Despite Prior Vetoes, California Governor Signs Severe Ammunition Restrictions

Vol. 10, No. 41 - October 12, 2009

NEW LAW REQUIRES RETAILERS TO KEEP LOG OF AMMO BUYERS . . . California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, flip-flopping on legislation he vetoed five years ago, has signed into law legislation (AB 962) that will require retailers to keep a log of ammunition buyers. "Earlier on Sunday, the governor vetoed a piece of firearms legislation, SB 41, far less burdensome to retailers than AB 962, stating it was too cumbersome and of no real value to law enforcement," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. "Ironically, this is the same reason the governor used to veto ammunition registration in 2004, before he flip-flopped late Sunday night." NSSF and the California Association of Firearms Retailers were highly critical of the governor's decision to sign the bill.

News of Note

From left to right: Frank Reigelman, Boy Scouts director of outdoor programs; Zach Snow, NSSF senior shooting promotions coordinator; James Terry, Boy Scouts CFO; and John Green, Boy Scouts national director.

NSSF PROVIDES $100,000 TO BOY SCOUTS FOR SHOOTING SPORTS GRANT PROGRAM . . . For the third straight year, NSSF has provided $100,000 to the Boy Scouts of America Shooting Sports Grant Program. "The future of shooting sports is bright in the Boy Scouts of America," said Frank Reigelman, who oversees the grant program. "Shooting sports continue to be among the most popular camp activities at all levels of the BSA and we are seeing an expansion of year-round programs. The days of locking up the camp shooting range at the end of summer are gone. Today, many BSA councils offer weekend programs throughout the year. The BSA Shooting Sports Grant provides important funding to improve and expand opportunities to attract new members and retain the interest of our current Scouts."

KENTUCKY'S OPENRANGE NAMED FIVE STAR SHOOTING FACILITY . . . In order to be recognized as a Five Star Facility through NSSF's Association of Shooting Ranges, a range must demonstrate excellence in all aspects of management and operations. Ranges are rated on appearance, management, customer service, amenities, customer development and community relations. Joining the select list of facilities that have earned Five Star accreditation is Openrange. This venue, located in the greater Louisville, Ky., vicinity, was a vacant skating rink that has become a vibrant shooting range and paintball operation. Innovative promotions have made it a popular destination.

EDUCATE OTHERS: PRINT OUT A POCKET FACT CARD . . . A downloadable pocket fact card on the modern sporting rifle is now available at www.nssf.org/msr. The fact cards are part of NSSF's ongoing effort to correct widespread misperceptions among gun owners and non-gun owners alike about AR-15-style rifles, also known as modern sporting rifles. It is essential to correct misunderstandings about the use and operation of these rifles because those who support legislation that would wrongly ban ownership of these and other types of semi-automatic firearms are aided by the confusion that exists.

NSSF RECOMMENDS FIVE ACTIONS FOR HUNTERS TO TAKE . . . With hunting season unfolding like the colors of autumn, NSSF encourages five actions hunters can take during this time of fair chase and harvest.

THE NEXT GUITAR HERO? REMINGTON FIREARMS COME TO NINTENDO WII . . . Remington Arms Co. is teaming up with video-game maker Mastiff to bring virtual versions of its firearms to Nintendo Wii consoles, AFP reports. A new video game, titled "Remington Great American Bird Hunt," is being released by Mastiff this month.

ALTUS BRANDS ACQUIRES MORE COMPANIES . . . Altus Brands LLC has acquired Cass Creek Game Calls, Woodland Whisper, QuikSit and Digital Game Scales brands, formerly owned by Nature Vision Inc. This expansion of its product portfolio is the second acquisition in the last 30 days.

Legal & Legislative

SUPREME COURT HEARS FIRST AMENDMENT CASE IMPACTING HUNTING . . . The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in U.S. v. Stevens over whether a 1999 federal law intended to criminalize depictions of animal cruelty violates the First Amendment. As written by Congress, the law is overbroad and criminalizes the sale and possession of other protected speech -- like educational materials, books, photographs, art and other images depicting hunting. Whether depictions of hunting would be covered by the statute occupied a lot of the justices' time. Many of the justices seemed sympathetic to concerns raised by NSSF and other groups like the NRA and outdoor writers in friend-of-the-court briefs filed with the court. At one point, Justice Antonin Scalia commented that the exceptions to the law do not include entertainment, leading him to inquire whether the law could be used to ban hunting videos and television programs. According to Scalia, "Most of the hunting videos I have seen people watch [are] for the entertainment. They like to see a hunt." The Humane Society of the United States submitted a brief in support of the law. A decision by the court is not expected for some time.

NEW POLLS: MAJORITY OF AMERICANS AGAINST GUN CONTROL . . . New Rasmussen and Gallup reports reveal that more Americans oppose stricter gun control laws. "Just 39 percent of Americans now say the United States needs stricter gun control," according to Rasmussen Reports, which released its poll results last Monday. Rasmussen reported that "50 percent are opposed to stricter gun-control laws, and 11 percent are not sure." Last March, 43 percent favored stricter gun control laws, according to Rasmussen.

HUNTING AND FISHING HERITAGE BILL INTRODUCED . . . NSSF applauds the introduction of legislation, the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act (HR 3749), to greatly enhance the ability of federal land managers to provide, promote and plan for recreational uses that balance the needs and interests of all outdoor enthusiasts. The bill, introduced by U.S. Reps. Dan Boren (D-Okla.) and Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), requires that all federal public land planners evaluate the effects that management initiatives have on outdoors activities and provide a clear analysis of how proposed actions would affect these traditional users of federal public lands.

SHOT Show

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHOT SHOW UNIVERSITY . . . NSSF will be bringing the firearms retailing community a best-of-the-best lineup of speakers for the 2010 SHOT Show University, planned for Monday, Jan. 18. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. "NSSF is committed to providing the best possible training seminar that will ultimately make all retailers in attendance more viable and profitable. With your partnership, we can make this happen," said Randy Clark, NSSF managing director of business development. Contact Clark at rclark@nssf.org to become a SHOT Show University sponsor.

MEDIA REGISTRATION UP AND RUNNING . . . All members of the press interested in attending the 2010 SHOT Show can log on to www.shotshow.org/media to register. Please carefully read the list of guidelines beforehand to be sure you request the correct type of media badge (Press, Publisher, Broadcast, Internet) and to understand the "proof of eligibility" documents you will need to provide in order to be approved for a media badge.

NSSF MEMBERS: ORDER STATE OF THE INDUSTRY TICKETS BEFORE THEY GO ON SALE . . . NSSF members are being given the opportunity to order tickets to the annual State of the Industry Dinner before they go on sale to all SHOT Show attendees on Oct.15. Join us on the opening night of the show as we celebrate and recap the industry's accomplishments for 2009. For the price of the ticket, attendees will enjoy a cocktail party sponsored by Safari Club International and Outdoor Channel, dinner, an informative presentation highlighting NSSF's efforts in 2009 and an exclusive performance by comedy great Dennis Miller. It all begins at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Palazzo Ballroom on Level 5 of the Venetian Hotel.

NSSF Membership News

RETAILERS AND RANGES: JOIN NSSF NOW FOR $50 . . . Non-NSSF member retailers and range owners are invited to join NSSF for just $50, a special, one-time-only, full-year membership that will begin from the moment of sign-up through the end of 2010. The offer is available now through the conclusion of NSSF's 2010 SHOT Show. Join now and take advantage of this great offer.

Jobs

INDUSTRY CAREER CONNECTION . . . Visit www.nssf.org/jobs for current employment opportunities in the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry. Employers: Log in to post a job opening.