KIM RHODE MAKES HISTORY AT RIO OLYMPICS . . . The Rio Olympics shooting competition has ended, and USA Shooting Team’s medalists are all women. By winning a bronze medal in skeet last Friday, 37-year-old Kim Rhode became the first female and summer Olympian ever to win medals in six consecutive Olympic Games. Read coverage in the LA Times, USA Today and Associated Press. Ginny Thrasher of Virginia got the USA medal count off to a great start by winning the first gold medal of the 2016 Olympic games in Women’s Air Rifle, and Corey Cogdell-Unrein repeated as bronze medalist in Women’s Trap. Read more.
NATIONAL DEER ALLIANCE LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE . . . The National Deer Alliance (NDA) has recently developed the organization’s first comprehensive website to keep deer hunters informed about deer issues across the country, while also providing important updates on NDA’s work. To review the website and learn more about the National Deer Alliance, visit www.nationaldeeralliance.com.
News of Note
UPDATED HUNTING AND SHOOTING PARTICIPATION REPORTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE . . . NSSF has released popular annual shooting sports participation reports with data from the National Sporting Goods Association. These reports provide a detailed annual look at a variety of disciplines with demographic breakdowns and a trend report to outline historical participation. Learn more.
Research
KEANE SPEAKS AT GOAL RALLY TODAY . . . The NSSF’s Larry Keane will be among the speakers at the Massachusetts ‘Gun Owners’ Action League (GOAL) Call to Action Rally and Fundraiser today from 6-9 p.m. at the Boxboro Holiday Inn. GOAL is working with NSSF to oppose the over-reaching gun control actions by Attorney General Maura Healey’s office. Tickets are $25 and include dinner. NSSF is pursuing legal action to challenge Healey’s actions and will keep you apprised of developments.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE NICS MESSAGES . . . FFLs and their employees can receive emails pertaining to NICS system changes, outages, general updates and more at www.fbi.gov/nics-ffl. Those interested have the option to add their email address, request the email address on file be updated or unsubscribe. An FFL number is required for any request.
ECR REFORM SOLVES DDTC’S OVERREACH . . . Export Control Reform would do away with most of the gunsmith and manufacturer registration for commercial and sporting firearms that is the subject of confusing “guidance” recently issued by the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls under Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms regulations. Call your U.S. Representative at 202-225-3121 and U.S. Senators at 202-224-3121. Urge them to support Rep. Collin Peterson’s Resolution (H. Res. 829) demanding the Obama administration complete ECR. NSSF will keep you posted on these related issues.
Government Relations
THINK HOTEL SCAMS DON’T HAPPEN AT SHOT SHOW? . . . Each year NSSF alerts SHOT Show attendees to various hotel “deals” floating around Las Vegas, and each year we caution everyone to keep a watchful eye out for these often seemingly legitimate offers. NSSF, ConvExx and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority go to great lengths to make sure we have blocks of rooms in hotels across the city for which we have already secured the best prices. Read more.
SHOT Show
DID YOU KNOW? . . . NSSF members receive a special discount on services provided by a payment processing company dedicated to providing top-end service to the firearms industry. The products offered by our partner company can offer significant savings over more traditional credit processing enterprises. Learn more.
ATF Q&A . . . More great questions came in on our 24/7 NSSF member compliance hotline last week. One question asks how to note physical markings in A&D records for an old firearm that does not have a serial number.
EXPERT JEFF SWANSON JOINS NSSF RANGE ACTION SPECIALIST TEAM . . . NSSF is pleased to announce that Jeff Swanson has joined its Range Action Specialist Team. NSSF’s Range Action Specialist Team provides a number of services intended to help current range members improve their facilities, as well as guide those seeking to establish new shooting ranges or expand their current operations. Read more.
NSSF AT STATE LEGISLATORS CONFERENCE . . . NSSF last week sent the team of Elizabeth Karasmeighan, Director, Legislative and Policy Research, Trevor Santos and Jake McGuigan to the National Conference of State Legislators annual legislative conference in Chicago. Team members had the opportunity to speak with state legislators and staff members from across the country about many key issues affecting our industry.
Read NSSF’s latest Government Relations Update for more.
Legal
USFS, NSSF MOVE TO DISMISS TRADITIONAL AMMUNITION SUIT . . . Lawyers for the United States Forest Service and NSSF filed separate motions Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona seeking dismissal of all claims brought in a lawsuit by the anti-hunting Center for Biological Diversity (CBD). The suit charges hunters that use of traditional, lead-component ammunition in the Kaibab National Forest constituted hazardous waste disposal. NSSF is a party in the case intervening in support of the Forest Service.
KIM RHODE MAKES HISTORY AT RIO OLYMPICS . . . The Rio Olympics shooting competition has ended, and USA Shooting Team’s medalists are all women. By winning a bronze medal in skeet last Friday, 37-year-old Kim Rhode became the first female and summer Olympian ever to win medals in six consecutive Olympic Games. Read coverage in the LA Times, USA Today and Associated Press. Ginny Thrasher of Virginia got the USA medal count off to a great start by winning the first gold medal of the 2016 Olympic games in Women’s Air Rifle, and Corey Cogdell-Unrein repeated as bronze medalist in Women’s Trap. Read more.
Firearms and Suicide Prevention
NSSF PARTNERS WITH NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION ORGANIZATION . . . NSSF and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention announced a partnership last week that will lead to building and implementing public education resources for firearms retailers, shooting ranges and the firearms-owning community about suicide prevention and firearms.
Retailers/Ranges
‘SCIENCE OF SHOPPING’ WEBINAR IS NEARLY SOLD OUT . . . NSSF has teamed up with famed retail guru Paco Underhill for a webinar on “The Science of Shopping” for firearms retailers. Set for Aug. 24 from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern time, the webinar will provide retailers with tips on how to improve customer experience and customer retention. Spots are filling quickly, so register while you still can.
NSSF IN THE NEWS . . . One America News Network, Breitbart, Daily Caller, Boston Globe, The Motley Fool and many other news outlets across the country included NSSF in their coverage in recent days. Popular topics included DDTC, government relations, Massachusetts Attorney General Challenge, #GUNVOTE and more. View a full wrap-up of NSSF in the News.
#GUNVOTE
GET INVOLVED NOW . . . NSSF’s #GUNVOTE is a voter registration and education campaign platform for use by firearms industry manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, retailers and media members, as well as the pro-Second Amendment customer. #GUNVOTE – www.gunvote.org.
How You Can Help:
- Contribute to #GUNVOTE.
- Download and post the #GUNVOTE icon to your website and link it to gunvote.org.
- Visit the #GUNVOTE website and encourage others to do the same.
- Follow #GUNVOTE on Facebook and on Twitter (@GUNVOTE).
- Order #GUNVOTE stickers. NSSF Members, please order from the NSSF Member shopping cart to receive a member discount.
- A #GUNVOTE performance shooting jersey, proudly made in the USA by TechwearUSA, is the perfect way to demonstrate your support for the #GUNVOTE voter education initiative. Order now. Sales support #GUNVOTE.