'Operation Choke Point' Legislation Introduced

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) on Thursday introduced the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act, to address Operation Choke Point. The legislation most notably protects firearms and ammunition industry members by making clear that "reputational risk" cannot be reason enough for banks to terminate a customer's financial service. We have heard from NSSF members about banking relationships being terminated and many of those examples referenced the "reputational risk" of doing business with companies in the firearms and ammunition industry. Read a summary of the bill.

 

U.S. House Passes NSSF Supported Duck Stamp Price Increase

The U.S. House this week passed H.R. 5069, the Federal Duck Stamp Act of 2014, introduced by U.S. Rep. John Fleming (R-LA). This bill raises the price duck hunters over the age of 16 are required pay for a stamp to $25 from the current $15, its price since 1991. The Senate still has to act on the legislation before the end of the year for it to become law. If passed, and signed into law, this bill would benefit hunters through an increase of more than $100 million dollars for wetland conservation, which is why NSSF is an advocate for the bill.

 

Rep. Labrador's Bill for Shooting Range Acreage Passes

On Tuesday, H.R. 5040, the Idaho County Shooting Range Land Conveyance Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) was passed by the House of Representatives. This bill will transfer 31 acres of Bureau of Land Management land to Idaho County for use as a shooting range. NSSF applauded Congressman Labrador's continuing effort to promote and protect the shooting sports and wrote a letter of support for the bill.

 

Florida to Allow Hunting with Suppressors, Ohio Considering

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission today voted unanimously to repeal the state's 57-year ban on hunting with suppressors. Effective immediately, Florida hunters will be allowed to use sound suppressors on firearms while hunting deer, gray squirrels, rabbits, turkey, quail and crows. Florida now joins 32 other states in allowing the use of suppressors for hunting all game animals.

Meanwhile, a committee of the Ohio State Senate will likely consider legislation next week that would repeal that state's current prohibition on hunting with firearm suppressors. Originally scheduled to be heard this week, consideration was delayed to allow legislators time to gather more information. The measure passed in the Ohio House of Representatives earlier this year.

NSSF supports legislation allowing the use of suppressors in hunting. For more information, see http://www.nssf.org/factsheets/PDF/Suppressors.pdf

 

NSSF Seeks More Time on Calif. Lead Ammo Ban Implementation

NSSF is urging the California Fish and Game Commission to allow the industry time to develop more alternatives and increase the supply of non-traditional ammunition, rather than continue on the current fast-track path to implementing AB711, the California law outlawing the use of traditional lead component ammunition in hunting. Read NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane's recent letter to the commission.

 

Gun Control Super PAC Vows to Come Back

The gun control Super PAC, Americans for Responsible Solutions (ARS), run by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, expended almost $11 million on this year's mid-term elections with very little to show for it. Half of the candidates the group supported lost their elections. These results are not unexpected as national support for gun control measures has significantly decreased. But ARS has already vowed to again make gun control an issue in 2016, claiming they collected valuable data from voters that will be very useful for them in the next elections. Read the NSSF's Larry Keane's blog post.

 

'Smart Guns' back in the News This Week

Authorized-user technology is back in the news this week. Two anti-gun groups, the Brady Campaign and the Mercer County, NJ chapter of Million Mom March, are suing New Jersey to enforce the state's so-called "smart gun" law. Under the 2002 law, the state will prohibit the sale of firearms without authorized-user technology three years after a "smart gun" is commercially available anywhere in the U.S.

On the federal level, the National Institute of Justice published a notice in the Federal Register this week, calling on information from developers of such technology to "submit an expression of interest in the forthcoming Gun Safety Technology Challenge and provide information about their products or technology." This information is due by Jan. 5, 2015.

 

Sheriff David Clarke Jr. to Attend SHOT Show

NSSF is pleased to report that Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke Jr. will be attending the 2015 SHOT Show in Las Vegas this coming January. Sheriff Clarke has received national media attention as a strong proponent of the Constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and their families.

 

What Do You Need to Record for Dispositions in Your A&D Book?

content provided by

The ATF required Book of Acquisition and Disposition is specific. It dictates the information fields, the specific format that must be followed and, among other things, it determines the timing of when entries must be made. To ATF, the A&D Book's importance is directly connected to the bureau's ability to trace firearms through the National Tracing Center, when needed. There is a typical path that the firearms industry follows in the lifecycle of a regulated firearm: Manufacturer/Importer - Wholesaler or Distributor - Retailer or Dealer - and then to the non-licensed customer. (Read More) Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members.

 

Learn more about our industry's Political Action Committee: