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First Shots Big City Tour
to Roll into Atlanta Area
 77 EVENTS AT 11 RANGES OVER THREE DAYS . . . Participation in target shooting is at an all-time high, and newcomers will be able to see what all of the excitement is about by attending a First Shots seminar at one of 11 Atlanta, Ga.-area target-shooting facilities Nov. 1-3. NSSF, developer of First Shots, has made it easy for newcomers by scheduling 77 First Shots seminars over the three days. Nearly 900 people can be accommodated at these Atlanta-area seminars, for which registration opened today at nssf.org/firstshots. NSSF will promote the free seminars, open to men and women 21 and older and to 18-20-year-olds accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, on billboards in downtown Atlanta and radio ads. Each seminar puts participants in a classroom setting to learn firearm fundamentals and pertinent laws and regulations and then to the firing line with certified instructors.
Government Shutdown
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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN UPDATE . . . Federal agencies that provide customer services to the firearms and ammunition industry are affected by the shutdown. The FBI's NICS Section is maintaining normal business hours. On the other hand, ATF's Office of Enforcement Programs and Services (EPS), which includes the imports, firearms technology, NFA branches, the licensing center and firearms industry programs branch now processing marking variances, is effectively shut down, operating with minimal staff. The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) is accepting licenses, but only acting on them in genuine emergency situations. The Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is no longer accepting export license applications, classification requests (CCATS), encryption reviews, encryption registrations or advisory opinion requests. Similarly, BIS will not be issuing any final determinations. All pending export license applications, commodity classification requests, encryption reviews, encryption registrations and advisory opinion requests will be held without action by BIS until the shutdown ends. NSSF will continue to update the industry as additional details on the government shutdown become available.
Government Relations
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 CALIF. GAME WARDENS URGE GOVERNOR TO VETO AB 711 . . . The California Fish and Game Wardens' Association is urging Gov. Jerry Brown to veto Assembly Bill 711, legislation that would ban the use of traditional ammunition for hunting statewide. The CFGWA board voted unanimously to take this action, joining other law enforcement colleagues and state labor leaders in the call to have Gov. Brown veto the bill. Read the letter. Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones added his department's opposition to the list of law enforcement agencies opposed to AB 711 with a letter to Gov. Brown. In addition to AB 711, More than a dozen gun-control measures await Gov. Brown's possible signature. Time is running short. NSSF urges all California sportsmen, gun owners and retailers to contact the governor and urge him to veto all the highly restrictive and unwarranted gun-control bills now on his desk. See the earlier NSSF Legislative Alert on all these bills.
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JUDGE DENIES INJUNCTION IN SUIT AGAINST MARYLAND FIREARMS ACT . . . A federal judge last week denied a legal action by NSSF, several federally licensed firearms retailers and others for a temporary restraining order to prevent certain provisions of the Maryland Firearm Safety Act from going into effect. The action specifically sought to delay enforcement of the act's prohibition on the acquisition and sale of certain semiautomatic long guns and standard capacity magazines until the parties have their day in court. The plaintiffs argued the enforcement of the act would impermissibly burden the Second Amendment rights of gun owners to self-defense and cause significant economic harm to NSSF member businesses that would be unable to sell many commonly owned and used firearms and magazines without being subject to arrest and prosecution. The court will now take up the suit on its merits. NSSF will keep you posted on its progress.
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R.I. GUN TASK FOCUSES ON MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS . . . A Rhode Island legislative commission has begun looking at measures to keep guns out of the hands of the severely mentally ill by reviewing the state's current laws and policies on mental health records. Rhode Island currently does not send records on mental health adjudications or involuntary commitments to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). As part of NSSF's FixNICS effort, we have been advocating for the state to address this issue, rather than enacting additional gun-control measures that would do little to nothing to improve public safety.
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LOST AND STOLEN GUNS: NEW NSSF FACT SHEET . . . The total number of firearms lost or stolen from FFLs is approximately 0.15 percent of firearms manufactured and imported into the country in a given year, according to ATF data. But even this small fraction overestimates the actual number. For the complete picture, see the new NSSF Fact Sheet, "Lost and Stolen Guns."
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WEEK ONE OF NEW CONN. AMMO CERTIFICATE BRINGS CONFUSION . . . Connecticut firearms retailers are reporting that customers are confused and frustrated with the new law that became effective Oct. 1 that requires an “ammunition certificate” for ammo and magazine purchases. NSSF’s Mike Bazinet told the New Haven Register that requiring ammunition certificates would not be an effective tool in reducing criminal use of guns and that the focus should be on keeping firearms “out of the hands of people that should not have them."
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NSSF MATCHES ATF REWARD IN GEORGIA FIREARMS THEFTS . . . ATF and NSSF are jointly offering a total of $10,000 in reward money for the public’s assistance in solving the Oct. 1 theft of 17 AR-15 semi-automatic rifles from Bass Pro Shops in Macon, Ga. ATF and NSSF also have announced a combined $10,000 reward for information in the Sept. 23 theft of firearms from American Jewelry and Pawn in Moultrie.
Ranges/Retailers
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 LEAD MANAGEMENT & OSHA COMPLIANCE WORKSHOP SLATED FOR SAN DIEGO . . . The next edition of the highly acclaimed NSSF Lead Management & OSHA Compliance Workshop has been scheduled for Dec. 8-10 in San Diego, Calif. If you are looking to ensure that your business practices are in regulatory compliance while determining ways to improve your management practices, this workshop is for you. NSSF’s team of experts has hands-on experience in the fields of environmental law related to shooting ranges, OSHA compliance and inspection, and lead reclamation and range maintenance. Learn more about this workshop, sponsored by Western Range.
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NSSF PREMIUM RETAILER MEMBERS RECEIVE FREE TICKET TO SHOT SHOW U . . . NSSF’s highest level of benefits for its retailer members is Premium Retailer Membership, and one of those benefits is a free ticket for the 2014 SHOT Show University (SSU), which would cost a nonmember $500. SSU is the most notable educational event of the year for firearms retailers, and the 2014 lineup promises to live up to that billing. Experts such as Dan Mann, Dr. Chip Bell and Ann Baldwin will address “Strategies that Grow Revenue During Lean Times,” “Innovative Service: Strategies for Creating Growth and Bottom Line Impact” and “Media and Crisis Training.” SSU will offer educational tracks on compliance, retail operations, range operations and marketing. Learn more about SSU and sign up today. Seating is limited, and SSU promises to be a sell-out. Get more information about Premium Retailer Membership on the NSSF website and/or contact Bettyjane Swann or Samantha Hughes. For more information about SSU or to register for the event, please see shotshow.org/education.
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GET RANGE-RELATED NEWS AT RANGEREPORT.ORG . . . The Range Report website does not only post feature articles of value to range owners and operators and departments such as the ever-popular Undercover Shooter and Q&A, but it also offers links to news items affecting the shooting facility community. Be sure to check www.rangereport.org frequently for updates under Ranges in the News.
Research
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 LIFETIME RETAIL SALES VALUE OF NEWLY CREATED HUNTERS AND TARGET SHOOTERS . . . Industry-wide recruitment and retention (R&R) programs are paying off as recent survey data has shown an increase in hunting and target shooting participation. These trends bode well for the firearms and ammunition industry, but continued R&R is essential to maintain this trend. NSSF has released a report that estimates the lifetime expenditures of hunters and target shooters. NSSF members may purchase this report for $50, while non members may purchase the report for $500. To find out more about NSSF membership, contact Samantha Hughes at shughes@nssf.org or 203-426-1320 ext. 262. To discuss R&R opportunities, contact NSSF Director of Recruitment and Retention, Melissa Schilling at mschilling@nssf.org or 203-426-1320 ext. 275.
- SEPTEMBER NSSF-ADJUSTED NICS BACKGROUND CHECKS UP 2.7 PERCENT . . . The September 2013 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,034,701 is an increase of 2.7 percent, compared to the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,007,259 in September 2012. For comparison, the unadjusted September 2013 NICS figure of 1,392,423 reflects a 4.0 percent decrease from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,450,737 in September 2012. Read more.
SHOT Show
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 SMITH & WESSON SIGNS ON AS PLATINUM-LEVEL EDUCATION SPONSOR . . . Smith & Wesson returns as the top-tier sponsor of SHOT Show University, the education seminar for firearms retailers that will take place in conjunction with the 2014 SHOT Show. More than 300 firearms retailers will attend the 2014 SHOT Show University at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas on Jan. 13, the day prior to the beginning of the four-day SHOT Show. Expert speakers and strategic breakout sessions will provide firearms retailers and their staffs with training and education that will help them operate their businesses and service their customers more effectively. Learn more about course lineups, scheduling and registration at SHOT Show University.
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ONE-HOUR RETAILER SEMINARS THROUGHOUT THE SHOW . . . In addition to SHOT Show University, the SHOT Show will also feature a number of one-hour retailer seminars throughout the show. Learn more about successfully managing and growing your business as well as understanding current industry issues in these seminars. Attendees can sign up for these while registering for the show online. Forgot to sign up while registering? Simply log in to your account at shotshow.org and select which seminars you'd like to attend.
Project ChildSafe
 PROJECT CHILDSAFE IN MAINE . . . NSSF brought its firearm safety education program, Project ChildSafe, to the Bangor Mall last Sunday in cooperation with the city council chairman and Bangor Police Department. The event attracted media coverage from area newspapers and three television stations, and approximately 150 firearm safety kits were provided to gun owners. Remarks were delivered by NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti, Council Chair Durgin and Bangor Police Officer Jason McAmbley. Bangor P.D. demonstrated how to install the gun locks on various firearms. Said Sanetti, "Keep firearms locked up when not in use--away from children, where mentally disturbed individuals can't get them, and burglars can't steal your property."
News of Note
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 2014 SHOOTING INDUSTRY MASTERS SETS COURSE TO TREASURE COAST . . . FMG Publications has announced that the 2014 Shooting Industry Masters will be held at the Indian River Shooting Range in Sebastian, Fla., July 18-19, 2014. Co-hosted by Indian River County and the Treasure Coast Sports Commission, the Masters will again feature the "Masters Mystery Course of Fire." The Shooting Industry Masters is a private industry event consisting of a variety of target shooting disciplines designed for both professional and novice four-person teams. This year, FMG Publications is adding a fundraising golf tournament, "Honors For HAVA" to Masters week. Now in its 12th year, the Shooting Industry Masters has raised nearly $300,000 for NSSF's First Shots program and the USA Shooting Team since 2001. The Masters is owned and operated by FMG Publications. Learn more about the 2014 Masters and register a team at shootingindustry.com/masters.
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CONCORDIA COLLEGE STARTS NSSF-AIDED TRAP TEAM; LIMITED GRANTS STILL AVAILABLE . . . With support from NSSF’s Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative, which has awarded grants in 2013 to colleges and universities to launch new shooting programs, the Outdoor Club at Concordia University, Nebraska, is forming a collegiate competitive shooting team. The club is hosting a trap and skeet shoot at Oak Creek Sporting Club on Oct. 29. “NSSF has been instrumental in getting collegiate shooting programs off the ground, and interested colleges and students should know that there are still 13 grants of up to $10,000 each still available,” said Zach Snow, NSSF manager, shooting promotions.
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ADAM GRIMM WINS 2013 FEDERAL DUCK STAMP CONTEST . . . The 2014-2015 Federal Duck Stamp will reproduce the oil painting of a canvasback created by Adam Grimm, an Ohio native now living in Burbank, S.D. Grimm also had his art appear on the 2000-2001 Federal Duck Stamp. The stamp will go on sale in late June 2014, selling for $15 and raising an anticipated $25 million, critical funds to conserve and protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The annual duck stamp art contest is the only juried art competition sponsored by the federal government.
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SHOOTING RANGE SPONSORS NASCAR RACER . . . The primary sponsor on the No. 51 Chevrolet that 21-year-old NASCAR driver Ryan Truex has been driving is Shooters Sports Center, an indoor shooting range for firearms and archery. The facility, located in Little Egg Harbor, N.J., celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 28. Truex, from Mayetta, N.J., has raced in 35 NASCAR Nationwide Series races over the past three years, with two Top 5 and nine Top 10 finishes.
Jobs
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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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