SHOT Show Quickly Approaching

Vol. 10, No. 42 - October 19, 2009

MAKE YOUR PLANS . . . NSSF's 2010 SHOT Show is just three months from today. With a new venue, new exciting surroundings and new products galore, the industry's annual main event returns to Las Vegas Jan. 19-22 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. If you haven't already done so, get registered, make travel plans and more at www.shotshow.org. You can't miss!

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY . . . Tickets to NSSF's annual State of the Industry Dinner are now on sale. Join us on the opening night of the show as we celebrate and recap the industry's accomplishments for 2009. Attendees will enjoy a cocktail party sponsored by Safari Club International and Outdoor Channel, dinner, industry highlights from 2009 and an exclusive performance by comedy great Dennis Miller.

SHOT SHOW BLOG . . . Stay up-to-date on all SHOT Show news and information with the SHOT Show Blog. Read it online at shotshow.org/blog.

Legislative

CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT GROWING FOR EXCISE TAX REFORM . . . NSSF continues to encourage all members of the firearms and ammunition industry to contact their U.S. senators and representatives and strongly urge them to co-sponsor S. 632 and H.R. 510, legislation to change the firearms and ammunition excise tax payment schedule to quarterly from bi-weekly. The total number of sponsors/co-sponsors and those who have committed to co-sponsor H.R. 510 is 95. The total number of sponsors/co-sponsors and those who have committed to co-sponsor S. 632 is 18. NSSF estimates that shifting to a quarterly payment schedule will free up approximately $22 million annually for manufacturers to invest in new equipment and product designs, in turn leading to greater participation in our sports and positively affecting conservation. It's vitally important that all members of the firearms and ammunition industry urge their senators and representatives to support this pro-conservation, pro-business bipartisan legislation. All the background information and sample letters you need to call and write your senators and representatives is available on NSSF's Legislative Action Center Web page.

HOUSE BILL AIMS TO BOOST FUNDING FOR SHOOTING RANGES . . . U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., has introduced legislation aimed at increasing federal funding for public shooting ranges. H.R. 3781 is the House companion bill to the Senate's S. 1702. The bill would amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to allow states to allocate increased funding for the construction and maintenance of public shooting facilities.

INDUSTRY REMAINS CRITICAL OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR . . . Facing his lowest approval ratings (27 percent) since taking office, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week attempted to mitigate fallout from his decision to sign into law legislation (AB 962) he vetoed just five years earlier establishing ammunition registration in California. The governor claimed his flip-flopping on the issue was based on public safety, a far cry from his veto statement in 2004 when he called such burdensome regulations "simply unworkable" and of "no public benefit." NSSF and the California Association of Firearms Retailers have remained highly critical of the governor's acquiescence to the gun-control lobby, using his own statistics against him.

News of Note

BIRD HUNTING SEASONS TAKE FLIGHT . . . Across the country, bird hunting seasons are getting under way. NSSF reminds all sportsmen and women that a great way to kick off the new season is at a wingshooting preserve near you. NSSF's WingshootingUSA.org provides links to more than 1,000 preserves across the country. You'll also find bird hunting resources, including a safety video for new hunters or those that need a quick refresher before heading afield. Also, be sure to tune in to the Wingshooting USA television show each week on DISH Network and the Sportsman Channel.

NICS ALERTS RETAILERS OF BUSY SEASON HOURS . . . The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has announced hours for its busy season, which began Oct. 1 and will continue through Jan. 16. During this time, NICS Section operational hours will be from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time, with state point of contacts (POCs) being placed in service at 7 a.m. and out of service at 1:30 a.m. EST. NICS call centers will maintain their normal daily operations hours of 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. EST. One day that will deviate from this schedule will be the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27), when NICS will come in full service at 6 a.m. EST. This will include the call centers, state POCs and NICS Section. The NICS Section is closed Christmas Eve at midnight and all day on Christmas. NICS operations will resume on Dec. 26 at 6 a.m. EST. The state POCs will resume at 7 a.m. and the call center at 8 a.m. EST.

SMITH & WESSON WINS CONTRACT WITH WASHINGTON STATE PATROL . . . Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:SWHC) announced that the Washington State Patrol has selected firearms from the company's Military & Police (M&P) Pistol Series for duty use. The state patrol has ordered 1,400 M&P40 pistols. Smith & Wesson also recently completed shipments of 1,300 M&P pistols to be used by the Washington State Department of Corrections.

SCI, NJ SPORTING GROUPS FILE SUIT TO FORCE BEAR HUNT DECISION . . . Frustrated by the state's unwillingness to approve a new comprehensive black bear management policy that includes hunting as a management strategy, Safari Club International and the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsman's Clubs, Inc. filed suit in New Jersey to force action. Coincidentally, the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance will be staging a free "Rescue Our Outdoors Rally" on Sat., Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. at the New Egypt Speedway to address, among other issues, "Trenton's substituting an animal rights agenda and environmentalism for fish and game management."

POMA CHANGES 2010 CONFERENCE DATES . . . The Professional Outdoor Media Association has changed the dates of its fifth annual business conference to Aug. 11-14, 2010, to avoid a conflict with the recently changed schedule of the Outdoor Retailer's Summer Market Expo. The venue for the POMA gathering, the LaPorte Best Western, in LaPorte, Ind., remains the same. POMA's annual business conference offers journalists and industry professionals a wide range of business-enhancement opportunities.

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.