NSSF TO INTERVENE IN ARIZONA TRADITIONAL AMMO CASE . . . NSSF’s motion to intervene has been granted in the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) v. U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Federal lawsuit in Arizona, which seeks to ban the use of traditional ammunition for hunting under the Resource Conservation Recovery Act. In granting the motion, the court found that a ban on the use of lead ammunition would, as NSSF argues, affect the “economic vitality and legal rights” of NSSF members.
Government Relations
ANNUAL NSSF FIREARMS RETAILER SURVEY REPORT AVAILABLE . . . The eighth annual edition of this report provides insights from hundreds of firearms retailers nationwide on a variety of factors such as sales margins, net profits, inventory and all-important trend data on sales and customers. Learn more.
Research
DID YOU KNOW? . . . NSSF has partnered with a U.S. maker of specialized, roll-cover armored firearms display cases to offer our members a special discount. Cases are available in both handgun and long-gun configurations, and cases can be custom configured. Find out more.
ATF Q&A . . . Many great questions came in on our 24/7 NSSF member compliance hotline last week. One question covers what an FFL should do while performing NICS checks at a gun show for unlicensed sellers selling to other persons. Another question asks if an FFL has violated any laws if a customer incorrectly answers a question on a Form 4473 without the FFL being aware of the lie, mistake or purchaser’s ineligibility.
President Obama Calls for Gun Control after Orlando Terrorist Attack
In remarks on Sunday and today, President Obama acknowledged that the tragic weekend attack on the nightclub in Orlando was a terrorist act — and, as he did after the San Bernardino terrorist attack in late 2015, he called for more restrictions on popular semi-automatic rifles.
First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the victims of this horrific attack. The brave law enforcement officers who brought this attack to a halt deserve our thanks and great respect. As this is being written, additional information is coming to light regarding the history and actions of the perpetrator. Our industry abhors the use of firearms in any and all forms of criminal violence. Given the scale of the vicious assault and the toll it took, there likely will be legislative and regulatory proposals that shift the focus from the foreign and home-grown terrorist threats our nation faces to gun control measures that will do nothing to enhance public safety. NSSF will keep you apprised of developments.
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NSSF Industry Summit
- 2016 NSSF INDUSTRY SUMMIT ‘BEST YET’ . . . The 2016 NSSF Industry Summit, which attracted nearly 250 industry professionals from across the country to Pittsburgh June 6-8, is garnering high praise for the impactful information it delivered to help attendees grow their businesses and participation in hunting and the shooting sports.
- Read the Press Release | View Event Photos
- Retailers/Ranges
- BOB BERTHOLD JOINS NSSF COMPLIANCE CONSULTANT TEAM TO OFFER MORE TO CALIF. FFLS . . . NSSF is pleased to announce that it has appointed Bob Berthold to its team of NSSF Compliance Consultant experts. “Berthold’s breadth and depth of experience with firearms compliance in California, one of the most challenging FFL compliance states, will be invaluable to any firearms retailer,” said Patrick Shay, NSSF Director, Retail Development.
- N.H. GOVERNOR SIGNS HUNTING WITH SUPPRESSORS INTO LAW . . . New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan on Friday signed into law the NSSF-supported bill legalizing the use of suppressors for hunting in the Granite State. New Hampshire now becomes the 40th state to allow hunters to go afield with suppressed firearms. NSSF supports state legislation that provides hunters with this valuable means of protecting their hearing.
- STATE ROUNDUP . . . The Delaware Sunday hunting bill, supported by NSSF, was approved by the state Senate last week on a 14-7 vote and now goes to Gov. Jack Markell for his consideration. The Kanawha County, West Virginia, planning commission voted last week to recommend that the county commission place a Sunday hunting measure on the November ballot. West Virginia has 21 counties that currently allow Sunday hunting on private lands, while 34 do not allow the activity.
- Read NSSF’s latest Government Relations Update for more.
- News of Note
- NSSF COMMENTS ON FORM 4473 PROPOSED CHANGES . . . NSSF last week submitted comments to the Firearms Industry Programs branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regarding proposed changes to ATF Form 4473. NSSF is pleased with many of proposed revisions that would make it easier for firearms purchasers or transferees to complete the form and had additional suggestions for improvement. Read the NSSF comment letter.
- CJ BUCK JOINS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER IN HALL OF FAME . . . CJ Buck, President, CEO and Chairman of Buck Knives, was recently inducted into the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame during the 2016 BLADE Show in Atlanta. Each year one person is selected to enter the Cutlery Hall Of Fame. With his induction, CJ joins his father, Charles T. Buck, and grandfather, Al Buck, in the hall. Read more.
- ALL GUN AND AMMO PURCHASES BENEFIT CONSERVATION . . . Gun and ammunition purchases provide wildlife conservation funding through the Pittman-Robertson excise tax distributed annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to state wildlife agencies. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has had its share of Pittman-Robertson funding grow from $7.4 million in 2005 to $24.9 million in 2015. “It’s a great conservation success story that needs to reach an even broader audience,” said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF Director of Research. Read this Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story.
- USA SHOOTING’S MITCHELL TO RETIRE . . . Robert Mitchell, who has spent 57 years in the shooting sports and the last 17 as USA Shooting’s CEO and Executive Director, has notified the USA Shooting Board of Directors and staff of his decision to retire after August 31. Mitchell, 69, was an international-level competitive shooter and also served as a USA Shooting Team’s national coach and director of operations. During his leadership tenure, USA Shooting athletes won 16 Olympic medals. Read more.
- MINNESOTA TRAPSHOOTING CLUB REPRESENTS A GROWING TREND AT HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL . . . Winona Senior High School’s trapshooting club had completed inaugural season in the spring of 2015, keeping up with the statewide trend as one of the fastest growing high school sports in Minnesota. The club will head to the 2016 Minnesota State High School Trap Shooting Championship in Alexandria, June 14-21, where more than 200 high-school teams and 7,000 students will participate in the weeklong competition.
- #GUNVOTE
- #GUNVOTE AT NSSF INDUSTRY SUMMIT . . . #GUNVOTE, NSSF’s voter education effort, was a topic at the NSSF 2016 Industry Summit last week in Pittsburgh. Attendees discovered what they could do to get involved and heard from NSSF Public Affairs Director Mike Bazinet, who outlined the issues at stake in the 2016 presidential and congressional races, including the future make-up of the U.S. Supreme Court and the need to ensure the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) remains in effect.
#GUNVOTE Resources:
- Visit the #GUNVOTE website.
- Follow #GUNVOTE on Facebook and on Twitter (@GUNVOTE).
- Show your support and order #GUNVOTE stickers. NSSF Members, please order from the NSSF Member shopping cart to receive a member discount.