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Shooting Industry Masters Sets Sail on Florida's Treasure Coast
 THOUSANDS RAISED FOR NSSF'S FIRST SHOTS PROGRAM . . . FMG Publications held its 12th Annual Shooting Industry Masters this past weekend in Sebastian, Florida, with more than 400 members of the industry competing in a plethora of fun shooting events and enjoying the hospitality of the Treasure Coast. "It was very gratifying to see all those great smiles at this year's Masters," said Randy Molde, FMG Publications Vice President of Business Development and Masters Chairman. "We are very thankful for the tremendous support we received from so many in the industry and the Florida community. The support we received from the Indian River County Shooting Range was unprecedented." At this year's Masters, FMG Publications raised thousands of dollars for NSSF's First Shots program and USA Shooting. The final amount of money raised will be announced after the completion of an auction on GunBroker.com. "We at NSSF are very thankful for all the support given to our First Shots program and thanks go to FMG Publications and all the sponsors and participants in this year's Masters event," said NSSF President Steve Sanetti. "Getting prospective recreational shooters with diverse backgrounds to take that all-important 'first shot' is so important to our entire industry in this time when so many anti-gun forces are trying to demonize firearms, gun owners and our industry. With partners like FMG Publications, and the support of the record number of competitors that came out to the Shooting Industry Masters to have fun and contribute to the ongoing success of First Shots, the future of the shooting sports will remain bright." In addition, more than $4,000 was raised at the 'Honors For HAVA' Golf Tournament, held in conjunction with the Masters. Owned and operated by FMG Publications, the Shooting Industry Masters is an industry-only event that provides those in the industry an opportunity to enjoy shooting in a family reunion environment.
Government Relations
 NSSF MONITORING 'OPERATION CHOKE POINT' HOUSE PROBES . . . The U.S. House of Representatives last week began examining the controversial Obama Administration program "Operation Choke Point". NSSF attended three hearings on the topic, two at the Financial Services Committee, and a third at the House Judiciary Committee. The Department of Justice initiative attempts to pressure banks from doing business with companies and industries the Administration believes are at a higher risk of fraud without showing they are actually violating the law. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) observed that the identified list of potential targets for Operation Choke Point amounts to a "government hit list". Listed for targeting are Ponzi schemes, racist materials, pornography, tobacco, and firearms and ammunition sales. A bill introduced by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) attempts to address some Congressional concerns by creating a new safe-harbor for banks and credit unions to promote non-discriminatory access to financial products and services, as long as the company or merchant is licensed, registered as a money services business, or has obtained a legal opinion showing the legality of the business. NSSF will continue to closely watch developments.
- CALIF: NSSF CHALLENGES PROCESS, TRANSPARENCY OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES . . . Counsel for NSSF on Friday hand delivered a formal letter to the California Fish and Game Commission pointing out serious concerns that its Wildlife Resources Committee has failed to adopt procedures and conduct itself with the impartiality and transparency required by state law. Read the letter.
- MASS. SENATE PASSES FIREARMS LEGISLATION . . . After lengthy debate, the Massachusetts State Senate late last week passed its own version of the firearms legislation approved earlier by the House of Representatives. The marathon session considered 63 amendments and produced a bill that does not match the House version, meaning that it now heads to a conference committee or the House could opt to adopt the Senate version in the less than two weeks remaining in the legislative session. There are both positive and negative provisions in the legislation that will impact the industry. It is important to note, however, that several amendments that would have been detrimental to retailers in the Commonwealth were NOT adopted. NSSF will continue to keep you informed. Read a news account.
 NEW RUSSIAN SANCTIONS COVER EIGHT ARMS MANUFACTURERS . . . President Obama last week announced new, wide-reaching economic sanctions on Russia in reaction to the situation in Ukraine. The restrictions cover certain major financial institutions, energy companies, Russian government leaders and eight arms manufacturers, including the Kalashnikov Concern. In a FAQ document, the Treasury Department offered guidance on AK-47s already in the U.S. that will not be affected by the new sanctions.
- FY15 INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL PASSES COMMITTEE . . . The U.S. House Appropriations Committee last week favorably reported out the FY15 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. The legislation sets funding levels for the Department of Interior, EPA, Forest Service and related agencies, and includes important provisions for sportsmen such as a prohibition on regulating traditional ammunition made with lead components; a one-year delay on any Endangered Species Act rule-making from USFWS regarding the sage grouse; funding to fight wildfires that have been destroying important wildlife habitat; and preventing any rule-making from the Department of the Interior that would devalue lawfully imported ivory products such as pistol grips and shotgun beads. NSSF will continue to keep you informed on the progress of this bill.
- ZIMBABWE ASKS FOR LIFTING OF U.S. IVORY BAN . . . Citing the importance of the elephant hunting industry, wildlife officials in Zimbabwe have asked the U.S. to lift its temporary ban on ivory imports from the country. According to a report submitted to Congress last month by the country's Department of Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, the annual economic impact of elephant hunting is over $14 million and "not less than 55 percent" of the income is contributed directly to the rural communities where sport hunting may be the only source of income.
For more Government Relations news, read NSSF's latest Government Relations Update.
ATF
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- ORCHID ADVISORY: WHO IS THE ATF AND HOW DO I CONTACT THEM? . . . It is not uncommon to view a visit from any regulatory agency with a bit of anxiety. But, we still have an obligation to comply and it is helpful to understand how their resources, whether limited or plentiful, can help us achieve our goals in the industry. There's a myriad of ways in which the ATF can support your compliance efforts before "the big day" (i.e., inspection time). Read the latest advisory. Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members.
- ATF Q&A - MORE QUESTIONS ANSWERED . . . We received a high volume of calls last week on the NSSF ATF Compliance Hotline, with some questions being asked multiple times. The first question is very timely and covers who is considered a nonimmigrant alien for purposes of purchasing a firearm and the second covers whether or not it’s legal for a parent or guardian to purchase ammunition for a juvenile. Get the answers to these questions and review past weeks’ Q&As.
Import/Export Conference
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REGISTER TODAY FOR AUG. 5-6 IMPORT/EXPORT CONFERENCE . . . To help industry members navigate the federal laws and regulations that govern the import and export offirearms and related products, NSSF and the FAIR Trade Group will present our 13th annual Firearms Import/Export Conference on Aug. 5-6. This year's conference features round-table 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 to guarantee your spot. Sponsorship opportunities are available; click here for the chance to promote your business to a high level targeted audience.
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Not sure whether to register? Hear first-hand from attendees at last year's conference here. |
Research
 USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR MAY 2014 . . . 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 May import and export data. NSSF members can access additional historical import and export data by logging in and clicking NSSF Industry Research.
Legal
- APPEALS COURT DENIES REHEARING ON BAY AREA AMMUNITION BAN . . . The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the petition for rehearing and petition for en banc rehearing in Jackson v. San Francisco. NSSF and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) had filed a joint amicus brief supporting rehearing and en banc review. The denial allows to stand two San Francisco ordinances, the first banning ammunition that serves no sporting purpose (common self-defense ammunition) or that is designed to expand or fragment upon impact (hollow point ammunition) and the second requiring handguns to be stored in a locked container at home or disabled with a trigger lock when not carried, Gun owners and organizations filed a lawsuit against the city seeking to enjoin enforcement of the two ordinances on Second Amendment grounds. A federal trial court denied this request and the denial was subsequently affirmed by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit.
- NEW SUIT SEEKS TO OVERTURN BAN ON INTERSTATE HANDGUN SALES . . . The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and a Texas firearms retailer last week filed suit in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth challenging the federal law that limits citizens to purchasing handguns only in the state where they live. The suit questions why Americans may purchase rifles and shotguns across state lines but not handguns. Read a news account. NSSF is monitoring this suit and weighing options.
SHOT Show
- NO SUMMER VACATION FOR SCAMMERS . . . Over the past several weeks SHOT Show Management has received questions from exhibitors about communications (phone and email) from companies claiming to have “great deals” on hotel rooms for the upcoming 2015 SHOT Show. Although “deals” from these soliciting companies may sound good, we urge caution when they approach. Read more.
NSSF Rimfire Challenge
 ATK STEPS UP AGAIN IN SUPPORT OF RIMFIRE CHALLENGE . . . Adding to its Platinum-level support for the NSSF Rimfire Challenge program, ATK Sporting also will participate in the Rimfire Challenge Ammo Roundup, which will help ensure the program's target shooters have a reliable source of ammunition. The Rimfire Challenge Ammo Roundup will serve as a fulfillment center for match directors to purchase ammunition for events.
- ATK SPORTING IS PLATINUM SPONSOR OF NSSF RIMFIRE CHALLENGE . . . The brands and products of ATK Sporting -- Federal Premium and CCI Ammunition, Savage Arms, Bushnell and BLACKHAWK! -- will be supporting the NSSF Rimfire Challenge program under ATK Sporting's new Platinum-level sponsorship. "The NSSF Rimfire Challenge gives people a chance to get out and shoot," said ATK Sporting President Jay Tibbets. "That's why we're involved at this level. Our leading brands and products are a perfect fit for this program, and the initiative to get more people involved in our sport aligns with our mission. We look forward to seeing new shooters and novice and accomplished competitors get involved at ranges across the country." NSSF Rimfire Challenge matches are conducted at host ranges nationwide. Learn more at NSSF.org/Rimfire. Read the press release.
Members
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 DID YOU KNOW? MEMBERS GET FREE ADMISSION TO SEMINARS. . . NSSF Retailer Seminars are free to NSSF members ($100 per person for non-members). Upcoming seminars are scheduled in June, July, August and September in Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Colorado and Oregon. These five-hour seminars cover such topics as error proofing your 4473 forms, straw purchase awareness, properly selling at gun shows, how to take a firearms inventory like ATF, the NICS background check process and much more. Learn more.
- 25 STUDENTS RECEIVE $60,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS . . .Through its annual essay contest for employees of Voting Member companies and their family members, NSSF has awarded $60,000 in scholarship funds to 25 students. To earn one of the 25 scholarships offered, employees of NSSF Voting Member companies or their qualified family members submitted applications and essays on one of two topics. Read Press Release.
News of Note
  PEARSALL, MORRISSEY JOIN NSSF COMMUNICATIONS TEAM . . . NSSF has appointed Jennifer L.S. Pearsall as Director, Public Relations and Justin Morrissey as Digital Content Specialist. Pearsall brings nearly a quarter-century of industry experience to the table, including stints in retail and shooting range management, and tenure as an editor with the National Rifle Association. Before joining NSSF, Pearsall served as the senior-most book editor for the Gun Digest brand. She is an avid upland and big-game hunter and has been actively involved as a competitor in a variety of shooting sports. Morrissey graduated from the University of Wisconsin--River Falls in May 2014 and has worked as both an intern and independent contractor with several companies in the outdoor industry, such as the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Mallory Communications, Bill Miller Outdoors, and Babe Winkelman Productions, among others.
 MISLEADING WITH NUMBERS NOTHING NEW FOR ANTI-GUN GROUPS . . . Prominent, big-name gun control groups have a long track record of selectively and misleadingly using government data in their effort to build support for more gun control legislation. One of their tactics is to classify 18- and 19-year-old young adults as "children" in order to exaggerate their claims. Recently, a news fact-checking group blew the whistle on another case of attempting to influence through such exaggeration. Read NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane's recent blog post.
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 © 2014 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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