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November 3, 2014

Vol. 15 No. 43

Election Day is Tuesday — #GUNVOTE

DON'T RISK YOUR RIGHTS . . . Tuesday's midterm elections for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and several governorships, provide the opportunity to help build a figurative firebreak between those incumbents and candidates who would seek to infringe your right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment and those who believe in the wisdom behind the Constitutional guarantee established by our nation's founders. For months now, we have been urging you to educate and inform yourself about your choices and to select U.S. Senators and Representatives who will stand with America's gun owners. The same holds true in the races for state offices. In Colorado, Connecticut and elsewhere the choices are clear. Don't risk your rights, #GUNVOTE on Nov. 4.

2014 Elections

  • ANTI-GUN MONEY FUELS PRO-GUN VOTERS . . . Gun-control advocates have been highly active in this election year, spending an unprecedented amount of money in races across the country. These funds are frequently used to flood the airwaves with attack ads and fill mailboxes with slanderous mail pieces defaming pro-gun candidates. While gun control groups may believe that this political activism will help them, it is very likely this strategy could end up ultimately hurting their cause. Read Larry Keane's blog post.

  • WASHINGTON STATE INITIATIVE QUESTIONS PIT BILLIONAIRES AGAINST GUN OWNERS . . . Washington State is the site of a key political fight between anti-gun billionaires, who are trying to buy an election, and pro-gun advocates. It is vital for those who cherish their firearms freedoms to have their voices heard in Washington by voting NO for Initiative 594 and YES for Initiative 591. A past NSSF online survey of federal-licensed firearms retailers revealed that those on the front line of implementing what is touted as "universal background checks" have serious concerns both about whether such proposals would work as well as the potential negative effects on their businesses. Asked whether they supported or opposed "universal background checks," 85.7 percent of the responding firearms retailers said that they opposed them. To the question of whether they believed that such legislation would prevent criminals from obtaining firearms, a nearly unanimous 95.7 percent said no. Initiative 594 would add "universal background" checks to state law and create a duplicative requirement on all firearms transfers. Initiative 591 would do exactly the opposite and prohibit background checks "unless a national standard is required." The choice is clear.

  • GUNBROKER.COM CEO RESPONDS TO POLITICAL MISREPRESENTATION . . . GunBroker.com founder and CEO Steve Urvan has responded to a false and politically motivated advertisement and YouTube video from a Washington state gun-control group: "This ad is both misleading the public and impugning the reputation of GunBroker.com by depicting our company's name being typed into a search engine with the direct suggestion that we would enable an illegal transfer of a firearm. This is false and certainly libelous." Read the GunBroker.com statement.

  • PROTECTING MAINE'S BEAR HUNTING HERITAGE . . . Maine voters on Tuesday have the chance to stand up to anti-hunting extremists, bankrolled by the Humane Society of the United States, by voting "NO" on Question #1, Maine's Bear Hunting Referendum. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife opposes Question #1 because it limits its ability to control Maine's bear population and will likely lead to an increase in nuisance bear complaints and a heightened threat to public safety. Maine has achieved one of the largest bear populations in the United States by using proper wildlife management tools, including methods that would be banned by Question #1.

  • ALABAMA AMENDMENTS PROTECT HUNTING, FIREARMS RIGHTS . . . Alabama voters Tuesday have the opportunity to further protect their right to hunt and fish, along with their right to keep and bear arms. Statewide Amendment 5 strengthens Alabama's current "Sportsmen's Bill of Rights" and specifies that hunting, fishing and harvesting of wildlife shall be used as the preferred means of managing wildlife. Statewide Amendment 3 reinforces the Right to Arms provision in the Alabama Constitution that specifies every citizen has the fundamental right under the State Constitution to bear arms in defense of himself or herself and the State and ensures that this right would be entitled to the highest protection of the law.

  • MISSISSIPPI INITIATIVE WOULD PROTECT HUNTING TRADITIONS . . . In Mississippi, a "yes" vote on Statewide Initiative Measure No. 1 will protect future generations of hunters and anglers. Proposed by the Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, the measure would add protections for hunting and fishing into the State Constitution. The initiative specifies that hunting and fishing as a preferred means of managing wildlife while promoting conservation and management of game species. All sportsmen and sportswomen in Mississippi need to go to the polls and vote for Statewide Initiative Measure No. 1 to ensure their rich hunting heritage is protected for many generations to come.

  • THANK YOU TO OUR LATEST NSSF PAC CONTRIBUTORS
    • President's Club ($5,000): Charles Dunkin
    • Cabinet Club ($2,500 or more): James Boyce Jr.
    • Capitol Club ($1,000 or more): Robert Marcus and David Ridley
    • Caucus Club ($500 or more): No new contributors to report
    • Congressional Club ($250 or more): Ken Brown and Kurt Richter
    • Industry Club (up to $249): Dennis Cusumano, Philip May and Douglas Sensenig

For more 2014 Elections and Government Relations news, read NSSF's latest Government Relations Update.

Legal

  • NSSF FILES BRIEF IN CALIF. HANDGUN AMMO CLASSIFICATION CASE . . . NSSF has filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the California Supreme Court in support of overturning the state's new mandates regulating so-called "handgun ammunition." At issue is California AB 962's incomprehensibly vague definition of handgun ammunition that would ban mail order sales and require all purchases to be registered. NSSF's brief argues that the statutory language fails to provide law-abiding firearms retailers with proper notice of their statutory obligations, which could lead to their potential prosecution. NSSF further argues that state and federal constitutional rights would be impermissibly burdened if the California Supreme Court upholds enforcement of these statutes. Read the NSSF brief.

  • NSSF ARGUES AGAINST CBD ON LEAD AMMUNITION REGULATION . . . NSSF recently appeared before a federal appellate court to support the Environmental Protection Agency's rejection of the Center for Biological Diversity's serial petitions seeking to ban traditional ammunition made with lead components. The EPA has twice denied attempts by CBD and anti-hunting groups to have the agency regulate traditional ammunition. Both agency denials were upheld by the same federal district court in 2011 and 2013. NSSF intervened to defend the interests of industry, target shooters and sportsmen in both cases and did so again when CBD appealed the 2013 dismissal of their lawsuit to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The CBD erroneously believes that adding radical anti-hunting groups to its new petition will somehow overcome Congressional intent that the EPA does not have authority to regulate lead ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act. A decision is not expected until spring.

SHOT Show

  • http://nssf.org/share/images/Capitol_150.jpgUPCOMING DEADLINES FOR 2015 SHOW . . . November is a busy time for everyone with the upcoming holidays, but there's no rest for the weary when it comes to organizing the 2015 SHOT Show. With the show less than three months away, there are several deadlines crucial to exhibitors and advertisers. Read more.

  • DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR SHOT SHOW SESSIONS . . . You can always sign up to attend events like SHOT Show University and Retailer Seminars after you've registered to attend the 2015 SHOT Show. We're constantly adding new seminars and other educational events important to our members. To sign up for those you need, simply click here and log in with the username and password you created when you registered to attend the show. Forget your username and password? Call SHOT Show customer assistance at 203-426-1320 ext. 300 or email regmgr@shot.convexx.com. Don't miss out on the events you need to grow your business, learn more at shotshow.org.

  • 2015 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY TICKETS GOING FAST . . . The highlight of SHOT Show for many attendees is the NSSF's State of the Industry Dinner. Held the first evening of the opening of SHOT Show, this year's event promises to have dinner guests rolling in the aisles with laughter, courtesy of the unbeatable humor of Jay Leno. Most people are familiar with Leno's everyman style from his work as the host of the Emmy Award-winning "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Tickets for the State of the Industry Dinner are one of the most highly requested items at every SHOT Show, so tickets sell out fast. Learn more and get your tickets today!

Read the SHOT Show Blog for all of the latest SHOT Show news.

Research

  • NSSF-ADJUSTED NICS BACKGROUND CHECKS . . . The October 2014 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System figure of 1,174,797 is the highest October on record for the 16-year-old system, with an increase of 5.5 percent compared to the October 2013 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,113,818. For comparison, the unadjusted October 2014 NICS figure of 1,595,898 reflects a 5.0 percent decrease from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,679,099 in October 2013. To learn more about last month's NICS report, log in to the member side of nssf.org.

  • EXCISE TAX OBLIGATIONS DOWN 22.6% IN SECOND 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 $173.5 million in the 2nd calendar quarter of 2014; down 22.6 percent over the same time period reported in 2013. Additionally, using the latest tax liabilities reported as an indication of sales, a projection of $1.88 billion was generated for the 2nd Calendar Quarter of 2014. Read more.

Retailers

  • ATF Q&A . . . While you might have seen these two ATF Q&As in the past, we keep getting questions relating to these two topics. The first question revolves around the NICS check process for a special-ordered firearm and the second question involves an FFL who has an employee who became a prohibited person and whether or not that employee can still work at the gun store. Click on the links to find the answers.

  • UPDATE ON NEW NICS . . . On Friday, FBI/NICS operations in Clarksburg, West Virginia, provided a brief update for all federally licensed firearms retailers on enhancements to capabilities being planned for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Read the update.

Members

  • DID YOU KNOW? . . . NSSF Retailer Members receive an impressive discount on a complete software system that manages all areas of a firearm/sporting goods retail operation. The system integrates point-of-sale, inventory management, warehouse, distribution center, allocation, e-commerce, data mining and more, and includes reporting features that are within the ATF's requirements, replacing the need for bound log books. Learn more

News of Note

  • HUNTERS' DONATIONS OF VENISON = 11 MILLION MEALS . . . NSSF last week reminded readers and viewers nationwide about the longstanding generosity of hunters, who annually donate enough game meat to provide 11 million meals to people in need. The venison donations provide a valuable source of protein that food banks and shelters cannot afford to purchase. NSSF provides a video on how venison donations are made to charitable food organizations and an infographic detailing the benefits of hunters sharing their harvests. NSSF's Share The Harvest website includes information on how to make a donation.

  • COLLEGIATE REGIONAL ATTRACTS 131 SHOOTERS FROM 9 UNIVERSITIES. . . Hailing from nine universities, 131 student-athletes participated in the seventh annual Southeast Collegiate Invitational Regional Championship Shoot, sponsored by the Scholastic Clay Target Program, Jacksonville University and the Jacksonville Skeet & Trap Club October 18-19. Competition took place in American skeet, American trap, international wobble trap and sporting clays. Emmanuel College was the high overall team by four targets over runner-up Jacksonville University. SCTP provided $40,000 in endowment funding for the event, to be deposited into the teams' endowment accounts at MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc.

  • AFRICAN LION NOT CONSIDERED 'ENDANGERED' . . . Last week the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would propose that the African lion not be listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. After a comprehensive review of the species' status, the Service concluded "Sport-hunting was not found to be a threat to the species at this time." The species does merit listing as threatened, however, due in part to loss of habitat and its prey-base. Read more from the Safari Club International Foundation.

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  • NEARLY ALL MANUFACTURERS MUST REGISTER WITH DDTC . . . Manufacturers of firearms, firearms accessories, components or ammunition are required to register with the U.S. State Department's Directorate of Trade Controls (DDTC) and pay a $2,250 annual fee, unless their products fall within a narrow set of exceptions. This also applies for makers of suppressors, suppressor components, military-grade sights or scopes or other attachments or accessories to covered firearms. For practical purposes, all firearms are covered except for non-combat shotguns with barrel lengths of 18 inches or longer, BB and pellet guns, and muzzle-loading firearms. The only accessories not covered are riflescopes and sighting devices not made to military specifications or accessories and attachments such as slings, belts and cleaning kits that do not enhance the usefulness, effectiveness or capabilities of the firearm or covered component. The only ammunition not covered is sporting shotgun ammo. Read more. Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members.

Jobs

  • FIREARMS INDUSTRY JOBS . . . Visit 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.


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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