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April 11, 2025
NSSF 2025 Congressional Fly-In Kicks Off New Pro-Industry Administration
2025 marked the 18th NSSF Congressional Fly-In and it was one of the most optimistic and energized gatherings in recent memory. There’s a very good and big reason why: the second President Donald Trump administration is just over two months in and it’s been a dramatic and welcomed change from the past four years under former President Joe Biden.
Dozens of firearm industry executives and leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., this week where they had the opportunity to meet with Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to discuss the industry’s priority legislation.
Following two jam-packed days of meetings, industry leaders were optimistic and energized to talk about the new landscape under a second President Donald Trump administration, that has vowed to protect and preserve Second Amendment rights, and with pro-gun majorities in both the House and Senate.
‘Critically Important’
Republican Policy Committee Chair Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) spoke at the NSSF PAC reception, urging industry members to stay involved in their advocacy and keep making the effort to be engaged in person. Chairman Hern learned safe and responsible firearm handling as a kid from his father and has spent his life enjoying the traditions that come with gun ownership, especially hunting. It’s those personal stories and anecdotes that help tell the fuller story of why the firearm industry is so critical.
“It’s important to have people represent you up here, but there is nothing more important than for you to be here personally,” Chairman Herd explained. “It’s important to have someone up here looking out for your best interests, but having you here in person for the Fly-In is critically important to be able to talk to members.”
During dinner, NSSF proudly honored U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) as the 2024 NSSF Legislators of the Year for their combined determination over the past year to protect the firearm industry against the weaponization of the Biden Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) onerous and politically-motivated attacks. Both Sen. Hagerty and Rep. Green led the charge last year to fight back against the punishing Interim Final Rule designed to hobble U.S. firearm manufactures by throttling exports of our industry’s products.
“Our industry and the American public are deeply grateful for Senator Hagerty and Congressman Green’s fierce determination to protect our industry that makes exercise of the Second Amendment possible for all Americans,” said NSSF’s Senior Vice President Lawrence Keane.
U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) addressed Fly-In participants during lunch on the final day. She said that learning from her family how to shoot as a young girl and her experiences as a lawyer, a prosecutor, a judge, as the attorney general of Florida and now as a U.S. Senator have given her a better understanding than others why fighting for Constitutional rights – especially Second Amendment rights – is so critical in a place like Washington, D.C.
Industry Priorities
All told, dozens of industry leaders from numerous businesses participated in person during the 18th annual NSSF Congressional Fly-In. Significant ground was covered with more than 80 in-person Congressional meetings taking place with Members and staff. Industry priority legislation these leaders were advocating for covered financial discrimination (the Fair Access to Banking Act (S. 401 /H.R. 987), the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act (H.R.1181) and the FIND Act (S. 137/H.R. 45), critical manufacturing and export issues, supporting the nation’s veterans and protecting law enforcement and providing for community safety.
The new Congress has only just begun and hasn’t even hit the First 100-days mark. There’s still a lot of work to do to secure critical industry legislative victories. But the different landscape on Capitol Hill – with a pro-Second Amendment majorities in place – is clearly felt. Leaders in Congress, together with President Trump’s administration, are making big moves right away to reverse the damage caused by former President Joe Biden. These changes will ensure Constitutional rights are protected, law-abiding Americans are empowered, criminals are punished and communities become safer once again.
More industry successes are on the way.
You may also be interested in:
NSSF Honors U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty, U.S. Rep. Mark Green as 2024 Legislators of the Year
NSSF Hails Rep. Riley Moore’s Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act Introduction
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