The Power of #GUNVOTE: Candidates Support of Sportsmen's Issues Crucial to Winning
Their Votes, New Survey Shows

It is a message delivered time and again that has been central to the success of the National Shooting Sports Foundation's ongoing work in Washington, D.C., and 50 state capitals to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. This message is also demonstrated by the voting power of Americans reached through NSSF's increasingly influential #GUNVOTE voter education initiative. Candidates for political office who fail to support hunting and the shooting sports will not win the votes of American sportsmen.

HunterSurvey.com, run by Southwick Associates, recently surveyed hunters and target shooters regarding their intentions to vote in the upcoming presidential election and how important hunting and shooting sports issues were in casting their votes. Here are the top-line results: 94 percent of HunterSurvey.com respondents say they plan to vote for president this year and nearly 96 percent of those surveyed said a candidate's position on gun and hunting issues will affect their voting decisions. Only 4 percent said those positions did not matter in their ballot choice. Read more about this poll.

"The power of #GUNVOTE, our voter education initiative now hitting its stride for 2016, is that Americans who are passionate about our hunting and shooting sports traditions, our Second Amendment rights and the need to protect the lawful commerce in firearms against political attack, want to learn about candidates and where they stand on these crucial issues. They will vote their beliefs," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane. "That's why NSSF launched #GUNVOTE, and we continue to expand and improve its offerings. #GUNVOTE has already made a difference, and we are convinced #GUNVOTE will become even more influential in the 2016 elections."

 

Full Court Hears Arguments in Md. Gun Law Challenge

The entire bench of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on Wednesday sat to hear arguments in the case of Kolbe v. Hogan, a rehearing of the case argued before a three-judge panel early last year, that resulted in an opinion directing the application of strict scrutiny to the question of whether Maryland's "assault weapons" ban violates the Second Amendment.

Once again John Sweeney of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings argued on behalf of NSSF and several individuals and pro-Second Amendment organizations that Maryland's law is unconstitutional, while Matthew Fader argued on behalf of the State of Maryland. Both sides faced tough questions from the court. Appellants received intense scrutiny from Judge Wilkinson who made the impassioned public policy argument that it was not the role of the court to question the Maryland General Assembly's decision to outlaw the firearms and accessories at issue in the case and that the case amounted to a lack of faith in democracy.

On the other side, Maryland received questions from Judges Shedd and Agee who wondered why, under Maryland's theory of law, that the firearms at issue fall beyond the scope of the Second Amendment's protections, the state could not immediately ban every new firearm that entered the market under the logic that the new firearms were unusually dangerous and not in common use as they did in 2013 with modern sporting rifles equipped with certain enumerated features. Read the Washington Post account.

 

NSSF Files Response to Los Angeles Brief in Microstamping Law Challenge

NSSF this week filed its response to a friend of the court brief filed by the Los Angeles City Attorney in the joint NSSF/SAAMI microstamping case currently on appeal in California state court. The LA City Attorney, Mike Feuer, authored the microstamping law challenged by the NSSF/SAAMI litigation when he was in the California State Assembly. This history is apparent in the amicus brief he filed, which amounts to little more than a lengthy public policy statement that addresses issues beyond the scope of the appeal. Interestingly, though the City Attorney likely meant for his brief to bolster arguments made by the State of California, one argument regarding the introduction of a declaration filed in a separate ongoing federal case plainly undercuts arguments advanced by the State. Read NSSF's response.

 

Delaware House Passes Sunday Hunting Bill

By an overwhelming 36-3 vote, the Delaware House of Representatives on Tuesday passed House Bill 289 to allow deer hunting on five individual Sundays. HB 289 now makes it way to the Senate and has been referred to the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Control Committee. Currently, HB 289 is not scheduled for a hearing, but NSSF is asking Delaware residents to reach out to their state senator and urge him or her to support HB 289.

 

Jackson County, W.V., Voters Approve Sunday Hunting

Some 57 percent of the voters in Jackson County, West Virginia, this week cast their ballots to overturn the longstanding prohibition on Sunday hunting on private land in their county. The same ballot initiative will be put before voters again this fall in more counties. NSSF thanks all the sportsmen in Jackson County who got involved and voted to allow Sunday hunting on private land. The "Sunday Hunting in WV" Facebook page is the first stop to get updates and offer volunteer assistance for these ongoing efforts.

NSSF will continue to focus on removing Sunday hunting prohibitions in West Virginia on the county level, supporting the state's hunters in a manner that the state legislature has so far refused to do.

 

Penn. Sunday Hunting Bill Hearing May 18

The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee has scheduled a hearing for May 18 to discuss Senate Bill 1070, legislation that would repeal the ban on Sunday hunting. NSSF is urging all retailers, sportsmen and gun-owners to contact members of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee and urge them to support SB 1070. NSSF will be attendance testifying in support of this important piece of legislation for all hunters and also future generations. The benefits of Sunday hunting, however, would not be limited to the sportsmen's community. An economic impact report found that the removal of Sunday hunting restrictions would result in an estimated 8,100 new Pennsylvania jobs, $245 million in wages and approximately $765 million in additional economic activity for the commonwealth.

 

Calif. Senate Panel Continues to Push Anti-Gun Legislation

The California Senate Public Safety Committee has given its stamp of approval to yet more anti-gun measures, one requiring background checks on ammunition purchases and requiring those selling ammunition to apply and pay for an "ammunition vendor" license, among other things. These provisions are similar to the initiative introduced by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. AB 156 was introduced in 2015 having nothing to do with firearms or ammunition, but was amended in the Senate to include these misguided requirements. AB 156 has been re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Another bill amended from a totally different issue and passed on a 5-2 party-line vote by the Senate Public Safety Committee was AB 1135, legislation that would expand California's current definition of "assault weapon," banning many popular semi-automatic firearms. This bill has also been re-referred to the Appropriations Committee. NSSF will continue to oppose these measures as they will do nothing to increase public safety. Similar Senate bills, SB 880 and SB 1235, are scheduled to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 16. NSSF will continue to keep you informed of legislative developments.

 

Ill. Legislators Introduce Measures Affecting FFLs

Anti-gun Illinois legislators on Wednesday introduced measures to mandate elaborate security standards and other costly operating procedures that will seriously impact the state's federally licensed firearms retailers, potentially forcing many out of business. As NSSF previously reported, legislators, community advocates and anti-gun groups two weeks ago publicly announced the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition and the Gun Dealer Licensing Act HB1016. The heart of HB1016 is the requirement that all firearm dealers must have a state-issued license in order to operate. NSSF now has the specifics on what this legislation seeks to implement: See the NSSF Legislative Alert.

 

N. H. Bill to Allow Hunting with Suppressors Heads to Governor

Owning a suppressor is legal in The Granite State; however, hunting with a suppressor is not. That could change if Gov. Maggie Hassan signs House Bill 500 into law. The New Hampshire House of Representatives recently concurred with Senate amendments to HB 500, which would to repeal the current ban on hunting with suppressors, sending HB 500 to the governor. Efforts to advance this bill were spearheaded by the American Suppressor Association and supported by NSSF, NRA, CSF and numerous NSSF manufacturer members. Should this legislation be signed into law, New Hampshire would become the 40th state to allow the use of firearm suppressors for hunting. Please contact Gov. Hassan today and respectfully urge her to sign HB 500 into law.

 

Forbes: Number of Firearms Manufacturers Increase 25%

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is reporting that the number of firearms manufacturers producing 50 or more guns per year has increased from 318 in 2012 to 400 in 2014, a 25.8 percent increase in just two years and "part of an overall trend to meet an increasingly technical and diverse market," Forbes writer Frank Miniter reports. NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Chris Dolnack explains, "With the steady and dramatic rise in the number of Americans purchasing firearms for target shooting, self-defense and hunting over the last decade, both established companies and start-ups have clearly seen the business opportunities presented them." Read the article.

 

Hillary Clinton Wants to Eliminate Real American Jobs

Although Hillary Clinton tried to walk back her remarks about putting the coal industry out of business and coal miners out of their jobs, the damage was done and she lost the Democratic presidential primary election in West Virginia this week. She has made no similar retraction of her repeated remarks about "taking on the gun lobby" and never will. When Clinton says the "gun lobby," she means everyone associated with the industry, from manufacturers to retailers — and much like the coal industry, it's quite clear that she wants to put many of you reading this today out of business. She doesn't care about the collateral damage of your employees losing their jobs. Read Larry Keane's recent post as it appeared in The Daily Caller.

 

NSSF Raises Fla. Matching Reward Offer at ATF Request

Expressing concern over the number of FFL burglaries in its region over the past several months, the ATF Tampa Field Division this week requested and NSSF agreed to double, up to $5,000, what had initially been agreed upon as the trade association's matching reward offer for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the May 1 theft of firearms from Grey Wolf Armory, a federal firearms dealer in Wesley Chapel, Forida. Thieves broke through an exterior cement block wall to gain entry. ATF is offering a reward up to $5,000 that will be matched by NSSF for a total reward up to $10,000. The Pasco County Sheriff's office is also active in the investigation. Read this local news account.

 

ATF Launching Improved Communications Effort

ATF has announced that over the summer it will be launching five targeted electronic communications vehicles under the e-ATF name over the summer months that are intended to replace existing communications products. Current subscribers to these communications will be migrated to one of several new e-ATF offerings. Subscribers will be able to manage their own communications deliveries. If you have questions or suggestions on ATF communications, you may contact the ATF webmaster.

 

Registration Now Open for 2016 Import/Export Conference

Registration is now open for this year's NSSF-FAIR Trade Import/Export Conference, taking place Aug. 2-3 in Washington, D.C. In addition to presentations by key regulators, we will be once again offering roundtable sessions with ATF, including Imports Branch, National Firearms Act Branch, Firearms Technology Branch, Firearms Industry Programs Branch, eForms and Compliance, as well as with invited officials from Commerce Department BIS Munitions Control Licensing Division, State Department DDTC, Customs and Border Protection, Treasurys Tax and Trade Bureau, and Census Bureaus Automated Export System. This year we will also be offering two optional add-on sessions to run on Aug. 1, "Firearms & Ammunition Excise Tax: The Basics" and "International Sales & Marketing and the Export Process." Register now for early-bird pricing.

 

#GUNVOTE Video Educates Congressman Beyer

Responding to a caller's question on a national cable television public affairs program, U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-1st, Va.) offered his opinion that the Constitution does not offer any protection to manufacturers of firearms. In response, NSFF's #GUNVOTE initiative posted this video.

 

#GUNVOTE Go-To Source Throughout This Election Year

While Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee and Hillary Clinton enjoys the benefit of a Democratic nominating process that makes it nearly impossible for challenger Bernie Sanders to overtake her, there are races for Senate and House seats that will determine control of the Congress. 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. #GUNVOTE also provides election news and breaking updates on Facebook and on Twitter (@GUNVOTE).

 

Order #GUNVOTE Stickers — Help Spread the Word!

Show your support and order #GUNVOTE stickers. Display them on your vehicles, in your office, at events and anywhere else you see fit to get the word out. There is too much at stake this election year not to be 100 percent committed. Some races could determine whether more anti-gun laws are in our future and whether your rights will be infringed. Don't risk your rights. #GUNVOTE. If you are an NSSF Member, please order from the NSSF Member shopping cart to receive a member discount.

Stickers are priced $1 each and a minimum order of 15 stickers is required.

 

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

Industry Club (up to $249): Amanda Covington

 

Learn more about our industrys Political Action Committee: