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February 3, 2014

Vol. 15 No. 4

ABC News Widely Criticized for Report

Radio host and TheBlaze contributor Dana Loesch produced this blistering video response to the ABC 20/20 report.

YOUTH AND GUNS . . . Manipulating statistics and scenarios with children and guns, ABC's 20/20 tried to convince viewers last Friday there is an epidemic of firearms accidents in the country, but reaction to the many inaccuracies in the report was swift. Radio host Dana Loesch produced this blistering video response, Cortney O'Brien fired back in this Townhall.com column and this piece by The Blaze focuses on the misleading statistics. "So many children dying in accidental shootings," proclaims ABC News' Diane Sawyer even though accidents involving children 14 and under have declined by 28 percent in the last decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On the NSSF Blog, NSSF President Steve Sanetti noted how industry's Project ChildSafe program has been working to help prevent access to loaded firearms by children and how just last week the Orange County Sheriff's Department used the program to promote firearm safety education to youth and adults in the communities it serves. Not surprisingly, the ABC 20/20 segment never mentioned Project ChildSafe and the 36 million gun locks it has provided free of charge to gun owners or the more than 60 million gun locks manufacturers have provided with new guns sold.

Industry News

  • SHOT SHOW TO STAY AT SANDS EXPO THROUGH 2018 . . . NSSF followed up its recently concluded, record-setting SHOT Show by adding another year to its agreement with Sands Expo in Las Vegas. Under the new terms, NSSF will put on the SHOT Show at Sands Expo through 2018. The 2014 SHOT Show, which ran Jan. 14-17, attracted more than 67,000 in total attendance, an all-time high, and was the fifth consecutive SHOT Show held at Sands Expo. "Sands Expo has spent millions of dollars evolving the venue in order to meet SHOT Show's needs and to make our attendees feel welcome," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "We've been pleased with the improvements, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to build on our success here in Las Vegas." SHOT Show is the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas and the largest trade show of its kind in the world. Read NSSF's news release.

  • http://nssf.org/share/images/beretta.pngBERETTA, TRUE TO ITS WORD, WILL OPEN NEW TENNESSEE PLANT . . . NSSF voting member company Beretta USA has announced it will build a new $45 million manufacturing plant in Tennessee. Highly restrictive gun laws adopted in 2013 in Maryland, including a ban on the sale of some of firearms that Beretta manufactures there, caused the company to say it would look for a new state for any expansion of production facilities. "We started our search by looking only at states that have a consistent history of support for and likelihood of future support for Second Amendment rights," said Jeff Reh, Beretta general counsel. Beretta currently employs 400 workers and expects to hire another 300 for its new Tennessee plant.

  • ATK SALES UP 78% IN SPORTING GROUP . . . ATK (NYSE:ATK) reported that third-quarter sales in its Sporting Group -- which includes ammunition for law enforcement, military and sporting applications as well as firearms, optics, reloading gear and sport-shooting and tactical accessories -- were up 78 percent to $524 million compared to $294 million in the same period last year. Third quarter results include the recently acquired businesses of Savage and Bushnell, and a 31 percent organic growth rate. Sales from Savage and Bushnell were $54 million and $85 million, respectively.

Government Relations

  • LITTLE SAID IN STATE OF THE UNION, BUT GUN-CONTROL ADVOCATES VOW TO FIGHT ON . . . Anti-gun organizations and their allies on Capitol Hill promise an ongoing fight for more federal gun-control laws, despite the fact that President Obama devoted only two sentences to the issue in his State of the Union address last week. One of those sentences, however, seemed to promise more unilateral executive action if the Congress stands pat. Yet, a CNN Poll shows only 30 percent of Americans agree with President Barack Obama's emphasis on executive power. Stay tuned; there is more to come.

  • SUNDAY HUNTING IN VIRGINIA SENATE VOTE THIS WEEK . . . The Virginia State Senate is expected to vote early this week to repeal the Commonwealth's longstanding ban on Sunday hunting and allow the practice on private lands with written permission from the owner. The vote follows last week's approval in the House of Delegates. The NSSF-led Sunday Hunting Coalition of sportsmen's groups, industry leaders and Virginia businesses is urging supporters to keep the pressure on. Residents of Virginia should contact their state senator to ensure that Sunday hunting becomes law. Take action.

  • http://nssf.org/share/images/Capitol_150.jpgNSSF-SUPPORTED SPORTMEN'S ACT VOTE IN U.S. HOUSE . . . The U.S. House of Representatives will be considering HR 3590, the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act this week, perhaps as early as Tuesday. Strongly supported by NSSF, this legislation contains eight provisions to promote hunting and recreational shooting as well as fishing and other activities vital to sportsmen, including protection of traditional ammunition, allowing shooting ranges more flexibility with the use of Pittman-Robertson excise tax dollars, reauthorizing the Wildlife Hunting and Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee (on which NSSF President Steve Sanetti serves) and allowing more access to public lands for hunting. Please call your U.S. Representative (202-224-3121) and urge support for HR 3590.

  • NSSF HAILS PUBLIC LANDS ACCESS BILL INTRODUCTION . . . Legislation that would dedicate a portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to enhancing access on existing public lands was introduced last week by U.S. Rep. Steve Daines (R-Mont.). NSSF strongly supports H.R. 3962, Making Public Lands Public. Noted NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane, "Opening access to public lands that U.S. citizens own is not only vital to preserving America's sporting heritage, but it will also serve to benefit the economy." Read the NSSF press release.

  • FEDERAL JUDGE UPHOLDS CONNECTICUT GUN LAW . . . U.S. District Judge Alfred Covello late last week upheld Connecticut's strict gun-control law approved by the General Assembly last spring. The attorney for the Second Amendment groups and the other plaintiffs in the case has said he plans to appeal, noting, "This is a long way from over." The law banned the sale of new modern sporting rifles and, among other measures, restricted magazine capacity for all firearms to no more than 10 rounds. The judge wrote that he agreed with the plaintiffs' assertion that the gun-control measures affect their exercise of Second Amendment rights, but concluded the state had an overriding interest in public safety and crime control. NSSF will continue to monitor this case and provide updates.

  • MASS. COMMITTEE RELEASES LONG-AWAITED REPORT . . . The committee chaired by Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo today offered 44 recommendations that address a wide array of issues in an attempt to improve public safety, address school safety and standardize gun licensure throughout the state. On a positive note, the committee addressed the industry-sponsored FixNICS campaign that would ensure that Massachusetts sends the mental health records of those federally-prohibited from possessing a firearm to National Instant Criminal Background Check system (NICS). Throughout the summer and fall, a joint task force held hearings around the Commonwealth to hear testimony concerning proposed firearms laws. NSSF was joined by Smith and Wesson, Kahr Arms, and Savage Arms at the hearings to express opposition for any further expansion of the state’s gun laws. These are just preliminary recommendations from the speaker’s committee, which does not necessarily mean that all will recommendations be included in pending legislation. NSSF will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as legislation is introduced.

  • HAWAII FixNICS LEGISLATION MOVES OUT OF COMMITTEE . . . In Hawaii the Committee on Judiciary voted (10-0) Friday in favor of HB 2246, which is NSSF sponsored FixNICS legislation.

  • FARM BILL WITH FAVORABLE PROVISIONS GOES TO U.S. SENATE . . . The U.S. Senate is expected to vote this week on a bipartisan Farm Bill package that will provide an increase in conservation payment programs as well as increased funding for conservation and habitat programs. The U.S. House last week approved the long-awaited bill in a 251-166 vote. NSSF supports this important legislation and will keep you updated on key developments.

  • http://nssf.org/share/images/logos/ATF.jpgATF EXPLOSIVES NEWSLETTER RELEASED . . . The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has released its bi-annual Explosives Industry Newsletter covering such issues as contingency and shared storage, binary explosives laws, alternate identification markings, black-powder lifter and explosives disposal, among other topics. Access the newsletter.

Retailers

  • NSSF PREMIUM RETAILER MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: NO WAITING PERIOD . . . In conversations during the past few months, an overwhelming majority of new NSSF retail members have asked NSSF about its Premium Retailer Membership, requesting the waiving of the one-year NSSF membership eligibility requirement to participate in this program. NSSF has listened to its members, and has removed the 12-month waiting period. For those not familiar with the Premium Retailer Membership, it's an enhanced membership that offers an unlimited legal defense fund if the ATF takes action against your license. It also offers a number of other exciting benefits, including access to a 24-hour ATF compliance hotline, a training audit conducted by former ATF officials, all of NSSF's compliance training materials, a research pack and much more. For more information, visit nssf.org/premium. The Premium Retailer Membership provides peace of mind in knowing that if you follow the training and use the support provided and stay in compliance, your trade association will be there to defend your license and your livelihood. To upgrade your existing membership to a Premium Retailer Membership, contact NSSF Member Services.

  • NSSF ADDS AUDREY STUCKO TO FFL COMPLIANCE TEAM . . . Audrey Stucko joins NSSF's already stellar lineup of former ATF executives and managers, bringing her 36 years of experience with ATF to assist NSSF's retailer members. Stucko is a former ATF deputy assistant director and will use her vast knowledge of ATF regulations and policies to assist firearms retailers through NSSF's consultant and educational programs. View Stucko's biography and get more information on NSSF's programs designed to help educate and assist retailers with ATF compliance issues.

NSSF Research

  • EXCISE TAX OBLIGATIONS UP 38.8% IN THIRD QUARTER . . . 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 $226.8 million in the third calendar quarter of 2013, up 38.8 percent over the same time period reported in 2012. This 2013 third quarter total is the highest quarter reported since TTB took over record collection in 1991 -- surpassing the previous highest quarter reported (second quarter 2013) by 1.2 percent. Additionally, FAET collections from Jan. 1 - Sept. 30, 2013, are $650,197,146, which surpasses full 2012 FAET collections of $643,915,884. Read more.

  • AMERICANS' SUPPORT FOR MORE GUN CONTROL DROPS . . . A fascinating new Gallup poll shows that the percentage of Americans favoring stricter gun laws fell 7 points in 2014, from 38 to 31 percent. The country's overall dissatisfaction with U.S. gun laws and policies has increased to 55 percent this year, up from 51 percent in 2013. That increase stemmed largely from the 16 percent of Americans who say that gun laws are too strict, more than triple the 5 percent recorded by Gallup last year. "Americans have become more dissatisfied with gun laws over the past year, but this is attributable to a greater percentage who say gun laws are too strict, rather than not being strict enough," the poll concluded.  "Americans' changing views could set the course for future gun law debates and legislation."

  • ATF POSTS 2012 U.S. FIREARM PRODUCTION AFMER DATA . . . The ATF's Firearms and Explosives Services Division recently updated the 2012 Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Report (AFMER) to include full-year data for revolvers, pistol, rifles and shotguns. Access current and historical AFMER data here.

NSSF Membership

  • OUTDOOR BUSINESS NETWORK ADDED TO MEMBER BENEFIT COMPANIES . . . Members of the National Shooting Sports Foundation can avail themselves of many benefits, and one of the newest to be added to the menu is a discount on many of the services provided by Outdoor Business Network (OBN), "the complete online solution for the firearms dealer!" Its staff creates customized websites designed with e-commerce and online marketing in mind and partners with distributors to provide the dealer with distributor inventory levels, product data and the ability to ship orders from a distributor's warehouse with one click. Visit outdoorbuinessnetwork.com/nssfbenefits.html or call 800-699-0820 ext. 1 and learn more about OBN's services and discounts to NSSF members.

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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