NSSF Bullet Points | Online News Service

August 12, 2013

Vol. 14 No. 31

This Week:

Project ChildSafe

Government Relations

Gun Crimes Plummet Even As Gun Sales Rise

INFOGRAPHIC . . . NSSF has released a new infographic designed to counter the false impression many Americans have that gun-related crime has increased over the past 20 years, even though it has actually fallen dramatically. Fifty-six percent of Americans think crime with firearms has increased, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. However, data show that homicides with firearms have declined by 39 percent from 1993 to 2011 and other crimes committed with firearms have fallen by 69 percent during the same period. Meanwhile, firearm sales in recent years have reached record-high levels, demonstrating that more guns do not equal more crime. Also declining while gun sales have been rising are firearm-related fatal accidents, which have plummeted 58 percent in practically the same period (1991 to 2011).

Project ChildSafe

From Left: NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane, U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Texarkana Mayor Wayne Smith
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IN ARKANSAS: SEN. PRYOR HELPS LAUNCH PROJECT CHILDSAFE . . . At a press conference last Saturday, Mark Pryor, senior U.S. senator from Arkansas, stressed the importance of gun safety and praised NSSF's Project ChildSafe program for coming to Texarkana to distribute gun safety materials. Joining Sen. Pryor were Texarkana Mayor Wayne Smith, the Texarkana Police Department, USA Shooting Team National Trap Champion Kayle Browning and NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. Special guests were Jim Grahlmann, plant manager of Remington's Lonoke ammunition facility, and Ashley Marx, Miss Texarkana Outstanding Teen. Keane encouraged everyone who owns a firearm to securely store their guns when not in use and to sign the program's "Own It? Respect It. Secure It." pledge, which Sen. Pryor and many other guests did. Through Project ChildSafe, the firearms industry provided to the city 1,500 firearm safety kits that included a gun lock as part of the program's S.A.F.E. Summer campaign. Many other law enforcement agencies also have supplies of the program's firearm safety kits. With a recent stop in New Orleans and planned events in South Carolina and Maine, Project ChildSafe is reminding gun owners nationwide to help prevent accidents, theft and misuse through proper storage of their firearms. Gun safety information, such as this safe storage infographic, is available at projectchildsafe.org. See story (registration required) and photo.

Government Relations

CALIFORNIA: CONTINUE TO FIGHT AGAINST ANTI-GUN BILLS . . . The California State Legislature is now back in session in Sacramento until mid-September, and several bills of concern to hunters, sportsmen and gun owners are again before California lawmakers for consideration, including Assembly Bill 711, a ban on the use of traditional ammunition in hunting (now on the suspense calendar until Aug. 29), and Senate Bill 374, which seeks to expand the state's already strict limitations on modern sporting rifles. Strongly supported by the anti-hunting Humane Society of the United States, AB 711 would make California the first state to completely ban the use of traditional lead ammunition for hunting. Banning traditional ammunition for hunting statewide is only the first step, as many legislators acknowledge the fact that a ban on ALL traditional ammunition used for shooting sports will be next. Between now and the end of August please make every attempt to contact your State senator. Listen to the latest NSSF radio commercial opposing AB 711 here. SB 374 has been amended since its introduction; however, the bill still expands the definition of "assault weapon" to include all semiautomatic rifles, except those chambered in rimfire and those with fixed magazines of up to 10 rounds. The bill also includes language that defines "bullet button" rifles and others that need a tool for magazine release as assault weapons and requires their registration. The bill still also bans a huge number of "commonly owned" rifles. NSSF will continue to track this onerous legislation and keep you informed of developments.
IMPORT/EXPORT CONFERENCE DRAWS MORE THAN 200 FROM INDUSTRY . . . Last week, NSSF and the F.A.I.R. Trade Group hosted the 12th annual Import/Export Conference. More than 200 attendees joined speakers from the ATF, DDTC and other experts on the issues industry faces when importing and exporting. The outlook for Export Control Reform, and what it could mean for the industry, was at the forefront of the discussions, with presentations from Robert S. Kovac, recently retired managing director, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, U.S. Department of State; Candace Goforth, former director for the Office of Defense Trade Controls Policy; and Kim Pritula, an industry expert and president of KMP Global Consulting, LLC. Participants also heard a presentation on the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty by SAAMI Managing Director Rick Patterson. Voluntary self-disclosures, updates from ATF and many other issues were covered that affect NSSF members' bottom lines. For more, read NSSF's news release.

