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Coalition Asks Attorney General for Action to End Impasse over 'Sporting Purposes' Exemption for Non-Lead Ammunition
 A coalition of organizations led by NSSF and representing millions of sportsmen and women has written U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to request that the Justice Department, through ATF, finalize and begin to implement the necessary policy to apply the "sporting purposes" exemption to the definition of armor-piercing ammunition set forth in the Gun Control Act of 1968.
With the recent signing into law by California Gov. Jerry Brown of the first state ban on traditional lead ammunition for hunting, the ability of manufacturers to bring non-lead ammunition to market is increasingly crucial to the continued vitality of hunting and recreational shooting. The widespread manufacture and availability of this ammunition depends on assured markets provided by reasonable regulation and enforcement at the federal level. ATF’s refusal so far to apply the sporting-purposes test is resulting in a lack of the certainty necessary for many companies to invest in the research and development needed to foster technological advancements in high-performance and cost-effective ammunition.
If this continues, it will result in the loss of hunters and recreational shooters, which will have significant economic impacts. For example, in 2012 the firearms and ammunition industries were responsible for $33.36 billion in total economic activity. In addition, hunting alone supports nearly 700,000 jobs. Read the full letter.
SHOT Show
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GUNBROKER.COM RETURNS AS EXCLUSIVE SPONSOR OF NSSF MEMBER LOUNGE AND BUSINESS CENTER . . .  NSSF members will find free wireless service among many other amenities in the NSSF Member Lounge and Business Center, which serves as a central point for NSSF members to take a break from the show floor or to network and conduct business. The NSSF Member Lounge and Business Center will be located in the Venetian, Level 3, Lido Ballroom. The Venetian adjoins the Sands Expo Convention Center. Read more.
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GET PREPARED: 2014 SHOT SHOW EXHIBITOR WEBINAR SERIES . . . Preparing for the SHOT Show entails not only knowing what you will be doing in Las Vegas, but also having an understanding of your company's goals and how to best accomplish those goals through the tools provided to you both pre-show and onsite. Chuck Schwartz, the Chairman of ConvExx, SHOT Show's new management company, will guide you through the steps necessary to fully prepare for your 2014 SHOT Show program and ensure that you take advantage of all the resources available to you as an exhibitor of the SHOT Show.
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SHOT SHOW UNIVERSITY: AIMING FOR EXCELLENCE . . . Offered each year on the day before the SHOT Show opens, SHOT Show University is a day of seminars specifically tailored to the needs of those in the firearm retail business. Keynote addresses coupled with strategic sessions will provide each firearms store owner/manager with unparalleled training and insights to operate their businesses more effectively. With a theme of Aiming for Excellence, it is scheduled for Mon., Jan. 13. Apply today.
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 FEWER THAN 225 SEATS REMAIN FOR STATE OF THE INDUSTRY DINNER . . . Seating gets more limited by the day for the State of the Industry Dinner, sponsored by Outdoor Channel. Fewer than 225 of the 2,100 seats remain, so lock in your seat now for the Tues., Jan. 14, event by visiting the SHOT Show registration page and purchasing your ticket. Join us as we recap the past year and get treated to an unforgettable live performance by Penn & Teller.
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SHOT SHOW RETAIL SEMINAR: NSSF FFL COMPLIANCE CONSULTANT PANEL . . . Are you concerned about staying in compliance and in business? We are offering a dozen courses during the SHOT Show covering this topic and much more. You can view the full schedule of speakers and topics here. Bring your compliance questions and concerns on Tues., Jan. 14, at 3-4 p.m. to this open-mic panel discussion hosted by the NSSF and its FFL Compliance Consultants.
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LAST CALL FOR INDUSTRY DAY AT THE RANGE EXHIBITORS . . . SHOT Show Industry Days at the Range will be held on Jan. 13 and 14 at Boulder City Pistol & Rifle Range in Boulder City, Nev., and the events’ managers are calling for exhibitor registration, which closes on Wed., Nov. 27. The two days, supported by the NSSF, are Media Day on Mon., Jan. 13, and Buyer Day, Jan. 14. The long-established Media Day at the Range will give exhibitors the opportunity to host and meet more than 1,300 media members credentialed for the SHOT Show. The inaugural Buyer Day at the Range on Tues., Jan. 15, will allow exhibitors a similar opportunity with 700 invited dealers, distributors and retailers. Exhibit space remains available for shotgun, air gun, ATV/truck demonstrations and nonshooting. Click here for more information.
