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November 17, 2014

Vol. 15 No. 45

Violent Crime Rate Continues to Drop

DOWN 37% OVER PAST 20 YEARS . . . The FBI has released its annual Crime in the United States report, revealing that the country in 2013 saw the violent crime rate fall another 5.1 percent from the previous year, so it is now at its lowest since 1978. Delving a little deeper, the murder and manslaughter rate fell 4.4 percent to the lowest level since 1968. The continuing decrease in violent crime -- down 37.4 percent over the past 20 years -- comes at a time when firearms ownership has increased across America, a fact that utterly contradicts the mantra of anti-gun groups that more guns equals more crime. "Every firearms owner should be armed with this information," said NSSF President Steve Sanetti. Read more on the NSSF Blog.

NSSF Industry Summit

  • CALL FOR 2015 PRESENTATIONS . . . This is a reminder that presentation submissions for the 2015 NSSF Industry Summit breakout sessions are due by Dec. 4. The 2015 Industry Summit will be held on June 1-3, in Savannah, Georgia. View presentation topics, submit a presentation and find out more about the 2015 Industry Summit at nssf.org/industrysummit.

SHOT Show

  • NINE WEEKS AWAY; HOTEL ROOMS GOING FAST . . . Believe it or not, NSSF's 2015 SHOT Show is only nine weeks away. The industry's annual main event returns to Las Vegas Jan. 20-23. If you haven't already done so, get registered, make travel plans and sign up for all of the show's offerings at shotshow.org. As a reminder to everyone headed to the show, this year's event is falling at the same time as several other professional trade shows, and Las Vegas hotels will be packed that week. Don't delay in reserving your hotel rooms.

  • SHOT SHOW BLOG—TRENDING NOW . . . Get the latest information about SHOT Show events, speakers, seminars, meetings, products, exhibitors and more at the SHOT Show Blog. Trending topics now include Law Enforcement and LEEP seminars, newest speakers to the retailer event of the year, SHOT Show University and the second annual International Trade Center. Don't miss out on the SHOT Show news you need, subscribe now.

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

Government Relations

  • NSSF WORKS WITH OUTGOING AND NEW CONGRESS . . . The 113th Congress has returned to Washington following the midterm elections with a long list of unfinished business and little time left on the legislative calendar to accomplish it. NSSF is in daily communications with key members of both houses and staffers regarding bills and oversight functions of importance to the industry. We will keep you apprised of all developments. Attention will soon turn to the 114th Congress. Because NSSF works to represent the firearms and ammunition industry and, in that role, is an expert resource for Members and staff, we are one of the sponsors of a reception for new Members hosted by the closely read publication and website, The Hill. See the NSSF ad in The Hill's New Member Guide.


  • FDIC, DOJ COMMIT TO ‘OPERATION CHOKE POINT’ INVESTIGATIONS . . . The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Department of Justice have told U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) they will launch investigations into Operation Choke Point. The actions were promoted by letters sent by Luetkemeyer and signed by more than 30 members of Congress. Through Operation Choke Point, the FDIC and DOJ sought to pressure financial institutions from offering services to certain licensed, legally-operating businesses including firearms and ammunition. "The correspondence I received from the FDIC and DOJ is a great first step in ensuring that those responsible for Operation Choke Point are held accountable and that Congress and the American people receive details and answers they deserve," Luetkemeyer said. NSSF has been assisting the Congressman.

  • COLO. PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION DENIES AMMUNITION PETITION . . . The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission last week denied in a 5-1 vote a citizen petition requesting a regulation to prohibit the use of traditional ammunition for hunting all game in the state. NSSF thanks the commission for taking a reasoned approach to a tactic that is promoted by anti-hunting organizations, the Humane Society of the United States foremost among them. Commission members opposed the ban citing a lack of credible scientific evidence on a large enough sample size, potential cost to hunters, impact to Colorado's economy and concerns regarding alternative ammunition availability. NSSF will continue to monitor legislative and regulatory activity in Colorado for any attempt to ban traditional ammunition.

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

Legal

  • NSSF JOINS APPEAL AGAINST ILLINOIS CITY'S MSR, MAGAZINE BAN . . . NSSF last week joined seven manufacturers to file a friend of the court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in support of overturning a City of Highland Park, Illinois, ordinance that bans modern sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines. The ordinance would eliminate Second Amendment protections for commonly-owned MSRs and standard capacity magazines. By filing this brief, NSSF hopes to educate the court as to the benefits of the MSR and their common legal uses in today's society.

  • CALIF., BRADY CENTER INTERVENTION DENIED IN CONCEALED CARRY RULING . . . The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied last minute attempts by the State of California and the Brady Center to intervene in Peruta v. County of San Diego and have the case reheard by the full court. In February, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit struck down San Diego County's CCW "good cause" permit requirement as unconstitutional, confirming that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. The State and the Brady Center were never parties in the case nor had they previously sought to intervene. Read the decision.

Ranges

  • DID YOU KNOW? . . . Think your range is among the best? Here's your chance to show how good your range really is. NSSF developed its Four and Five Star Range Rating program for member ranges and only the very best facilities that demonstrate excellence in all aspects of management and operations qualify for this top honor. Learn more.

  • TENNESEE, TEXAS, VIRGINIA FACILITIES AWARDED NSSF FIVE STAR RANGE RATING . . . NSSF is pleased to announce that Top Gun Arms in Ethridge, Tennessee, Nardis Gun Club of San Antonio, Texas, and Silver Eagle Group in Ashburn, Virginia, have recently received NSSF’s prestigious Five Star Range Rating. “Though we receive many applications for Five Star Range ratings, it takes exceptional facilities like these three possess to make the grade,” said Zach Snow, NSSF Manager, Shooting Promotions. “They set the bar for customer service, their commitment to safety and education and their community outreach, in addition to the outstanding amenities they provide.” To learn more about NSSF’s Five Star Range rating, click here.

Retailers

  • 'TIS THE SEASON FOR GIFT CARDS . . . With the winter holidays approaching at a rapid pace, gift buying is about to be in full swing. Gift cards allow you to reach the non-firearms consumer and provide them a way to shop with you and they solve a lot of issues for a lot of people, but especially for people who are not “gun people.” Learn more.
  • ATF Q&A . . . Here are two of the many questions we received last week from our Retailer members on our compliance hotline. The first question relates to three-hole punching the sheets of your A&D Book and adding them to a three ring binder. The second question asks what you can do legally while conducting background checks on potential new employees. Click on the links to find the answers. Remember that the NSSF Compliance Hotline is provided solely for our members and is just one of the many great benefits NSSF Membership offers. View more information about joining NSSF at nssf.org.

  • FIRST CONVICTIONS UNDER NEW PENN. STRAW BUYING LAW . . . Two women in separate cases were convicted last week and face substantial jail time as the result of the newly enacted Pennsylvania law targeting straw purchasing of firearms. Named after Brad Fox, a police officer killed with an illegally purchased gun, the new law enables state prosecutors to bring straw purchasers to justice since federal officials often choose not to press charges against these individuals. NSSF has consistently urged prosecution of federal straw-purchase violations.

  • P-20 DEALERS MEET . . . The third group of Performance Oriented Dealers held their inaugural peer-review meeting with Miles Hall at Oklahoma City’s H&H Shooting Sports. The dealer P-20 groups, which consist of retailers from around the country representing more than $300 million in gross sales, share financial data, report buying trends, network and highlight business strategies to increase profits. Popular in other industries, such as the auto industry, these P-20 peer groups are the first of their kind in the shooting industry. Elected as Chairman of Group 3 was Richard (Dick) Abramson of Centennial Gun Club in Colorado and Vice Chair was Tricia Sisson with The Range at Lake Norman in North Carolina and The Range at Ballantyne in South Carolina. “The more you know, the more you can develop a better store,” said Hall.

Project ChildSafe

News of Note

  • KROENKE ACQUIRES INTERMEDIA . . . In a major consolidation of outdoor programming and content, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, owner of Outdoor Channel, announced it has acquired InterMedia Outdoors Holdings, Inc., from InterMedia Partners VII, L.P., a private equity investment fund. In 2012 and 2013, InterMedia attempted to acquire Outdoor Channel before KSE prevailed in the ownership contest. Intermedia’s assets include Sportsman Channel and 15 outdoor magazines and associated websites. KSE, controlled by Stan Kroenke, owner of the St. Louis Rams and Denver Nuggets, said it will continue to operate Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel as separate networks. “This is a highly complementary transaction that solidifies our leadership in the outdoor genre and strengthens our ability to serve our passionate and growing audience with a diverse range of content choices,” said KSE President and CEO Jim Martin.

  • OWAA URGES COMMENT ON FOREST SERVICE JOURNALIST GUIDELINES . . . Mark Freeman, president of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, reminds members and all outdoor media to weigh in on proposed changes by the Forest Service to require permits for commercial photography in federally designated wilderness areas. After a negative response from media when the proposals were announced, Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell issued a Nov. 4 letter of clarification. To encourage that Tidwell’s intentions are faithfully expressed in the rule changes and that journalists’ news-gathering activities are specifically exempted, journalists are urged to offer comment on the proposed rules in writing and at scheduled public meetings over the next two weeks. Written comments are due by Dec. 3 (extended from Nov. 3). Learn more.

    content provided by
  • FEATURES YOUR ITAR COMPLIANCE PROGRAM SHOULD CONTAIN . . . Guidelines on the DDTC site direct registrants to map out their organization structure and ITAR-related functions. There are several things going on here. One is to identify the "owners" within the organization of the functions that bear upon export compliance. Who is responsible for what? Who provides executive leadership? Who is responsible for denied party screening when it's required? Who is responsible for training? To whom does the person uploading license applications report? DDTC's point is that all export-relevant functions should be identified and their relationships mapped out in an accurate fashion. 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. "

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