SHOT Show

FREEMAN NAMED OFFICIAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR FOR SHOT SHOW . . . NSSF has awarded Freeman a five-year contract to serve as the official exposition services contractor for the SHOT Show, beginning with the 2014 show. "In this period of transition, our goal is to maintain continuity for our customers to help make their SHOT Show experience the best it can possibly be. Our new agreement with Freeman provides that continuity and continues to deliver best-in-class services to our exhibitors," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Read NSSF's news release.
MEET CONVEXX'S JEFF PRESSMAN . . . The announcement of NSSF selecting Las Vegas-based ConvExx as the new SHOT Show management company has reverberated throughout the firearms, exhibition and event industries as well as in the Las Vegas business community. The news was met with no small number of words of encouragement and congratulations from SHOT Show exhibitors and attendees alike. In the coming weeks, the SHOT Show Blog will be featuring a series of "who's who" blog posts to introduce the ConvExx team. This week: President/CEO and Show Manager for the SHOT Show Jeff Pressman.

Research

ZERO TO HERO: NSSF'S RESEARCH MAKING HEADWAY . . . It hardly seems that a decade has passed since NSSF launched its fledgling research in 2004. At that time, NSSF subscribed to four research reports generated by other sporting-goods industry associations. In the ensuing years, NSSF's research offerings have grown into a powerful member benefit that is second to none. In a post today on the NSSF Blog, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Chris Dolnack provides a look at the evolution of NSSF's research efforts.

Ranges & Retailers

GROUPON BACK ON BOARD WITH SHOOTING RANGE COMMUNITY . . . Deal-of-the-day coupons have proven to be effective promotions for attracting customers to shooting facilities, but some providers' policies of working with firearms-related companies have fluctuated with the political winds. Groupon, the biggest of these companies, has recently become a player again, but there are others in this coupon game now. Read The Range Report article that carries an update on Groupon, LivingSocial and other deal-of-the-day companies.
RANGE REPORT: HOW TO BRING 3-GUN TO YOUR RANGE . . . The 3-Gun phenomenon is capturing the interest of versatile shooters around the country, and if your facility has not yet staged such an event, "Bring 3-Gun to Your Range," a feature article by Barbara Baird for The Range Report, can tell you how. Read all of the latest features and departments at rangereport.org.
SHOT UNIVERSITY CONDUCTS FIRST 'ROAD' PRESENTATION . . . Based on demand from NSSF's members, SHOT University has hit the road. The popular daylong business-building series of sessions presented the day before the SHOT Show floor opens is being held off the SHOT Show premises for the first time, in Louisville, Ky. Today, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., experts in the retailing field presented strategies to help grow sales. SHOT University began with a reception last evening and will follow up tomorrow with a Retailer Education Seminar focused on ATF compliance. NSSF members received a $100 discount on registration for SHOT University. Future SHOT Universities are being planned.
NEXT LEAD MANAGEMENT AND OSHA COMPLIANCE WORKSHOP SCHEDULED . . . Zach Snow, NSSF manager, shooting promotions, is tying up final hotel and workshop registration details for the next NSSF Lead Management and OSHA Compliance Workshop, scheduled for New Orleans on Oct. 13-15. So save the date and await further announcements on registration while visiting the NSSF website to get important workshop information.

News of Note

REMINGTON BREAKS GROUND ON ARKANSAS AMMO FACILITY EXPANSION . . . Remington Arms Company, LLD broke ground on Aug. 8 for expansion of its operations at the Remington Ammunition Plant in Lonoke, Ark. Work on the expansion, which will include construction of a new building, is projected to be completed by the second quarter of 2014. Speaking at the event, alongside Remington officials, were Sen. Mark Pryor and Gov. Mike Beebe.
HAVE YOU PURCHASED YOUR 2013-2014 DUCK STAMP YET? . . . Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, or "Duck Stamps," went on sale a few weeks ago. Approximately 1.5 million stamps have been sold each of the past few years, generating more than $20 million annually, of which approximately 98 percent goes toward the purchase and preservation of wetlands. Since 1934, more than 5.5 million acres of prime waterfowl habitat have been acquired for the National Refuge System through duck stamp sales revenue. However, as this article states, the wetlands provide ideal habitat for many non-game bird species as well. Duck Stamps are a great way to fund conservation and can be purchased at local post offices or online at www.duckstamp.com.
EARLY-SEASON REMINDER TO DONATE VENISON TO THE NEEDY . . . An editorial in the Times Record, which covers Fort Smith, western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, reminds hunters of the merits of donating the meat your deer could yield to programs that feed the hungry. With Fort Smith, Ark.'s, first urban deer season beginning on Sept. 7, the newspaper praised Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry, but such programs are nationwide, and NSSF asks that you heed the message this editorial so ably delivers.

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."

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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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