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Reminding Bloomberg . . .
 WHAT REAL GUN SAFETY LOOKS LIKE . . . Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg last week unveiled another gun-control organization calling itself a gun "safety" group, prompting social media posts and a graphic from NSSF that reminded all those who care about facts just what "Real Gun Safety Looks Like." Everytown for Gun Safety is the new umbrella group for Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Shannon Watts' Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. In a blog post, NSSF President Steve Sanetti said, "Credible, effective firearm safety efforts don't involve divisive tactics, sanctimonious rhetoric and videos designed to frighten parents away from responsible firearm ownership." He noted that Everytown, supported by $50 million in Bloomberg's funds, will "pursue legislation that will do little to actually enhance firearm safety but instead would create a host of additional barriers to gun ownership by law-abiding Americans. The new group's unstated mission might well be ‘Everytown Without Guns.' It has no credibility with gun owners." The graphic shows what real gun safety efforts—not safety rhetoric—look like; among them are initiatives in which truly "every town" in America can participate. Read the NSSF Blog post.
- BUMPY LAUNCH FOR ‘EVERYTOWN' . . . While the national media last week was eagerly providing visibility for Bloomberg's new advocacy group for gun restrictions, quick-acting pro-gun users of Facebook grabbed the Everytown for Gun Safety name and established it as a gun-friendly page. Then they added individual state pages, leaving the group's supporters without a branded Facebook presence and embarrassing the Bloomberg social-media team. (The pro-gun "Everytown" main page was taken down over the weekend.) Meanwhile, during ABC News This Week's roundtable discussion of Bloomberg's avowal to "bury the NRA" with his checkbook, panelist S.E. Cupp, a CNN Crossfire regular and guest speaker at the NSSF PAC reception at SHOT Show and recent Washington, D.C., Fly-in, educated panelists and viewers that the NRA is not the gun industry's representative—"that's the NSSF," she said. Watch clip.
Research
 UPDATED NSSF INDUSTRY REFERENCE GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE . . . Would you like to know more about the hunting and target shooting industry? NSSF's 2013-2014 Industry Reference Guide contains more than 170 pages of valuable firearms and ammunition industry data, as well as hunting and shooting sports-related data. This new edition includes updates to all of the most-frequently referenced historical trend data for leading industry indicators: NICS, excise tax, firearm-production data, firearm imports and exports, and hunting-license sales. Participation data and demographics; safety statistics; Federal Firearms License figures; concealed carry holder estimates; economic contributions and economic impact data are included, as well as the addition of several new topics of interest. The guide offers an easy-to-read design and layout, complete with "live links" from the PDF version's table of contents. View the Table of Contents and ordering information.
Government Relations
 NSSF'S CALL IS HEARD FOR MORE ATF RESOURCES TO SUPPORT INDUSTRY . . . The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has told the industry it is allocating additional staff to its Office of Enforcement Programs and Services (EPS). NSSF has been calling for additional resources for this office, estimating that the EPS operating budget should be increased from its current $15 million to $25 million in order to provide the level of service our industry needs to remain in compliance with federal law, service customers and operate so that businesses can grow. With the additional staff, the troubled eForms system is being brought back on line, initially on a limited basis for the processing of Form 6 and Form 6A, as it works to enhance the system. In addition, ATF is prioritizing the processing of Form 3 and Form 4 paper applications and is taking other measures. NSSF will continue to work for adequate ongoing funding for ATF customer service. Read the ATF letter to industry. Read background about the issue and what NSSF is doing.
- NSSF, SAAMI RESPOND TO CALIFORNIA CHALLENGE OF MICROSTAMPING SUIT . . . NSSF and SAAMI have responded to the State of California's challenge to the industry's lawsuit against that state's microstamping law. In the organizations' response filed last week in Fresno Superior Court, the two trade associations maintain that the state's challenge is fatally flawed, is misinformed and should be overruled. Furthermore, the state's attempts to misdirect attention by fixating on issues not even raised by NSSF and SAAMI's complaint is proof in itself that there is no justification for the microstamping law, which is impossible to comply with and that adversely affects law-abiding California citizens. The court will hear further arguments on the matter on April 30.
- NSSF TESTIFIES AGAINST TRADITIONAL AMMO BAN IN RHODE ISLAND . . .Jake McGuigan, NSSF Director, Government Relations, State Affairs, testified at a hearing Friday before the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the Rhode Island State Legislature against a bill that would ban the use of traditional lead ammunition in hunting in the Ocean State. HB 7838 would task the Department of Environmental Management with implementing rules to ban traditional ammunition in all hunting by July 1, 2015. NSSF will continue to work to defeat the bill and will report on any developments.
- SEN. CORNYN HAS WARY EYE ON AG HOLDER'S ‘SMART GUN' REMARKS . . . U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) has written U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to ask about the Department of Justice's exploration of "smart gun" technology. Holder testified earlier this month before a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives that DOJ is looking into such technologies. Cornyn told Holder such research "could raise constitutional concerns," including fears that the federal government could somehow use the technology to track firearms owners. The senator also sought assurances that the Department of Justice would not draft regulations mandating such technologies. See related television coverage
For more Government Relations news, read NSSF's latest Government Relations Update.
NSSF Industry Summit
 SMITH & WESSON SIGNS ON AS GOLD SPONSOR . . . Smith & Wesson has stepped up to become a Gold Sponsor of the NSSF Industry Summit, recognizing the long-term value to every segment of the shooting sports community. At the Summit, leaders representing the firearms industry, state wildlife agencies, conservation organizations and shooting sports and hunting groups will share ideas to help shape a positive future for the shooting sports. More information, including registration, schedules, accommodations and sponsorship opportunities can be found at the Summit website.
Ranges
- EARLY BIRDS GETS THE DISCOUNT . . . The early-bird deadline is fast approaching for the NSSF Lead Management & OSHA Compliance Workshop to be held May 18-20 in Dallas, Texas. Sign up by April 27 in order to get the early registration price of $350 and the special group rate on hotel rooms of $124 per night. Room rates after April 27 will vary from $169 to $209 depending on room type. Rates might fluctuate, depending on demand in the market and hotel occupancy.
 ARE YOU A RANGE WITHOUT A WEBSITE? . . . A website is an essential aspect of any business today, and if your range doesn't have one, The Range Report article, "No Website Yet? Get Started the Easy Way," lays down the basics for perhaps the simplest, least expensive way for you to get started. Do-it-yourself or hire a consultant—either way visit The Range Report website first and read Sue Bookhout's informative article.
Retailers
- NSSF HOLDS, PLANS RETAILER EDUCATION SEMINARS . . . After staging two informative Retailer Education Seminars in Houston, the National Shooting Sports Foundation plans to hold another such five-hour seminar in San Antonio on Tuesday. Seminars cover a wide variety of topics that will help keep Federal Firearms Licensees in compliance with governing regulations. All attendees receive an NSSF Retailer Education Kit, which includes a number of compliance tools and materials. The seminars are free to NSSF members and cost $100 per person for non-members. Next month, this seminar trail will lead to Phoenix, Ariz., on May 13and Jacksonville, Fla., on May 20. View the entire 2014 seminar schedule.
SHOT Show
 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN TO NEW EXHIBITORS FOR SHOT SHOW INDUSTRY DAY AT THE RANGE . . . The SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range in 2015 will combine the popular SHOT Show Media Day at the Range with SHOT Show Buyer Day at the Range, which debuted at this year's SHOT Show. They take place on Monday, Jan. 19, the day before the show floor opens, providing a bonus opportunity for exhibitors to display and offer hands-on use of firearms, ammunition and other products. Exhibiting opportunities are open on a first-come, first-served basis to all manufacturers in the hunting and shooting industry, conservation groups and shooting organizations. Spaces are going quickly, so register your company as soon as possible. You can also participate as a sponsor and/or advertiser.
News of Note
 GLENN SAPIR TO RETIRE FROM NSSF . . . After a long and storied career as an outdoor communicator in our industry, NSSF Editorial Services Director Glenn Sapir will be retiring from NSSF on Friday. Since 2003, Sapir has been coordinator of and/or contributor to several of NSSF's newsletters, edited The Range Report for shooting facilities, coordinated the creation of NSSF's award-winning Annual Review and contributed more than 50 articles per year to magazines and electronic publications that welcomed NSSF's message. His career began in 1970 as Assistant Editor of Outdoor Life magazine. He held subsequent positions with Sports Afield and, for 18 years, with Field & Stream, making him the first person to serve on the editorial staffs of what was then called "'the Big Three." On behalf of our members and our industry, all of us at NSSF wish Glenn all the best in retirement and thank him for his dedicated service over the years.
 SILADI JOINS NSSF MEMBER SERVICES TEAM . . . Ann Siladi has been promoted to NSSF Member Services Coordinator. Formerly, she had been a valued component of NSSF's Marketing Communications team, as a key NSSF representative in the NSSF SHOT Show Pressroom the last several years and as supervisor of the processing of literature requests. In her new position, in addition to assisting members with their shopping cart needs, Siladi will be available to assist members with their member benefits. "We are very excited to bring Ann into this new role," said Bettyjane Swann, NSSF Director, Member Services. "With membership continuing to grow and with Ann's knowledge of NSSF programs, she will be a valuable asset to the Member Services department. We look forward to our members working with Ann to assist with their membership needs." For NSSF membership questions, please contact either Samantha Hughes (shughes@nssf.org, 203-426-1320 ext. 262), or Siladi (asiladi@nssf.org, 203-426-1320 ext. 244).
- INJURY FORCES OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST JAMIE (BEYERLE) GRAY TO RETIRE . . . Gold medalist Jamie Gray of Lebanon, Pa., has retired from competitive rifle shooting because of chronic back problems. Gray won her medal with an Olympic-record-setting performance in Women's 50-Meter Three Position at the London games in 2012. She, however, had been suffering from degeneration of facet joints located on both sides of the vertebrae, which first became evident from the resulting pain during the 2010 World Championships.
 USA SHOOTING LEADS WAY WITH FOUR MEDALS IN WORLD CUP COMPETITION . . . Dustin Perry of Lovelady, Texas, closed out the opening shotgun event of the 2014 International Shooting Sport World Cup season with a bronze medal in Men's Skeet while equaling a qualifying world record in the process. Overall during the competition held in Tucson, Ariz., USA Shooting had 10 top-11 finishers and earned four medals, topping all nations. Jeff Holguin (U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, Yorba Linda, Calif.) earned a gold in Men's Double Trap. Army teammate Josh Richmond (Hillsgrove, Pa.) gained a silver in the same event. Kim Rhode, of El Monte, Calif., earned a bronze in Women's Skeet while tying for top qualifying score. Click here for complete results of the 2014 ISSF World Cup in Tucson.
- BROWNELLS GUNSMITH CONFERENCE AND CAREER FAIR SETS ATTENDANCE RECORDS . . . More than 475 attendees and 70 exhibitors attendedBrownells 8th Annual Gunsmith Conference & Career Fair on April 1 and 2 in Des Moines, Iowa. The total participants represented a new record. Doug Turnbull, President of Turnbull Manufacturing, served as the keynote speaker and discussed how he developed a gunsmithing career around his passion. Next year's conference, March 18-19, again will be held at the Downtown Marriott in Des Moines.
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NSSF's Mission
"To promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. "
Click here to visit the NSSF website and see how we accomplish this mission.
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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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