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NSSF, SAAMI Seek Injunction
to Stop Microstamping Law
ATTEMPTING TO HALT A DE FACTO GUN BAN . . . NSSF and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction on behalf of their members against the State of California in Fresno Superior Court to prevent enforcement of the state’s microstamping law. The state statute requires all semiautomatic handguns sold in the state not already on the California approved handgun roster incorporate unproven and unreliable microstamping technology. Under this law, firearms manufacturers would have to micro laser-engrave a gun's make, model and serial number on two distinct parts of each handgun, including the firing pin so that, in theory, this information would be imprinted on the cartridge casing when the pistol is fired. “There is no existing microstamping technology that meets the requirement of this ill-considered law,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. Read the NSSF press release.
Government Relations
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FIREARMS INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES IN WASHINGTON FOR NSSF CONGRESSIONAL FLY-IN . . .Executives of the nation’s firearms companies are in Washington, D.C., this week for the seventh annual NSSF congressional “fly-in.” They are meeting with Members of both houses of Congress to discuss the $37.7 billion national economic impact of the firearms industry, the need for revenue-neutral measures to allow the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to reduce lengthy backlogs in form-processing times, and the opportunity to improve the provision of safety information and gun locks through law enforcement agencies by re-starting funding of Project ChildSafe. Read the NSSF press release.
- PLEASANT HILL, CALIF. ANTI-GUN ORDINANCE PUBLIC HEARING TUESDAY . . . The Pleasant Hill, Calif., Planning Commission will hold a public hearingTuesday, April 1, to receive public comments on proposed changes to its zoning regulations to conform to the city's restrictions on firearms and ammunition sales. In November 2013, in the face of overwhelming public opposition, the Pleasant Hill City Council amended ordinances related to firearms and ammunition sales requiring local law-abiding retailers to obtain a police permit to operate and comply with various other performance standards. One of these performance standards prohibits firearms and ammunition sellers from operating within proximity to homes, schools, public parks and certain other businesses as a means to regulate FFLs out of business. These changes were not submitted to the city’s planning commission as required by state and local law before they were adopted. The city council violated mandatory statutory and procedural requirements when it improperly passed these unnecessary zoning amendments that otherwise conflict with and are preempted by law. The City Council is now trying to correct its error. The hearing will occur at 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. The public is strongly encouraged to attend and tell the Planning Commission to vote “No” on any change to the zoning laws.
 ALASKA HOUSE PASSES FIXNICS BILL . . . The Alaska House of Representatives last week unanimously passed (37-0) House Bill 366, the FixNICS bill urged by NSSF and carried forward by Republican Majority Leader Lance Pruitt. The bill allows the Alaska Dept. of Public Safety to receive identifying information from the Alaska Court System regarding individuals who are prohibited from firearm ownership due to an adjudication of mental illness or mental incompetence, and a resulting involuntary commitment for more than 30 days. The DPS would then transmit the limited identifying information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Alaska is one of the priority target states in NSSF's nationwide FixNICS initiative. NSSF will continue to work for this legislation as it heads to the Senate.
- NEBRASKA FIXNICS REPORTING BILL ON GOVERNOR’S DESK . . . NSSF sponsored FixNICS legislation, LB 1035, was amended into LB 699 and unanimously passed Nebraska's unicameral legislature last week. LB 699 will mandate biannual reporting of mental health records by the Nebraska State Patrol to ensure the state continues to send the records into NICS. LB 699 is now on Governor Dave Heineman's desk awaiting his signature. NSSF introduced this legislation to ensure the records continue to be transmitted to NICS in the future.
For more Government Relations news, read NSSF's latest Government Relations Update.
Infographic
 HOW WILDLIFE IS THRIVING BECAUSE OF GUNS AND HUNTING . . . Since the late 1930s, hunters, target shooters and the firearms industry have been the nation's largest contributors to conservation, paying for programs that benefit America's wildlife and all who love the outdoors. NSSF has created a new infographic, "How Wildlife is Thriving Because of Guns and Hunting," to illustrate how we as an industry and as sportsmen are the greatest contributors to wildlife conservation in America, providing nearly $9 billion over the past 76 years. Please spread this message far and wide. Share it on social media, post it to your websites -- let the world know about America's original and largest contributors to conservation: hunters, shooters and the firearms industry.
