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January 27, 2014

Vol. 15 No. 3

Registration Opens for NSSF Industry Summit

Many programs that have helped increase participation in target shooting and hunting in the past 18 years can trace their roots to NSSF Industry Summits, and registration is now open for the 2014 Industry Summit, to be held in Springfield, Mass., June 9-11. This year’s Summit will feature a strong lineup of speakers and experts. Attendees will be brought up to speed on the Models of Success that other organizations can adopt to help achieve the same recruitment and retention success that is meeting—and exceeding—an earlier Industry Summit commitment of raising hunting and shooting participation by 20 percent by the end of this year. Make your ideas part of our industry’s future by attending this year’s Industry Summit. Learn more here, then register right away.

Government Relations

• SMITH & WESSON, RUGER ANNOUNCEMENTS REINFORCE NSSF, SAAMI CALIF. MICROSTAMPING CHALLENGE . . . Smith and Wesson and Ruger have confirmed that both companies are being forced to stop selling new or improved semiautomatic handguns in California due to that state's implementation of its microstamping law. On Jan. 9, NSSF and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) filed suit seeking to invalidate and enjoin enforcement of the unconstitutional and unworkable law, which was signed into law in 2007, but not implemented until last year. NSSF has been battling this ill-conceived law for many years. Read NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane's blog post on this subject with its links to this week's developments, the suit itself and comprehensive background information.

• FixNICS SUCCESS: R.I. MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE WANTS RECORDS ACCESS . . . The Rhode Island Joint Behavioral Health and Firearms Safety Task Force, which was formed by NSSF-supported legislation in the last session of the state legislature, announced recommendations late last week that will allow that state to submit mental-health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Rhode Island was one of the states targeted in NSSF's nationwide FixNICS campaign that seeks to get the records of all prohibited individuals submitted to NICS. In November, NSSF testified before the task force to address the lapses in the state’s handling of records. Based on their recommendations, it is clear that task force members have agreed with the firearms industry on this important issue. NSSF will continue to update you as this matter progresses and legislation is introduced. Read a related Providence Journal story.

• ANOTHER STEP CLOSER, CRUCIAL STEPS TO VIRGINIA SUNDAY HUNTING THIS WEEK . . . In important progress for sportsmen in Virginia, House Bill 1237, which repeals the ban on Sunday hunting on private lands with written permission from the owner, was reported favorably by the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee last week and is expected to face a vote on the House floor as soon as Tuesday.  Earlier today, opponents of Sunday Hunting tried to amend the bill to a local county option, but fortunately that amendment was defeated. The NSSF-led Sunday Hunting Coalition of sportsmen's groups, industry leaders and Virginia businesses is urging supporters to keep the pressure on to ensure un-amended passage of HB 1237. NSSF is working to ensure that the legislation is not amended from its current form.  Residents of Virginia should contact their state delegate to ensure that Sunday hunting becomes law. Take action.

• NSSF MEETS WITH SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MCCONNELL . . . Lawrence G. Keane, who heads NSSF’s government relations efforts, had the opportunity at an event last Thursday to meet with U.S. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to discuss the firearms industry's 2014 legislative priorities on Capitol Hill, including the Sportsmen's Act and the need for additional resources for ATF in order to provide better customer service to industry members. Keane also met with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Senate minority whip, at this event and discussed NSSF support for his recently introduced national concealed carry reciprocity bill.

• NSSF'S 2014 CONGRESSIONAL FLY-IN WILL BE APRIL 2-3 . . . April 2-3, 2014, has been picked for the next NSSF Congressional Fly-In. More details on hotel reservations, meeting locations and specific events will be forthcoming. Last year's event saw record numbers for attendance and coincided with the Senate's votes on several harmful gun-control proposals. Do not miss your opportunity to communicate directly with U.S. senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives whose votes will impact the future of your businesses.

• U.S. SUPREME COURT HEARS ARGUMENTS IN 'STRAW PURCHASE' CASE . . . The U.S. Supreme Court last week heard arguments in Abramski v. United States. At the heart of the issue is not whether Congress intended to have the Gun Control Act of 1968 keep firearms out of the hands of criminals through background checks, but whether the law should allow law-abiding individuals to purchase guns for someone else. The "straw man" doctrine was codified into law in 1995, when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF) modified Form 4473 to say such purchases were illegal on their face and wouldn't be permitted. This is an important case. As the NSSF's Lawrence G. Keane told Guns.com, "We look forward to the Supreme Court clarifying the law so that federally licensed firearms retailers across America will know whether they can lawfully sell a firearm to a law-abiding citizen who is acting on behalf of another law-abiding citizen." Read the Guns.com story.

NSSF Membership

• GANDER MOUNTAIN JOINS NSSF . . . Gander Mountain Company, which boasts 131 stores in 24 states, as well as six Gander Mountain Academy locations, is one of the newest industry members to join the rolls of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. "As the nation's largest and fastest-growing retailer of shooting sports and outdoor gear, Gander Mountain is proud to be a partner with NSSF and work together to grow shooting sports throughout the country," said David Pratt, Chief Executive Officer of Gander Mountain. "For generations, Gander Mountain has been the place shooting enthusiasts go for their shooting sports needs, and we are happy to work more closely with NSSF to promote the industry in the United States." Bettyjane Swann, NSSF Director, Member Services, said, "We are deeply gratified to have Gander Mountain join our organization. The addition of this widely respected company and the many employees it represents makes NSSF's 'Voice of the Industry' much louder and stronger."

Ranges/Retailers

• NSSF'S WHERE TO SHOOT APP TOPS 100,000 DOWNLOADS . . . NSSF is pleased to report that its Where To Shoot mobile app has topped 100,000 downloads. The app, which at one point hit No. 4 on the Apple App Store's list of free sports apps, has been a hit with target shooters and gun owners. Available for iOS and Android devices, Where To Shoot locates shooting ranges near you. The app puts North America's most comprehensive directory of shooting ranges in the palm of your hand. It also includes video tips for shooters, news and firearm safety information. NSSF encourages ranges to add or update their listings at wheretoshoot.org.

• RANGE REPORT FEATURE TELLS HOW TO SMARTLY LIQUIDATE INVENTORY . . . Shooting-range retailing pros and business consultants combine their expertise in a January Range Report feature article, "Liquidate Your Inventory the Right Way," at The Range Report website. The opening sentence sets the stage: "When it comes to excess inventory the best analogy I ever heard was that it is like unwanted body fat. It is easy to gain, hard to lose and unhealthy to keep." The experts tell you how to shed that excess inventory. While at RangeReport.org, view features and departments from the newest edition of The Range Report, along with those from past editions—and check out the links to "Ranges in the News," which is updated almost every weekday.

• ATF EFORMS UPDATE . . . ATF sent out a notice on Jan. 24 to users of its eForms system cautioning that the system is facing significant performance issues, beyond the known problems. Without the budget to address these issues and improve the system, ATF is continuing its efforts to keep the system operational and NSSF is helping to form a "working group" between industry members and ATF to provide feedback and input on how to improve the system.

NSSF Research

• USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR NOVEMBER 2013 . . . NSSF tracks and reports monthly U.S. import and export units for several sporting arms, ammunition and optics categories from the U.S. International Trade Commission. See a complete breakdown of each category's November import and export data. NSSF members can access additional historical import and export data by logging in and clicking NSSF Industry Research.

Industry News

• SHOT SHOW AUCTIONS YIELD $90,000 IN SUPPORT OF HUNTING, SHOOTING TRADITIONS . . . Powered by nearly 150,000 views and hundreds of bids on GunBroker.com, the 2014 SHOT Show Auction of two historical firearms and a one-of-a-kind engraved knife generated $90,376 in support of America's hunting and shooting sports heritage. The 2014 auction on GunBroker.com featured a one-of-a-kind tribute to Henry rifle designer B. Tyler Henry, the first-ever Doug Turnbull Restoration 1911 pistol and a "1 of 1" Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter in commemoration of that knife's 50th anniversary. Read more.

• OTIS TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCES CEO AND EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS . . . Otis Technology, manufacturer of a premier brand of gun-cleaning equipment in the sporting goods, U.S. military and law enforcement markets, has announced that its founder, President and CEO Doreen Garrett, has stepped down from that position. Leonard Puzzuoli, who had served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer since 2009, assumed the CEO position on Jan. 1. Garrett will serve on the company’s Advisory Board. In a related move, Otis Technology has promoted Harold Philbrick to Vice President of Operations. James Brooker has assumed the role of Vice President of Engineering, Research and Development. An article in today’s Outdoor Hub offers the interesting background of Otis Technology, born in then-teenager Garrett’s living room, and discusses her SHOT Show booth she was too young to “man.”

• BATTENFELD TECHNOLOGIES, INC. ACQUIRES BOGGEAR . . . Battenfeld Technologies, Inc., manufacturer of shooting, reloading, gunsmithing and gun-cleaning supplies, has announced an agreement to acquire BOGgear, a manufacturer of monopods, bipods and tripods for shooting, photography and videography. “We look forward to extending our Caldwell line of shooting accessories with BOGgear,” said Jim Gianladis, Vice President of Products and Marketing for Battenfeld. Battenfeld has announced plans for an immediate transfer of BOGgear operations to its facility in Columbia, Mo. Read more about the acquisition.

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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