House to Vote Next Week on Anti-Terrorism Package with Gun Buy Provision

The U.S. House of Representatives next week will vote on a legislative package aimed at fighting terrorism that will include a measure intended to help prevent suspected terrorists from buying guns, Speaker Paul D. Ryan told Republicans on Thursday. Ryan said he intends to ensure that due process protections are included in the legislation, Roll Call reports. The House will also vote on a mental health bill, sponsored by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Penn.), Ryan told his House colleagues. In a free society such as ours - that terrorists want to destroy - legislation that seeks to prevent terrorists from obtaining firearms must strike a proper balance between the interests of public safety, protecting the integrity of terrorism investigations, and the fundamental, constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans, including the rights to keep and bear arms and to due process enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

NSSF stands ready to work with members of the House on bipartisan legislation that will both help protect America from radical Islamic terrorism and respect the Second and Fifth Amendments in the Bill of Rights.

Calif. Gun Control Measures Sent to Governor;
Contact Gov. Jerry Brown Immediately!

The California Legislature on Thursday chose to disregard legislative process and procedure, sending a package of highly restrictive gun control bills to Gov. Jerry Brown. Anti-gun Assembly members and Senators acted to deny Californians the right and time to provide their input. Having failed to advance his anti-gun agenda federally and in other states, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg turned his sights to California, spending large sums of money to promote his anti-Constitutional ideas.

The bills will further infringe on the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Californians, making it more difficult to legally purchase firearms and ammunition. Gov. Brown has indicated he will act on these bills by 11 a.m. TODAY, prior to leaving the country for a European vacation. It is critical that California residents contact Gov. Brown IMMEDIATELY and respectfully urge him to VETO all of these anti-gun bills. Let him know that you object to the Legislature's denial of your right to voice your input on each of these measures and that you are offended by the Legislature's disregard for legislative rules and procedural abuse. See the NSSF Action Alert for more details and instructions.

 

Senate Appropriations Report Includes ECR Language

The Senate Appropriations committee Wednesday approved the FY17 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act. The committee report included language addressing the Export Control Reform initiative and the registration fee manufacturers are required to pay DDTC every year. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) led these efforts that were a direct result of meetings industry members had with both senators during the NSSF Congressional Fly-In this spring.

 

House Democrats' Sit-In Fund Raising Draws Ethics Complaint

A non-partisan group run by a former U.S. Attorney, the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT), has filed an official complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics over fund-raising emails sent by House Democrats during last week’s 26-hour sit-in to bring attention to gun control. The 20-page complaint includes copies of emails sent by U.S. Reps. Jarred Huffman, John Lewis, Ben Lujan, Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. FACT contends that campaign contributions were sought using images of the members of Congress in their official capacity in the House in a direct violation of Congressional rules. Read NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane’s blog post.

 

Christie Expected to Veto 'Smart Gun Mandate' — Again

For the second time this year, legislation that would require New Jersey firearms retailers to carry in their inventory at least one model of an authorized user technology-equipped firearm is on Gov. Chris Christie's desk. Once again, he is expected to veto it. While the legislation repeals the overall "smart gun mandate," it substitutes a new one and creates a Personalized Handgun Authorization Commission that would meet monthly and implement regulations. Even smart gun manufacturers oppose this new approach to try to create a market for a product that should be a purchase decision for individual consumers. NSSF does not oppose the development or marketing of smart gun technology. However, we encourage Gov. Christie to pick up his pen and again veto this ill-conceived legislation.

 

Indiana High Court to Hear Retailer Case

The Indiana Supreme Court has granted review of a retailer case that calls Indiana's state version of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) into question. The suit, KS&E Sports v. Runnels, stems from the 2011 shooting of a law enforcement officer by a felon who allegedly obtained a handgun via a straw purchase from KS&E Sports. The Indiana Court of Appeals held the officer's complaint, grounded in seven claims of negligence and nuisance, was legally sufficient despite the protections afforded by an Indiana statute similar to the PLCAA. NSSF had submitted a friend of the court brief supporting the Indiana statute and arguing the Court of Appeals effectively nullified the legislature's intentions.

 

Non-lead Ammunition Implementation Phase 2 Begins

As part of California's ban on the use of traditional ammunition for hunting, Phase 2 of the non-lead ammunition implementation process began today. Per the California Department of Fish and Wildlife,

"Effective July 1, 2016, non-lead shot will be required when taking upland game birds with a shotgun, except for dove, quail, snipe, and any game birds taken on licensed game bird clubs. In addition, non-lead shot will be required when using a shotgun to take resident small game mammals, furbearing mammals, nongame mammals, nongame birds, and any wildlife for depredation purposes."

This is the second of three phases. The final phase, effective July 1, 2019, will require the use of non-lead ammunition for all hunting in California.

 

Bloomberg-Backed Measure on Ballot in Maine

Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap this week announced the order of questions on the November ballot with Question 3 asking voters to answer yes or no on expanding background checks to include most private firearms transfers. The question reads: "Do you want to require background checks prior to the sale or transfer of firearms between individuals not licensed as firearms dealers, with failure to do so punishable by law, and with some exceptions for family members, hunting, self-defense, lawful competitions, and shooting range activity?"

The effort is being organized by a group funded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, which has spent more than $2 million in Maine to back the measure. The Sportsman's Alliance of Maine and Gun Owners of Maine are organizing grassroots citizen opposition. Republican Gov. Paul LePage has spoken against the ballot measure.

 

VIDEO: Semi-automatic AR-15 is a 'Weapon of War'?

Semi-automatic firearms, including the AR-15, account for approximately 70 percent of all firearms, and yet — in an attempt to single out the AR-15 — we keep hearing the same rhetoric from anti-gun politicians, celebrities and the media elite. "Weapons of war" is their new catchphrase. Fact is, the AR-15 is a semi-automatic civilian rifle and NOT a "Weapon of War." Watch the #GUNVOTE video. Arm yourself with the Modern Sporting Rifle facts.

 

#GUNVOTE: Your Go-To Source in 2016

Our newly redesigned, user-friendly #GUNVOTE site is the first place to visit to get the resources you need to help your employees, business partners and customers become informed about all candidates' positions on our issues and spread the message about #GUNVOTE, NSSF's voter education initiative. Can there be any doubt that this is one of the most important election years ever for our industry? With the voting balance of the U.S. Supreme Court at stake, this election could very well determine the future of our Second Amendment rights. What can you do? Download and display the NSSF #GUNVOTE icon on your company's website and social media pages. Display #GUNVOTE materials in your stores, plants and offices. Finally, encourage your employees and customers to register to vote and on Election Day in November, to #GUNVOTE.

Visit #GUNVOTE | Download the #GUNVOTE icon | #GUNVOTE stickers
Follow #GUNVOTE on Facebook and on Twitter (@GUNVOTE)

 

Seats Filling Fast for 2016 Import/Export Conference

Registration is close to sold out for this year's NSSF-FAIR Trade Import/Export Conference, taking place Aug. 2-3 in Washington, D.C. In addition to presentations by key regulators, we will be once again be offering roundtable sessions with ATF, including Imports Branch, National Firearms Act Branch, Firearms Technology Branch, Firearms Industry Programs Branch, eForms and Compliance, as well as with invited officials from Commerce Department BIS Munitions Control Licensing Division, State Department DDTC, Customs and Border Protection, Treasury's Tax and Trade Bureau, and Census Bureau's Automated Export System. Don't miss your chance to attend this year's conference! Register now.

 

Signing Up for NSSF PAC Made Easier for Member Companies

The NSSF Political Action Committee (NSSF PAC) works to support pro-firearms industry, pro-Second Amendment and pro-sportsmen candidates for federal office. Federal law requires a trade association PAC to obtain prior approval from its corporate members before it may send important PAC news, including current political news, election information and exclusive invitations to PAC events and updates, to corporate member executives.

Now, signing up for NSSF PAC has never been easier. Just click the link below, fill out the form, add contacts (or email us a list of names) and hit submit! What are you waiting for? Help ensure our industry is heard as we approach the crucial 2016 election year. Sign up today! Online PAC Prior Consent Form.

 

Thank You to Our Latest NSSF PAC Contributors

Industry Club (up to $249): Bruce Bradley, Michael Jolly, Lowry Watkins

 

Learn more about our industry's Political Action Committee: