Calif. Fish & Game Commission Begins Process to Ban Traditional Ammunition

As expected, the California Fish and Game Commission this week began the formal process, which will likely be completed in April, to approve regulations to implement AB711, the state law banning the use of traditional lead component ammunition in hunting. Commission President Michael Sutton, whose paid employment by the Audubon Society and Pacific Flyway project had been repeatedly challenged by NSSF for its clear conflict of interest under state law, finally decided to recuse himself for the vote. Once formally adopted, the initial regulation phase-in will begin in July 2015. The vote came the same week that NSSF was able to confirm that a federal official acted to withhold the results of a key study on blood lead levels in California Condors until after the state legislature voted to approve AB711. The report shows that the current ban on traditional ammunition is not resulted in lower blood lead levels in condors, because condors are accessing lead from sources other than ammunition.  NSSF had opposed passage of AB711 and since its enactment has been seeking more time before implementation to allow the industry to develop more alternatives and to increase supply of non-traditional ammunition. We will continue to keep you informed of developments.

 

Senate Approves Duck Stamp Price Increase

The U.S. Senate this week approved legislation to increase the Federal Duck Stamp price from $15 to $25, the first increase in 23 years. The bill, which NSSF with more than 30 other hunting and conservation groups worked to pass, had already been approved in the U.S. House so now goes to the President's desk. Proceeds from stamp sales are used to sustain waterfowl habitat. Since 1934, when the program went into effect, some $800 million has been raised to protect more than five million acres of habitat. The additional funds will benefit Duck hunters across the country. Read the Denver Post column about the benefits of this action.

 

Some Welcome Recognition for the Pittman-Robertson Act

The Pittman-Robertson Act sets an excise tax of 10 to 11 percent on the sale of guns and ammunition, and has been paid by manufacturers at the wholesale level for 80 years. Proceeds protect game species and their habitats, helping bring deer and elk back from the brink in areas in the East. But the funds also have provided refuge to many non-game species, like the Karner blue butterfly, as science writer Christie Ashwandan explains in How Skyrocketing Gun Sales Are Helping to Conserve Butterflies, one of the best articles we have seen in some time on this genuine American success story.

 

Black Friday Highest Ever, November Second Highest for NICS

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reports that it processed 175,754 transactions on Nov. 28, Black Friday, making the day the highest Black Friday ever and the second highest day in NICS history. That means an average of three transactions were processed every second, triple the normal daily volume. The highest day ever was Dec. 21, 2012 with 177,170 background checks. In a very welcome development, 74.66 percent of the federal checks were conducted via the E-Check, a secure internet connection, the highest total ever. NSSF has been encouraging retailers to use E-Check in order to get much faster approvals for their customers. Watch a CNN video on Black Friday firearms sales.

The November 2014 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,329,688 is the second highest November (following November 2012) on record for the 16-year-old system, with an increase of 1.7 percent compared to the November 2013 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,308,100. For comparison, the unadjusted November 2014 NICS figure of 1,797,163 reflects a 0.5 percent decrease from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,805,759 in November 2013. To learn more about last month's NICS report, log in to the member side of nssf.org.

 

Illinois City Responds in Suit against its MSR Ban

This week the City of Highland Park filed its response brief in the Seventh Circuit Court, arguing in support of its complete ban of modern sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines owned by millions of law-abiding and responsible gun owners for lawful purposes, including self-defense in the home and recreational and competitive target shooting. The city snubs its nose at the information NSSF provided in its friend of the court brief, contending that cosmetic features of MSRs look "criminal" and somehow make them more dangerous. These popular innovations allow for accurate and reliable handling and use of firearms by their owners and pose no risk to the public. If the city was truly concerned with advancing public safety, its time and resources would be better spent looking for real solutions to stopping actual criminals rather than imposing unnecessary, arbitrary restrictions that only serve to infringe upon the fundamental Second Amendment rights of honest, hardworking taxpaying gun owners residing in the city. There likely will be a reply brief filed next week, so we will keep you updated on this case. Read the response brief.

 

N.J. Attorney General: No Start to 'Smart Gun' Clock

The New Jersey Attorney General's office has issued an opinion that the Armatix iP1 handgun does not start the clock on that state's so-called "smart gun" law. "After careful consideration of the iP1's design, we have determined that it does not satisfy the statutory definition because, as a matter of design, the pistol may be fired by a person who is not an authorized or recognized user. That is, as long as the pistol is situated within 10 inches of the enabling wristwatch, it may be fired by anyone — the authorized user or any other person who is able to pull the trigger," according to the opinion. Read the opinion.

 

HSUS is Not Your Local Animal Shelter

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a shady, anti-hunting, anti-agriculture attack group that preys on the public's sympathy for pets and other animals in a deceptive ploy to advance its own extremist agenda. In addition to leading the effort to ban traditional ammunition so that it can ultimately outlaw hunting, HSUS only contributed 1 percent of its $120 million budget toward supporting pet shelters last year. But wait, there's more. Read Larry Keane's blog post.

 

Sheriff Clarke Will Attend 2015 SHOT Show

Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. NSSF 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. He has no patience for criminal activity and is never afraid to take on the anti-gun narrative. Watch a video of Sheriff Clarke.

 

Magpul Will Be Out of Colorado Completely in Early 2015

Ammunition magazine manufacturer Magpul Industries Corp. has purchased a West Austin, Texas, office building to relocate its corporate headquarters from Colorado. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is credited with attracting the company to Austin after Magpul's executives said they would move from Colorado when more restrictive gun laws were passed there in 2013. Magpul is moving manufacturing operations to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

 

ABC News Profiles Young Competitive Shooter

The ABC News Nightline program on Monday profiled Shyanne Roberts, an articulate 10-year-old competitive shooter from New Jersey, who has been in the news before, notably for testifying before a New Jersey General Assembly committee against more gun laws. While the story is about Shyanne, it showcases a prevailing anti-gun meme, namely that the firearms industry "must market to women and youth" because the traditional customer base is in such decline. Admitting her lack of familiarity with firearms and unhesitantly offering her own opinions, reporter Reena Ninan also suggests that federal laws are needed to govern the age at which youth should be allowed to handle firearms. It is not an unbalanced story and it uses NSSF-supplied research. The viewer's knowledge and experience likely will determine their takeaway. It is worth watching as a media case study. Watch the ABC News report.

 

Export Licensing 101 - What is DTrade?

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Previously, we promised to get into the nuts and bolts of exporting firearms and ammunition products as well as related technical data and defense services. The first step is to introduce you to DTrade. DTrade is the web-based portal used to apply for export licenses from DDTC. We have previously advised that if you manufacture firearms, firearms components, accessories or ammunition, you most likely need to be registered with DDTC. If you want to obtain an export license, you must be registered. Read more here. Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF Members.

 

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