Industry, ATF Campaign Making Impact

Vol. 10, No. 43 - October 26, 2009

WORKING TO PREVENT ILLEGAL FIREARM PURCHASES . . . Over the past year, the Don't Lie for the Other Guy program -- jointly developed by ATF and the National Shooting Sports Foundation -- has been rolled out in several areas along the southwest border of the United States. The campaign completed its fifth launch of the year last week in San Diego and continues to demonstrate the industry's strong stance against illegal straw purchases of firearms. The goal of the program is twofold: to warn residents and visitors about the severe penalties associated with illegally purchasing a firearm, and to educate federally licensed firearms retailers on how to better detect and deter potential straw purchasers. "NSSF has for nearly a decade partnered with ATF and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) on the Don't Lie program. This partnership is a great example of coordination and tangible success on the federal, state and local levels and with federally licensed firearms retailers throughout the country," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. Watch a video with testimonials from firearms retailers and ATF on the success of the program. Also, listen to a recent WCBS radio interview.

RETAILERS: GET YOUR FREE 'DON'T LIE' TOOL KIT . . . NSSF readily makes its "Don't Lie for the Other Guy" retailer tool kit available for free to retailers wherever they live and do business. Retailers with multiple locations can request one for each store. Individual components of the retailer tool kit are also available upon request. Order online at www.dontlie.org or by contacting NSSF's Cindy Brutting at cbrutting@nssf.org or 203-426-1320.

Industry News

CERBERUS PLANNING TO TAKE FREEDOM GROUP PUBLIC . . . Cerberus Capital Management is in advanced preparations for an initial public offering of its Freedom Group Inc., reports The Wall Street Journal. Freedom Group houses many firearm brands, including Remington, Marlin, Harrington & Richardson, New England Firearms, L.C. Smith, Parker, Bushmaster, DPMS/Panther Arms, EOTAC and INTC.

GUN MAKER TO RELOCATE HEADQUARTERS TO VIRGINIA BEACH . . . Washington, D.C.-based Transformational Defense Industries Inc. plans to hire 35 workers and spend $4 million to relocate its headquarters to Virginia Beach, Va., reports The Virginian-Pilot.

NSSF SEEKS DOCUMENTS, PHOTOS FOR HISTORY PROJECT . . . Looking ahead to its 50th anniverary in 2011, NSSF has begun work on a history project. The foundation, which was founded in 1961, is asking member companies to make NSSF aware of documents, photographs or other items that may help tell the story of NSSF or of the industry over the last five decades. Items from 1960s, '70s and '80s would be particularly helpful. Written or oral recollections by senior members of industry are being sought as well. Please contact NSSF's Bill Brassard at bbrassard@nssf.org about any information you feel may be of value.

'HUNTING MARKET FORECAST' . . . The October issue of ANSOM (Army/Navy Store and Outdoor Merchandiser) magazine features a cover story on Task Force 20/20's report, "The Future of Hunting and the Shooting Sports." Titled "Hunting Market Forecast," the article highlights data in the report and NSSF's efforts to grow hunting and the shooting sports.

Legislative

SENATE AMENDMENT PROTECTS POCKETKNIVES . . . As reported in earlier Bullet Points, there was an attempt by U.S. Customs to reclassify any knife that could be opened with one hand as a switchblade, effectively banning almost all pocket knives. The U.S. Senate last week approved the FY2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill Conference Report, which includes an amendment to protect the use of pocketknives. The amendment, inserted into the bill in July by Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) successfully blocked the attempt by the Office of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to alter their interpretation of the definition of switchblade knives to include spring-assisted or one-handed-opening knives as defined under the 1958 Switchblade Knife Act.

PENNSYLVANIA TO CONSIDER NULLIFYING SOME FEDERAL GUN LAWS . . . Pennsylvania State Rep. Sam Rohrer, who is considering a run for governor in 2010, has introduced the "Firearms Freedom Act" (HB 1988) for consideration in the state legislature, reports the Tenth Amendment Center. The bill, which currently has 48 additional co-sponsors, is described as "an act prohibiting certain firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition from being subject to federal law or federal regulation."

NSSF TO MATCH ATF REWARD IN PA. GUN STORE THEFT . . . As part of a national initiative to help curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms, NSSF announced that it will match any rewards issued by ATF in the Oct. 23 theft of 16 handguns from the Keystone Country Store in Fort Loudon, Pa.

SHOT Show

WHAT BENEFITS DO NSSF MEMBERS RECEIVE AT THE SHOT SHOW? . . . Membership in NSSF -- the owner and sponsor of the SHOT Show -- has its privileges. Not only does your membership help promote, protect and preserve our industry and our sports, but you also get a whole lot of perks -- year-round and at the SHOT Show. Here are a few SHOT Show benefits that NSSF members will receive at the 2010 show.

SHOT SHOW BLOG . . . Recent updates to the SHOT Show Blog include a look at this year's stellar SHOT Show University lineup, registration rule changes for 2010 and tips for exhibitors on working with the press at your booth. Read the SHOT Show Blog online at www.shotshow.org/blog.

News of Note

GET THE FACTS: THEY'RE NOT 'ASSAULT RIFLES' . . . Whether you're a hunter, target shooter, own a firearm for self-protection or don't own a firearm at all, the National Shooting Sports Foundation asks you to be informed about AR-15-style rifles. These rifles are often mislabeled "assault rifles" or "assault weapons." They are neither. Nevertheless, many hunters and shooters and the general public confuse AR-15-style rifles, which are civilian sporting rifles, with military rifles because they look similar to each other. "Groups wanting to ban AR-15-style rifles have for years purposely spread misinformation about these firearms to aid their cause," said Steve Sanetti, president of NSSF. "We must work harder to help protect the right of hunters and sports shooters to own the firearms of their choice, including semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns, for lawful purposes. Gun owners everywhere can help correct the misinformed, whether it's a friend, fellow hunter, elected official or the media. NSSF is assisting this nationwide campaign by issuing the Modern Sporting Rifle Fact Card as a resource." Use the fact card for your own reference, pass it on to individuals or groups, or post the information on blogs and Web and social media sites.The pocket-size fact card is available to read or download as a pdf at www.nssf.org/msr.

HUNTING SEASON IS PERFECT TIME TO MENTOR A NEWCOMER . . . Fall is a time of year parents and their children enjoy doing things together, including introducing a young person to hunting. You can start by sending your son or daughter an electronic postcard through www.stepoutside.org, then enter the STEP OUTSIDE Sweepstakes and earn a chance to win one of five $1,000 gift certificates to Bass Pro Shops. Read NSSF's press release.

MORE WOMEN INTERESTED IN CCW . . . A story in the Grand Rapids Press by Howard Meyerson titled "Women Aim for Protection in Female-only Concealed Pistol Classes" demonstrates the growing interest among women in taking classes designed to teach safe and responsible handgun ownership. It's a trend that also can be seen in NSSF's First Shots program, where a recent study of program participants revealed that 74 percent of women who enrolled in First Shots classes were motivated by an interest in personal protection.

ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST REFUSES TO LET HUNTER RETRIEVE DEER . . . The actions of a Connecticut animal-rights activist were so shocking that a report appeared across the continent in the Los Angeles Times. The article documents the account of a bowhunter who legally arrowed a white-tailed deer during the Connecticut season and tracked it to a private property where it had collapsed and died. The hunter went to the door of the residence to ask permission to recover his deer. The resident, who, as it turned out, was CEO of the Animal Rights Alliance, refused permission. The Oct. 20 article reported that the carcass remains in the yard where the deer died on Oct. 2.

WMI REPORTS CONSERVATION FUNDING ESCAPES ADMINISTRATION'S AXE . . . The Wildlife Management Institute reports that both chambers of Congress passed conference agreement legislation on Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture that include substantial funding boosts for conservation programs. Congress rejected proposals from the Obama Administration that would have slashed millions of dollars in funding for USDA conservation programs.

NSSF Membership

RANGES: JOIN NSSF AND SAVE 33 PERCENT . . . The most successful businesses know when to take advantage of resources and opportunities. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, has a wealth of information and resources to elevate your range to the next level. When you become a member of NSSF, you'll find what more than 1,000 ranges already know.

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.