Ammo Ban Plan Energizes Congress and Public

The American public's reaction and continuing media attention to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) mission on behalf of the Obama Administration to ban widely-used 5.56 M855 "Green Tip" has been truly impressive. NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane was a guest on the prime-time Fox News Channel program The Kelly File to explain the industry's perspective. Here is a summary of the activity:

• House Letter Signed by Impressive 239 Members . . . More than half of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives, some 239 in all, have signed a letter to ATF Director B. Todd Jones opposing the Obama administration's effort to ban "Green Tip" ammunition. The House letter calls into question the reasoning, manner and fast-track timing behind the bureau's recent announcement. The effort was led by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chairman of the Judiciary Committee. U.S. Senators have undertaken a similar effort signing on to a strongly worded letter to Jones questioning the bureau's authority to end the exemption for M855 ammunition under the sporting purposes test that has been in effect since 1986. The Senate letter was originated by Charles Grassley (R-Iowa).

• The White House Sneak Play . . . A late Friday news dump before a holiday weekend is a sure sign that extra effort is being made to obscure something big. And such is the case with the ATF's proposal to end the sporting use exemption for M855 ammo. "The proposed change represents a massive overreach by the Obama administration," writes the NSSF's Larry Keane. "It confirms that the White House is willing to try virtually anything to pursue its gun control agenda in defiance of Congress and existing law. This time they are hiding in plain sight behind ATF and the agency's rule-making authority." Read more.

• Fish and Game Agencies Group Seek Deadline Extension . . .The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) is asking ATF to extend for another 90 days the deadline for comment on its controversial proposal to end the sporting purposes exemption for the "Green Tip" round.  The letter explains: "…the ATF Framework limits hunters' and shooters' alternative ammunition choices. Not only does this run the risk of decreasing interest and participation in these sports as ammunition choices become more limited and more expensive, but as participation potentially decreases, so do sales of taxable goods and hunting licenses, potentially decreasing funding available for AFWA's members to conserve fish and wildlife."Read the AFWA letter.  Earlier, NSSF also called for an extension of the comment deadline. Read the NSSF letter.

• Your Email Effort Needs to Continue . . . Industry employees, target shooters and gun owners should contact their Member of Congress and the ATF to oppose this unnecessary ban, which is truly a solution in search of a problem and raises serious questions about executive agency attitude and overreach. Stopped in their attempts to pass more gun control laws on Capitol Hill, this action appears to be the Obama administration's attempt to pursue gun control by other means. See the NSSF Action Alert and email ATF today. You should also email or Tweet your Member of Congress.

 

Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act Gains 12 Co-Sponsors

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) this week announced 12 new Republican and Democratic cosponsors to the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015, an NSSF legislative priority. The legislative package introduced in February includes a broad array of measures to enhance opportunities for hunters, anglers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts, reauthorize key conservation programs, improve access to public lands and help boost the outdoor recreation economy.

The new cosponsors are Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Angus King (I-Maine) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.). A hearing on the provisions of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act under the jurisdiction of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled for March 12 at 10 a.m. The text of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015 is available here. Urge your senators to support S. 405 by taking action here.

 

Register for April 22-23 Congressional Fly-In

Registration is open for the annual NSSF Congressional Fly-in, April 22-23 in Washington, D.C. This is a great opportunity for leaders from NSSF Voting Member companies and supporting distributor and manufacturing member companies, as well as leading retailers, to meet with members of Congress. At stake is passage of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act, the industry's top priority, as well as defeating President Obama's regulatory gun control agenda. To learn more about the importance of claiming a seat at the table, watch this short video. For security purposes, a full agenda including locations and information on how to book a room in the NSSF hotel block will be sent to you via email after you register. Register today if you plan to attend this crucial Fly-In.

 

Traditional Ammo Ban Legislation in Vermont

This week State Rep. Willem Jewett (D-Addison) introduced H.460, which seeks to ban the use of traditional lead ammunition in hunting in Vermont. H.460 would task the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement a ban on traditional ammunition as soon as practical. The legislation instructs the Commissioner to adopt rules and regulations concerning the use of ammunition in hunting by Jan. 1, 2016, and seeks a ban on all traditional ammunition with lead components by July 1, 2020 or sooner if the Commissioner so decides. NSSF will continue to work to defeat the bill and will report on any developments.

