114th Congress Convenes with Republicans in Control

The victors of November's mid-term elections in the U.S. House and Senate were sworn in Tuesday as the 114th Congress convened. Republicans now control both houses for the first time since 2006, and will have the largest majority in the House since 1946 with 246 members. In the Senate, Republicans will hold 54 seats. John Boehner, as expected, was re-elected as Speaker of the House and Senator Mitch McConnell became the new Senate Majority Leader. This bodes well for the firearms industry's legislative priorities, including the Sportsmen's Act, which passed the House overwhelmingly but stalled in the Senate due to gun control amendments being proposed.

 

Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus Announces Leadership

The Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus (CSC) has announced the new bipartisan leadership for the 114th Congress. Senate Co-Chairs include Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) with Vice-Chairs Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). House of Representatives Co-Chairs include Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Vice-Chairs Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX). The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) was formed 26 years ago along with the CSC as a link between the Caucus and the sportsmen's community. NSSF is a diamond-level sponsor of the foundation.

 

Anti-Gun Ex-Mayor Bloomberg Spends Big, Will Again

Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg was number two on the list of the top 100 campaign donors during the 2014 election cycle, spending an estimated $40 million in total. Bloomberg's money went to candidates who support his causes, including more restrictive gun control. His substantial investment in the mid-term races previews that he is ready to spend even more during the 2016 election cycle. Read the latest blog post from the NSSF's Larry Keane.

 

Appellate Court Dismisses Suit to Force EPA Ammo Regulation

It only took the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia two months from oral argument in October to uphold the dismissal of the latest lawsuit brought by anti-hunting groups petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue regulations banning ammunition with lead components. The refusal by the EPA to consider the petition was challenged by the anti-hunting petitioners in federal court in 2013. NSSF joined the lawsuit on the side of the EPA to ensure that interests of industry and hunters were properly represented. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the EPA had improperly dismissed the petition filed under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Nevertheless, the Court ruled against the anti-hunting petitioners because there is no feasible way for the EPA to regulate spent lead bullets and shot in accordance with the petitioners' wishes without also regulating traditional ammunition, which is prohibited by law.

 

State Capitols Are the New Battleground

This week marks the beginning of the 2015 legislative sessions in nearly half of the states around the country. This year promises to be another busy session as anti-gun groups shift much of their focus and resources to pursuing legislation in the states. With the current make-up of the U.S. Congress, anti-gun organizations will devote plenty of time and finances to states where they think they can have a major impact. Legislative battles are already heating up in states like New York were microstamping will be introduced; Oregon, where a traditional ammunition ban will be sought; and Maryland, where anti-hunting groups seek to go after Sunday hunting. NSSF will continue to monitor the landscape and update everyone as threats occur.

 

New Jersey State Police Seek New Retailer Rules

The New Jersey State Police have proposed tighter regulations and new requirements for gun retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers, along with their employees, in what seemingly is a solution in search of a problem. Security measures retailers are already required to have in place, currently approved by the State Police, provide adequate and appropriate security to prevent against the theft of firearms. The new proposed rules would require dealers to immediately notify state and local police if their security systems fail and, if not capable of repair in 24 hours, the dealer may move the guns to another licensed location with State Police approval.

The proposal would also require: No guns or ammunition to be stored at any location other than the licensed premises; Dealers would have to report lost or stolen guns within 24 hours, and it would require that employees obtain a retail license in order to access any records of gun buying and selling kept by a dealer. Currently, New Jersey retailers are the most heavily regulated firearms dealers in the nation and are required to comply with the nation's most stringent set of rules and regulations. NSSF will be submitting comments and working with the administration to make changes to the rules.

 

NSSF Backs Right to Hunt and Fish Bills in Indiana, Texas

As part of our mission to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports, the NSSF supports legislation in Texas and Indiana that will ensure that the future of hunting and fishing are enshrined in their state's constitution to protect the future generations of sportsmen and women. Bills filed in Texas (HJR 61) and Indiana (SJR 2) protect the use of traditional methods, and promote wildlife conservation and management.

Constitutionally protecting the American heritage of hunting, trapping and fishing for future generations is critically important as radical anti-hunting organizations, such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), will stop at nothing to destroy our heritage and wildlife conservation in America.

 

Washington State's Initiative 594 in Force … Or Not

Washington State's Initiative 594, requiring what its supporters like to call universal background checks for firearms sales and transfers, may have become effective on Dec. 4, but those who actually have to abide by the law are not sure what to do or what agencies are enforcing it, one state newspaper reports. I-594, which passed statewide with 59 percent of the vote in the November election requires criminal background checks on firearms sales at gun shows an on such transfers, as loans and gifts.

 

Newtown Parents' Suit 'Proceeds Under False Pretenses'

Fordham University Law Professor Nicholas J. Johnson, an expert in firearms law and history, has offered a detailed critique of the lawsuit filed against Bushmaster by some of the family members of those killed in the December 2012 Sandy Hook School shooting. Johnson writes: "The complaint actually reads more like an attempt at healing than a serious legal claim. To that extent, I am sympathetic. But the strictly legal issues and theory of recovery to be gleaned from it deserve comment."

 

Import/Export Committee Hosts Speaker at SHOT Show

For NSSF voting members attending SHOT Show, mark your calendars for the Jan. 20 Import/Export Committee meeting. This year's speaker is Craig C. Healy, Director of the Federal Export Enforcement Coordination Center (E2C2), and Deputy Assistant Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Counter-Proliferation Investigations Program. Mr. Healy has agreed to present on the Exodus Command Center, including how it works and its role in outbound exports and license determinations. He will also cover E2C2's role in assisting executive departments and agencies to coordinate and enhance their export enforcement efforts.

In addition to the presentation, the agenda will include an update on International Trade Data System (ITDS), the status of Export Control Reforms, Russian sanctions and the outlook for our efforts on congressional notification thresholds and State Department registration requirements. If you are interested in attending this meeting on Jan. 20 at 8 a.m., please RSVP to Marje Swarts at mswarts@nssf.org.

 

ATF Releases Inspection Stats for 2014

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has released inspection statistics for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2014. The licensee population rose by 2,000 to a total of 140,528 in the last year. The majority of the increase occurred in dealer licenses, now 55,277, and firearms manufacturer licenses, 9,900. Pawnbrokers numbered 8,084 licensees. The percentages of licenses revoked, denied renewal or surrendered in lieu of revocation remains low at approximately at 1 percent of those inspected. See the ATF PowerPoint presentation.

 

Are Your DDTC-Designated Officials Truly Empowered?

content provided by

DDTC-registered businesses that file for export licenses are required to designate one or more "Empowered Officials" to "sign" license applications and, when requests for DDTC authority are filed, to certify to certain matters set out in ITAR § 126.13. DDTC relies on the Empowered Official signing the application to ensure that the certifications are true, that the license application or other request for authority contains accurate, truthful and complete information and that the company is otherwise complying with the ITAR in connection with the transaction.

Start the new year by considering the authority an Empowered Official must have according to the ITAR. Ask yourself whether your company's Empowered Officials truly possess all the requisite authority. If the answer is "no" or "I don't know, maybe not," then the most important link in your company's ITAR compliance framework may be broken and you should make fixing it a priority. Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members. Read more.

 

Thank You to Our 2014 NSSF PAC Contributors

The National Shooting Sports Foundation Political Action Committee wishes to thank all those individuals who were contributors in 2014. See the list of contributors.

 

Learn more about our industry's Political Action Committee: