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July 10, 2015 |
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NSSF Will Fight Seattle Gun, Ammo Tax Idea
NSSF is standing in strong opposition to a proposal from Seattle City Council President Tim Burgess to begin taxing the sale of every firearm and round of ammunition made in the city in order to fund "gun violence prevention programs." As NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane told Guns.com, "The NSSF will vigorously oppose this misguided attempt to blame the lawful and regulated commerce in firearms and ammunition products for the violent acts of criminal. The proposed tax is nothing but a poll tax on the exercise of a fundamental civil liberty protected by the Second Amendment." The tax would be assessed at $25 on each firearm and 5 cents on each round of ammunition. This would be on top of combined state and local retail taxes that near 9.6 percent already. The Seattle City Council is expected to take up this so-called "Gun Violence Tax" ordinance next Wednesday, July 15. It will have no effect on decreasing gun violence. It is designed to place a huge burden on legitimate firearms retailers and law-abiding gun owners. Additionally, the proposed ordinance is a gross violation of Washington's firearms preemption statute. The City Council is not stopping with the guns and ammo tax – members are also considering an ordinance that has the potential of turning victims of thefts into inadvertent criminals. Once again proposed by Council President Burgess, the "Stolen Firearms" ordinance would require law-abiding gun owners to report a firearm lost or stolen within 24 hours or be subject to a $500 fine. Please contact the Seattle City Council today and urge them to oppose these misguided proposals. Emails can be sent to council@seattle.gov. NSSF will keep you posted on all developments. For a good perspective, listen to Seattle radio personality Dave Boze's commentary.
House Defeats Amendment, Opposed by NSSF, to Outlaw Legally-Owned Ivory Products By a vote of 244-183, the U.S. House on Wednesday defeated an amendment offered by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) that would have stripped out language in the FY2016 Interior Appropriations bill that protects the interstate commerce of lawfully owned, legally imported products containing ivory. This vote, which NSSF "key-voted," sent a clear message to the Administration that punishing industry members and individuals who buy and sell legally-owned products containing ivory is a misguided attempt to go after those breaking international law. National Journal published a story about the vote and how it produced some unusual alliances. NSSF also communicated to members of the House that we would be "key-voting" an amendment offered by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) to prevent the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from listing the gray wolf as threatened or endangered. Due to some other amendments that have politicized the debate on the entire FY 2016 Interior Appropriations bill, which also contains language to protect traditional ammunition, a vote on this amendment and the vote on final passage of the bill have been postponed until further notice. NSSF will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed of the progress.
North Carolina Governor Signs Sunday Hunting Bill The Outdoor Heritage Act (House Bill 640) to allow Sunday hunting with firearms on private property in North Carolina, sponsored by State Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-4th), was signed Wednesday by Gov. Pat McCrory. The law goes into effect Oct. 1. While overturning the 145-year-old ban is an accomplishment, concessions have limited the legislation. Sportsmen must be aware of these restrictions:
North Carolina was one of only 11 states where hunting on Sunday remained 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 would provide a positive stimulus in the form of 3,600 jobs and $311 million in new economic impact. NSSF encourages all North Carolina sportsmen to take a moment to thank their legislators for supporting this legislation.
New Jersey Looks to Become 39th State to Enact Families Afield Legislation In an unexpected turn of events, the New Jersey Legislature has given its approval to S 573, which creates an apprentice hunting license. If signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie, New Jersey would become the 39th state to enact Families Afield legislation. Started in 2004 as part of a national initiative to recruit new hunters by expanding apprentice hunting opportunities, Families Afield seeks to remove unnecessary legal barriers and create opportunities for adults to mentor those wishing to try hunting. The New Jersey law would allow someone 14 years or older to purchase an apprentice firearms hunting license or apprentice bow and arrow hunting license, and hunt under the supervision of a licensed hunter above 21 years old.
NSSF, SAAMI Weigh Options after Adverse Court Ruling
New NICS Launch Date Postponed The FBI CJIS Division is postponing its previously promised July 14 delivery of Phase 1 of the New National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). No new "go-live" date has been announced, but it will not likely be scheduled during peak fall sales season. Questions should be directed to the NICS Liaison staff at nicsliaison@ic.fbi.gov, which will continue to send periodic emails to highlight various aspects of the new system.
Chicago Suburbs Sued for Inadequate Firearms Laws Following another weekend of violence in Chicago, three suburban municipalities this week were sued by the Coalition for Safe Chicago Communities under the Illinois Civil Rights Act for their alleged failure to properly regulate firearms retailers. Plaintiffs allege that the municipalities do not have adequate legislation in place to prevent the trafficking of firearms, which they believe has resulted in a large number of firearms finding their way into Chicago's inner-city neighborhoods. Although Chicago's own stringent firearms laws have done nothing to alleviate the violence, Plaintiffs would like to see ordinances similar to those already in place in Chicago enacted in these neighboring municipalities. If successful, this baseless suit would do nothing more than increase costs for the legally operated FFLs in the suburban Chicago area.
Wal-Mart Wins In Shareholder Challenge on Firearms Sales
Import/Export Conference, Aug. 4-5, in Washington
Learn more about our industry's Political Action Committee:
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A Fresno County Superior Court judge has unexpectedly granted the California Department of Justice's motion for judgment on the pleadings and has dismissed, without the ability to amend, the NSSF/SAAMI complaint challenging California's microstamping law. The court's tentative ruling had been favorable (denying the state's motion), so this week's order is surprising. The court ruled that the Separation of Powers Doctrine precludes our ability to argue that meeting the law's dual-placement microstamping requirement is impossible from a manufacturing standpoint. The NSSF/SAAMI legal team will promptly file an appeal of this ruling. We will keep you updated.
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has released its full opinion in the case of Trinity Wall Street v. Wal-Mart and it's a victory for the giant retail chain. Earlier this spring, the court issued a short opinion vacating a lower court's order for Wal-Mart to include a measure from minority shareholder, Trinity Wall Street Church, to force a vote on a resolution that sought to have the Wal-Mart board of directors review decisions to sell certain popular firearms. The court's unanimous opinion this week rejected the activist church's ballot proposal as one that was properly excluded from Wal-Mart's shareholder ballot because it struck at "the heart of Wal-Mart's business: what it sells on shelves." The court went on to hold that "even if Trinity's proposal raises sufficiently significant social and corporate policy issues, those policies do not transcend the ordinary business operations of Wal-Mart." 
