NSSF Works with Outgoing Congress; Welcomes New Members

The 113th Congress has returned to Washington following the mid-term 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 any and all developments. Attention will soon be turning to the new 114th Congress. Because NSSF works to represent the firearms and ammunition industry, and in that role to be an expert resource for Members and staff, we will be 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 Investigation

Both the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have told U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) that they will launch investigations into Operation Choke Point. The actions were promoted by letters sent in late October by Luetkemeyer and signed by more than 30 members of Congress requesting such probes.

Operation Choke Point was an operation in which the FDIC and DOJ sought to intimidate financial institutions from offering services to certain licensed, legally-operating industries in an attempt to choke off those industries from our country's banking system. These include the non-depository lending industry, ammunition and firearms sales, fireworks sales, tobacco sales, coin dealers, debt collectors, pawnbrokers and pharmaceutical sales "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.

 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission Denies Ammunition Petition

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission on Thursday, by a nearly unanimous 5-1 vote, denied a citizen petition requesting a regulation to prohibit the use of traditional ammunition for hunting all game wildlife within the state. NSSF thanks the commission for taking a rational and 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 economic impact on hunters and the state, impact to Colorado's economy, significant decrease in the Parks and Wildlife budget, and concerns regarding alternative ammunition availability. NSSF will continue to monitor the legislative and regulatory environment in Colorado for any future attempts to ban traditional ammunition.

 

NSSF Joins Appeal against Illinois City's MSR, Magazine Ban

This week, NSSF joined with 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 an ordinance passed by the City of Highland Park, Illinois that comprehensively bans both modern sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines. Taking a page out of the Windy City's playbook, Highland Park's ordinance would completely 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. The brief also discusses the utility and benefit of many common safety features of MSRs that are unlawful under Highland Park's ordinance.

 

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. With the decision by San Diego County Sheriff William Gore not to appeal the matter, the court rejected the 11th eleventh hour attempts to enter the case through the backdoor. NSSF will continue to report on developments. Read the decision.

 

No Ammo Purchase Background Checks In N.Y. this Hunting Season

New York State still does not have the information technology infrastructure in place to enable retailers to perform the mandatory background checks on ammunition purchases required by the state's SAFE Act, signed into law by Gov. Cuomo early in 2013. So, such checks cannot be implemented for this year's hunting season, state officials confirmed. Asked when will the system be ready, a spokesman said, "Pursuant to the SAFE Act, the system will be considered complete after the Superintendent of State Police certifies that it is operational and that all business processes are functioning as required." In other words, it will be ready when it's ready.

 

First Convictions under New Penn. Straw Purchase Law

Two women in separate cases were convicted this 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.

 

UN Convention Resolution Urges Traditional Ammo Phase Out

The international Convention on Migratory Species approved a resolution backing a "rapid phase out" of the use of traditional ammunition in all habitats. During its meeting in Ecuador, countries that have signed on to the 35-year old United Nation's Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) agreed to phase out traditional ammunition over the next three years. SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) and European partners were able to insert a change to the resolution, stating that, "it is for each Party to determine whether or how to implement the phase out of lead ammunition." No country in North America has signed the treaty.

 

What Features Should Your ITAR Compliance Program Contain?

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The first group of guidelines on the DDTC site directs 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? In the area of licensing, to whom does the person uploading license applications to DDTC report? The list goes on. DDTC's point is that all export-relevant functions should be identified and their relationships to one another mapped out in an accurate and comprehensible fashion. Read more. Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members.

 

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