Bullet Points

[NSSF]

Vol. 6 No. 52 December 27, 2005

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




N.Y. Clamps Down
on Gun Trafficking

New Legislation Doesn’t Affect Law-Abiding Dealers,
But Threat from Assembly Speaker Looming

N.Y. DEALERS GROUP FORMED . . . New York passed legislation last week that rightfully targets criminals who sell guns illegally, rather than imposing unnecessary restrictions on law-abiding retailers. In addition to passing the legislation—supported by NSSF—Gov. George Pataki announced the deployment of 100 new state police investigators to gun trafficking task forces throughout the state. These efforts will help keep criminals off the streets and will impose life sentences on those who kill police officers.
The threat of more legislation is looming, however, as Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has not given up on his desire to push for gun control legislation aimed at New York’s 1,700 law-abiding dealers. Silver has come under fire in the past few weeks after telling the New York Post, “I don’t go to cops’ funerals.” His comment caused an uproar in the police community just days after two city police officers had been killed.
In an effort to unite the state’s law-abiding retailers, the New York Association of Firearms Retailers (NYAFR) has formed. The organization is affiliated with NSSF’s National Association of Firearms Retailers (NAFR). New York dealers can join NYAFR by calling Greg Costa at 518-584-5098 or by contacting Bettyjane Swann, NSSF membership manager, at 203-426-1320.



REALTREE JOINS NHF DAY EFFORT . . . Hunting industry giant Realtree has officially joined the renaissance of the most successful grassroots sporting campaign in American history, National Hunting and Fishing Day. “Our company prides itself on trying to do the right things for the right reasons,” said Realtree founder Bill Jordan. “We are pleased to join Wonders of Wildlife and others in the hunting and angling community in this great effort.” Wonders of Wildlife, the National Fish and Wildlife Museum and Aquarium based in Springfield, Mo., is driving the movement to energize the 35th annual commemoration, set for Sept. 23, 2006. Formalized by Congress in 1971, NHF Day was created by NSSF to celebrate the conservation successes of hunters and anglers.

GIFT FROM A GOV. . . . Though he received a few great gifts this holiday, outdoor columnist and proud father Christian Berg writes, “The greatest Christmas gift of all, however, may have come courtesy of Gov. Ed Rendell.” On Thursday, the Pennsylvania governor signed legislation creating a mentored youth-hunting program, which will open new hunting opportunities for parents like Berg across the state. The bill, part of the Families Afield campaign of NSSF, the National Wild Turkey Federation and U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, was unanimously approved by the Senate Dec. 13 and passed the House Dec. 14 by a vote of 195-1. The bill is the first Families Afield legislation to be signed into law by a governor. Families Afield is aimed at eliminating unnecessary barriers for sons and daughters to hunt with their parents.

GUN BAN POSTPONED . . . San Francisco has agreed to postpone enforcement of its ban on the sale and manufacture of firearms until March 1, reports the NRA. The city's handgun ban will not go into effect until April 1. A hearing date on a motion to invalidate the ordinance is tentatively set for Feb. 15 in San Francisco Superior Court. NRA and others had filed a lawsuit in the California Court of Appeals on Nov. 9, but the court ruled the suit must first be heard by the Superior Court.

ESPN GREAT OUTDOOR GAMES ON HIATUS IN ’06 . . . The annual ESPN Great Outdoor Games will not be staged in 2006, ESPN has announced. "Our plan is to re-launch the event in 2007 with fresh ideas and approaches that will improve it for our fans, viewers and participants," said Christine Godleski, vice president and general manager of ESPN Outdoors. NSSF has managed and sponsored the shotgun and rifle competitions for the games since their inception in 2000. The televised events have helped put a spotlight on the shooting sports like no other by reaching ESPN’s millions of viewers. The annual television broadcast has generated strong ratings and has won three Sports Emmy awards.

SHOT SHOW EXHIBITORS CAN BLAST THEIR MESSAGE . . . SHOT Show Blast, the electronic newsletter of the SHOT Show, delivered to tens of thousands of show participants and interested parties, will allow exhibitors the exclusive opportunity to insert paid sales messages in the six planned weekly editions leading up to the Feb.9-12 expo in Las Vegas. Distribution of the first issue featuring these advertisements is planned for Jan. 3. For more information, contact Chiara Renella at 1-800-598-1055.

NSSF MEMBERS ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY SAVE MONEY . . . The average savings in the first half of 2005 for NSSF members active in the FedEx Association Advantage® program was $396, a combination of discounts earned through FedEx Express Shipments®, FedEx Ground Shipments® and FedEx International Shipments®, announced Bettyjane Swann, manager of member services. FedEx Association Advantage is one of several money-saving affinity programs available to NSSF members. For information on NSSF membership, contact, bswann@nssf.org.

BOSTON’S ‘URBAN MYTH’ . . . Boston leaders’ claims that an increase in gun crime in the city is the fault of northern New England states' gun laws is an “urban myth,” New Hampshire’s U.S. attorney told Foster’s Daily Democrat. U.S. Attorney Thomas Colantuono cited data from the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods that show Massachusetts itself is the top source of guns sold and used to commit crimes within its borders. Earlier this month, New Hampshire’s Union Leader blasted Boston leaders for blaming other states for their own problems. “If Boston leaders really want to reduce gun-related crimes in their city, we have a suggestion. Forget the guns; catch and lock up the criminals,” the newspaper said.

RECOMMENDATION TO END SHOOTING PROGRAM IN AZ . . . The Arizona Board of Regents Audit Committee has recommended that the Arizona 4-H Shooting Sports Program be terminated as of Jan. 1. Arizona's 4-H Youth Development Program is part of a national program administered by the country’s land-grant universities. If the termination is implemented, the University of Arizona Police Department would confiscate all university-owned guns and associated gear connected with this program for disposition, reports the NRA. University president Peter Likins has temporarily suspended the decision to end the program, which would affect middle- and high-school students. The NRA is urging concerned citizens to contact members of the audit committee, the university president and state legislators, asking them to reverse the recommendation, and the NRA-ILA Web site provides those individuals’ contact information.

HUNTER APPRECIATION 101 . . . Confronting the fact that many wildlife management students these days are not hunters, a Pennsylvania State University professor is seeing to it that students are educated on the major role hunters play in wildlife management. Gary San Julian has established a program at Penn State and the University of Wisconsin that teaches future wildlife managers a comprehensive classroom and in-the-field introduction to hunting. "I was never really against [hunting],” said one student. “But I was uninformed. I realize now that I was at a disadvantage not knowing what hunting was all about. I plan to work in wildlife management, so I think this will help me in my career. The course taught me a lot, and it was a great experience."

REPORT: N.Y. 6TH SAFEST STATE . . . When compared to 44 other states, New York is safer, reports the New York Sun. Preliminary FBI crime statistics show that during the first half of 2005, crime in New York decreased by 2.8 percent and murder dropped 5.3 percent. Crime has declined by 45 percent since 1994. The trend has also been seen in New York City, where it is on track to have the second-lowest number of shootings since 1993, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

N.Y. TIMES CARRIES NUGENT ARTICLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE . . . ’Twas the night before Christmas, and The New York Times readers were enjoying a wonderfully crafted article by rock star and outdoor television host Ted Nugent, who has long been an outspoken advocate of hunting. His Dec. 24 article describes a wickedly cold holiday-season hunt in a treestand that leads to his harvesting a buck, but the piece describes much more than that, including the values he and his family have taken from their healthy involvement in hunting and in the natural world that hunting is part of.

PENN. ISSUES CWD MEASURES . . . The Pennsylvania Game Commission has issued an order banning the importation of specific carcass parts from states and Canadian provinces where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been identified in free-ranging deer, elk and other cervids. Hunters traveling to these areas will need to abide by the new restrictions.

TICKETS GOING FAST . . . Tickets to the SHOT Show State of the Industry Dinner-Concert Gala are going fast. The Feb. 9 event at the Las Vegas Hilton will feature a Time4Outdoors-sponsored performance from country superstar Lee Ann Womack, NSSF president Doug Painter's annual state-of-the-industry address, a cocktail reception sponsored by Ducks Unlimited and a multi-course dinner. To reserve a ticket, click here.

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS . . . NSSF is reminding all gun owners and outdoor enthusiasts that end-of-the-year contributions to the Firearms Safety Education Foundation and the Council for Wildlife Conservation and Education are tax deductible and will help in distributing safety and conservation videos in schools nationwide.

SPREAD THE WORD . . . Use the "Forward to a Friend" link below to forward Bullet Points to family, friends and co-workers. They can also subscribe at www.nssf.org/BP2. Have a comment or question about an item? Please contact the Bullet Points editor, by e-mailing to bulletpoints@nssf.org.