Government Relations
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 NSSF INTERVENES AS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESSURE FFLS . . . The Leon, Florida, County Board of Commissioners is trying to pressure federally licensed firearms retailers into helping them implement an as yet unpassed gun-control ordinance. The request "asking" for assistance came in the form of a letter to retailers from the county attorney's office and seeks the processing of private transactions, which are exempt from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). NSSF has sent a letter to retailers urging them not to comply with the request. We have also written the county attorney’s office. NSSF will keep you informed of the developments.
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NSSF ISSUES FAQ ON NEW CONNECTICUT LAWS . . . Since its passage in April, NSSF has received many questions from retailers and manufacturers regarding Connecticut Public Act 03-13, An Act Concerning Gun Violence and Children's Safety. There has been a noticeable lack of guidance provided from the state, making it difficult for retailers, in particular, to comply with the law. This Frequently Asked Questions document contains questions that were answered by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, State Police over the course of several weeks. NSSF will continue to provide updates concerning legal challenges and further implementation of the law.
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NSSF TO BRING THE CASE FOR FixNICS TO R.I. PANEL . . .  NSSF will testify next week before the Rhode Island Mental Health Task Force to address the fact that the state does not provide any mental health records to the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). NSSF is embarked on a national initiative (FixNICS) to address the failure of states to submit records that would prevent already prohibited individuals from purchasing firearms. A top state official recently made it clear that Rhode Island’s mental health statute goes beyond federal patient protection laws and would need to be revised for the state to contribute mental health records to NICS. NSSF will continue to support legislation in 2014 that seeks to correct these problems.
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NEVADA FAILS TO SUBMIT SOME MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS . . . Meanwhile, in Nevada, we see a clear example of the need for states to conduct internal audits of their NICS records submission processes. Such an audit in Nevada revealed that the state had failed to send almost 2,000 guardianship cases involving people with serious mental illnesses to the NICS database. State internal audits are another key to helping ensure that prohibited persons are not gaining access to firearms.
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NEW LAWS RAISE RISK FOR MANUFACTURERS . . . Risk & Compliance Journal (associated with the Wall Street Journal), has interviewed firearms and component manufacturers in states such as New York, Connecticut, Colorado and Maryland who say they are left with unanswered questions about whether standard elements of their manufacturing and sales processes might be criminal offenses as a result of newly enacted laws. They express fear that changes in interpretation in the future could expose them to new legal risks. There is also brand and market risk, they say, because firearms customers vote with their wallets by refusing to buy guns or gun parts from manufacturers who remain in states perceived as anti-gun. On the other hand, supply-chain risk is a concern if they move. Read the posting.
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NSSF, MEMBER COMPANIES HOLD QUARTERLY MEETING WITH ATF . . . NSSF and representatives from member companies attended a quarterly meeting with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) last week. The meeting was an opportunity to present questions to the ATF on issues that affect our industry. A range of topics was covered including the pending rules for armor-piercing ammunition, the current nine-month backlog for NFA forms 1 and 4, the need for guidance both on marking variances and the proposed form, incomplete receiver kits and 3D printing. As part of the meeting, ATF announced that companies are not allowed to remark serial numbers on reworked frames/receivers.
Retailers
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ATF NEWSLETTERS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND BY SUBSCRIPTION . . . In an effort to keep Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) abreast of changing federal firearms laws and regulations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) provides semiannual FFL Newsletters. Those interested can subscribe to receive these newsletters as they are released. Previous editions of the FFL Newsletters are available on ATF's website.
Research
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 SUGGESTED READING . . . Published in 2008 but still relevant today, NSSF's The Future of Hunting and the Shooting Sports is a 250-page book that reviews research-based recruitment and retention strategies. Click here for a free download of the publication, which was released in conjunction with NSSF's 2008 Shooting Sports Summit. Save the date for NSSF's next Industry Summit scheduled for June 9 – 11, 2014, in Springfield, Mass. Registration will open in January.
Hunting
News of Note
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TEXAS GOV. RICK PERRY SPEAKS AT NASGW EXPO . . . A strong supporter of the Second Amendment and the firearms industry, Texas Gov. Rick Perry was the featured speaker at the 40th Annual Meeting and Expo celebration for the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers, which presented awards to key suppliers in the hunting and shooting sports industry. The governor also spent time visiting with disabled veterans, who were participants in a recent Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) shooting event.
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LONG-RANGE RIFLE TIP - TEAMWORK . . .  Whether it be a day at the range or in the field, working as a team and having good communication can help you connect with more targets. Check out NSSF’s latest long-range shooting tip with Storm Mountain Training Center founder Rod Ryan.
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.
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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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