North Carolina Sunday Hunting Goes to Governor

The Outdoor Heritage Act (House Bill 640) to allow Sunday hunting on private land, sponsored by State Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-4th), passed the North Carolina State Senate by a 33-15 vote after it was approved by the House on an 88-26 vote on June 18. The bill now heads to Gov. Pat McCrory (R) where it awaits his signature. The legislation will give sportsmen in North Carolina the opportunity to hunt with firearms on Sundays on private property as of Oct. 1, 2015.

While overturning the 145-year-old ban is an accomplishment, the addition of many amendments by both the house and senate have severely limited the legislation.

• Prohibits hunting between the hours of 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• Prohibits hunting of migratory birds.
• Prohibits hunting of deer with hounds.
• Prohibits hunting within 500 yards of a place of worship or within 500 yards of a residence not owned by the landowner.
• Prohibits hunting in counties with a population over 700,000 (Wake and Mecklenberg)
• Also allows counties to opt out by ordinance effective beginning Oct. 1, 2017.

North Carolina is one of only 11 states where hunting on Sunday is restricted or prohibited due to antiquated "blue laws." One reason hunters give for a decline in participation is lack of time and opportunity. Allowing full Sunday hunting in the state will provide a positive stimulus in the form of 3,600 jobs and $311 million in new economic impact.

 

Hunting and Fishing Preemption Legislation Approved by Calif. Senate Committee

The California Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water gave its unanimous approval to a bill creating a state hunting and fishing preemption law. AB 665 would provide that the state fully occupies the field covering the taking and possession of fish and game. AB 665 received support from 26 outdoor organizations, including NSSF. Predictably, the usual suspects showed up in opposition to this pro-hunting legislation, including: East Bay Regional Park District, Marin Humane Society, Project Coyote, Public Interest Coalition, Sierra Club California, State Park Partners Coalition, and of course, The Humane Society of the United States. AB 665 now heads to the Senate Committee on Appropriations for consideration.

 

U.S. Rep. Jolly Featured Guest at Project ChildSafe Event in Florida

U.S. Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.) joined NSSF and members of law enforcement on Tuesday at a Project ChildSafe event in Pinellas County, Florida, to help promote firearm safety. "(I am) pleased to have participated today in the National Shooting Sports Foundation's Project ChildSafe which promotes gun safety," Jolly said after the event, which also included remarks from Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and NSSF President Steve Sanetti. The Sheriff's Office is now offering kits that include a cable-style gun lock at its two locations in Largo and Dunedin. View coverage of the event from WTSP News in Tampa Bay.

 

Wisconsin Governor Signs Bill to Repeal Waiting Period for Handgun Purchases

It should come as no surprise that Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin signed into law SB 35 earlier this week. The new law, effective immediately, repeals an antiquated law from the 1970s requiring a 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases. The previous law requiring a waiting period for all handgun sales was enacted in Wisconsin in 1976, a time when background checks were not required for all firearm transactions taking place through a federally licensed firearms dealer. With Gov. Walker's approval, Wisconsin has taken a great step forward by removing this unnecessary burden placed on law-abiding citizens and FFLs. On behalf of the firearms industry, NSSF applauds the bill's sponsors, the elected officials who voted in support of this measure and Gov. Walker for signing this critical legislation into law.

 

Legislation to Legalize Hunting with Suppressors Becomes Law in Maine

The use of suppressors for hunting in Maine will become legal later this year. LD 942 went into law yesterday without the signature of Gov. Paul LePage. This new law will take effect 90 days after the Maine Legislature adjourns. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn later this month. With the passage of LD 942, Maine will become the 37th state to legalize the use of firearm suppressors for hunting. NSSF supports efforts to remove restrictions on the use of suppressors for hunting and to permit their use at shooting ranges.

 

Trial Ordered in Dearth v. Lynch

Six years after the complaint was initially filed, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered a trial to determine whether U.S. citizens living abroad are eligible to purchase firearms for self-defense when temporarily back in the country. A final ruling on the plaintiffs' constitutional challenge was not made because of lingering factual questions, including whether one plaintiff actually is a resident of another country, which will be addressed at trial. We will update again once trial is underway. See more on this story here.

 

House Delays Vote on Interior Appropriations Bill

Due to late a schedule change, the House did not vote on the Interior Appropriations bill. Instead, the House will consider it during the week of July 7, when they reconvene after the Independence Day recess. The bill contains language to make permanent the clarification that the EPA does not have the authority to regulate traditional ammunition made with lead components.

 

Caution Advised on 'Smart Gun' Legislation

"Our industry has never opposed the research and development of firearms equipped with authorized-user recognition, but we have yet to see one that is fully developed, safe and reliable," NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane, explained in a letter to the editor of The Hill newspaper this week. "While our industry does not oppose R&D in this field, we do oppose ill-conceived legislative mandates. Markey and Maloney should take note from New Jersey State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg who said she wants to repeal the smart-gun mandate law she authored in 2002 after concluding that the one-size-fits-all prescriptive legislation has proved counterproductive."

 

ATF Advisory: Scams Using Fraudulent, Manipulated NFA Registration Documents

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is advising the public to be aware of fraudulent National Firearms Act (NFA) tax registration forms being used to sell NFA firearms. Some individuals are presenting altered NFA Form 4's to prospective buyers in order to obtain a deposit, but never deliver the firearms. Read the ATF advisory.

 

Manchin, Toomey Again Talk about Expanded Background Checks

A week after the tragic shooting of nine people in a Charleston, S.C. church, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) say they are looking at ways to revive their previously failed effort to expand background checks on firearms purchases. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) also weighed in to suggest background checks should be expanded. However the Manchin-Toomey effort on background checks failed to pass a Democratically-controlled Senate in April 2013. The prospects of passage in 2015 in a Republican-controlled chamber would seem unlikely. NSSF will, of course, closely monitor all developments and keep you informed of this and any other efforts to advance potential anti-gun legislation.

 

Register for Annual Import/Export Conference

Help federal firearms license holders and other members of industry stay on top of federal laws and regulations that govern the import and export of firearms and related products, the 2015 Import/Export Conference, a joint presentation of NSSF and the FAIR Trade Group, will take place Aug. 4-5 at the Renaissance Washington, D.C., Downtown. Learn more and register today.

 

Thank You to Our Latest NSSF PAC Contributors

President's Club ($5,000): Philip Ludwikoski
Industry Club (up to $249): Laura Springer

 

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