nssf.org

April 17, 2015

Repeal of Maryland's Ballistics Imaging Program Involved Years of NSSF Work,
Ending with Last-Minute Push

After many years of doggedly working to convince Maryland legislators that the state's failed ballistics imaging program needed to be officially ended, NSSF this week can claim victory. All of NSSF's work was capped by a final push in the waning days of the legislative session and the bi-partisan legislation was approved by both the Senate and the House in less than a 48-hour period. State Sen. Edward Reilly was the sponsor of SB 736 that repealed the provision of the law passed in 2000 that required firearms manufacturers and retailers to submit bullet casings for all handguns sold in the state.

To recap the legislative action, last Saturday, April 11, the Maryland Senate passed SB 736 by a 44-0 vote. The complications started Monday as the senate bill had to be released by two different house committees and then pass the Maryland house by midnight, which was the end of the legislative session. Finally, after much work, the bill was voted on at a little after 10 p.m. that night, passing the House by a 135-2 vote.

The bill now goes to Gov. Larry Hogan, who has said he will sign it into law. This week's action will bring to an end a decade-and-a-half-long experiment in crime lab technology that never worked, but that was embraced by gun control advocates. Under the direction of Jake McGuigan, Director, Government Relations-State Affairs, NSSF has worked diligently in Maryland to repeal this legislation accelerating the effort following the 2012 removal of a similar law from the books in New York State. Maryland was the only remaining state with this mandate. For more analysis, read NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane's blog post.

 

NSSF Fly-In Brings Industry to Capitol Hill, April 22-23

The annual NSSF Congressional Fly-in, April 22-23 in Washington, D.C., will bring together a record number of leaders from NSSF Voting Member companies and supporting distributor and manufacturing member companies, as well as leading retailers, to meet with members of both houses of Congress. At stake this year is passage of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act, the industry's top priority, as well as defeating President Obama's regulatory gun control agenda. Other issues to be discussed include export control reform and "Operation Choke Point". This week confirmed attendees were able to participate in a webinar in which they heard details concerning issues to be discussed on Capitol Hill and had the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to the NSSF government relations team. To learn more about the importance of the Fly-In, watch this short video.

 

NSSF Receives Special Consultative Status at UN

NSSF has officially received United Nations special consultative status. The formal vote by the Economic and Social Council this month was preceded by our application's approval by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) earlier this year and is the result of a full year of meetings and lobbying to have our application accepted. With this status, NSSF will have access to not only the Economic and Social Council, but also its many subsidiary bodies, the various human rights mechanisms of the UN ad-hoc processes on small arms, as well as special events organized by the President of the General Assembly.

 

Court Rules for Wal-Mart in Shareholder Suit to Stop Gun Sales

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals this week rejected an attempt by Wal-Mart shareholder Trinity Wall Street Church to stop the retail giant from selling guns. A lower court had sided with the activist church, which holds 3,500 shares of Wal-Mart stock, ruling that Wal-Mart was required to let other company shareholders vote on the church's gun ban proposal. The Third Circuit took less than one week after hearing oral arguments to overturn that decision. Had the district court's decision been upheld, publicly traded companies would have been forced to entertain similar proposals requiring a shareholder vote on ordinary business matters such as what products stores put on their shelves. NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Larry Keane told the Washington Times, "It's untenable for shareholders with a political agenda to be making business decisions for a company. If they don't agree with the business decisions of the company, they can sell their shares."

 

Bill to Remove Inactive Indiana Lawsuit Likely Headed to Governor

The Indiana House of Representatives voted to approve legislation this week that will likely put an end to a 16-year-old, inactive lawsuit aimed at the firearms industry. SB 98 sponsored by state Sen. Jim Tomes and state Rep. Ben Smaltz, passed by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 72-23. SB 98 heads back to the Senate for a concurrence vote early next week. The Indiana Senate passed this bill earlier in the session by a vote of 37-11. Additionally, Gov. Mike Pence indicated his support for the bill earlier in the year.

 

Oregon Universal Background Check Bill Passes Senate

Legislation has advanced in Oregon that would require background checks for private firearm sales. Sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene), SB 941 expands background checks for all firearms transfers between private individuals. The bill passed the senate on Tuesday by a 17-13 vote. As expected, all of the Democrats except one voted for the bill. The bill has since been moved to the House, where some maneuvering has occurred in order to bypass less than friendly committees. Instead, the bill has been sent to the Rules Committee, where House leadership sees a clear path for it to move to the floor. The bill does exempt background checks for the transfer of firearms by a law enforcement agency, private security, members of the military, between spouses, domestic partners or other immediate relatives or resulting from a death. Retailers will be allowed to charge the service fee they deem necessary for completing a criminal history record check. The bill also grants retailers immunity from potential civil liability resulting from conducting the background check.

 

Families Afield Bill Signed in Iowa, Tenn. Looks to Expand Program

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed into law last week a bill to make his state the 36th in the country to enact Families Afield legislation. SF 392 would create an apprentice hunting license for someone 16 years or older to try hunting prior to the completion of hunter education as long as they are under the direct supervision of an experienced mentor. Pending legislation (HB 1079/SB1237) in Tennessee would allow someone to purchase an apprentice hunting license for up to three consecutive years. Launched in 2004, Families Afield was developed to increase the number of hunters to ensure a promising future for the tradition of hunting and conservation. Hunters provide the lion's share of support for conservation through the purchases of hunting licenses and excise taxes paid on sales of firearms and ammunition.

 

Vermont FixNICS Bill Overcomes Anti-Gun House Obstacle

Although the Vermont State Senate passed S.141 and sent it to the House in hopes a clean version without negative amendments would be addressed, on Tuesday, State Rep. Willem Jewett (D-Ripton), Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, offered a surprise amendment making it nearly impossible for someone in Vermont to regain his or her gun rights after being reported to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The committee approved the "clear and convincing" amendment by a 7-4 vote. Then, Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs and Gun Owners of Vermont mobilized forces and made the committee backtrack on that plan to the original language by a 6-5 vote. At the same time, the committee also removed an arbitrary 18-month waiting period standing in the way of petitioners seeking restoration of their rights. Fortunately, the bill seems to be back on track and in an even better form. This morning S.141 passed the House 80-62. The bill still incorporates NSSF's FixNICS language that over the last two years has been successfully championed from Alaska and Hawaii to South Carolina and Georgia. As previously reported, NSSF's concern was with the fact that the more anti-gun Vermont house would try to amend the bill. Fortunately those attempts have been defeated.

 

North Carolina Sunday Hunting Moves Forward

On Wednesday, House Bill 640, the Outdoor Heritage Act, sponsored by North Carolina State Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-4), passed favorably out of the House Wildlife Resources Committee by a 10-3 vote. The bill would end the prohibition on Sunday hunting on private lands while still restricting hunting within 300 yards of a place of worship, hunting migratory waterfowl and hunting deer with dogs. With the recent success in overturning Virginia's Sunday hunting restriction, North Carolina may be feeling pressure to compete with their neighbors to the north. North Carolina is one of only 11 states where hunting on Sunday is restricted or prohibited due to antiquated "blue laws." Repealing these restrictions is extremely important to future generations since one of the reasons hunters give for a decline in participation is lack of time and opportunity. Sunday hunting would provide a needed positive economic stimulus in the state to the tune of 3,600 jobs and $311 million in new economic impact.

 

Mont., Minn. Legislatures Approve Bills to Allow Hunting with Suppressors

The Montana Legislature sent SB 295 to Gov. Steve Bullock this week. Additionally, HB 250 has been approved by both chambers and will be transmitted to Gov. Bullock in the coming days. Each of these bills would bring Montana in line with the 34 other states that currently allow the use of suppressors for hunting all animals in the state. Current Montana law allows lawfully possessed suppressors to be used only for hunting varmints.

In Minnesota, House File 1434, legislation that would legalize suppressor ownership and the use of firearm suppressors for hunting has passed the Assembly. Supported by NSSF, the legislation includes a "shall sign" provision, which would require Chief Law Enforcement Officers in Minnesota to certify NFA applications within 15 days of receipt, unless the applicant is found to be a prohibited person. Suppressors are currently legal to use and possess in 39 states, and 35 of those states currently allow firearm suppressors to be used for some form of hunting.

