Nation's Firearms Industry Executives
Conduct Successful Congressional Fly-In

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) addressed NSSF 2016 Congressional Fly-In attendees.

Executives from the nation's firearms and ammunition manufacturers, distributors and leading retailers were in Washington, D.C. this week for the ninth annual congressional "fly-in" sponsored by NSSF. The executives held a record number of meetings with Members of both houses of Congress to discuss industry issues including the $49.3 billion national economic impact of the firearms industry, the need for the Senate to pass the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act, advancing export control reform and adequate funding for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) functions to provide better, more timely service to industry members.

Because the decade-old Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act is under continuing political attack (see later article), the Hill meetings also provided a timely opportunity to set the record straight on what the PLCAA does and does not do.

As previously announced, U.S. Rep. John A. Culberson (R-Texas) was officially recognized as NSSF's 2015 Legislator of the Year during the organization's annual dinner held in conjunction with the Congressman Culberson played a pivotal leadership role in convincing senior management of ATF to forestall the effort to introduce a new regulatory framework that would have banned the manufacturing and sale of 5.56 mm M855 "green tip" ammunition widely used by law-abiding Americans for target shooting and hunting.

NSSF thanks all of our member executives for their participation in our 9th annual and highly successful Congressional Fly-In.

 

Call your Senators, Support the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act Amendment

On Wednesday afternoon following a meeting with industry executives as part of the annual NSSF Congressional Fly-In, NSSF learned that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had asked for unanimous consent for the Senate to consider S.2012, Energy Modernization, with the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act as an amendment to the bill.

Each Senator has the opportunity to block the bill and prevent the Senate from taking a vote on major portions of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act. Call your senator today at 202-224-3121 and urge them to support the Unanimous Consent request and the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act amendment to S.2012.

 

Clinton, Sanders Continue to Battle over Guns and Liability

Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders continued to clash, at times loudly and talking over each other, over gun control and industry liability among other topics at the Thursday night Presidential debate in Brooklyn broadcast on CNN just days before the New York state primary election.

Moderator Wolf Blitzer questioned Clinton for her recent remarks blaming Vermont for providing a large number of guns used in crimes in New York. Already taken to task earlier in the week for her comments by the Washington Post Fact Checker, Blitzer asked Clinton, "Are you seriously blaming Vermont, and implicitly Senator Sanders, for New York's gun violence?" She ducked the question and pivoted to Sanders' voting record on gun control bills including his support in 2005 for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which was passed on a bipartisan basis to protect the industry from frivolous lawsuits brought by big city Democrat mayors.

To his credit and consistent with what he has said in previous debates, Sanders defended his position saying, "I voted against this gun liability law because I was concerned that in rural areas all over this country, if a gun shop owner sells a weapon legally to somebody, and that person then goes out and kills somebody, I don't believe it is appropriate that that gun shop owner who just sold a legal weapon to be held accountable and be sued." See the CNN debate coverage.

As we have note previously, Hillary Clinton's politically motivated animus toward the firearms industry is longstanding. This week the Americans for Tax Reform organization provided more historical evidence for the record by posting video of 1993 Senate testimony in which the then First lady endorsed a plan to impose a new national 25 percent retail sales tax on guns.

 

Urge Georgia Governor to Sign Firearms Industry Protection Legislation

Georgia House Bill 1060 still awaits action from Gov. Nathan Deal. The National Shooting Sports Foundation worked hard to get the Georgia Firearms Industry Nondiscrimination Act (FIND Act) passed through the Georgia General Assembly, attaching it to an omnibus pro-gun bill, HB 1060, late in the session. The Georgia FIND Act language included in HB 1060 would protect those involved in the lawful commerce of firearms or ammunition products against discrimination by those in the financial services industry. Please contact Gov. Deal today and respectfully urge him to sign HB 1060 into law.

 

Calif. Assembly Committee Approves Bill Seriously Impacting Retailers

The California Assembly Committee on Public Safety this week gave its approval to AB 2459 on a party line 5-2 vote. AB 2459 would require firearms retailers to videotape all firearms sales and transfers and keep the video surveillance footage for three years. NSSF research shows such requirements would cost retailers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

While the original bill was amended to remove an insurance requirement, many of the mandates set forth in AB 2459 are unprecedented and cost-prohibitive. The legislation will do nothing to increase public safety, but will cause many firearms businesses to close their doors, which is likely the author's intention. NSSF opposes this legislation and will continue to work to ensure this bill is not passed by the California Assembly

 

Maine Supreme Court Sides with Sportsmen over HSUS

Maine's Supreme Judicial Court this week upheld a superior court decision effectively ending a lawsuit brought by the anti-hunting Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that sought to silence the state's wildlife professionals. "Today's ruling … is a clear and decisive victory for sportsmen in Maine," said Evan Heusinkveld, president of Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation. "The people of Maine deserve to hear from the experts when it comes to these issues, and today's ruling rightfully upheld that position."

The case began in late 2014 over a statewide ballot question, which would have banned the most effective methods of controlling black bear numbers. HSUS, through an in-state front group, sued the state of Maine alleging an improper level of engagement on the part of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife employees for their public opposition to the ballot question.

 

Beretta Cuts Ribbon for New Tenn. Plant

Beretta USA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to officially open its new 160,000-square-foot Gallatin, Tenn. manufacturing facility. The Volunteer State's economic gain is the direct result of the restrictive gun laws passed in Beretta's former Maryland plant location. Beretta had been manufacturing in Maryland since the 1980s, when it started production of the standard M-9 sidearm to the U.S. military. The company maintains some offices in Accokeek, Maryland. Read the CNN Money story.

 

Colorado Senates Votes to Repeal Magazine Limit … Again

The Republican-controlled Colorado Senate this week voted to end the state's limit on ammunition magazines capable of holding 15 or more rounds. SB 16-113 would repeal Colorado's prohibition on the sale, transfer and possession of these standard-capacity magazines and void the current requirement that magazines manufactured in-state be stamped indicating post July 1, 2013 manufacture. Passage of the 2013 law prompted magazine maker Magpul to move all operations out of Colorado. A similar repeal measure passed the state Senate in 2015 but was defeated in the same Democrat-controlled House committee to which the new magazine repeal measure has been referred. Read the Guns.com story.

 

More Briefing in Maryland Gun Law Challenge

The parties have filed supplemental briefing material with the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in advance of May's full court rehearing of the Kolbe v. Hogan case challenging the 2013 Maryland Firearm Safety Act. Earlier this year, a three-judge panel found the district court improperly applied intermediate scrutiny to its analysis which upheld the Act as constitutional. The court of appeals held that the district court should have applied the more rigorous strict scrutiny standard and remanded the case back to district court. The State of Maryland took no time before it petitioned the court for a rehearing before the full court, which was granted. We will update you again in May after oral argument is held.

 

Best Practices for Firearm Serial Number Tracking

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Federal Firearm Licensees have an obligation to know which firearms they possess, receive or transfer — a process that continues throughout the industry's supply chain until it becomes "owned" by its end user. The ability to accurately track serial number transaction activity is at the heart of Orchid Advisors' third of four sub-process discussions of Serial Number Management (Reservation, Application, Tracking and Recording). Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members.

 

Firearms Industry Compliance Conference May 2-4, Registration Fees Increase Tuesday

The third annual Firearms Industry Compliance Conference (FICC), May 2-4 in Atlanta, features three learning tracks and timely discussions of how the regulatory environment has evolved over the past two years. Pre-conference sessions will be held May 2 to provide FFLs concentrated discussions on firearms industry technology and federal firearm regulations. Learn more about the conference here, view the agenda and register today. For sponsorship opportunities contact Chris Tatulli at ctatulli@nssf.org and (203) 426-1320 ext. 214.

 

#GUNVOTE in the New York and Upcoming Primaries

New York's presidential primary election for both Republicans and Democrats is next Tuesday, April 19 and the results are considered to be pivotal for the parties' candidate selections. To help you evaluate candidates' positions on Second Amendment and sportsmen's issues, NSSF provides #GUNVOTE. This voter education site is updated many times a week with news of interest. Newly added are delegate counts for the three Republican and two Democratic candidates as the clock to the party conventions ticks down. #GUNVOTE also provides election news and breaking updates on Facebook and on Twitter (@GUNVOTE).

 

NSSF PAC Recognizes Steve Hornady's Leadership

Steve Hornady, President of Hornady Ammunition, was officially recognized this week by the NSSF PAC for his outstanding leadership in being the first person to have reached the $25,000 milestone for his combined donations to the industry's political action committee over several election cycles. Hornady's name is the first to be placed on a special plaque to be displayed in the NSSF's Washington, D.C. office.

U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was the speaker at this year's PAC reception held prior to the annual NSSF Congressional Fly-In.

 

Signing Up for NSSF PAC Made Easier for Member Companies

The NSSF Political Action Committee (NSSF PAC) works to support pro-firearms industry, pro-Second Amendment and pro-sportsmen candidates for federal office. Federal law requires a trade association PAC to obtain prior approval from its corporate members before it may send important PAC news, including current political news, election information and exclusive invitations to PAC events and updates, to corporate member executives.

Now, signing up for NSSF PAC has never been easier. Just click the link below, fill out the form, add contacts (or email us a list of names) and hit submit! What are you waiting for? Help ensure our industry is heard as we approach the crucial 2016 election year. Sign up today! Online PAC Prior Consent Form.

 

Thank You to Our Latest NSSF PAC Contributors

Cabinet Club ($2,500 or more): Marty Holding

Capitol Club ($1,000 or more): Taylor Gross

Caucus Club ($500 or more): Steven Andrews, Sean Orr, Jeffrey Reh

Congressional Club ($250 or more): Mike Bazinet, Ralph Castner, Craig Crotteau, Ryan Godderidge, Michael Hefner, Jamin McCallum, Jeff Paro, Adam Ruonala, Russell Thurman, Dennis Veilleux

Industry Club (up to $249): Victor Gabriella

 

Learn more about our industry's Political Action Committee: