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April 17, 2025
NSSF Government Relations Team Profile: Joe Bliss
NSSF’s Government Relations Team is working hard on behalf of the entire firearm and ammunition industry, both at the federal level and at state capitals across the country. To give our members a better understanding of who is fighting for their businesses and Second Amendment rights every day, NSSF will periodically publish a Government Relations Team member profile. April’s NSSF GR Team profile is for Joe Bliss, NSSF Manager for Government Relations – Federal Affairs.
1) What is your favorite hunting or recreational shooting sports activity?
Growing up in South Dakota, I’ve been blessed to have access to world class pheasant hunting opportunities; opening day is essentially a holiday in our state. With that said, I’ve always been most interested in recreational handgun shooting, including antique and exotic firearms. I worked at a drug store chain as a teenager and would spend my breaks reading the gun magazine rack from top to bottom. In my free time I would try my hand at shooting the wide variety of pistols available for rent at NSSF-member Gary’s Gun Shop in Sioux Falls and attend local gun shows. I’ve had the opportunity to own several handguns since then and enjoy plinking, trying out cutting edge designs and shooting classic firearms like the 1911.
2) How did you become interested in professionally advocating for pro-firearm industry policies and Second Amendment rights?
Early on, I developed an intense interest in our nation’s founding, including the development of the Bill of Rights. In high school, I wrote an essay on the importance of the Second Amendment and earned an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) Youth Education Summit. That experience led to a position as a registered lobbyist for Students for Concealed Carry in 2012 and an internship at NRA’s headquarters in 2014, followed by a job with the Rounds for U.S. Senate campaign and a stint (2015-2022) as a member of his staff. While working for Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), I handled a diverse policy issue portfolio that included Second Amendment, judiciary and conservation issues.
3) Describe your role within NSSF to the firearm industry community.
As Manager, Government Relations – Federal Affairs, I assist our federal government relations team with interfacing with Capitol Hill, administration officials, candidates for office and outside stakeholders. With my background, my primary focus has been engaging Members and staffers in the U.S. Senate on NSSF’s priorities as well as representing NSSF at fundraising events made possible by the NSSF PAC. We have a great, experienced team and it has been very rewarding advocating for industry priorities alongside my colleagues in the D.C. office.
4) What is your favorite aspect of your role with NSSF while interacting with industry partners?
Hearing directly from our industry partners is an essential part of our government relations team developing a winning strategy. Much of the feedback about what is actually happening in the marketplace is relayed throughout the year at events like SHOT Show®, our Annual NSSF Congressional Fly-In in D.C. for business leaders and during our Import/Export Conference. Incorporating real world examples into our advocacy strengthens our case and I always look forward to the chance to speak with our industry partners at not only our events but over the course of the year through direct engagement with our members.
5) Describe your favorite “win” from your role/advocacy on behalf of the firearm industry.
Many of the most significant policy victories take years of work to achieve. My first experience working with NSSF came while I was working on Capitol Hill. I helped to develop the Traveler’s Gun Rights Act with NSSF, which was introduced by Senator Rounds and Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), which updates federal law to account for unique living situations for full-time RVers, military personnel and their spouses. More work needs to be done, but that bill has steadily gained steam and passed the House Judiciary Committee during the 118th Congress. Over a decade ago, I helped lead the effort to advance campus carry in South Dakota, getting that legislation a first-ever vote in the State House. That foundational groundwork was instrumental to the incremental progress that resulted in Governor Larry Rhoden (R-S.D.) signing campus carry into law earlier this year. Late last year, I worked with our team to help pass the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act (H.R. 6492), which was signed into law after passing the Senate unanimously. Included in this conservation package was the NSSF-supported Range Access Act (H.R. 1614), which requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to work with local stakeholders to build recreational shooting ranges in each BLM district and National Forest if a range does not already exist in the area.
6) What’s a favorite hobby or recreational activity outside of hunting or shooting sports?
Other than spending time outdoors hiking, fishing and hunting, I enjoy going to college and professional sporting events in the area and attending car shows with my dad. Washington, D.C., is a very social city and I’m always on the lookout for networking opportunities, including serving on the boards of the Washington Metro Chapter of Safari Club International and the South Dakota State Society.
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