What Truly Attracts Customers
NSSF RELEASES CONSUMER EYE-TRACKING REPORT . . . To assist its member companies in better understanding their customer’s shopping experience, the National Shooting Sports Foundation has issued a new report whose findings are based on the use of mobile eye-tracking technology to reveal what really attracts shoppers to products. The report—“In-store Shopper Research: An Application of Mobile Eye-Tracking and Post-Shop Surveys”—will help manufacturers and retailers make better-informed decisions about packaging and displaying products. Recruited shoppers were fitted with specially equipped eyeglasses that monitored their visual attention and tracked and recorded retina movement when shopping for firearms, ammunition and other products in a retail shop. For additional information on this report, read the press release. NSSF Members can log in and view the report.
Research
- USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR FEBRUARY 2014 . . . NSSF tracks and reports monthly U.S. import and export units for several sporting arms, ammunition and optics categories from the U.S. International Trade Commission.See a complete breakdown of each category's February import and export data. NSSF members can access additional historical import and export data by logging in and clicking NSSF Industry Research.
Government Relations
- ADMINISTRATION LIMITS EXPORTED MAGAZINE CAPACITY OF 30 ROUNDS AND HIGHER . . . NSSF has learned today that the U.S. State Department has made a “policy decision” to limit the export of 30 round and higher capacity magazines solely to government, law enforcement and military end users. The policy is expected to be posted to the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) website this week. NSSF will provide updates on this policy development as more information becomes available.
- FIREARMS INDUSTRY GROWTH BEHIND MORE ATF RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT . . . USA Todaytook the opportunity to connect the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) decision to allocate additional staff to its Office of Enforcement Programs and Services (EPS) with the release of the bureau’s 2014 Annual Statistical Update of Firearms Commerce in the United States that documents the industry’s significant growth.Access the full report. 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 the firearms industry needs to remain in compliance with federal law and service customers. NSSF will continue to work for adequate ongoing funding for ATF customer service. Read background about the issue and what NSSF is doing.
- ALASKA FIXNICS LEGISLATION HEADS TO GOVERNOR'S DESK . . . NSSF can chalk up another win. Legislation to ensure reporting of all appropriate Alaska criminal and adjudicated mental health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), HB 366, unanimously passed on the state Senate floor last week in Juneau. Alaska has been one of the priority states in NSSF's nationwide FixNICS initiative from its inception in 2013. NSSF is pleased to report this latest success and will provide an update once the Governor signs the bill. Alaska follows the successes of similar FixNICS legislation in the last month in South Dakota and Nebraska.
- USA TODAY INVESTIGATION CONFIRMS WHAT NSSF HAS BEEN SAYING, LET’S FIXNICS . . . A USA Today article last week reported that criminals can cross state lines and not necessarily be stopped by an instant criminal background check if they attempt to buy a gun from a federally licensed retailer. That's because not all criminal records are being sent to the NICS system by all the law enforcement agencies that should be providing them. The firearms industry agrees that this is a problem that needs correcting. Toward that end, NSSF has been making progress through the FixNICS initiative to get states to remedy this situation (see previous item), a fact not reported in this story. Read the pendingNSSF letter to the editor from NSSF President Steve Sanetti.
- TOM RIDGE QUICKLY LEAVES BLOOMBERG’S RE-BRANDED ANTI-GUN GROUP . . . Former Homeland Security Secretary and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge has resigned from Michael Bloomberg’s newly re-branded anti-gun group, delivering a public relations and organizing setback for the former New York City Mayor on the heels of his announcement that he will spend $50 million on efforts tied to this year’s midterm elections. Ridge explained he was uncomfortable with the planned political activity of “Everytown for Gun Safety” that merged Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns group with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
For more Government Relations news, read NSSF's latest Government Relations Update.
