Calif. City Council Drops Firearms
Retailer Ordinance

The Scotts Valley, Calif., City Council this week turned down a proposed (and NSSF opposed) ordinance that would have set new local standards for federally licensed firearms retailers seeking to open, expand or relocate their existing business. Proposed by Scotts Valley Police Chief John Weiss, the ordinance would have placed another financial burden on FFLs by requiring the purchase of a city "dealer license" on top of the federal and state license they must already obtain to lawfully operate. A key problem of the proposal was that the police chief did not reach out to any of the established retailers in the city for their input. According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, council members expressed doubts and recommended the police chief work with firearms retailers to address security concerns. NSSF adamantly opposed the ordinance, coordinated with Scotts Valley firearms retailers and sent a letter of opposition to the city council.

 

NSSF Tells Seattle Mayor to Veto Gun and Ammunition Tax

In a letter sent today to Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, NSSF said it will file a lawsuit challenging the City's recently approved sales tax of $25 on each firearm sold and five cents for each round of ammunition (two cents for .22 caliber) unless the mayor vetoes the unlawful regulation. If the law is enacted, NSSF said its suit against the City would seek to invalidate this unlawful regulation of the lawful sale of firearms and ammunition on the grounds that it violates Washington state's preemption statute that blocks cities from regulating the sale of firearms. Read the press release.

 

New Jersey Becomes 39th State to Enact Families Afield

With the signing of S. 573 by Gov. Chris Christie last week, New Jersey became the 39th state to enact Families Afield Legislation since the program began 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 allows 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.

 

Surgeon General Refills His Public Health Prescription

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said recently he does not regret calling gun violence a public health issue as a gun control advocate prior to his confirmation to lead the nation's Public Health Service. Once again, gun control proponents are seeking to change the definition of terms in the gun control debate because they are currently losing in the court of public opinion. Read NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane's new blog post.

 

Response to Government Filed in Interstate Handgun Transfer Case

Summer may be drawing to a close, but the appeal of Mance v. Lynch and the implications it has for FFLs and gun owners remains hot. Earlier this week, the parties bringing the case—a D.C.-based couple, a Texas FFL and a pro-Second Amendment organization—filed their response to the U.S. Department of Justice's opening brief with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The government seeks to overturn a district court ruling that held the interstate handgun transfer ban is an unconstitutional infringement of the Second Amendment. NSSF will file a friend–of–the–court brief next week to support the position that the interstate handgun transfer ban is unconstitutional by, among other points, contesting the government's baseless assumption that FFLs have an inability to comply with other states' laws.

 

Oregon Lobby Tally: Bloomberg Group Outspent ALL

Gun control groups like to talk about the power and spending of the "gun lobby." But what do the actual numbers show? This week, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission released lobbyist expenditures through June where the public policy issue before the state was universal background checks for all firearms transfers. Guess what group was at the very top of the list and by a huge margin? It was the Michael Bloomberg-funded Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund that spent $764,232.35 in the reporting period covered, eclipsing even the Oregon teachers lobbying arm. How much did ALL the pro-Second Amendment groups spend? Ready? It was a grand total of $88,000. Read this online news account.

 

Judge Asks ATF to Revise Ruling Regarding Muzzle Device

The federal judge in the case involving the misclassification of a Sig Sauer muzzle brake as a suppressor is asking the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to revise its ruling. "My strong preference would be and current intention would be to remand the matter so that (ATF) could consider the issue under a correct standard," wrote Judge Paul J. Barbadoro. Read the Guns.com account.

 

#GUNVOTE Early; #GUNVOTE Often

Voting in the 2016 election is a process that culminates in going to your polling place. It begins by making sure to register, then becoming educated about the candidates running for office and discussing choices with family and friends so that they understand the importance of voting to protect America's firearms freedoms and the lawful commerce in firearms. To assist eligible voters with registering and with evaluating candidates' positions on Second Amendment issues, NSSF provides #GUNVOTE, our voter education site, which we update regularly with news of interest. So #GUNVOTE early and #GUNVOTE often.

 

Thank You to Our Latest NSSF PAC Contributors

Congressional Club ($250 or more): Larry Keane

 

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