 

Indiana General Assembly Approves Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment

The Indiana House of Representatives gave final approval to SJR 2 earlier this week. The proposed constitutional amendment would guarantee Indiana sportsmen the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife while promoting management and wildlife conservation. By a vote of 81-12, SJR 2 received bipartisan support and will now be left up to the voters as it will be placed on the General Election ballot in 2016. Currently, 18 states have similar constitutional provisions protecting the right to hunt and fish.

 

Calif. Hunting and Fishing Preemption Bill Approved by Committee

The Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife in the California Assembly has given its unanimous approval to a bill creating a state hunting and fishing preemption law. Sponsored by Assembly Member Jim Frazier (D-11), 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 24 outdoor organizations/groups, including NSSF. Predictably, the usual suspects showed up in opposition to this pro-hunting legislation, including: Marin Humane Society, Project Coyote, Sierra Club California and the Humane Society of the United States.

 

Brady Campaign Lawyers Withdraw from Suit Against FFL

Two lawyers from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence this week withdrew from the lawsuit brought in Wisconsin by two injured police officers against Badger Guns after the national gun control group posted information online that the judge had ruled inadmissible. A Milwaukee County judge on Monday allowed attorneys Jonathan Lowy and Alla Lefkowitz to withdraw from the case in which they were representing the officers. The Brady campaign was ordered to pay $800 to the county to cover the cost of paying 100 potential jurors who were called for jury selection. Although the trial was to have begun this week the case has been postponed until September.

 

NSSF/ATF Reward Yields Information Leading to Arrests

The ATF Charlotte, North Carolina, field office this week told NSSF staff that the joint ATF-NSSF $10,000 reward for information in the Feb. 23, 2015 robbery at Washington Coin & Pawn Shop Robbery in Washington, North Carolina, was "very instrumental" in the identification and arrest of two suspects currently being held on state charges. An additional suspect is considered a fugitive and is being sought in the robbery during which 27 firearms were taken. Federal charges are still pending.

 

Five Critical Tips for Selling Internationally Through Exporters

content provided by

It is common practice in the firearms industry for U.S. manufacturers to sell to foreign customers through a U.S.-based exporter who, in the eyes of the manufacturer, is responsible for all the legal, financial and logistical aspects of moving product from the U.S. to the foreign country and receiving payment. If you are a manufacturer serving foreign customers in this fashion, read about steps you should take in order to protect yourself. Orchid Advisors is an endorsed compliance information provider for NSSF members.

 

Speakers, Sponsors Announced for May Compliance Conference

Orchid Advisors and NSSF have announced keynote speakers and top sponsors for the 2015 Firearms Compliance Conference to be held on May 11-13, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. More than 30 speakers will be present from organizations such as ATF, Remington Outdoor Company, Smith & Wesson, Sports Authority, Dunham's Sports, NSSF, Orchid Advisors and SAAMI. Discounted registration is available to all NSSF members. Register to attend. Highlights from last year's event can be found on the Orchid Advisors website.

ALERT - Fraudulent Hotel Scam: Be aware of third party organizations that may contact you to register for the 2015 FICC or Hotel (ex: Exhibitors Housing Services is NOT an authorized service provider). You should book your reservations only through the Orchid Advisors' registration page. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION. Contact mingram@orchidadvisors.com if you have any questions.

 

Thank You to Our Latest NSSF PAC Contributors

Capitol Club ($1,000 or more): Christopher Hodgdon
Caucus Club ($500 or more): Craig Crotteau, Kevin Reid, Patrick Rothwell
Congressional Club ($250 or more)
: Mike Bazinet, Joseph Keffer, Bruce Pettet, Russell Thurman, Renae Waltemath, George Trulock Jr.
Industry Club (up to $249): Jon Vickery

 

Learn more about our industry's Political Action Committee:



NSSF on Facebook NSSF on Twitter
NSSF Government Resources NSSF PAC
nssf.org/GovRel nssfpac.org