- PRINT-FRIENDLY SIZE ALSO AVAILABLE . . . NSSF has had several requests for this infographic as an 8½" x 11" for use in publications. Download it here. If publishers require resizing or specific dimensions for their publications, please contact dmoran@nssf.org.
NSSF Industry Summit
- EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS TODAY . . . Register today to get early-bird pricing on registration for the NSSF Industry Summit. Fees rise beginning tomorrow so register today to participate in the process of building a positive future for target shooting, hunting and the industry. The NSSF Industry Summit is slated for June 9-11 in Springfield, Mass., and registration is open to individuals representing hunting and shooting sports organizations, conservation groups, wildlife agencies and the firearms and ammunition industry. Register Today.
Retailers
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A DOZEN SEMINARS FOR RETAILERS IN 2014 . . . NSSF is kicking off the 2014 Retailer Education Seminars with a trip to the Lone Star State. These education seminars are designed to provide an in-depth review of ATF compliance topics such as error proofing your 4473 forms and A&D books, how to detect and prevent straw purchases, how to legally sell at gun shows and online gun sales. The seminars will be taught by NSSF’s all-star FFL Compliance Consultant Team and a team from FBI/NICS will be in attendance to provide an overview of the background check process. Get more information about these seminars.
News of Note
- WILDLIFE AND FISH AGENCIES TO RECEIVE $1.1 BILLION . . . The Department of Interior announced last week that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will distribute nearly $1.1 billion in excise tax revenues to all state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies to fund conservation, recreation and education projects. The taxes, paid on firearms, ammunition, archery and fishing equipment, electric outboard motors and boating fuel, create an irreplaceable foundation of funding for such projects. See the press release for a state-by-state table of recipients.
 A GIRL & A GUN CONTINUES RAPID GROWTH . . . Women representing 41 chapters from 18 states gathered March 21-23 in Waco, Texas, for the 2nd Annual A Girl and A Gun (AG & AG) Women's Shooting League National Training Conference. Sessions covered a variety of topics and catered to all experience levels, and all were designed to elevate both skill and comfort levels. The theme for this year's event was "Breaking Barriers," something AG & AG knows a little bit about: In three years, this women's shooting league has expanded to 63 chapters in 23 states with over 600 percent growth in the past two years alone. The league is designed to take beginners to whatever skill level they wish to achieve, and provide experienced shooters with more opportunities. NSSF was proud to serve as the conference's Leadership Dinner sponsor. Find out more from the A Girl and A Gun website.
- HIGH SCHOOL TRAP SHOOTING FASTEST GROWING . . . In 2008, the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League attracted 30 competitors from three high school teams. Fast forward six years: the league has grown to include 6,100 student-athletes from 185 high schools. And most important, the league has not reported a single injury, making clay target shooting the safest sport at Minnesota high schools. Read the OutdoorLife.com story.
- POMA AUCTION GENERATES $30,000 . . . With more than 70 outdoor industry companies and individuals donating auction and raffle items, the Professional Outdoor Media Association was able to raise approximately $30,000 at its recent conference. “POMA is grateful for the tremendous generosity and support of the donors and bidders,” said POMA President Tom Opre. “These folks understand the critical role the media and POMA play in ensuring the future of the traditional outdoor sports and educating the public about hunting, fishing, the shooting sports, wildlife conservation and ancillary activities. The importance of these donations and auction purchases can't be overstated.” Read press release.
- #CONSERVETHEPRAIRIES . . . A new Prairies Conservation Campaign designed to bring public attention to the dramatic conversion of grasslands and wetlands to croplands was announced last week by a coalition of conservation organizations, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The public can follow and participate in the conversation online by following the Twitter hashtag #ConserveThePrairies. Read the press release.
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COPYRIGHT © 2014 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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