Vol. 4 No. 35 September 2, 2003
MORE THAN 2,000 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS PARTNER WITH PROJECT CHILDSAFE . . . From Maine to the state of Washington, police and sheriff departments are eagerly signing on to participate in Project ChildSafe to raise awareness in their communities about safe and responsible firearm ownership and storage. Project ChildSafe begins its national rollout this week, with safety tour trucks distributing locks in Maine, New York and Massachusetts, with Michigan and Washington to follow. Kickoff announcements with governors, lieutenant governors or U.S. Attorneys are being finalized in these states. “We are thrilled with the response from elected officials and from law enforcement to participate in this valuable firearm safety education program,” said Bill Brassard, NSSF managing director of communications, safety and education. “Project ChildSafe’s goal is to distribute more than 19 million firearm safety kits to gun owners in all 50 states and the five U.S. territories.” Developed by the firearms industry, Project ChildSafe will provide free gun locking devices and key safety messages to gun owners nationwide. The multi-year program receives funding from a Department of Justice grant and from the firearms industry. For more information, visit www.projectchildsafe.org.
REMINGTON EMPLOYEES STEP OUTSIDE®
Employees on the firearms line at Remington's Ilion, New York, plant recently took up the “Begin at Home” challenge of the STEP OUTSIDE program, sponsoring a shooting event for the plant's workers and their families. Even with the weather threatening to wash out the event, 290 people showed up to shoot a shotgun, a rimfire rifle and a .223 Remington bolt action rifle. Many of them had never shot a gun before. Tim McCormack, manager of the Remington Custom Shop, remarked, "NSSF is right, all you have to do is ask and people will go shooting." The day turned out to be at least as rewarding for the dozens of volunteers who ran the event. Many agreed with McCormack that "It was a great opportunity to show kids, as well as parents, that there are still alternatives to video games, especially one that the whole family can enjoy together." New York State Assemblyman Marc Butler showed up (see picture) to try his hand at shooting. McCormack reports the plant's 100 workers are already looking forward to their next STEP OUTSIDE event.
Remington Toolmaker Paul Rose instructing Assemblyman Marc Butler (seated) on the fun and safety of accurate shooting.
SAVE-OUR-INDUSTRY WEB CAMPAIGN . . . We're pleased to note that distributors Camfour, RSR Group and Sport South have added the Save Our Industry logo to their Web sites, and so have publishers Shooting Industry and Field and Clays.com. They join manufacturers Crimson Trace, Trijicon, Truelock Chokes and Bagmaster, along with Silver Bullet Firearms, a Michigan retailer and indoor range, in this important campaign. Shouldn't your Web site be among those helping concerned consumers and industry members write their U.S. Senators in support of S. 659? Add the capitol logo to your company's Web pages, and let us know with a message here to Bullet Points so we can tell others about your commitment to this important campaign. Find out how it works by checking out http://www.heritagefund.org/links.cfm, and place the appropriate message on your site.
NSSF MEMBERS NOW HAVE THE STAPLES BUSINESS ADVANTAGE . . . NSSF has partnered with Staples Business Advantage, the leading small business office supply company, to leverage the buying power of over 2,000 NSSF members and create big savings for those members. Staples Business Advantage provides NSSF members with the convenience of ordering online and free next- day delivery right to your door. And what's more, Staples Business Advantage will contribute a portion of the revenue generated by NSSF members to the Hunting & Shooting Sports Heritage Fund. "This partnership with Staple Business Advantage is the first of a series of membership services that we will announce over the next several months that benefits all NSSF members regardless of their size," said NSSF's Managing Driector of Program Development, Chris Dolnack. "This particular program is ideal for retailers, smaller manufacturers, distributors, manufacturer's reps and advertising agencies." NSSF's members may enroll by contacting our Staples Business Advantage account manager, Andrea Morin, at (800) 617-1712 ext. 141.
ESPN GREAT OUTDOORS GAMES WILL NOT RETURN TO RENO-TAHOE . . . ESPN Outdoors announced today that the ESPN Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge will not return to Reno-Tahoe in 2004. "ESPN appreciates the support of the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority and the Reno-Tahoe community, said Mark Quenzel, senior vice president of programming and production. "The competition was outstanding this summer, and the crowds on site were very enthusiastic. However, the long-term growth of the Great Outdoor Games has always been of primary importance to ESPN and we believe that moving the event to new regions is key to its growth and success." The pre-event, integrated marketing partnership garnered Reno-Tahoe multi-million dollars worth of advertising. Overall, more than 28.5 million people watched a portion of the Great Outdoor Games on ABC, ESPN or ESPN 2.
GOOD PRESS FOR SHOOTING SPORTS ACCOMPANIES STEEL CHALLENGE . . . "All roads lead to the fourth Saturday in August," says Jim O'Young, who bicycles up to 40 miles a day and spends six days a week at the range in preparation for competition at the annual speed shooting contest known as the Steel Challenge. Jim's story appears in his hometown paper the Sunnyvale Sun. His was one of many stories told before and after this year's competition thanks to an aggressive media campaign designed by NSSF Director of Public Relations Paul Erhardt that produced a TV sports feature on the handgun competition aired by Los Angeles ABC affiliate KABC and one aired by Wichita CBS affiliate KWCH. There were also stories ranging from local coverage in the Atlanta Journal Constitution to a spectacular photo in the Merced Sun-Star of acclaimed firearms photographer Ichiro Nagata. (Click on the photo by Dave Getzschman to get a larger view). Michael Bane and Robin Berg from The Outdoor Channel's Shooting Gallery filmed the event from all angles and footage will be used by NSSF to produce a video news release to help promote the Steel Challenge and the shooting sports.
FUTURE LEADERS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION EXTENDED . . . The deadline for early bird registration for NSSF members to attend the first NSSF Future Leaders Conference October 2-5, in San Antonio, has been extended until the close of business on Thursday, September 4, 2003. The early bird registration fee is $195 for members. After September 4 the registration fee is $395 for members. Designed for young professionals who demonstrate the potential for future industry leadership, the NSSF Future Leaders Conference will engage attendees in leadership development and strategic solutions to challenges facing the shooting sports industry in the 21st Century. Speakers include NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox, NSSF Chairman Art Wheaton, leadership guru Michael Fortino, American Bowling Congress Executive Director Roger Dalkin, industry economist Rob Southwick, marketing communications maven Dave Bean and NSSF President Doug Painter. Attendance at the NSSF Future Leaders Conference is BY NOMINATON ONLY. If you are interested in attending this conference or would like to nominate a young industry professional, please download the nomination form (PDF format). You can also contact NSSF Member Services Manager Shane Hotchkiss 203-426-1320 or visit www.nssf.org.
RUGER AND DAVIDSON'S TEAM UP TO FUND MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING . . . Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc, has teamed up with Davidson’s to help permanently endow the National Rifle Association’s Basic Marksmanship Training and Instructor Certification Programs. Ruger and Davidson’s goal is to raise $250,000 through the sale of William B. Ruger Endowment Special NRA Edition Mark II .22 Caliber Pistols. $25 from the sale of each pistol will go to The NRA Foundation William B. Ruger Endowment. This special NRA Edition Mark II pistol is available exclusively through Davidson’s Gallery of Guns, with an initial grouping of 5,000 pistols on reserve for NRA members. A direct link for ordering is also provided on www.mynra.com.
NRA TO SPONSOR 2003 YOUTH WILDLIFE ART CONTEST . . . The NRA is now accepting entries for its 2003 Youth Wildlife Art Contest. The contest, the 16th in the annual series, is open to students in grades 1 through 12 (including those home-schooled). NRA membership is not required. The deadline to enter is October1, 2003. Three nationally known members of the wildlife art profession will act as judges this year: Drew Holl, Bill Davis and Guy Coheleach. Complete contest rules are available on the NRA's Web site.
AROUND THE STATES
NEW JERSEY MAULING GETS POLITICAL . . . The bear attack on an 18- year-old hiker in New Jersey was over in a matter of seconds, but the political cat fight that follows has lasted a lot longer because of controversy about a decision to re-open bear hunting in New Jersey. In a News-Ledger story, a state wildlife officer reported the victim elbowed the bear in the nose, ran behind a tree and the bear departed after rearing up on its hind legs and sniffing the air, leaving her with visible claw marks that did not break the skin. Animal rights activists claim the story is being hyped to whip up blood lust for the hunt in December.
NEBRASKA PHEASANTS FOREVER REACHES 1 MILLION ACRES . . . Nebraska Pheasants Forever announced the completion of a conservation milestone: the establishment, enhancement, and maintenance of one million acres of habitat in Nebraska. The habitat work has included projects such as food plot plantings, nesting cover establishments, tree plantings, and land acquisitions. “This million acre mark is a real credit to the dedicated 13,000 Pheasants Forever volunteers and members across the state,” said Pete Berthelsen, Pheasants Forever director of conservation programs for Nebraska. “I personally want to thank all PF volunteers for their time, sweat, donations and dedication. Without them, these accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible.”
ENFORCING EXISTING LAWS
MICHIGAN . . . The Detroit News reports the top priority for the new head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in that city will be to target criminals using guns. "Gun violence has historically been a problem, especially in Detroit," said Valerie Goddard, a northern Michigan native. "The majority of our cases will deal with people possessing firearms."
PHILADELPHIA AREA . . . A New Brunswick, New Jersey, man who was the Philadelphia area's first to be prosecuted under the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhood Program will be sentenced November 21 for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Stanley Thomas Allen pleaded guilty and could receive a term of 10 years in prison, with no opportunity for parole. He was stopped after a police pursuit and a .380 caliber pistol was found in his car.
CHICAGO SHOOTER PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED FOR VIOLENCE . . . The people who knew him say Salvador Tapia, the 36- year-old who last week died after shooting six former co-workers at an auto parts warehouse in Chicago, had a violent temper and had been arrested 12 times on charges that included domestic battery and aggravated assault. According to the Chicago Tribune, he was convicted in 1989 for unlawful use of a weapon, and as recently as 1997 threatened his sister and brother-in- law with a weapon. While public officials call for more gun control, nowhere is there a call for an explanation of why Tapia was not behind bars.
AROUND THE INTERNET
TIP O' THE HAT . . . An extra "thank you" goes to NSSF distributor member AcuSport this week for not only supporting the "Save Our Industry" Web campaign, but also putting a link on its Internet site to the National Hunting and Fishing Day page promoting September 27 as the 32nd annual celebration of this day recognizing the contribution America's hunters and anglers make to conservation.
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