ATF Withdraws Plan to Ban 5.56 'Green Tip'
Ammo After Overwhelming Citizen,
Congressional Response

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced Tuesday it would not move forward with its proposed framework to ban commonplace 5.56 M855 "green tip" ammunition while it reviews almost 90,000 comments it received. ATF will accept more comments through Monday, March 16. NSSF will continue to discuss with ATF the issues that led to the now withdrawn proposal. Our industry members hope to meet consumer demand by bringing alternative ammunition products to the market and continuing to sell the popular M855 rifle target ammunition. NSSF strongly urges ATF to grant 32 long-pending petitions to exempt alternative rifle ammunition designed and intended for the hunting market.

• NSSF Thanks Congressional Leaders . . . NSSF today issued a press release expressing the industry's profound thanks to U.S. Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas), U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) for the pivotal leadership roles each played in working to convince ATF to forestall the effort to introduce a new regulatory framework that would have banned the manufacturing and sale of M855 ammunition, which is widely used by law-abiding Americans for target shooting and hunting. NSSF worked closely with Culberson, Goodlatte and Grassley.

• A Win for the Second Amendment . . . "The strength of people who support and take their Second Amendment rights seriously has never been stronger," Larry Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, told the Washington Times following the ATF announcement. "I frankly don't think ATF had much choice in the matter. It was clear that Congress was not going to let it go forward."

• No Framework, No Rulings on Pending Requests, Jones Says . . . In testimony Thursday in front of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, ATF Director B. Todd Jones said that the bureau would not act on more than 30 requests (pending for more than three years) for sporting use exemptions sought by ammunition makers for various non-traditional ammunition designs without a new regulatory framework in place. ATF has acknowledged these petitions are for the hunting market, which ATF regards as a "traditional sport." Jones's remarks came in response to questioning from committee Chairman Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) whose committee has jurisdiction over the ATF budget. Said Jones, "…our request for input on a framework was our effort to try and get a transparent process (so) that we could act on the nearly 30 other exemptions that were there and not sort of not look at the exemption that was out there on M855." NSSF attended this hearing and will report on further developments in light of the director's remarks.

 

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 to attend this crucial Fly-In.

 

Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act Gets First Senate Hearing

The first hearing on the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015, an NSSF legislative priority, was held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Thursday. Co-sponsored by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act is a package of pro-sportsmen's legislation designed to safeguard and promote America's hunting and fishing traditions and to enhance the role of hunters, shooters and anglers as preeminent supporters of wildlife conservation. The legislation enjoys strong support from both sides of the political aisle.

NSSF priorities addressed in the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act include protecting the traditional use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle by American hunters and anglers, the removal of impediments to the use of Pittman-Robertson funds for shooting ranges and a significant number of provisions to enhance and expand hunting, shooting and fishing access on lands administered by the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture. Contact your Senators and ask them to support the Bipartisan Sportsmen Act of 2015.

 

Gun Ownership Declining? Don't Believe It

While an Associated Press story this week selectively cited the latest General Social Survey (GSS) finding that gun ownership has declined in recent years, several other sources show Americans are embracing gun ownership. As NSSF President Steve Sanetti points out in a blog post reprinted by the Daily Caller, the GSS is in reality counting the number of individuals willing to disclose to a stranger at their front door how many firearms they own.

 

President Obama Credited with $10B in Gun, Ammo Sales

Add The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog to the growing list of sources that credit President Obama with being the best salesman for firearms and ammunition that the country has seen since Samuel Colt. Using a simple linear trend analysis based on NSSF-supplied data, writer Philip Bump calculated the difference between sales projections and what actually happened at the cash register, noting "… it's about a $10 billion increase through the third quarter of last year. Much of that came in late 2012 and early 2013, when gun advocates were worried about new control measures…" Read the blog post.

 

The President's Exaggerated Anti-Gun Claims Exposed

President Obama "was playing fast and loose with his language" in recent remarks to college students in South Carolina, the Washington Post's fact checker has concluded. "There's little excuse for the claim that in some neighborhoods, it is easier to buy a gun than vegetables — or to say he's 'not exaggerating' when he claims that some people have proposed laws that would allow machine guns in bars," writes the Post's Glenn Kessler. The President won three "Pinocchios" for his latest off-the-cuff, anti-gun commentary.

 

Suppressor Bills Pass Iowa House, Get Minn. Hearing

The Iowa House of Representatives this week gave its approval to an omnibus pro-gun bill containing language that 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. HF 527 received overwhelming support (75-24-1) and generated zero debate. The Iowa Senate will likely consider a similar bill (SF 425) in the coming weeks.

Additionally, a Minnesota bill that would legalize suppressor ownership and authorize their use for hunting was approved by the committee of jurisdiction and will now head to the House floor for a vote. House File 1434, supported by NSSF, includes a "shall sign" provision, which would require chief law enforcement officers to certify NFA applications within 15 days of receipt, unless the applicant is found to be a prohibited person.

 

Colo. Magazine Ban Repeal Passes Committee

In Colorado, SB-175, a bill to repeal the state's ban on ammunition magazines with more than a 10-round capacity, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a party line vote on Monday. The hearing lasted approximately 4.5 hours. The bill is scheduled to be heard on second reading in the Senate on March 16. Gov. John Hickenlooper said in an interview this week that he would veto SB-175 if it made it to his desk, which is unlikely given that the House is expected to defeat the measure.

 

Serial Number Inventory Control and Regulation

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It's an unfortunate circumstance when a manufacturer, importer or dealer is the victim of a robbery, but what about loss arising from inventory discrepancies? FFLs have had a long-standing obligation to report in a "timely" manner, but what exactly does that mean and what does an inventory entail? In this Orchid Advisory learn more about differentiating between the concepts of an "Inventory Balance" and your Book of Acquisition and Disposition (the "A&D Book"). They aren't the same thing. Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members.

 

Compliance Conference May 11-13 in Orlando

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.

 

Tell Congress to Stop the Ambush Election Rule

In the coming days, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Senate's resolution of disapproval expressing their discontent with the procedures that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued. Congress is displeased with the NLRB proposal to change union election procedures, also known as the "ambush election" rule. S.J. Res.8 sends a strong message to the White House that Congress does not support this NLRB rule. NSSF is supporting the National Association of Manufacturers in urging our members to contact their Members of Congress and urge them to vote in favor of S.J.Res. 8 when it comes to the floor.

 

Thank You to Our Latest NSSF PAC Contributors

President's Club ($5,000): No new contributors to report
Cabinet Club ($2,500 or more): No new contributors to report
Capitol Club ($1,000 or more): Bryan Rommel
Caucus Club ($500 or more): James Boyce
Congressional Club ($250 or more): Susan Lorusso
Industry Club (up to $249): Gary Rogers

 

Learn more about our industry's Political Action Committee: