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Hunting Works for America Now Includes Wisconsin
 HUNTING WORKS FOR AMERICA ADDS WISCONSIN . . . NSSF announced last week that Wisconsin is the eighth state to join its Hunting Works for America initiative that brings together a range of stakeholders to educate the public and elected officials about the economic importance of hunting. Other state chapters include Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Utah. NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Chris Dolnack said, "Hunters spend $2.6 billion a year in Wisconsin and contribute $228 million in state and local taxes. We want people in Wisconsin to know that and more about hunting.” Read blog post. See chapter website.
Import/Export Conference
 REGISTER NOW FOR IMPORT/EXPORT CONFERENCE . . . To help industry members navigate the federal laws and regulations that govern the import and export of firearms and related products, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the FAIR Trade Group will present our 13th annual Firearms Import/Export Conference on Aug. 5-6. This year's conference features a morning of roundtable sessions with key ATF branches, Customs and Border Protection, Treasury's Tax and Trade Bureau, and Census Bureau's Automated Export System. The conference will also feature presentations from ATF, an update on the U.N. arms trade control actions, and State Department speakers covering policy updates, enforcement trends, compliance, commercial export policies and brokering licenses, among other topics. Register now, hotel reservation cutoff is July 25. Undecided? Watch this video.
SHOT Show
 FIRST SHOT SHOW EXHIBITOR ACADEMY A HIT . . . Last week in Las Vegas, representatives from 100 exhibiting companies attended the first-ever SHOT Show Exhibitor Academy to learn how to maximize their time and budgets while exhibiting at the world’s largest trade show for shooting, hunting, outdoor and law enforcement products. Filled to capacity, the Academy included presentations on how to build the right booth, garner media attention, use social media, develop a show budget and navigate the show’s Exhibitor Resource Center, in addition to meeting and asking questions of show’s management team. Attendees were also treated to a back-of-the-house tour of the Sands and the opportunity to experience several potential hospitality venues first-hand. “Our first SHOT Show Exhibitor Academy was all that we hoped for and, based on feedback, provided information that will benefit exhibitors six months from now at the SHOT Show,” said Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior VP and CMO. “We were very pleased that 97% of the attendees said that they would recommend SHOT Show Exhibitor Academy to other exhibitors and that the experience was worth their time.”
Government Relations
 SENATE ACTION ON BIPARTISAN SPORTSMEN'S ACT EXPECTED AFTER JULY 4TH RECESS . . . NSSF now expects that the U.S. Senate will have an initial vote to move forward with the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act, S. 2363 soon after senators return from the July 4th recess. We need your continued support. The most significant such package of legislation in a generation, S.2363 protects the use of traditional ammunition, allows more flexibility for federal funds to be used to build and maintain ranges on public lands and ensures access to federal lands for hunting, shooting and other outdoor activities. NSSF is urging hunters, target shooters and outdoor trade business owners to get on the phone to ask your senators to co-sponsor our industry's top legislative priority. To protect your hunting and shooting heritage call 202-224-3121 and ask your senators to co-sponsor S.2363. You can also send emails to your senators. Get NSSF's fact sheet on S.2363.
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NEW YORK GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS . . . The New York General Assembly adjourned its 2014 legislative session, fortunately, for retailers, manufacturers and gun owners, without passing any anti-gun legislation. After passage and implementation of Governor Cuomo's SAFE Act in 2013, there was little desire to pass additional anti-gun legislation this year. In fact, for the first time in recent memory microstamping legislation did not even pass the Assembly. NSSF will continue to work in Albany to protect the industry and lawful commerce in firearms. This year's elections in the Empire State are extremely important and will determine if anti-gun New York City legislators take control of the Senate.
- NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO AIRS 'SMART GUN' STORY . . . National Public Radio affiliate stations nationwide last week aired a story on so-called "smart gun" technology for which NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane was interviewed to explain the industry's views. The piece focused on the New Jersey law mandating this technology and the unintended consequences of it being on the books. Hear the broadcast or read the accompanying story.
- HILLARY CLINTON REMINDS US OF WHAT SHE THINKS ABOUT GUN OWNERS . . . Former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a recent live CNN Town Hall hosted by Christiane Amanpour was asked by an audience member whether she believed that implementing bans on "assault weapons" and restricting standard sized magazines would be effective gun control measures. As expected, Mrs. Clinton explained that she thought such measures would be helpful and went on to say of citizens who advocate for the Second Amendment, "we cannot let a minority of people, and that's what it is, it is a minority of people, hold a viewpoint that terrorizes the majority of people." Read the NSSF's Larry Keane's take on Mrs. Clinton's comments.
For more Government Relations news, read NSSF's latest Government Relations Update.
Research
NSSF RELEASES UPDATED MODERN BOWHUNTER REPORT. . . This 30-plus-page report consists of four years (2010-2013) worth of consumer demographics and purchase habits on a wide variety of bowhunting products from bows and arrows to targets and sights. In addition to historical demographic and participation data, the report provides historical market share and average purchase price data for the top products in the bowhunting segment. The data is sourced from Southwick Associates HunterSurvey.com online consumer panel. View Table of Contents. Members can login and download the report for $75. Non-members can order the report for $750.
 NSSF ISSUES COMBINED ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT . . . If you want to arm yourself with the facts about how important hunters and target shooters are to the American economy, take a look at NSSF’s new “Economic Impact of Hunting and Target Shooting in America” report. Spending by America’s sportsmen and women results in a total impact of $110 billion annually, and the more than 866,000 jobs supported by hunting and target shooting would rank as the seventh largest employer in the world, ahead of IBM or McDonald’s. The new report combines findings of separate studies on hunting and target shooting. Read more.
Legal
 COLORADO GUN CONTROL RESTRICTIONS UPHELD BY FEDERAL COURT . . . In a case filed by NSSF, Magpul Industries, firearms retailers and others, a federal court judge ruled late last week that Colorado's ban on standard-capacity ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds and mandatory background checks on private firearms transfers do not violate the Second Amendment. According to the court, while Colorado's gun-control laws burden an individual's Second Amendment right to acquire and use firearms that are both widespread and commonly used for self and home defense, the burden is not "severe." "We are disappointed that the court honors the Second Amendment and ignores it at the same time," said the NSSF’s Larry Keane. "The court's reason for upholding the law-that it may force a criminal to pause to reload-is precisely why it violates the Second Amendment because it interferes with the right to self-defense by forcing a law-abiding citizen to reload while being attacked by a criminal who will not comply with the law."
- CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL APPROVES FIREARMS RETAILER ORDINANCE . . . Under a federal court order to act, the Chicago City Council reluctantly voted last week to approve regulations governing the opening and operation of firearms retail stores within city limits. The strict regulations will prevent stores opening in most neighborhoods and require videotaping of all firearms sales. Mayor Rahm Emanuel had until July 14 to satisfy a court order to allow retail stores after U.S. District Court Judge Edmond Chang overturned the city's longstanding ban on them. Read a newspaper account of the city council action.
Ranges
 RANGES OFFERED GRANTS FOR RIMFIRE CHALLENGE TARGETS . . . Shooting facilities wanting to host NSSF Rimfire Challenge events should take advantage of the NSSF Rimfire Challenge Steel Target Grant Program being offered in partnership with Action Target. NSSF requires the use of specific steel targets for Rimfire Challenge competitions so all levels of target shooters will have an exciting experience. For information on the target packages being offered and for grant application guidelines and information, see the grant program’s website. Read the press release.
Retailers
- COMPLIANCE TOOLS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE . . . NSSF provides compliance tools to all retailers, intended to help bolster compliance processes and help answer any questions regarding ATF regulations. Harry McCabe, former ATF Deputy Assistant Director and NSSF Compliance Consultant, provides a number of great compliance tips for retailers who take in firearms for repair. See his latest article, "Record Keeping for Repair Firearms."
