April 9, 2019
NSSF Honors U.S. Rep. Scalise as 2018 Legislator of the Year
NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industries, awarded U.S. House of Representatives Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) the 2018 Legislator of the Year at the organization’s annual dinner in Washington D.C., coinciding with the firearms industry’s annual Congressional Fly-In.
“We honor Congressman Scalise for his perseverance and steadfast leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, particularly for his tireless efforts to advance the U.S. Munitions List to Commerce Control List Transition and we are honored to present him with the 2018 NSSF’s Legislator of the Year Award,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Congressman Scalise’s commitment to advance protections of Constitutional Second Amendment rights and lawful industries that service those who choose to exercise those rights. Congressman Scalise has been resolute in his convictions and his duty to execute his oath of office after enduring an attempt on his life. His grit was on full display for all our nation to admire when he returned to Congress as a stronger champion for the lawful commerce in arms and determined to empower our law enforcement to pursue those who would criminally misuse firearms.”
“I’m honored to receive NSSF’s Legislator of the Year award,” said Whip Steve Scalise. “Even while some in Washington try to restrict our Second Amendment rights, small businesses, retailers, and gunsmiths across the country continue to suffer from heavy-handed regulation and government bureaucracy that infringe on our rights. I’m proud to stand for our Second Amendment, and I will always work to protect these rights.”
The transition of the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List was an effort begun during the Obama administration to enact export control reforms. Of 18 categories of exports, only the three involving sporting firearms and ammunition were purposely left undone. Congressman Scalise championed legislation and is working closely with President Donald Trump’s administration to finalize these reforms for our industry. The reforms would move export licensing of firearms and ammunition from the U.S. State Department to the Commerce Department, an effort that would allow U.S. manufacturers to more evenly compete with foreign manufacturers for competitive contracts. Reduce regulatory burdens while enhancing national security.
The reforms would also eliminate an onerous annual State Department $2,250 registration fee imposed on small manufacturers who do not export firearms and gunsmiths, who don’t produce, nor export firearms, but simply repair firearms.
NSSF eagerly awaits publication of the final rule from the White House, which has supported these reforms.
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About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.
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