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NSSF Responds as Lawful Commerce in Firearms
Comes Under New Political Attack
WHY HILLARY CLINTON IS WRONG ON THE PLCAA . . . With the 2016 presidential primary election season heating up, certain candidates for that high office have taken up a politically expedient argument we have heard before. Hillary Clinton in the first Democratic candidates' debate took the opportunity to purposefully mischaracterize America's firearms industry as being "wholly protected from any liability" under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). In an op-ed posted on CNN.com today, NSSF's Larry Keane responds fully to that charge and explains why the industry fought for and eventually won passage of the PLCAA 10 years ago today.
This is all familiar, of course, as a reminder of how serious the firearms industry was then and remains today about protecting the lawful commerce in firearms as essential both to our system of free enterprise and to our citizens' ability to exercise their right to keep and bear arms. We take a look back at a hard-hitting TV commercial from the five-year fight to pass the PLCAA.
Government Relations
- U.S. REP. BABIN'S BILL WOULD HELP STRENGTHEN AMMO MANUFACTURING . . . U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) has introduced the NSSF-supported Alternative Ammunition Manufacturing Act (H.R. 3802) to help ensure ammunition manufacturers gain the certainty needed to produce alternative ammunition. The measure requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to issue a ruling within 60 days of receiving a waiver application, or else the application will be automatically granted. H.R. 3802 is endorsed by the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America.
- LEGISLATION SUPPORTING FIXNICS GAINS SUPPORT ON HILL . . . Several Republican U.S. Senators have come out in support of NSSF-supported legislation introduced this summer by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) to provide financial incentives to help ensure that states send all adjudicated mental health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The federal legislation complements the work NSSF has been doing in the state legislatures since 2013 to remove impediments to such submissions, as well as for all other applicable criminal records.
- OPENING BRIEF FILED IN SEATTLE TAX CHALLENGE . . . NSSF, NRA, Second Amendment Foundation and several individual plaintiffs have filed their opening brief in the lawsuit challenging Seattle's recently passed firearms and ammunition ordinance. The brief argues that the Washington state legislature preemptively regulates all aspects of the sale of firearms and ammunition in the state and that Seattle has effectively imposed impermissible regulatory fees on such purchases within the city. NSSF will continue to keep you updated.
 FEDERAL AND STATE ROUND-UP . . . U.S. Sen. James E. Risch (R-Idaho) has added his voice to the growing list of Members of Congress urging the Obama administration to complete implementation of Export Control Reform (ECR). U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) has introduced a bill to remove firearm suppressors from the National Firearms Act. A New Hampshire House committee gave its approval last week to HB 500, which would repeal current prohibitions on using suppressors (or silencers as the law states) for hunting.
Read NSSF's latest Government Relations Update.
SHOT Show
 SHOT SHOW WEBINAR WEDNESDAY: IMPROVE LEAD QUALITY AND SALES CONVERSION . . . Sales orders you write at the show are only the tip of the iceberg. Leads are the real product. Trade show expert Jefferson Davis of Competitive Edge will present on this topic this Wednesday, Oct. 28, and show you how to get higher quality leads that are positioned to convert business and take your exhibiting ROI to a higher level. Register today for this live webinar and check out the full 2016 SHOT Show webinar schedule here.
 RAM TRUCK SIGNS AS OFFICIAL TRUCK OF 2016 SHOT SHOW . . . NSSF is pleased to announce that Ram Truck will be returning as the Official Truck of the 2016 SHOT Show. This is the fifth consecutive year that Ram Truck, a leading North American manufacturer of pickup trucks and vans, will appear at the industry-only trade show in this capacity. Read more.
- TAURUS HOLDINGS INC. SIGNS AS BRONZE SPONSOR OF NSSF/HAVA GOLF CLASSIC . . . NSSF is pleased to announce that Taurus Holdings Inc. has agreed to sponsor the 2nd Annual NSSF/HAVA Golf Classic at the Bronze support level. Taurus Holdings Inc. is a leading producer of high-quality firearms and related accessories under well-known brands Taurus, Rossi and Heritage. Read more.
Research
 LATEST SURVEY TRACKER WITH SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT AVAILABLE . . . The NSSF Survey Tracker is a monitoring service sourced by Southwick Associates that uses an online panel of active hunters and target shooters atHunterSurvey.com. The October 2015 edition provides Market Leaders for the two product groups of rifle ammunition and knives, presents the results of questions related to reloading, and includes a supplemental report on the ownership and purchases of bows. Historical survey trackers are available on the Survey Tracker page after logging in.
- ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SCHOLASTIC SHOOTING SPORTS . . . According to Southwick Associates, the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation National Championships at the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, Illinois, revealed that contributions from the event to the state's gross domestic product totaled $15,797,787. Tax revenues generated $3,960,917, and 245 jobs were supported. In addition to the 2,600 scholastic shooters who participated in the National Championship, 4,000 parents and 600 coaches also attended, each spending an average of $1,429 on event fees, food, travel, lodging and more. It is ironic that the facility has been temporarily closed due to state budget problems.
 NSSF MEMBERS RECEIVE DISCOUNT ON RESEARCH FROM SOUTHWICK ASSOCIATES . . .Southwick Associates, a market research and economics firm specializing in the hunting, shooting, sportfishing and outdoor recreation markets, offers NSSF members 15 percent off its services. Southwick offers a wide variety of research reports and can help companies identify which products are more likely to succeed through the use of proven statistics-based market research methods. To learn more, contact Nancy Bacon, Director, Business Development, for additional information.
First Shots
- NEW SHOOTERS TAKE SHOT AT FIRST SHOTS '10 YEARS & 10 PRIZES SWEEPSTAKES' . . . In its first month, the First Shots “10 Years & 10 Prizes Sweepstakes” has sparked interest in many new and growing shooters across the country. Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of NSSF’s First Shots program, the sweepstakes runs through Dec. 15, and is open to anyone 21 years or older. Thanks to its generous industry sponsors, the sweepstakes offers some impressive prize packages.
Retailers/Ranges
- ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEW NICS? . . . Federally licensed firearms retailers that have not yet registered for NICS E-Check are being advised to do so prior to the New NICS coming on line in January 2016, at which time a large number of new FFL registrants are expected. Visit the NICS FFL website for more information.
- ATF Q&A . . . More great questions came in on our 24/7 NSSF member compliance hotline last week. One question relates to returning a consigned firearm to a different person than who originally placed it on consignment. Another questioncovers whether an employee who is prohibited from owning a firearm can become employed by an FFL.
 DID YOU KNOW? . . . NSSF Members receive a substantial discount on a complete software system that manages all areas of a firearm/sporting goods retail operation. The system integrates point-of-sale, inventory management, warehouse, distribution center, allocation, e-commerce, data mining and more, and includes reporting features that are within the ATF's requirements, replacing the need for bound log books. Learn more.
News of Note
- FIREARM MANUFACTURERS REMINDER TO REPORT PRODUCTION . . . All Federally licensed manufacturers of firearms and destructive devices (Federal Firearms License types 07 and 10) are required to submit a production report of manufacturing and export activity to ATF each year. The information must be reported using the Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Exportation Report Under 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, Firearms (ATF Form 5300.11). The report covers activity for the calendar year ended the previous December 31. For additional information visit the ATF website.
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| Young Marines with Director Lt. Col. Mike Kessler USMC (Ret.), left, and Glock Vice President, Josh Dorsey. |
- GLOCK DONATES TO YOUNG MARINES . . . Glock Inc. donated $50,000 to the Young Marines at an event at its Smyrna, Ga., headquarters on Friday. Nearly 30 Young Marines aged 11 to 18 from local Georgia chapters participated. "The Young Marines is an organization focused on developing character in the young men and women of our nation," said Glock Vice President Josh Dorsey, who spent 20 years as a Marine. After the presentation, the Young Marines were given a safety briefing and exclusive range day.
- AMI TO EXPAND IN TENNESSEE . . . Advanced Munitions International (AMI) announced last week it will invest $553 million in a global headquarters and state-of-the-art munitions manufacturing, distribution, and research and development facility at Alcoa Partnership Park in Alcoa, Tennessee. More than 600 new jobs are expected to be created by the expansion. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd; Jim Antich, founder and executive chairman of AMI; and Mark Kresser, AMI President & CEO, made the announcement. AMI is known for its HPR Ammunition brand. Read more.
 ATF HOLDS OPEN DATA SHOWCASE NOV. 3-5 . . . ATF will be conducting an Open Data Showcase Nov. 3-5 at its headquarters in Washington to acquaint the industry with the multitude of ATF-related data that is available. Pre-registration is required by Oct. 27. The Showcase will include six separate sessions with each focusing on a specific dataset, including the Annual Firearms and Manufacturing and Export Report (AFMER), Firearms Commerce data, Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) data, National Firearms Act (NFA) data, FireTOSS and Trace data. Questions or comments can be sent directly to ATFOpenData@ATF.gov.
- SEOPA EXCELLENCE IN CRAFT WINNERS . . . At its 51st annual conference in Eufaula, Ala., earlier this month, the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA) recognized winners in its Excellence in Craft competition, sponsored by Chevrolet. First, second and third place winners were announced in nine categories. Also included in the ceremony were presentations of the Sharon Rushton Award (recognizing outstanding coverage of youth in the outdoors) and the Realtree Website Award.
- NSSF IN THE NEWS . . . New York Times, Boston Globe, The Washington Post, The Truth About Guns, Pacific Daily News and many other news outlets across the country included NSSF in their coverage in recent days. Popular topics included falling crime/rising gun sales, business trends, diversity in the shooting sports, Project ChildSafe, Don't Lie for the Other Guy, FixNICS and more. View a full wrap-up of NSSF in the News.
Jobs
 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ADD VALUE FOR EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS . . . NSSF's new and improved Firearms Industry Jobs board connects enthusiastic and qualified talent with prospective employers and provides many added resources to both. Employers can find out more about government compliance, EEOC and job posting tips, while job seekers can tap into the free video library. Additional premium services for candidates include checking your own references, resume writing and coaching services. View current job postings and create an employer account.
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NSSF's Mission
"To promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports."
Visit the NSSF website and see how we accomplish this mission.
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COPYRIGHT © 2015 by National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. Permission is granted for broadcast, publication, retransmission to email lists, Websites or any other copying or storage, in any medium, online or not, if 1) the text is forwarded in its entirety, including this paragraph, and 2) no fee is charged. "Bullet Points®," "National Shooting Sports Foundation®," "NSSF®," and all other trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos and images of the National Shooting Sports Foundation appearing in this publication are the sole property of the Foundation and may not be used without the Foundation's prior express written permission. All other trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos and images appearing in this publication are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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