NSSF Represents Industry at State Legislators Conference

NSSF's Elizabeth Karameighan and Jake McGuigan at the NCSL Conference.

This week NSSF sent a team to the National Conference of State Legislators' (NCSL) annual legislative conference in Minneapolis. Throughout this event, we had the opportunity to speak with state legislators and staff members from across the country. The NSSF FixNICS campaign was again a top priority this year as we explained how the states must ensure that all appropriate records, including adjudicated mental health records, are sent to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The FixNICS message resonated well during our conversations with legislators from both parties and their key staffers about the challenges facing the industry in their states.

 

Nevada Group Promotes Background Checks Ballot Initiative

A Nevada group this week began a campaign to collect signatures for a proposed 2016 ballot initiative to expand background checks to cover private transfers of firearms, with limited exceptions. State Sen. Justin Jones, D-Las Vegas, who sponsored expanded gun background check legislation in the 2013 session, is a leading proponent of the ballot measure. While Jones' bill, SB221, passed both houses of the Nevada Legislature, it was subsequently vetoed by Gov. Brian Sandoval.

 

Conn. Bar Association Deadlocks on Gun Law Defense

Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) members this week deadlocked in a referendum vote on whether to reverse the decision of the organization's leadership to support the defense of Connecticut's highly restrictive gun control law in the Shew v. Malloy lawsuit pending in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "We are lawyers who should respect all points of view and leave the politics and/or 'nanny state' activity to other organizations with a political agenda. The bar association is not running for office. Please put a stop to this foolish and aggravating adventure," wrote Hartford lawyer and former Democratic state Chairman John Droney.

The final vote announced Wednesday afternoon was so close that CBA President Mark Dubois wrote members, "I am ruling that the referendum vote will be called as tied. I do not feel that the best interests of the CBA would be served going forward without a clear and empirically defensible result. Accordingly, I have decided not to sign the brief prepared by the Brady Center in support of the Appellee in the matter of Shew v. Malloy."

 

About Half of N.J. Residents Agree with Christie's Veto of Further Magazine Capacity Limit

Some 49 percent of New Jersey residents surveyed agree with Gov. Chris Christie's recent decision to veto legislation that would have reduced the ammunition magazine capacity from 15 to 10 rounds. The Rutgers-Eagleton survey of residents in the Garden State revealed 42 percent favored Christie signing the measure with 9 percent uncertain. In vetoing the bill, Christie had said it "simply defies common sense to believe that imposing a new and entirely arbitrary number of bullets that can be lawfully loaded into a firearm will somehow eradicate, or even reduce, future instances of mass violence." The governor instead called for a series of changes to New Jersey's mental health system to help prevent future. Read a news account.

 

ATF Announcement on Marking Variance Applications

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has announced that on September 2 the processing of applications for alternate means of identification of firearm(s) (marking variance), ATF Form 3311.4 and letter applications will transition from the Firearms Industry Programs Branch to the Firearms Technology Branch (FTB). See the ATF announcement.

 

I Do Not Export, Does ITAR Apply to Me?

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Did you know that firearms manufacturers, component suppliers and even engineering firms may need to register as a manufacturer with the U.S. Department of State and comply with the export rules of the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) even if they never ship product outside the United States? The requirement to register depends on whether a business manufactures components for firearms listed on the United States Munitions List. Read the latest advisory to learn more. Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members.

NOTE: NSSF is exploring several options to try to address this onerous registration requirement for members of our industry that do not export. This is one reason why we supports the Export Control Reform initiative which would end the need to register and pay a burdensome fee.

 

Police Charity Raffling Semiautomatic Rifle, Pistol

In California, deputy sheriffs' associations recently sold raffle tickets on behalf of the California Fraternal Order of Police Foundation, which is seeking to establish a fund to assist the families of slain or seriously injured police officers. The grand prize was an AR-15 rifle modern sporting rifle. Second prize was a Beretta 92FS pistol. While this type of raffle is not unusual, because the fundraiser was held in California it drew criticism. Also, if a member of the public and not a police officer wins first prize, he or she will get the cash value of the rifle, not the actual firearm. Read a news account.

 

Visit GUNVOTE for the Latest 2014 Election Information

With November's local, state and federal elections fast approaching, NSSF would like to remind all its members and the shooting public about our GUNVOTE initiative. Simply go to nssf.org/gunvote for up-to-date news on political races important to our gun rights. You'll also find RSS feeds to Senate, House and Governor races, as well as links for voter registration, absentee voting information, polling places in your area and more. We also encourage all our members to download the free GUNVOTE button for use on websites, blogs and marketing materials. Don't Risk Your Rights—Get out the GUNVOTE.

 

PAC Note: Corporate Members Should Return Prior Approval Forms

The upcoming mid-term elections will determine which party will control the U.S. Senate.  Now is the time to make sure you are informed about those candidates who will protect our rights and support our industry. If you are an NSSF corporate member, the only way the NSSF PAC can keep you abreast on political developments is if you complete and return your prior approval form.  Without it, we can't send you the latest political news and information you need to know. So please return your prior approval form.

 

Learn more about our industry's Political Action Committee: