nssf.org

July 15, 2016

No House Vote on Gun-Related Bills until after Recess

The U.S. House leadership this week decided to delay consideration of any gun-related legislation until after the seven-week summer recess. Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Calif.), the freshman class representative to GOP leadership, told The Hill after a meeting in Speaker Paul Ryan's office "… we need to take a step back and show some real calmness and some real leadership and reflect on what's happening in this country, and pursue the gun issue at a further date." House members won't return to Washington until after Labor Day.

 

Energy Bill Including Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act Progresses

On Tuesday, by a large bipartisan vote, the U.S. Senate adopted a motion to send the Energy Bill to a joint House/Senate conference where representatives will reconcile the differences between the two versions. This is another positive step for the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act that NSSF has been pushing for years.

 

Congressman Rebuked by Ethics Committee Over HSUS-lobbyist Wife's Unfettered Access

The House Committee on Ethics has concluded unanimously that Kentucky Republican Ed Whitfield failed to prohibit lobbying contact between his staff and his wife, Constance Harriman, a registered lobbyist with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Recently, Congressman Whitfield voted against passage of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2016, a bill that the HSUS opposes and has lobbied against. Read the report here.

 

Obama Earns Pinnochios for 'It's Easier for Teens to Buy a Gun Than a Book' Claim

In his perpetual play for gun control President Obama has made a routine of exaggerating claims about firearms. While delivering remarks at the memorial service for Dallas police officers killed on July 7, the President claimed that "it is easier for a teenager to buy a Glock than get his hands on a computer or even a book." The Washington Post Fact Checker dropped the curtain behind the President's political theater, awarding him three out of four Pinocchios for making such exaggerated claim based in no real statistics, and which does nothing but distract the public.

 

New Hampshire AG Decides to FixNICS

After three consecutive legislative sessions of NSSF work to advance FixNICS legislation in New Hampshire, NSSF recently learned that in Attorney General Attorney General Joseph Foster had sent a letter to the chief justice of the state Supreme Court to explain that the state will finally comply with federal law and send the names of those who have been involuntarily committed to mental institutions to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. This determination is the result of an amendment offered to the state's Medicaid expansion law by State Rep. J.R. Hoell earlier this year. The amendment will allow the state to send records of those people involuntarily committed, people who have been determined incompetent to stand trial, and also people found not guilty by reason of insanity. All individuals in these categories are currently prohibited from owning a firearm under federal law. Up to this point, New Hampshire was not submitting any such records and has been one of the priority target states in NSSF's nationwide FixNICS initiative. Since 2013, NSSF has successfully worked to pass FixNICS legislation in 16 states.

 

NIJ Releases Draft on 'Smart Gun' Specs for LE Pistols; Seeks Feedback

In response to President Obama's push to require 'smart gun' technology implementation the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has published the Federal Register notice "Draft Baseline Specifications for Law Enforcement Service Pistols With Security Technology." The NIJ seeks feedback from the public on a draft document that defines generic baseline specifications for law enforcement service pistols with additional technology to enhance the security of the firearms, published here. The 60-day comment period closes on Sep. 13, 2016.

 

U.S. Rep. Peterson Introduces Legislation Promoting Export Control Reform

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) along with Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) introduced a bipartisan bill supporting Export Control Reform and urging completion of the initiative before the end of the year. This development comes on the heels of the language being added to the Senate version of the FY17 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, and after lawmakers on the House Small Business Committee grilled witnesses from the DDTC and BIS on the administration dragging their feet on publishing rules on USML Categories I-III related to firearms and ammunition. All of these come as a result of NSSF's continued work to pressure the administration. Information on the bill can be viewed here.

 

#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.

 

Learn more about our industry's Political Action Committee:

 

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