Bullet Points

[NSSF]

Vol. 6 No. 28 July 11, 2005

You'll find Bullet Points on the NSSF Web site each week at http://www.nssf.org




STORMS WREAK HAVOC ON ESPN GREAT OUTDOOR GAMES


Range personnel battle rising floodwaters to prepare targets for the ESPN Great Outdoor Games rifle competition. Mother Nature eventually won the battle.
ABBREVIATED RIFLE EVENT TO AIR THIS WEEK . . . With six inches of floodwater on the shooting range, more rain in the forecast, periodic hail and lightning, tornadoes nearby, and Hurricane Dennis prowling the area, the shooting sports were a virtual washout last weekend at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games. Only an abbreviated rifle competition will be included when the Games air Wednesday through Sunday on ESPN and ABC Sports.


Between thunderstorms, Doug Koenig warms up for a weather-shortened shooting event to air this week on ESPN and ABC Sports.







Doug Koenig of Alburtis, Pennsylvania, was declared the winner after shooting the fastest qualifying time. In a great show of sportsmanship, rifle competitors voted unanimously to split the prize money, which totaled more than $25,000, equally among the 16 shooters. Koenig, who would have pocketed a $10,000 first-place purse, said everyone was disappointed that the traditional head-to-head competition didn't happen, adding that the atmosphere surrounding a qualifying round doesn’t match actual competition. "Everyone was prepared to shoot, but there’s not much you can do with these storms," he said. NSSF sponsors the Games to draw attention to the shooting sports.

PROJECT CHILDSAFE WINS AWARD . . . Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin last week presented NSSF’s Project ChildSafe with the city’s highest honor, the Phoenix Award, for significant contributions to the citizens of Atlanta. Franklin commended NSSF "for your unwavering dedication to protecting and improving our community. Your commitment to promoting safe and responsible firearm ownership is an investment in the safety of our future. Your invaluable efforts are essential in the quest to protect our youth. The City of Atlanta salutes you for all that you do." The award was part of a press conference that included Georgia Lt. Governor Mark Taylor, three U.S. attorneys and representatives from ATF.

NEW SEASON FOR STEP OUTSIDE TV . . . Enjoy a new season of action-packed hunting and shooting as Step Outside TV kicks off its second season on The Outdoor Channel (TOC). Hosts Tom Gresham and Kim Rhode build on NSSF’s successful STEP OUTSIDE® program that encourages hunters and anglers to invite newcomers and build participation in traditional outdoor sports. Produced by Mossy Oak Productions, the show airs Wednesdays at 9 a.m., Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. (EST). TOC originated and sponsors the program. On this week’s episode, join a family as they share their passion for wildlife management and deer hunting.

MARYLAND FREE OF CWD . . . Maryland Department of Natural Resources says no signs of chronic wasting disease were found in wild deer harvested during the 2004-2005 muzzleloader and firearms deer-hunting season. A total of 872 deer were tested out of nearly 75,000 deer harvested. The agency determined that if 1 percent of deer had CWD, there’s a 98 percent chance that it would have been detected in the sample. For more info on CWD, go to the Web site of the NSSF-supported CWD Alliance.

DE FACTO BAN ON AMMO IN CALIFORNIA . . . Police officials are worried that two pieces of legislation pending in the California Assembly could do considerable harm to the firearms industry and to national security. One bill would require all guns manufactured in the state be equipped with micro-stamping technology. A companion bill would require manufacturers to laser imprint serial numbers on each bullet casing and register the numbers with the Justice Department. Passage of either bill would result in the destruction of California's ammunition industry. "Any manufacturer that attempted to comply with the legislation would be bankrupted, because the costs to build a laser imprinting device would be the same as (building) a new factory," said Lawrence G. Keane, general counsel for NSSF. "The bill would become a de facto ban on ammunition in California. "Read Senator Don Young's letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff explaining the potential impacts to law enforcement and military.

STOP LAWSUIT ABUSE! CALL CONGRESS TODAY! Industry members are urged to contact their senators to voice support for S397. With the Senate expected to take action this month, NSSF urges everyone to take action by reminding elected officials to pass a clean bill with no anti-gun amendments. "With consideration slated for this month, time is of the essence," NSSF President Doug Painter stated. "Everyone who works in manufacturing or sells manufactured goods, and every sportsman who cares about preserving our hunting traditions and firearm freedoms, must contact their senators and demand that they support this vital legislation." Send an e-mail to your senators and place a call today to 202-224-3121.

KANSAS: POLICE MAY TRADE, SELL SEIZED FIREARMS . . . As of July 1, Kansas law enforcement agencies are no longer required to destroy confiscated firearms, says a new law. Now they may be traded or sold, so long as they’re not needed as evidence and the original owners are no longer legally entitled to them. A county sheriff hails the new law as a way to help his financially strapped department obtain better equipment and supplies.

CONGRESS ENCOURAGES SELF-PROTECTION . . . Wielding its budgetary power over the District of Columbia, the U.S. House of Representatives has prohibited Washington D.C., from spending funds to enforce a 29-year-old gun control law requiring firearms kept at home be unloaded and disassembled or protected by a trigger lock. Although the city’s mayor is bitter over the decision, historic crime stats prove the last thing his constituents need is further prohibitions on their right to protect themselves.

DEFENDING FIREARMS RETAILERS . . . NSSF is speaking out on behalf of a firearms retailer, who also happens to be a Baltimore County policeman, in response to a new department rule that bars officers from outside work involving sale of firearms. A department spokesman said, "We don’t want our police officers doing things that could besmirch the reputation of our organization." In a letter to the department, NSSF’s Lawrence G. Keane wrote, "The notion that employment . . . in a federally licensed retail firearm store could besmirch the reputation of anyone, including the Baltimore County Police Department, is highly insulting and damages the reputation of the honest, law-abiding men and women who are employed in our industry." The rule was made after a legally sold gun was used by a criminal. The local police union is suing to challenge the rule.

SHOOTING FOR FUN, INDUSTRY’S FUTURE . . . The Third Annual Shooting Industry Masters event in September promises fun competition while supporting the future of the shooting sports. Hosted by PMC Ammunition and sponsored by FMG Publications, the competition raises money and increases awareness of NSSF’s STEP OUTSIDE program. The event will be held at the Desert Lake Country Club, Boulder City, Nev., Sept. 23-25. To donate products for a raffle and to enter a team, call Robin Gray at 702-294-0025.

AT HOME WITH GUNS . . . A Washington Times article profiles a Virginia father who has chosen not to shield his stepdaughters from the realities of guns, but to make firearms a part of their everyday lives. "Education is a very big part," says John Blaschke, an elementary and middle school teacher. "Guns and families can coexist. It boils down to responsibility. A responsible gun owner needs to make sure his children develop a respect for (guns)." NSSF publishes a variety of free materials to help.

EXPANDING SERVICES FOR NSSF MEMBERS . . . NSSF members participating in a special discount program through Federal Express now have more options and new services. Three new fee-based delivery signature options offer greater shipping flexibility and increased protection for companies shipping firearms. For more information on the new services, or to inquire about joining NSSF, contact Member Services Manager Bettyjane Swann via email or call 203-426-1320.

SPREAD THE WORD . . . Use the instructions below to forward Bullet Points to family, friends and co-workers. They can subscribe at http://www.nssf.org/BP/subscribe. Have a comment or question about an item? Please contact Gary Mehalik, Bullet Points editor, by e-mailing to gmehalik@nssf.org.


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[Walter]

Vol. 6 No. 28 July 11, 2005

STOP LAWSUIT ABUSE! CALL CONGRESS TODAY! Industry members are urged to contact their senators to voice support for S397. With the Senate expected to take action this month, NSSF urges everyone to take action by reminding elected officials to pass a clean bill with no anti-gun amendments. "With consideration slated for this month, time is of the essence," NSSF President Doug Painter stated. "Everyone who works in manufacturing or sells manufactured goods, and every sportsman who cares about preserving our hunting traditions and firearm freedoms, must contact their senators and demand that they support this vital legislation." Send an e-mail to your senators and place a call today to 202-224-3121.

Please use the link below to send an email or letter to your representatives using one click.

http://www.capwiz.com/nra/dbq/officials/