 

Iowa Pro-Gun Bills Include Legalization of Suppressors

Two omnibus pro-gun reform bills, HSB 201 and SSB 1251, this week were passed out of their respective committees in both houses of the Iowa state legislature. Each of the bills would legalize the manufacture, sale, possession and use of firearm suppressors, while also imposing reasonable deadlines to ensure that individuals who are lawfully seeking to obtain a suppressor are able to do so in a prompt manner. HSB 201 and SSB 1251 contain additional provisions that NSSF supports.

 

Indiana Industry Protection Bill Awaits House Consideration

The Indiana General Assembly is currently considering Senate Bill 98, which would further protect those involved in the firearms industry, including firearms manufacturers, ammunition manufacturers and retailers, from third party liability lawsuits seeking money damages from manufacturers for the criminal acts of individuals. Two weeks ago, the Indiana Senate approved this measure by an overwhelming 37-11 majority. SB 98 has now been referred to the Indiana House of Representatives where it awaits a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee.

 

Calif. Retailer: Traditional Ammo Ban Hurts Conservation

In an op-ed in the Fresno Bee this week, California firearms retailer Barry Bauer explained that the upcoming implementation of the state law banning the use of traditional ammunition with lead components in hunting will produce a big spike in the cost of the limited supply of alternative ammunition and cause hunters to stay home. The result will be a decrease in conservation funding as fewer hunting tags are sold and less excise taxes from the sale of ammunition are collected. Read the op-ed.

 

Colorado Hearing to Repeal Magazine Ban Rescheduled

The Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a rescheduled hearing Monday at 1:30 p.m. in room 271 on SB15-175, which seeks to overturn the ammunition magazine capacity bill championed by Gov. Hickenlooper and former New York City Mayor Bloomberg. The legislation, which has bipartisan support in both chambers, would repeal statutory provisions banning "large-capacity" ammunition magazines and requiring identification marking on such magazines manufactured in Colorado. Colorado has already seen manufacturers depart the state after the bill was passed, led by magazine manufacturer Magpul that relocated production to Wyoming and its headquarters to Texas. NSSF will be supporting this legislation and will provide updates as it progresses.

 

Appeals Court Refuses to Enjoin Enforcement of City's Magazine Ban

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals this week, in the case of Fyock v. Sunnyvale, let stand a district court ruling by refusing to enjoin the City of Sunnyvale, California's ban on standard capacity magazines. NSSF filed a "friend of the court" brief in support of the injunction, which would have prevented the City from enforcing an ordinance prohibiting, with limited exceptions, the possession of ammunition magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds within city limits. The Ninth Circuit was careful to point out that its ruling had no bearing on the merits of the plaintiffs' case, which now returns to the district court for trial.

 

NSSF to Testify on Maryland Ballistics Imaging Repeal Bill

In NSSF's ongoing initiative to repeal the State of Maryland's ballistics imaging requirement, Jake McGuigan, director of state affairs, will be testifying on Tuesday alongside Delegate Seth Howard, who sponsored HB 39 to repeal the provision of law passed in 2000 that requires firearms manufacturers and dealers to submit bullet casings on new and used firearms to the now defunct Department of State Police ballistics imaging database.  The Maryland House Judiciary Committee 1 p.m. public hearing will consider this bill among other firearms bills. NSSF has worked to repeal this requirement ever since it was successfully removed from the books in New York a few years ago. Maryland is the only state in the country with this mandate, which is based on a flawed and defunded system unsupported even by the state police.

 

Connecticut Legislators Hold Hearing on New Bills

The Connecticut Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 10 a.m. in Room 2500 of the Legislative Office Building to address numerous firearms related bills. HB 6962 seeks to change the state's existing safe storage requirements and hold gun-owners liable for the criminal misuse of their stolen firearm. The bill would amend provisions concerning the safe storage of firearms and associated liability even for the storage of unloaded firearms and extend liability to any person, rather than only minors or residents ineligible to possess a firearm.

 

Federal Court Denies Stay in Interstate Handgun Sale Case

A federal court in Texas has denied the U.S. Department of Justice's motion to stay judgment in the case of Mance v. Holder, which earlier this month struck down the federal interstate handgun transfer ban as unconstitutional. The Department had sought a 60-day stay in which to consider whether it will appeal this ruling, although there is little question that the department will file an appeal due to the potential ramifications of this ruling. Once an appeal is filed, we expect the government to revisit its request and a stay likely will be issued for the duration of the appellate process. We will continue to keep you updated once the appeal is filed.

 

States Introduce Legislation to Create Tax-Free Holidays for Sportsmen

A number of states have introduced legislation that would create tax-free holidays on the sales of firearms and hunting supplies. Maryland, Texas and Tennessee have proposals in their respective state legislatures that would provide a small break for law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen during one or two weekends a year. This is not a new concept, however, as three states have implemented similar sales-tax holidays: Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina. NSSF strongly supports these measures as a way to encourage more law abiding Americans to exercise their rights to keep and bear arms and to participate in hunting and the shooting sports.

 

Optimizing Compliance Topic of May 11-13 Conference

NSSF and Orchid Advisors are sponsoring the annual Firearms Industry Compliance Conference, May 11-13 at the Marriott's Orlando World Center Resort. Discounted registration is available to all NSSF members. The 2015 conference brings together firearm manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, dealers and regulators such as the DOJ and ATF to answer the question, "How can I optimize compliance?" Larry Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel, explains, "NSSF is pleased to join with Orchid Advisors to co-sponsor this important and timely conference because it will offer the practical, operations-oriented solutions to our member base that we strive to provide." Register to attend.  Highlights from last year's event can be found on the Orchid Advisors website.

 

Do you have an ATF Compliance Contingency Plan?

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In a world full of unforeseen changes, it is always best to be prepared for those "worse-case-scenarios". Having a "Plan B" helps relieve the stress of trying to quickly scramble to fix the issue you are dealing with. ATF Compliance is no exception to this rule; the more "what-ifs" that you plan for, the more prepared you will be to face them and the smoother the process if/when you do. Read More. Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members.

 

ATF, NSSF Reward Helps Solve Oregon Theft Case

A joint ATF-NSSF reward has encouraged a citizen to provide information leading to an arrest in the theft of firearms from Wilbur Auction located in Wilbur, Oregon. In the early morning hours of Feb. 5, the FFL was burglarized and approximately 20 firearms including handguns, rifles, shotguns and AR-15 type lower receivers were stolen. ATF offered a reward of up to $5,000, which was matched by the NSSF for a total reward of up to $10,000. Most of the firearms have been recovered. Further information is being withheld pending disposition of the case. This reward is part of the ongoing national cooperative initiative between the ATF and NSSF to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms.

 

NSSF PAC 2014 Year in Review Now Available

The NSSF Political Action Committee's 2014 Year in Review is now available. Read about the significant accomplishments your industry's PAC had this past year, including the incredible success it had in the mid-term elections. More than 96 percent of the pro-industry, pro-Second Amendment and pro-sportsmen candidates the NSSF PAC supported won their elections. The coming year will present challenges for the industry as gun control groups develop new strategies to use their considerable resources to attack our cherished firearm freedoms, hunting and shooting sports traditions and our livelihoods. We must continue to stand our ground, be adaptable and support those who support us, especially with a drastically different political landscape expected on the horizon. For more information about the NSSF PAC visit nssfpac.org

 

Thank You to Our Latest NSSF PAC Contributors

President's Club ($5,000): Cassandra Arnold, Steve Urvan
Cabinet Club ($2,500 or more): No new contributors to report
Capitol Club ($1,000 or more): Robert Southwick
Caucus Club ($500 or more): No new contributors to report
Congressional Club ($250 or more): William Douglas
Industry Club (up to $249): Michael McAleenan, Jesse Poole

 

Learn more about our industry's Political Action Committee: