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March 3, 2014

Vol. 15 No. 8

Violent Crime Continued Decline as Firearms Sales Set Records

FBI RELEASES LATEST STATISTICS . . . The FBI's release of preliminary Uniform Crime Statistics for the first half of 2013 demonstrates the continuing 30-year downward trend in violent crime is not over, even as firearms production and sales set records. In fact, the crime reductions correspond with a steady increase in the legal demand for firearms as law-abiding American people have sought to exercise their Second Amendment rights and enjoy recreational shooting. The latest ATF figures demonstrate how manufacturers responded to this demand. Read NSSF President Steve Sanetti's blog post.

Ranges/Retailers

  • REGISTRATION, SPONSORSHIPS FOR NSSF LEAD MANAGEMENT & OSHA COMPLIANCE WORKSHOP . . . Companies have the chance to expose their products and services to range personnel from across the country by serving as sponsors of the NSSF Lead Management & OSHA Compliance Workshop scheduled for May 18-20 in Dallas, Texas. Range operators take heed: OSHA is targeting businesses that have high lead exposures, so indoor shooting ranges are becoming targets for surprise inspections, which, in some cases, have resulted in citations. To be best prepared for that potential surprise visit, all indoor shooting range owners or operators should make this workshop a must-attend event. NSSF is planning to hold only one Lead Management & OSHA Compliance Workshop in 2014, so block out these dates--May 18-20. Both prospective sponsors and attendees should check this website for pertinent details and for registration and hotel information. For sponsorship information, contact Chris Tatulli, NSSF Director, Exhibit & Sponsorship Sales, by email (ctatulli@nssf.org) or telephone (203-426-1320 ext. 214), or click here for sponsorship information.

  • NBS PARTNERS WITH NSSF TO PROVIDE THE BEST PROTECTION FOR ITS MEMBERS . . . Nation's Best Sports (NBS)--the oldest and largest volume sporting goods buying group in North America--has partnered with the NSSF to provide NSSF's Premium Retailer Membership to the firearms merchants who are members of this buying group. Read the full announcement from NSSF. See the benefits of NSSF's Premium Retailer Membership here.

ATF

  • ATF ADVISES eFORMS USERS OF FOUR DAILY RESTARTS . . . In response to ongoing problems with the eForms system, ATF sent an alert to users of the system providing advanced notice of hour-long scheduled restarts of the servers. The daily restarts will occur at 4 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. EST, with the goal of improving the performance of eForms. NSSF would like your feedback (ekarasmeighan@nssf.org) on problems you may be having with eForms as we work with ATF to help improve the struggling system.

NSSF Annual Review

  • 'A YEAR OF RESILIENCE' . . . NSSF has mailed its annual report to the association's more than 10,000 members. Entitled "A Year of Resilience," the annual review highlights many of your trade association's accomplishments during 2013. The report is also available online.

    Read the Annual Review | View as PDF

Industry News

  • RUGER SALES UP 40 PERCENT IN 2013 . . . Sturm, Ruger & Co. (NYSE:RGR) reported that sales were up 40 percent in 2013 compared to 2012. Earnings increased 55 percent. The company said new product introductions were a significant component of sales growth, representing 29 percent of firearm sales in 2013. New product introductions during the year included the LC380 pistol, SR45 pistol, Ruger American Rimfire rifle, SR-762 rifle and Red Label II shotgun. Ruger also noted that in the fourth quarter it began to manufacture a limited quantity of rifles at its recently acquired 220,000 square foot facility in Mayodan, N.C. Firearm production at the Mayodan facility is expected to increase during 2014.

  • BROWNELLS GUNSMITH CONFERENCE, CAREER FAIR APRIL 1-2 . . . The only gathering of its kind will take place April 1 and 2 in Des Moines, Iowa, when the Brownells Gunsmith Conference & Career Fair brings gunsmiths, gun makers, manufacturers and other industry leaders together to mix freely and share their expertise. The event, hosted by Brownells, is free to exhibitors and attendees. Take advantage of the opportunity to showcase your products before 500-plus attendees and screen potential new hires. Space is limited, so attendees, exhibitors, media and sponsors are encouraged to register promptly.

  • LEUPOLD NAMES PETTET PRESIDENT AND CEO . . . Effective March 17, Bruce Pettet will become CEO and President of Leupold & Stevens Inc., the sports optics manufacturer based in Beaverton, Ore. A proven brand-builder, Pettet brings a wealth of experience and a track record of success in marketing products and brands to a wide consumer audience. Read more.

  • ACTION TARGET ANNOUNCES NEW CEO . . . Michael Birch has been hired as Action Target Inc.'s new CEO. He has served as Vice President and General Manager of Boart Longyear, the world's largest mineral-exploration drilling company, and Black & Decker, where he had various sales and marketing leadership roles. Action Target is a world leader in shooting range technology. Read the complete announcement.

Government Relations

  • NSSF IN JOINT LEGAL BRIEF TO PROTECT TRADITIONAL AMMO . . . NSSF, the NRA, Safari Club International and the Association of Battery Recyclers have filed a joint brief supporting the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rejection of a second attempt by a Center for Biological Diversity (CBD)-led coalition of anti-hunting groups to ban traditional ammunition. The CBD's first attempt to ban the use of lead ammunition for hunting was denied by EPA in 2010 on the grounds the agency did not have the authority to regulate ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act. This decision was subsequently upheld by a Washington, D.C., federal court that dismissed CBD's challenge. In 2012, the CBD and 100 other organizations filed a second, nearly identical submission that EPA rejected. CBD again sued and the case again was dismissed by the same federal court that found EPA acted within its authority in determining the new submission was really a petition for reconsideration. NSSF and the joint interveners agree with EPA that CBD should not be able to circumvent procedural and jurisdictional requirements by resubmitting virtually the same petition less than two years after the submission of the first one. CBD's serial petitions and lawsuits constitute an abuse of administrative and judicial resources and serve none of the TSCA purposes intended by Congress.

  • CALIFORNIA'S MICROSTAMPING LAW WORKS AGAINST CONSUMERS . . . The microstamping law now in effect in California is working to prevent law-abiding consumers in that state from being able to buy the best, ever more reliable models of semiautomatic handguns available. Because manufacturers must now microstamp make, model and serial number in two locations on new or "improved" handgun models, any pistol not so equipped is henceforth considered "unsafe" under California law. NSSF's Larry Keane explains all this in an op-ed essay that appeared Sunday in the Sacramento Bee. Read the Op-Ed.

  • VERMONT TOXIC SUBSTANCES BILL GETS AMENDED . . . NSSF has been able to ensure protections for manufacturers, retailers and sportsmen in Vermont with a change to a toxic substances bill. The Senate Health & Welfare Committee approved new language offered by NSSF to SB 239 that exempts from the definition of 'consumer product' the following: "ammunition or components thereof, firearms, hunting or fishing equipment or components thereof, including lead pellets from air rifles." The committee then voted 5-0 to send the legislation to the floor, where it is not expected to face much opposition.

  • FAMILIES AFIELD BILLS APPROVED IN UTAH AND WYOMING . . . Two apprentice hunting bills are poised to be signed into law in the coming days in Utah and Wyoming. In Utah, Senate Bill 165 cleared the House by an overwhelming vote of 62-9. The bill establishes a trial hunting permit in the state to allow new hunters to hunt under the supervision of a licensed mentor prior to completing a hunter education course. In Wyoming, a measure to expand and improve the state's existing apprentice hunting program passed the House 53-3. Families Afield was founded in 2005 by NSSF, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the USSA. Along with the NRA and Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Families Afield bills have been passed in 35 states, resulting in the sale of more than one million apprentice licenses.

  • VIRGINIA SUNDAY HUNTING BILL AWAITS GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE . . . NSSF recently hailed the bipartisan work of the Virginia General Assembly following the State Senate's 28-to-11 vote last month to repeal the 19th Century Blue Law preventing Sunday hunting. The bill allowing hunting on private property on Sundays in the Commonwealth was delivered to Gov. Terry McAuliffe last week, and he has said he will sign it in the near future. The legislation allows Sunday hunting on private land during designated hunting seasons by hunters who have the written permission of landowners. Read the NSSF press release.

  • RHODE ISLAND ANTI-GUN BILLS INTRODUCED . . . A package of anti-gun bills was introduced in Rhode Island last week covering an array of disproven gun-control schemes. State Rep. Joseph Almeida introduced bills that would ban semi-automatic firearms, outlaw magazines over 10 rounds and allow confiscation of magazines greater than 10 rounds. Almeida is a long-time supporter of stripping away the rights of law-abiding citizens instead of focusing on criminal activity. Fortunately, the Rhode Island Joint Behavioral Health and Firearms Safety Task Force, formed by NSSF-supported legislation in the last session of the state legislature, released its final report which focuses on allowing the 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.

  • MISS. SALES TAX-FREE WEEKEND BILLS MOVE TO FLOORS . . . Measures that would create a tax-free weekend during September for individual sales of firearms, ammunition, most hunting supplies and certain recreational fishing equipment, SB 2425 and HB 1539, passed out of their respective state senate and house committees and will now be considered by each full legislative chamber. NSSF will keep you posted on the progress of these bills.

  • PLEASANT HILL, CALIF. LAWSUIT UPDATE . . . The City of Pleasant Hill, Calif., in February denied all allegations in NSSF's lawsuit seeking to enjoin the city from enforcing its zoning restrictions on licensed firearms retailers scheduled to take effect Nov. 1. At a conference between the parties last week, NSSF reasserted that the city's ordinance should be struck down on the grounds it is preempted by state statutes. NSSF's additional concerns about the unconstitutional conditions imposed on local law-abiding retailers to obtain a police-issued permit to operate, especially provisions allowing the city to conduct warrantless inspections of dealers at any time without cause in violation of their Fourth Amendment rights, seemed to be well received by the court. In an interesting development, the City of Pleasant Hill's Planning Commission issued a notice that it will be holding a special public hearing on a proposal to change its zoning regulations to conform to the city's restrictions on firearms and ammunition sales. The hearing will occur on April 1 at 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. The public is strongly encouraged to attend this hearing and have their voices heard.

  • NSSF TESTIFIES IN FAVOR OF MARYLAND BALLISTICS IMAGING REPEAL . . . The Judicial Proceedings Committee of the Maryland State Senate last week heard testimony from NSSF in favor of a bill to repeal the ineffective ballistics imaging law. The law, the only one of its kind still on the books after California and New York both repealed theirs, has never led to a single arrest or conviction, while costing industry members millions of dollars. Despite receiving no opposition from witnesses, the bill's chances for passage remain unclear.

  • NSSF ATTENDS U.S. HOUSE JUDICIARY PANEL HEARING ON ATF STOREFRONT STINGS . . . U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee's Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee demanded answers last Thursday from ATF Deputy Director Tom Brandon on a series of botched storefront sting operations. The hearing was attended by NSSF. The sting operations, most notably one in Milwaukee, were covered extensively in articles published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The coverage highlighted some serious flaws in the operations and has led to an investigation announced last week by the Office of Inspector General, which will issue a report in the coming months.

Congressional Fly-In

  • REGISTER FOR NSSF's 2014 CONGRESSIONAL FLY-IN . . . Register today for the NSSF Congressional Fly-In on Wednesday and Thursday, April 2-3, 2014. Information on hotel reservations, meeting locations and specific events can be found here. 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. Get more information and register to attend.

News of Note

  • SPORTSMAN CHANNEL OFFERS LOOK AT NEW SARAH PALIN SHOW . . . Sportsman Channel has released the first promo of its forthcoming show "Amazing America with Sarah Palin." The show starring the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate will premiere on April 3 at 8 p.m. EDT. The new series is the first part of the network's "Red, Wild and Blue America" programming plan.

  • COLORADO BIG-GAME ACCESS PROGRAM CANCELED . . . Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced its intention to suspend its Big Game Access Program (BGAP). The pilot program, begun in 2007, established short-term contracts with landowners to open private land to public hunters for big-game hunting--but lack of funds has caused its demise. "While the interest in accessing private lands for big game hunting has continued to grow, the program simply wasn't economically feasible under its current structure," said Travis Black, Area Wildlife Manager and BGAP Coordinator.

  • MOOSE HUNTING PERMITS REDUCED . . . With moose populations in serious decline, state wildlife officials in New Hampshire and Vermont say they will cut back on hunting permits issued by 50 and 20 percent, respectively. According to an article from NH.com, New Hampshire will launch a three-year study on the effects of climate change, ticks and other parasites on moose mortality. Though Maine's moose herd appears to be unaffected so far, that state will conduct a five-year study. The problem is not confined to the Northeast. In Minnesota, the New York Times reported, officials have suspended moose hunting because the moose population there has plummeted.

  • MAGGIE REESE JOINS TEAM COLT . . . Colt Manufacturing Co. announced that competitive shooter Maggie Reese, who has a successful record in many shooting disciplines, including pistol and 3-Gun, is the newest member of Team Colt. "Maggie is very passionate and enthusiastic about the shooting sports," said Joyce Rubino, Colt's Vice President of Marketing. "She is a wonderful role model for other young women who are interested in shooting, and we are proud to have her wearing the Colt name and competing with our firearms." Read more.

  • 17th IDPA INDOOR NATIONALS CONCLUDES . . . More than 300 competitors from around the globe gathered at the Smith & Wesson Employee Shooting Sports Center for three days of competition at the International Defensive Pistol Association Indoor National Championships. The event featured some of the most elaborate stage layouts in IDPA history. Firing over a thousand rounds of ammunition through 14 stages of fire, the IDPA Indoor National Championships ended with five division titles and 11 special category winners being awarded to some of the most prominent names in the shooting sports industry. See who won and also read TownHall.com writer Katie Pavlich's coverage from the event.

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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