JUNE 6-8 IN PITTSBURGH . . . Due to demand, an extra hotel room block for the NSSF Industry Summit has been made available at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown, located across the street from the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center, where the Summit is being held. Register today for what promises to be an outstanding industry gathering.
NSSF Industry Summit
BASEBALL’S CLINT HURDLE TO DELIVER KEYNOTE ADDRESS . . . The keynote speaker at the NSSF Industry Summit is a local favorite among sports fans. Clint Hurdle has served as manager of Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates for five seasons. During his tenure there, he has led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances and, in doing so, snapped the team’s 20-year playoff drought. His managerial successes also include a franchise-record 534 wins with the Colorado Rockies, a team he led to its first World Series appearance in 2007.
LEADERS FROM ICONIC BRANDS PROVIDE ‘A VIEW FROM THE TOP’ . . . On Wednesday, June 8, at the Summit, leaders from four of our industry’s most recognized brands will share their insights on the changes, challenges and opportunities facing the industry. You won’t want to miss “A View From The Top,” a conversation with Smith & Wesson’s James Debney, Hornady Manufacturing’s Steve Hornady, Ruger’s Chris Killoy and Leupold’s Bruce Pettet. The discussion will be moderated by NSSF’s Chris Dolnack.
UNDERSTANDING CUSTOMER SEGMENTS IN OUR INDUSTRY . . . Using cookie-cutter ads and treating all customers the same way is a recipe for mediocrity. Not all gun owners want the same thing, and they shouldn’t be marketed to in the same way. At the Summit on Tuesday, June 7, join NSSF’s Jim Curcuruto and Southwick Associates’ Rob Southwick as they discuss findings from a new study that will help you understand the various customer segments within our industry and how this new information can benefit your business.
Retailers/Ranges
SAVE THE DATE: FIREARMS RETAILER SECURITY CONFERENCE . . . NSSF is excited to announce its Aug. 16-17 Firearms Retailer Security Conference at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. At the conference, you’ll learn how to protect your people, property and profits; strategies for improved security and risk management; and a comprehensive review of store security technologies and practices. Stay tuned for more details. Registration will open June 6.
GUARD YOUR RANGE AGAINST THE UNEXPECTED . . . Your range business could be vulnerable to extensive fines and a disruptive investigation if it is not in compliance with the EPA and OSHA. NSSF’s Premium Range Membership offers unparalleled benefits to protect and preserve shooting ranges from regulatory citations due to insufficient compliance and training programs. Read more.
ATF Q&A . . . Many great questions came in on our 24/7 NSSF member compliance hotline last week. One question covers whether an employee who becomes prohibited from possessing firearms can continue to be employed by an FFL. Another question covers how to legally complete an ATF form 4473 if the person is unable to fill out the form due to illiteracy or a physical disability.
DID YOU KNOW? . . . NSSF members receive a discount on hardware designed to reduce liabilities associated with mechanical keys and locks. Properly securing your store, warehouse and outbuildings are paramount to the success of your business, and a robust controlled access program can enhance your compliance policies. Learn more.
ATF
NSSF SEEKS EXTENSION ON NEW ATF RULINGS . . . NSSF is requesting that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) delay the implementation date of ATF Ruling 2016-1 and ATF Ruling 2016-2 for those FFLs with electronic systems in place on April 29, 2016. ATF announced the rulings at the Firearms Industry Compliance Conference co-sponsored by NSSF and Orchid Advisors earlier this month. NSSF is also seeking a six-month delay in the implementation of revised Form 4473. Read the NSSF letter.
SECOND JUDGE RULES D.C. CONCEALED CARRY PROCESS TOO STRICT . . . For the second time in as many years, the constitutionality of the District of Columbia’s “good reason” concealed carry regulations has been called into question. A district court judge last week found the Washington D.C.’s concealed carry scheme is likely unconstitutional, because the “good reason” requirement for citizens imposes a substantial burden on core Second Amendment conduct. He issued a preliminary injunction preventing the District from enforcing its requirements.
Legal
Read NSSF’s latest Government Relations Update for more.
STATE ROUNDUP . . . NSSF last week testified against the Illinois Gun Dealer Licensing Act HB1016 mandating elaborate security and other standards that will seriously impact federally licensed firearms retailers. The California Senate last week passed a number of anti-gun bills including one mandating background checks on ammunition purchases and another banning many popular semi-automatic firearms. NSSF testified at the Pennsylvania State Senate Game and Fisheries Committee hearing in favor of Senate Bill 1070 that would repeal the long-standing ban on Sunday hunting.
U.S. REP. LAMALFA INTRODUCES RESOLUTION AGAINST MICROSTAMPING . . . An NSSF-supported resolution was introduced last week by Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) in the US House of Representatives. H.Res 731 condemns the law in California mandating that every new handgun submitted for the CA handgun roster must include microstamping technology. NSSF worked with Congressman LaMalfa’s office to bring this issue to the forefront and we encourage everyone to contact their representatives in the U.S. House at 202-225-3121 and ask them to cosponsor H.Res.731.
THANK YOU TO LATEST NSSF EVENT SPONSORS . . . NSSF recently announced its newest sponsors for upcoming NSSF events, which include TANDEMKROSS, Platinum sponsor of the Rimfire Challenge Program; the National Conservation Leadership Institute, Supporting sponsor of the Industry Summit; and AIRSCHOTT, Inc., Bronze sponsor of the Import/Export Conference. For more information on sponsorship opportunities for upcoming events, contact Chris Tatulli at ctatulli@nssf.org.
Events
USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR MARCH AND FIRST QUARTER 2016 . . . NSSF tracks and reports monthly and quarterly U.S. import and export units for several sporting arms, ammunition and optics categories from the U.S. International Trade Commission. See a complete breakdown for March and first quarter 2016 data compared to 2015. NSSF members may access additional historical import and export data by logging in and clicking NSSF Industry Research.
Research
ATF COMMUNICATIONS MIGRATION COMPLETE . . . ATF has reported that it has completed the migration of current subscribers to one of five new targeted electronic communications options. Subscribers are able to select additional options at managing your subscriptions. ATF says new communication products will continue to launch throughout the summer. These email distributions will “replace and enhance existing communication tools” under the name e-ATF.
DOJ/ATF CONSIDERING NEW RULES . . . The Department of Justice and ATF provided notice in Friday’s Federal Register that the administration is considering new firearms rules, including background checks for law enforcement officers applying for concealed weapons permits, easier access to firearms for non-citizens and new definitions for pistols. NSSF will assess the impact of these proposed rules and advise you after expert analysis.
ATF UPDATES HEARING REGULATIONS . . . ATF has updated regulations governing its firearms license administrative hearings. Effective July 22nd, these regulations clarify that persons requesting a hearing after an application denial or notice of license suspension, revocation, or imposition of a fine have the opportunity to submit facts and arguments for consideration at an administrative hearing. Additionally, any offers of settlement may be made before or after a hearing, but not during the hearing itself. Read the final rule.
REGISTER FOR 2016 IMPORT/EXPORT CONFERENCE . . . This year’s NSSF-FAIR Trade Import/Export Conference, August 2-3 in Washington, D.C., will again offer 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 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. Register now for early-bird pricing.
Government Relations
CJS FUNDING BILL BEFORE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE . . . The U.S. House Appropriations Committee last week received the Fiscal Year 2017 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bill from its subcommittee of jurisdiction, where it passed on a unanimous voice vote. This bill provides $1.3 billion to fund ATF, $18 million above the FY 2016 enacted level, and continues all legislative provisions to protect citizens’ Second Amendment rights, making four of these provisions permanent law. NSSF will keep you updated on the progress of this appropriations legislation.
NSSF STATEMENT ON TEIXEIRA V. ALAMEDA COUNTY OPINION . . . NSSF has long maintained that the lawful commerce in firearms is protected by the Second Amendment. So we are heartened by the majority opinion of the three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Teixeira v. Alameda County, brought by three individuals seeking to operate a federally licensed firearms retail business in Alameda County, California. Read the full NSSF Statement.
News of Note
NSSF VOTING MEMBER SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE NEXT WEEK . . . NSSF is accepting applications in the Voting Member Scholarship Program through 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 1. NSSF has made available a total of $60,000 in scholarship funding for a maximum of 25 winning entries. Voting member employees and their families can apply. Learn more.
NRA ENDORSES TRUMP . . . The National Rifle Association Friday endorsed Donald Trump for president at its annual meeting in Louisville, Ken. Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, made the endorsement immediately before Trump took the stage to deliver his previously scheduled speech. “The Second Amendment is under threat like never before,” Trump told attendees. “Crooked Hillary Clinton is the most anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment candidate ever to run for office.”
TRUMP CAMPAIGN HUNTS FOR SPORTSMEN’S VOTES . . . The Trump campaign pledges to nominate a hunter to lead the Fish and Wildlife Service, reports Energy & Environment. Indeed, the candidate’s son Donald Jr. has actively sought opportunities to interact with America’s hunters and anglers. During the 2016 SHOT Show, both Trumps sat for an interview with Peterson’s Hunting, and Trump Sr. spoke at the Outdoor and Sportsman Channels’ 16th annual “Outdoor Sportsman” awards. Even the New Yorker magazine has taken note of this pursuit.
PROJECT CHILDSAFE PARTNER PROFILES . . . NSSF’s Project ChildSafe has kicked off a series of program partner profiles on its blog at www.projectchildsafe.org. The latest profiles Wendy Smith, Crime Prevention and Community Programs Officer of Rocklin, California, P.D. The series began with a profile of Captain Matthew Doughney of the Flagler Beach (Florida) P.D.
EAGLE SCOUT HELPS PROMOTE GUN SAFETY . . . Nathan Toy, a 14-year-old member of Troop 366 on Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, organized a firearm safety education event for his Eagle Scout service project. With firearm safety materials from NSSF and firearms manufacturers, Toy provided safety kits that included a gun lock to community members, according to a story in the Leavenworth Times.
FACEBOOK AND TWO AMENDMENTS . . . Facebook’s diminishment of conservative opinion in its news seems familiar to those in the firearms industry who have seen the shutdown of FFL pages. Since the site acts as a virtual public square, the exercise of such censorship can be viewed as stifling commercial free speech, which has constitutional protection. Since the lawful commerce in firearms, which makes exercise of the Second Amendment possible, also has constitutional protection, the NSSF’s Larry Keane sees an attack on two essential liberties.
KIM RHODE HEADED TO RIO . . . Five-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode has guaranteed her quest for an unprecedented sixth Olympic Games after winning the team nomination in women’s skeet at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for shotgun last Friday in Tillar, Arkansas. Rhode, the defending gold medalist from the 2012 London Games, will be joined at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games this summer by Frank Thompson, of Alliance, Nebraska, who won the men’s skeet competition, punching his ticket to a second Olympics. Thompson finished in eighth place at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
JOIN THE HUDSON VALLEY REGION GRITS CHAPTER ON ITS OPENING CELEBRATION . . . Enjoy an afternoon of shooting and celebration during the Hudson Valley Region GRITS chapter launch at Orvis Sandanona in Millbrook, New York, June 4. GRITS founder, Elizabeth Lanier, will be in attendance. The entry fee is $125 per person and includes shooting and lunch. For more information or to RSVP, contact hudsonvalleynyregiongrits@aol.com by May 31.
NSSF IN THE NEWS . . . The Washington Times, CNN.com, The Boston Herald, The Columbus Dispatch, Pittsburgh Tribune-Reniew, Los Angeles Times, E&E and many other news outlets across the country included NSSF in their coverage in recent days. Popular topics included business trends, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, smart guns, Project ChildSafe, women in the shooting sports and more. View a full wrap-up of NSSF in the News.
#GUNVOTE
ORDER #GUNVOTE STICKERS . . . Show your support and order #GUNVOTE stickers to display on vehicles, in your office, at events and elsewhere to get the word out. There is too much at stake this election year not to be 100 percent committed. Don’t risk your rights. #GUNVOTE. If you are an NSSF Member, please order from the NSSF Member shopping cart to receive a member discount. Stickers are priced $1 each and a minimum order of 15 stickers is required.