QUESTIONS ABOUT FFL COPY RETENTION ANSWERED BY NSSF FFL COMPLIANCE CONSULTANT TEAM . . . All firearms retailers know about the requirement to obtain a signed, certified copy of another licensee’s federal firearms license (FFL) prior to transferring a firearm to them. All retailers also know they can obtain this license copy by mail or fax, as well as by e-mail with the copy as a scanned attachment. The provision of the valid FFL copy verifies licensed status and provides an FFL number to be recorded in the disposition records. Once retailers have copies of other FFLs, they tend to keep them. Though many retailers tell our consultants they believe they must retain these copies indefinitely, just as often our consultants are asked, “Just how long do I have to retain these FFL copies?” Read more.
Retailers
CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM BECOMES NEWEST BRONZE SPONSOR . . . NSSF is pleased to announce that the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is the newest Bronze-level sponsor of the Rimfire Challenge. With its highest priority of serving youth shooters through safety and marksmanship programs, the federally chartered CMP is a leader in shooting instruction and the promotion of best safety practices for U.S. citizens of all ages and walks of life. View the full press release. Learn more about the Rimfire Challenge, how to participate in a Rimfire Challenge event and how to host an event at your range.
NSSF REMINDS EDUCATORS ABOUT FIREARM SAFETY RESOURCES . . . With the Sonoma County, Calif., school district recently taking the positive step of providing students and their parents with firearm safety information, NSSF reminds educators and school administrators that it offers a range of safety resources they can use. Handouts for teachers, a child safety pledge and videos that educate students on firearm safety are available at nssf.org/safety. “We know some school administrators and educators are reluctant to provide firearm safety education in their schools and classrooms, but we believe such education is appropriate for students at nearly all grade levels,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti in a news release. “Let’s get beyond whatever fears and personal feelings we may have and focus upon providing genuine safety education that can help save lives-something we all want.”
Project ChildSafe
NSSF, RETAILER RESPOND TO CALIFORNIA CITY’S ATTEMPT TO DISMISS SUIT . . . The NSSF and firearms retailer City Arms East have responded to the City of Pleasant Hill’s attempt to dismiss the industry’s lawsuit challenging the city’s unlawful ordinance restricting firearms and ammunition sales. In its opposition filed last week with the Contra Costa Superior Court, the industry provided concrete instances of Pleasant Hill’s own missteps and “hide the ball” tactics in passing the restrictions that the city’s own planning commission opposed. The court is scheduled to hear further arguments on the matter on Sept. 12. Read the NSSF Brief.
Legal
For more Government Relations news, read NSSF’s latest Government Relations Update.
THANK YOU TO OUR LATEST NSSF
PAC CONTRIBUTORS
President’s Club ($5,000): Steve Hornady
Cabinet Club ($2,500 or more): James Boyce Jr.
Capitol Club ($1,000 or more): No new contributors to report
Congressional Club ($250 or more): Joe Bartozzi, Bob Garthwait Jr., Debra Moran, William Powell, Matt Reams and Scott Volquartsen
Industry Club (up to $249): Philip Delone, Harold Gibble and Travis Henning
The coming weeks mean an increased tempo for #GUNVOTE, the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s voter education and information initiative, starting with the recent email blast featuring a new video. Watch and share the #GUNVOTE video. 2014 is a crucial Congressional mid-term and gubernatorial election year. All industry members have a responsibility to spread the #GUNVOTE message. Download the #GUNVOTE button and use it in your print publications and on your website, blogs and social media platform to get your customers engaged. Much is at stake in the coming elections. Visit nssf.org/gunvote.
Government Relations
ATF ISSUES CLARIFICATION TO RULING 2004-2 REGARDING MACHINEGUN TRANSFERS . . . In response to inquiries from manufacturers asking whether machineguns may be transferred to other licensees involved in the manufacturing process and whether manufacturers may maintain an inventory of post-1986 machineguns for future transfer to Federal, State, or local government agencies, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on Thursday issued clarification to ATF Ruling 2004-2 with respect to the documentation required under the GCA for a qualified importer to temporarily transfer a lawfully imported machinegun for inspection, testing, calibration, repair, reconditioning, further manufacture, or incorporation into another defense article. Read ATF Rul. 2014-1.
NSSF MEMBERS AMPLIFY ‘OWN IT? RESPECT IT. SECURE IT.’ . . . In a blog post, NSSF President Steve Sanetti cites examples of efforts by Colt, Mossberg, Range America and the Virginia Dept. of Fish & Game to encourage firearms owners to embrace the practice of proper firearms handling, ownership and storage and to let the public know our industry is second to none in promoting firearms safety. Since NSSF unveiled its “Own It? Respect It. Secure It.” campaign last June, these entities and more than 600 other companies and organizations have chosen to use the campaign’s logo and other resources to underscore industry’s commitment to firearm safety. If you’re a firearm manufacturer, distributor, retailer, range owner, state agency, conservation organization or individual and want to get involved in the “Own it? Respect it. Secure it.” initiative, visit nssf.org/safety/ORS/ to download materials.
Members
DID YOU KNOW? . . . More and more firearms retailers today are performing background checks on potential employees. To help our members with this important task, NSSF has partnered with a nationwide provider of employment screening services to offer a significant discount on background check service packages that provide access to nearly 300 million criminal records, identity verification and data from the Office of Foreign Assets Control terrorist database. For more information on how to access this special pricing, members should log in to the members-only side of NSSF and click on the Members Benefits link. To join NSSF, go to the Membership drop-down heading on nssf.org, or e-mail membership@nssf.org.
Research
NSSF-ADJUSTED NICS BACKGROUND CHECKS . . . The August 2014 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 989,337 is the third highest August on record for the 16-year-old system, even with a decrease of 2.7 percent compared to the August 2013 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,016,559. For comparison, the unadjusted August 2014 NICS figure of 1,538,347 reflects a 9.2 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,408,468 in August 2013. To learn more about last month’s NICS report, login to the member side of nssf.org.
Rimfire Challenge
GOLD COAST ARMORY PARTNERS WITH NSSF AS AMMO DISTRIBUTOR FOR RIMFIRE CHALLENGE . . . NSSF is pleased to announce that Gold Coast Armory has agreed to serve as the administrator and distribution center for all Rimfire Challenge ammunition. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, Gold Coast Armory is a leading wholesale distributor of rifle, handgun and shotgun ammunition. Read the full press release.
RETAILERS AND VENDORS-PROFIT PARTNERS . . . As a firearms retailer, you count on continuous services from your vendors. Indeed, today’s vendors need to be your business partners. Having said that, the street goes both ways. You as a retailer also need to be your vendors’ partner. When it comes down to it, your best relationships with your vendors will happen when you understand and recognize their limits and know what they can and cannot do. They’re there to work with you, so that everyone profits. Read more.
ATF Q&A . . . Two more questions from our free to member’s ATF compliance hotline. The first question relates to juveniles possessing a firearm within a store and the second to how to record a firearm in your A&D book if it doesn’t have a serial number. Get the answers to this week’s questions and others.
SHOT Show
NEW PRODUCT EXHIBITORS GET ADVERTISING BOOST AT 2015 SHOT SHOW . . . There are numerous ways to have your new product stand out in the crowd, but perhaps the best ways to do that in a trade show with the kind of square footage and attendance as SHOT Show, is to focus your efforts on the New Product Center and New Product Directory. New for the 2015 SHOT Show, all New Product Center entries will automatically receive a listing in the softcover-bound New Product Directory, complete with a photo of your product. Your product and company information will also be listed in NSSF’s new online New Product Gallery, to be featured on shotshow.org for maximum visibility. Click here for more information.
News of Note
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AT WHAT POINT DOES ONE BECOME A MANUFACTURER? . . . Constructing a firearm from new parts into a functional firearm, including the creation of frames and receivers, is the basic step. When you perform this as a regular course of trade or business with a principal objective of earning your livelihood and making a profit through the sale or distribution of your work product, you become a manufacturer. Read the latest Orchid Advisory to learn more about these definitions. Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members.
ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER TO ATTRACT YOUTH TO HUNTING . . . Like a partnership waiting to happen, the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation and Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever have announced they will work together to introduce youth to the shooting sports, hunting, wildlife conservation and other outdoor experiences. Their goal is to build a future of avid hunters and passionate conservationists through new outreach programs and introductions to shooting and outdoor activities.
RECORD PRONGHORN CERTIFIED BY BOONE AND CROCKETT . . . The largest pronghorn ever recorded has been certified by Boone and Crockett Club as a new World’s Record. The huge buck, hunted in Socorro County, New Mexico, in 2013, scores 96-4/8 B&C points. The new record breaks a tie between two specimens from Arizona. One was taken in Coconino County in 2000, the other in Mohave County in 2002. Both scored 95 B&C points. Club officials say the difference between these old records and the new – a full inch-and-a-half – is an extraordinary jump.