Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) speaks during a meeting of Senate Democrats with sportsmens' groups. NSSF president Steve Sanetti shown at right.

NSSF President Steve Sanetti, together with leaders of several prominent hunting and traditional conservation advocacy organizations met this week in the U.S. Capitol with the  Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee to discuss legislative priorities for sportsmen. Already passed by the House of Representatives, the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act, S. 1996, still awaits action in the Senate.

In response to a question from Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) concerning the nation's retail shortage of ammunition, Sanetti took the opportunity to explain that demand from a growing number of recreational shooters was driving unprecedented demand.  He also reminded the senators that those sales were providing increased funding for state conservation projects through the Pittman Robertson federal excise taxes collected from manufacturers. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) quickly expressed appreciation for that answer since Internet-fed rumors continue to circulate that federal governments ammunition purchases have been draining the ammunition supply from the civilian marketplace.

 

User-authorized technology for firearms, what political proponents and the media like to call "smart guns", are very much in the news. As the industry's trade association, NSSF both responds to reporters' questions on the topic and seeks to correct mistakes, exaggerations and incorrect assumptions in news stories and commentary. This week, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane, responded to a Washington Post editorial calling for New Jersey to immediately implement its nascent law mandating the technology for handguns sold in the state. Read the Letter to the Editor. See the NSSF fact sheet on "Smart Guns."

 

NSSF Praises Sunday Hunting Passage in West Virginia Counties

Voters in West Virginia on Tuesday approved ballot measures to allow hunting on private property on Sundays in five counties -- Braxton, Calhoun, Nicholas, Webster and Wirt. The ballot measure was turned down only by voters in Lewis and Gilmer counties, the latter by an unofficial total of a mere 30 votes. Tuesday was the first time that Sunday hunting has been put before voters in more than a decade. The West Virginia legislature in 2002 authorized Sunday hunting on private land statewide if voters in each county approved. Soon after the legislation was passed, 41 counties immediately prohibited Sunday hunting. Read the NSSF press release.

 

Sunday Hunting on More Public Land Cleared in Maryland

There will be more Sunday hunting on public land in western Maryland after the signing into law of two bills on Thursday. State game managers are now authorized to allow Sunday deer hunting for the first time on designated public land in Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties. Sunday deer hunting on private land was already allowed in those counties. The Maryland Ornithological Society and the Maryland Horse Council had opposed the bills.

 

Jersey City Firearm Procurement Policy draws NSSF Response

The newly enacted policy of the Jersey City, New Jersey, municipal administration to require its police department's firearms suppliers to provide detailed information about their business practices this week attracted the attention of the Wall Street Journal. Under the policy, companies that do not comply with the city's questionnaire process are not allowed to submit bids to supply the city police department with an estimated $500,000 worth of rifles, handguns and ammunition. NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane told guns.com that "The questions being asked display a profound ignorance of firearms public policy issues and what members of our industry do to cooperate with law enforcement. We think it is wrong to politicize the purchasing of law enforcement equipment. Police departments should be able to purchase the equipment that meets the needs of their officers."

 

Illinois Anti-Gun Legislator Seeks Extensive Ban

On Tuesday, Illinois State Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-33) introduced SB3659, which is the most extensive piece of anti-gun legislation seen so far this year. Under this bill, nearly all firearms would have to be registered (for an undetermined fee) or turned in to the police. Kotowski's bill also contains a provision that licenses and registers all gun owners in Illinois. Additionally, the bill seeks a ban on all magazines having a capacity exceeding 10 rounds and imposes large fines and prison sentences for the possession of such magazines for AR-15s and other modern sporting rifles. NSSF is working to defeat this legislation well before it has a chance for a vote. We will keep you updated on its progress.

 

Calif. Fish & Wildlife Sets Second Public Workshop on Lead Ammo Ban Implementation for June 3 in Eureka

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the second public workshops to discuss implementation of the state's traditional lead ammunition ban to be held June 3 in Eureka at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, 921 Waterfront Drive, from 7-8:30 p.m. The first public workshop, held in Ventura in April, was poorly publicized. Workshops feature a CDFW representative detailing the proposed implementation plan, after which public comments are heard.

Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 711 requiring the Fish & Game Commission to adopt regulations to ban lead ammunition for hunting no later than July 1, 2015, with full implementation to occur no later than July 1, 2019. Final recommendations to the Fish and Game Commission will be made in September.

Additional workshops are being discussed for Redding, Sacramento, Fresno and San Diego. Individuals and organizations also may email comments to wildlifemgmt@wildlife.ca.gov (Use "Non lead implementation" in subject line) or send correspondence to: CDFW, Wildlife Branch, Attn: Non lead implementation, 1812 9th St., Sacramento, CA 95811.

 

Microstamping Lawsuit Oral Arguments Postponed Again

A Fresno, California, Superior Court judge this week again postponed, this time until May 21, oral arguments in the lawsuit brought by NSSF and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) against the State of California to prevent enforcement of the state's microstamping statute. The state statute being challenged was enacted in 2007, but not made effective until May 2013, requires that all semiautomatic handguns sold in the state not already on the California approved handgun roster incorporate unproven and unreliable microstamping technology.

 

Humane Watch Blows Whistle on Hefty HSUS Off-Shore Investments

Readers of USA Today this week viewed the latest effort of the Humane Watch organization to bring attention to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and its scandalously misleading fund-raising efforts through a full-page ad. It seems HSUS, which pursues an aggressive anti-hunting agenda, has $26 million in offshore investments. That's money that is doing nothing to save animals in shelters across America. From Maine to California, NSSF often finds itself battling the well-financed anti-hunting voices of the HSUS.

 

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