Industry
- HOW THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY LEADS THE WAY ON ‘GUN SAFETY’ . . . Gun control organizations misleadingly try to claim the leadership mantle for issues that the firearms industry well understands and to which it has devoted substantial resources over many years. These organizations demonize guns, the firearms industry and gun owners in pursuit of a broad gun-control agenda. On the other hand, our intent is to conduct genuinely effective programs that prevent guns from getting into the hands of those who should not have them. We find that the news media often ignore or downplay our programs. Read the essay by NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane published in The Daily Caller.
- WINCHESTER AMMO SALES CONTINUE UPWARD IN FIRST QUARTER . . .Olin Corp. (NYSE:OLN), makers of Winchester ammunition, reported Thursday that first quarter Winchester division sales were up 7 percent compared to the same period last year. "The high level of commercial demand that was experienced by Winchester in 2013 continued in the first quarter of 2014, and Winchester generated the second highest level of quarterly sales and segment income in its history," said Olin Chairman, President and CEO Joseph Rupp. "In addition, the commercial backlog at the end of the quarter remained above $400 million, which is significantly higher than the pre-surge March 31, 2012 commercial backlog of $137 million."
Ranges
- MAY 18-19 IN DALLAS: LEAD MANAGEMENT AND OSHA COMPLIANCE WORKSHOP . . . If there is one educational workshop for ranges to attend this year, this is it. Protect your business by attending NSSF's Lead Management and OSHA Compliance Workshop in Dallas May 18-20. This will be the only edition of this event to be presented in 2014. OSHA inspections are on the rise, and the potential exists for heavy fines for shooting ranges that aren't prepared. Knowledge and Lead Best Management Practices are the key to defending your business. This workshop will provide critical information for all ranges. Space is limited, so sign up now. Sinterfire has joined MT2, En-Range and Western Range in sponsoring this event. Learn more and register today.
Retailers
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NEW ATF Q&A FEATURE FOR RETAILERS . . . As a federally licensed firearms retailer, have you ever wondered how to address a case where you discover, after the sale, an error on a Form 4473? How about if you know a customer who is not physically able to get to your store; can you make a "house call" and complete the paperwork and background checks from their house? These are two of the many questions our compliance team have been asked -- and answered. A new feature in the Retailers section of the NSSF website is an ATF Q&A that can serve as a great resource when a compliance question arises.
News of Note
- A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR BEGINNER SHOOTERS . . . For many, taking those all-important First Shots is an intimidating hurdle. Finding information on where to go next can be equally challenging. First Shots News is a new monthly newsletter from NSSF that offers interviews, advice and articles to help answer some of the questions everyone has when starting out.Take a look at the April edition, which includes tips on buying your first handgun, revolver vs. semi-auto, advice from an Olympic shooter and more. Subscribe to First Shots News here.
- JUNIOR OLYMPIC SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS WRAP UP IN COLORADO SPRINGS . . . USA Shooting's yearly glimpse at the shooting prospects that lie ahead concluded Saturday with the Men's Three-Position Smallbore (.22 caliber) Rifle event. Thirteen days of April shooting competition brought together over 360 competitors in men's and women's pistol and rifle events. More from USA Shooting here.
- USA SHOOTING NAMES AIRGUN FINALS RANGE IN HONOR OF LATE RIDENOUR . . . Dave Ridenour would have been proud. The former West Virginia rifle standout was honored by his family and USA Shooting Wednesday as theyunveiled the David F. Ridenour Finals Range prior to the start of the Men's Air Rifle final at the 2014 National Junior Olympic Shooting Championships. Athletes making finals of any airgun competition in the future will now shoot at the David F. Ridenour Finals Range.
- CHALLENGE GRANTS FOR BOY SCOUT COUNCILS AVAILABLE . . . For the fourth year, NSSF is making challenge grants available to qualifying BSA Councils that take up the challenge to develop or expand their activities in target shooting and marksmanship. NSSF will provide funding to the first 25 qualifying applicants up to a maximum of $2,000 in matching support. Read the press release.
Jobs
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