- MORE QUESTIONS ANSWERED . . . Two more great questions to share from our NSSF ATF Compliance Hotline (available 24/7 and free to all of our members!). One question concerns having a family member pick up a firearm left for repair and the other about getting an FFL just to sell at gun shows. Do you know the correct answer? Find out and share with your staff.
News of Note
- NSSF PROVIDES TRADITIONAL AMMUNITION FACTS TO OREGON HUNTERS . . . Soon 4,200 out of a quarter million Oregon hunters will be surveyed about traditional ammunition containing lead components in what NSSF believes is a first step by the state in pursuing restrictions or a total ban on the use of traditional ammunition for hunting. To help dispel misinformation about this ammunition, NSSF has issued a statement that points out, among other facts, that no conclusive evidence exists that shows hunters and target shooters using traditional ammunition have caused a population-level decline for raptors. Read the statement on the NSSF Blog. NSSF also responded recently to a report on the same topic issued for the upper Midwest.
 ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME-CHANCE INSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITY . . . This year's 12th Annual Shooting Industry Masters will again feature a Masters First Shots Orientation Class, a two-hour session on Friday morning, July 18. Novice shooters attending the Masters can take this short course—provided at no charge, with guns, ammunition and targets all supplied—and learn from the best before the main shooting events get underway. Seven USA Shooting Team athletes will provide firsthand instruction and each athlete is a champion in his or her specific discipline of shotgun, rifle and pistol. Contact elizabeth@shootingindustry.com to sign up.
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SAAMI AT UN BIENNIAL MEETING OF STATES . . . Rick Patterson, Executive Director of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, addressed the United Nations’ Biennial Meeting of States June 19 on the topic of technology related to firearms, specifically authorized-user, or so-called “smart gun,” technology. Patterson outlined the serious problems of mandating this unreliable technology, including creating a false sense of safety by relying on technology and that secure storage preventing unauthorized access by children and others can be achieved right now without technology through affordable, lockable storage devices.
Read the full text of Patterson's remarks.
 NEW VIDEO ILLUSTRATES PERCEPTION IS NOT ALWAYS REALITY . . . One of NSSF’s popular infographics, “Gun Crimes Plummet Even as Gun Sales Rise,” has been reissued as an engaging video presentation by the NSSF Multimedia team in an effort to reach a broader audience. In this new video, also entitled “Gun Crimes Plummet Even as Gun Sales Rise,” NSSF urges viewers to “arm themselves with the facts” because despite what may be heard in coverage by the news media regarding gun crime this fact remains: gun crime has fallen dramatically over the past 20 years. In just a few weeks of posting the video it has received nearly 30,000 views on YouTube and is currently a top 10 visual on the creative content website Visual.ly. View the current top visuals at http://visual.ly/view. To help NSSF get the facts out to the public, be sure to watch it, share it with your community on social media and ask them to add their voices to the conversation.
 FIRST SHOTS NEWS TAKES AIM AT COMPETITIVE SHOOTING. . . Mention the word competition and new shooters get nervous. They just don't think they can do it. A good thing to remember is that every competitive shooting champion was a beginner once. The latest edition of First Shots News provides several resources and good advice to newer shooters who are considering taking a shot at a competitive event. Subscribe to receive this e-Newsletter each month.
- USA SHOOTING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS . . . At the USA Shooting National Championships for rifle and pistol held in Fort Benning, Georgia, last week, many champions were crowned. In Women’s Three-Position Rifle/Open Division, the gold was won by Amy Sowash, of Richmond, Kentucky; silver went to 2012 Olympian Amanda Furrer, of Spokane, Washington; and bronze to Sarah Beard, of Danville, Indiana. Beard also won gold in Women’s Prone Rifle and bronze in Women’s Air, bringing her medal total to 12 National Championship medals since 2011. See other results at www.usashooting.org/news.
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