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Happy Holidays from NSSF
 All of us at the National Shooting Sports Foundation extend to you the warmest of holiday greetings. This year, in lieu of mailing printed holiday cards to our more than 10,000 members, we've made a donation of $10,000 on behalf of our entire membership to Honored American Veterans Afield. HAVA is an organization dedicated to the needs of returning disabled veterans and active duty personnel, whose healing and re-integration in American life can be substantially enhanced by participation in hunting and the shooting sports. We wish you a Merry Christmas, the happiest of holidays and a very prosperous New Year.
- HELP SUPPORT HAVA AT SHOT SHOW GOLF FUNDRAISER . . . Will you be in Las Vegas the Sunday before the SHOT Show? If so, NSSF and HAVA are hosting a charity golf event on Sunday, Jan. 18, at Bear's Best Las Vegas. The HAVA Invitational Golf Classic will be a strong statement of industry support for America's disabled veteran heroes as we enter the new year. Learn more and register yourself or a foursome today.
SHOT Show
 EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION PRICING NEARING DEADLINE . . . There are just a few weeks left for everyone planning to attend the 2015 SHOT Show to take advantage of the early-bird pricing that ends Jan. 13. NSSF Member Buyers and Manufacturer Reps utilizing this discount pay $35, and other qualifying non-buyer attendees pay $175. After Jan. 13, registration fees will move to $70 for NSSF Member Buyers and Manufacturer Reps, while all other qualified attendees will incur a registration fee of $350. Anyone interested in becoming an NSSF member must have their application to member services by Jan. 15 for NSSF member pricing to apply toward SHOT Show registration fees. To take advantage of the early-bird registration discount, go to shotshow.org/apply and complete your application.
- EXHIBITORS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND SHOT SHOW UNIVERSITY . . . Thanks to an outstanding lineup of topics and speakers, we've received numerous calls from exhibitor representatives asking to attend the 2015 SHOT Show University. Though SHOT Show University is generally geared toward firearms retailers, with the number of seat requests we received, we took a look at the panels and realized that there was indeed value in many of them for exhibitors at the show. Though NSSF has added additional seats to accommodate the many exhibitors wishing to attend SHOT Show University, seating is limited and this event will sell out. We encourage everyone to register for this event now. Read more.
- FINAL EXHIBITOR DEADLINES OF DECEMBER . . . December's long list of SHOT Show deadlines for Exhibitors is coming to an end, but not before Dec. 26. Deadlines for more than two-dozen booth setup items fall on this date, and with the hubbub of the holiday week and the actual Christmas day just the day before, this is a date that could easily slip by you. Note that many of these entries are for the last date exhibitors can access certain items at the reduced advanced rate. Starting Dec. 27, those advanced rates end, so be sure to get your orders in now. View the list of deadlines.
Read the SHOT Show Blog for all of the latest SHOT Show news.
Government Relations
- RECOUNT CONFIRMS CHALLENGER DEFEATED GABBY GIFFORDS' EX-AIDE . . . After a lengthy official recount in Arizona's 2nd Congressional District, it has been confirmed that Republican Martha McSally has defeated incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Ron Barber, who had worked on the staff of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. McSally won the seat by 167 votes, meaning that Republicans captured 13 seats in the midterm elections to make up the largest House majority for the GOP in several decades. Barber supported Giffords anti-gun agenda and his campaign benefited from more than $2 million spent by Giffords' Americans for Responsible Solutions organization in that race, more than four times what the group spent in any other House contest.
 U.S. SENATE APPROVES MURTHY AS SURGEON GENERAL . . . The U.S. Senate last week, on a nearly party-line vote, approved Dr. Vivek Murthy 51-43 to serve as U.S. surgeon general. NSSF announced this would be the first key vote for our recently-established candidate scorecard. Three Democrats, Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.) and Joe Manchin (W.V.) joined all (but one) Republicans in opposing Murthy. The politically active Harvard-educated physician had been opposed by Republicans for his pro-Obamacare activism, relatively short medical experience and for his statements terming guns a public health concern. Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) brought the nomination forward in the lame duck session when the vote could no longer affect the results in tight Senate races.
- ANTI-GUN STATE LEGISLATORS MEET IN WASHINGTON . . . A small group of state legislators from across the country recently gathered in Washington, D.C., to announce the creation of "American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention" or ASLGVP. But it seems more than a little funny that group that would call a press conference will not publicly identify its membership. Shouldn't their constituents know who they are? If a state legislator is afraid to reveal his or her affiliation, what does that say about the agenda? Read NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane's blog post.
 OHIO GOVERNOR SIGNS LAW ALLOWING USE OF SUPPRESSORS FOR HUNTING . . . As expected, Ohio Gov. John Kasich has signed into law a bill that will allow hunters to use lawfully possessed firearm suppressors for hunting. Ohio is the 34th state to allow suppressors to be used for the hunting of all game animals. NSSF supports efforts to remove restrictions on the use of suppressors for hunting and at shooting ranges. A number of other pro-gun provisions were added to the legislation, including allowing long gun purchases in non-contiguous states; requiring sheriffs to use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in processing concealed handgun license applications; recognition of all states' concealed carry permits; and requiring the chief law enforcement officer to process federal forms for NFA items just as they would for a CHL applicant. See the NSSF fact sheet on suppressors.
For more Government Relations news, read NSSF's latest Government Relations Update.
Members
 DID YOU KNOW? . . . SHOT Show University tickets are discounted for Retailer members and Premium Retailer members. Premium Retailer members also receive one free ticket for the event. SHOT Show University is the premier event for retailers, held the day before the official opening of the 2015 SHOT Show. Learn more.
Retailers
 DON'T MISS OUT ON THE 2015 SHOT SHOW UNIVERSITY . . . With the holidays almost upon us and SHOT Show just weeks away, NSSF Director, Retail Development Patrick Shay rounded up the stream of information available for the 2015 SHOT Show University and encourages all retailers and range owners to attend. He believes that this year's lineup of speakers and sponsors will bring more to the table than ever before, with ideas and discussions that will help everyone on the front lines of the firearms industry improve their businesses and meet the challenges of the year ahead. Read about SHOT Show University and sign up today.
- PENN. BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM GOES DOWN FOR 2 HOURS . . . A mid-day computer malfunction affecting all of the Pennsylvania State Police Internet-based systems took down the Instant Check System used by firearms retailers to authorize purchases for two hours last Wednesday, disrupting the busy holiday sales season. The Tribune Review of Pittsburgh reported the malfunction also caused a statewide outage that affected all state police email and telephone systems. Pennsylvania is one of a few states that mandate use of its own background check system instead of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
- E-CHECK HOURS EXTENDED FOR PEAK SEASON . . . To better serve your needs, the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section is offering extended hours of service through Dec. 27. The NICS E-Check will be available at 6 a.m. EST every Friday and Saturday, while the NICS Contracted Call Centers will be available during normal business hours, 8 a.m. - 1 a.m. EST.
- ATF Q&A . . . Two more great questions we received on our NSSF Compliance Hotline last week. Both questions have been featured in the past, but since we've received additional questions on these topics, we thought we'd present them again. The first question involves a police officer requesting an original 4473 form from an FFL and the second question relates to a customer wanting to use a passport for identification during a firearms purchase. Click on the links to find answers to these questions. 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/join.
Research
 UPDATED NSSF REPORT CITES LOWEST NUMBER OF ACCIDENTAL FIREARM FATALITIES . . . NSSF has posted its latest Industry Intelligence Report on firearms-related injury statistics. The 2012 Center for Disease Control and Prevention WISQARS accidental fatality data contained in the report is the latest available, having been updated recently on the CDC website last month, and shows the lowest number of unintentional firearm-related fatalities per year ever reported (going back to 1903). No password is necessary to access this important report bearing positive news about firearm safety, a topic NSSF and the firearms industry has long been dedicated to improving through programs such as Project ChildSafe, safety literature brochures and safety videos for schools. View and download the NSSF Firearms-related Industry Statistics Industry Intelligence Report.
Project ChildSafe
 VIDEO: GIVE THE GIFT OF FIREARM SAFETY . . . In his blog post, Steve Sanetti, who serves as chairman of Project ChildSafe Inc., encourages support for the national firearm safety education program, noting that $2 can buy the important gift of firearms safety by helping to put a gun lock in someone's hands to promote safe storage of firearms. He also introduces Project ChildSafe's new fundraising video featuring veteran, shooting sports champion, hunter and mom Julie Golob. Check out this video message from Julie.
News of Note
- HSUS PRESIDENT PACELLE CALLED OUT IN NEW VIDEO . . . The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) would have the public believe that the national organization exists to help them save the dogs and cats at their local animal shelters. But, as a new Humane Watch video shows, HSUS sends only 1 percent of its fundraising proceeds to shelters. HSUS investment accounts are overflowing while the group's elite leadership pursues its longstanding, incremental fight against hunting. NSSF has faced off against HSUS in several states and on the national level several times already, with more battles to come. We helped blow the whistle on HSUS tactics.
- OWAA OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLLEGE STUDENTS . . . The Outdoor Writers Association of America is accepting applications for its Bodie McDowell scholarship program for undergraduate and graduate-level college students from all communications and journalism disciplines. Undergraduate applicants must be entering their junior or senior years of study; graduate student applicants must have at least one remaining year of study. Approximately $24,000 in scholarships will be awarded in 2015. Each scholarship includes a one-year student membership with OWAA. Scholarships are for the 2015-16 academic year. Application deadline is March 2, 2015. Direct questions to info@owaa.org.
- USA SHOOTING YEAR IN REVIEW . . . With the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics visible on the horizon, the USA Shooting Team began a 20-month gauntlet of Olympic and Paralympic qualifying matches in 2014. The journey officially began with the July World Championship for Paralympic disciplines and a September World Championship and October continental championship for able-bodied. Rewards from those included five Olympic and two Paralympic quotas, 40 medals and four World Champions. Read more about USA Shooting's successful year.
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.
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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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