ban on traditional ammunition would have a devastating impact on this funding and create a supply shortage of alternative, non-lead ammunition.
NSSF PRIORITIES ADVANCE IN U.S. HOUSE . . . Two key priorities moved forward in the U.S. House of Representatives last week. On Wednesday, the House Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved H.R. 2463, the "Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act," to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to facilitate the establishment of additional or expanded public target ranges. The committee also advanced H.R. 1818, the "Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act of 2013," to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow importation of polar bear trophies taken in sport hunts in Canada before the date the polar bear was determined to be a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. NSSF is playing an active role in advancing these bills. Now your help is needed in getting a vote on the House floor. Send an email to your members of Congress urging them to support and cosponsor H.R. 1818 and H.R. 2463.
MARYLAND STATE POLICE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH BACKGROUND CHECKS . . . Maryland has seen a huge increase in firearms sales since the enactment this year of sweeping gun-control laws proposed by Gov. Martin O'Malley and approved by the Maryland General Assembly. As a result, the state police are unable to process the record number of background checks and are now 100 days behind. Under state law, however, firearms retailers may release firearms to buyers after a seven-day waiting period. State police are asking sellers to continue to wait with the attendant carrying costs of keeping months' worth of inventory and frustrated customers. Other retailers are releasing firearms after the statutory waiting period, resulting in approximately 30 firearms going to those who should have been prohibited because of their criminal records. All 30 of those firearms have been recovered.
SUPPRESSORS NOW LEGAL FOR HUNTERS IN N. CAROLINA . . . Suppressors are now legal for use in hunting in North Carolina, thanks to recent action by the state legislature. Law enforcement authorities are now writing regulations to implement the new law. North Carolina is the 40th state to legalize suppressors, a certain sign that opinions are changing about the hearing-saving firearm accessory. NSSF supports efforts to remove restrictions on the use of suppressors. See the NSSF Fact Sheet.
NFA EFORMS SYSTEM NOW ONLINE . . . The ATF eForm system is now available for online submission and processing of NFA forms. The system became available Aug. 1 and will be formally announced soon. Registered manufacturers and importers will be able to file ATF Forms 2, 3, 5 and 9 on line. The system is also available for ATF Forms 1 and 4 that do not require the submission fingerprints, photographs and Law Enforcement Certifications, such as transfers to corporations and trusts. Transfers to individuals must still be submitted on paper to the NFA Branch. NSSF, pleased with this important development, has long urged that ATF use the Internet in its firearms-processing operation to reduce costs and improve its NFA service for the firearms industry.

Research

JULY NSSF-ADJUSTED NICS CHECKS UP 0.2% . . . The July 2013 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 855,259 is an increase of 0.2 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 853,355 in July 2012. For comparison, the unadjusted July 2013 NICS figure of 1,271,571 reflects a 1.4 percent decrease from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,289,585 in July 2012. This marks the 38th straight month that NSSF-adjusted NICS figures have increased when compared to the same period the previous year. Read more.

FIRST QUARTER 2013 EXCISE TAXES UP 36.7% . . . The latest Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collection report released by the Department of the Treasury indicates that firearm and ammunition manufacturers reported tax liabilities of $199.1 million in the first calendar quarter of 2013, up 36.7 percent over the same time period reported in 2012. This 2013 first-quarter total is the highest quarter reported since the Alchohol, Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau took over record collection in 1991 -- surpassing the previous highest quarter reported (4th quarter 2012) by 13.8 percent. Read More.
WANT NSSF INDUSTRY RESEARCH FASTER? . . . Employees of NSSF member companies in good standing may request to be added to NSSF's Industry Research Forum email database. Be among the first to receive data on industry indicators such as NICS, FAET, Import/Exports and information on new and updated NSSF reports. The most recent research will be sent directly to you as soon as new data is available. Interested members may send their complete contact information to Jim Curcuruto, NSSF director of industry research and analysis, at jcurcuruto@nssf.org.

Industry News

RUGER SALES UP 50% IN SECOND QUARTER, PROFIT JUMPS 79% . . . Sturm, Ruger & Co. (NYSE:RGR) reported that second-quarter sales were up 50 percent and earnings increased 79 percent compared to the same period a year ago. The company said new product introductions were a significant component of sales growth, as new product sales represented $102.7 million or 31 percent of firearm sales during the quarter. Ruger's new product introductions in the first half of the year included the LC380 pistol and the SR45 pistol.
ATK SALES UP 28% IN SPORTING GROUP . . . ATK (NYSE:ATK) reported that first-quarter sales in its Sporting Group -- which includes ammunition for law enforcement, military and sporting applications as well as optics, reloading gear and sport-shooting and tactical accessories -- were up 28 percent to $358.3 million compared to $279 million in the same period last year. First quarter results include $6.4 million of sales from Savage. ATK acquired Savage parent Caliber Co. on June 21. Said ATK President and CEO Mark DeYoung, "We are well under way with the integration of Savage and I am confident our wholesalers, retailers, distributors and consumers will find value in our robust portfolio of product offerings." ATK reported that its overall net income for the quarter was up 1.7 percent.
ARMALITE IS ACQUIRED BY STRATEGIC ARMORY CORPS . . . Strategic Armory Corps announced on July 23 that it has acquired ArmaLite, Inc., manufacturer of semiautomatic rifles and an expanding line of advanced bolt-action rifles. Strategic Armory Corps manufactures bolt-action Surgeon Rifles, AWC Silencer suppressors and match-grade ammunition. ArmaLite will continue to operate out of its facility in Geneseo, Ill.

Ranges & Retailers

RANGE REPORT PROVIDES 'DEAL OF THE DAY' COUPON OPTIONS . . . Though leading coupon providers are back to accepting firearms-related business, their acceptance policy can be fickle. Read "Deal or No Deal?" and learn how ranges are making the most of working with these big-name companies as well as with some smaller alternatives. You'll find all the features and departments in the latest edition of NSSF's monthly e-newsletter for shooting facilities, as well as past editions, and frequently updated news about ranges at The Range Report website.
SHOT BUSINESS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ISSUE . . . The latest issue of SHOT Business magazine is now available online at shotbusiness.com. A good starting point for each edition is the Editor's Note. This month's topic is "Hog Wild." This issue's features include: "The New World of Airguns," an in-depth review of the modern high-perfomance airgun; and "Going Whole Hog," a retailers' guide on how to cash in on the booming feral-hog hunt market. Also find the most recent news briefs, what's selling where, new products, what's new from NSSF and much more.

News of Note

VIRGINIA GUN CRIME DROPS AGAIN AS FIREARM SALES SOAR . . . An article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that "Gun-related violent crime continues to drop in Virginia as the sales of firearms continue to soar, a pattern that one local criminologist finds interesting 'given the current rhetoric about strengthening gun laws.'" Actually, the Virginia scenario mirrors statistics across the nation, shattering the convenient anti-gun argument that more guns mean more crime.
NRA SPORTING ARMS MUSEUM OPENS IN BASS PRO'S FLAGSHIP STORE . . . On Aug. 2 the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum celebrated its grand opening at the Bass Pro Shops flagship store in Springfield, Mo., where the museum is situated. There, almost 1,000 sporting artifacts from the 1600s to modern day, including some of the finest and most historically significant firearms from the NRA Museum Collection, are on display. The museum is scheduled to be open seven days a week.

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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