Bullet Points
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:07 pm
Vol. 6 No. 29 July 18, 2005
You'll find Bullet Points on the NSSF Web site each week at http://www.nssf.org
SENATE NEAR TO VOTING ON S. 397
The U.S. Senate is soon to debate the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a critical tort reform bill that would prevent unwarranted lawsuits against the firearms industry.
Your Support Is Needed . . . All indications are that the Senate will take up S. 397, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, next week, which means it is critical that you voice your support for this historic piece of legislation. If passed, the bill would put an end to “junk” lawsuits aimed at bankrupting firearm manufacturers by holding them to blame for the illegal acts of criminals. The legislation enjoys strong, bi-partisan support in Congress as underscored by this letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist by his colleagues.
In your phone call or e-mail, remember to urge your Senators to pass a "clean" bill without amendments.
“This is a historic moment for our industry and an important opportunity. Getting this legislation so close to a vote has taken a tremendous effort, and now it's time for the final push.” said Doug Painter, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “Whether you are a sportsman or you work for a retailer, a distributor, a manufacturer or in any other segment of the outdoor industry, it is critically important that you take this last step. Call your Senators; urge them to vote for S.397 and against all anti-gun amendments.”
To join in the final push for passage follow these simple steps:
1. Call your Senators at (202) 224-3121
2. Send them an e-mail.
3. Mobilize your co-workers and friends to do so as well.
Read the Washington Post's story about the bill.
CALIFORNIA BILLS STILL IN PLAY . . . When the California General Assembly returns from summer recess on August 15 two bills that will do considerable harm to law-abiding gun owners and the firearms industry will be awaiting committee reviews. SB 357, which has been re-referred to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, would require manufacturers to laser imprint a serial number on each bullet and its casing, and the number would be registered to the purchaser. "Criminals don't obey such laws. This legislation will only burden the law-abiding gun owner with very expensive ammunition or no ammunition at all because manufacturers will not be able to comply without building a new factory, something they are unlikely to do. The bill would become a de facto ban on ammunition in California," said Lawrence G. Keane, general counsel for NSSF. Read Senator Don Young's letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff explaining the potential impacts to law enforcement and military. Meanwhile, SB 352, which has been re-referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, would expand the definition of "unsafe handguns" to include semiautomatic pistols that are not equipped with technology to microstamp the make, model and serial number of the gun on each cartridge, thereby creating a ban on handguns Californians currently own. California residents should contact their lawmakers immediately.
OREGON FORMS SPORTSMEN'S CAUCUS . . . Oregon became the 24th state to form a legislative sportsmen's caucus when nearly two-dozen lawmakers dedicated to defending the rights of sportsmen and conservation stepped up for the state's 935,000 hunters and anglers last Friday. Representatives from this growing national network, the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, met recently in Lake Pleasant, New York, to review its progress in promoting a pro-sportsmen’s agenda in state legislatures across the country during its first six months. “From the onset, NASC took the position of playing offense and working to promote a pro-sportsmen’s agenda. The impact of sharing ideas, modeling legislation and having established lines of communications among state caucuses has been tremendous,” stated Maryland State Senator John Astle (D-Annapolis), NASC President. The group laid out plans for its 2nd Annual Meeting on Maryland’s Eastern Shore November 13 - 16.
NSSF AT BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE . . . NSSF will promote safe shooting skills through its Junior USA Shooting Team Patch Program at the Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County, Va., July 25 through August 3. Over 40,000 Scouts and troop leaders will camp on-site and another 100,000 Scouts will attend as day visitors. NSSF will offer a modified version of its popular shooting patch rifle program throughout the Jamboree, allowing young people, under adult supervision, the opportunity to test their marksmanship skills. "This is a great opportunity for NSSF to promote the fun of target shooting to a young audience," said Jim Cassells, NSSF's organizer of the event. A partnership between NSSF and Boys' Life magazine, with assistance of NRA-certified volunteer instructors, is making it all possible. Unable to attend the Jamboree? You can find out more information about the Junior USA Shooting Team patch program and print your official 2005 qualifying target.
HERITAGE FUND SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS . . . Twenty-five students from 16 states have been awarded $1,000 scholarships through the Hunting and Shooting Sports Heritage Fund. The scholarship program assists employees of fund-member companies or family members of those employees. “It is a wonderful thing to be able to assist the young men and women who are the future of the shooting sports,” said Bettyjane Swann, scholarship director. “The scholarship program is a great opportunity to show appreciation to the companies and their employees who are directly contributing to the future of the shooting sports and the industry that supports them.” Applicants were asked to write a 350-word essay. Entries were judged on how well the essay explained the importance and tradition of hunting and the shooting sports. Enjoy reading one of the winning essays by Lina Vasquez of Florida.
NEW DIRECTORY OFFERS RESEARCH SOURCE . . . A new directory released by the National Shooting Sports Foundation highlights a spectrum of research tools designed to help industry members stay informed about the latest participation numbers, demographics and industry trends.
TARGETED FOR LEAD . . . A Connecticut federal court has ruled that it will allow six homeowners to press their hazardous waste case against the Metacon Gun Club in Simsbury under the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The homeowners, who live near the range, claim the gun club contaminates water and soil from lead and ammunition fragments. Referencing NSSF's guide to lead management at shooting ranges, the judge dismissed one of the claims, saying that lead shot is not considered hazardous waste under RCRA because it is being used for its intended purpose at the time of being discharged. Read the story.
NATIONAL SHOTGUN CHAMPIONS . . . Brandie Neal and Randy Sotowa captured the women's and men's USA Shooting National Skeet Championship this past weekend in Fort Carson, Colorado. In the junior division, Kent Vail shot his way to top honors. See the USA Shooting Web site for complete results.
NRA PULLING OUT OF COLUMBUS . . . Citing the City Council's vote to ban semi-automatic firearms, Excecutive Vice President Wayne LaPierre announced that the NRA was pulling its 2007 convention out of Columbus, costing the city an estimated $20 million in business. According to an NRA news release, LaPierre said the NRA would return to Columbus when the Ohio legislature enacts a preemption law that would override the ban.
CELEBRATING 1852 . . . Smith & Wesson offered factory tours as part of a three-day weekend event celebrating its Club 1852, which was formed last year to develop stronger relationships with consumers and already boasts 44,000 members. Thousands of visitors were able to enjoy the tours and seminars and browse vendor tents at the company's Springfield, Mass., headquarters. "It's to have a place where people who are passionate about Smith & Wesson can come together," Tom Taylor, vice president of marketing, said in a news story that pointed out that the event was part of the company's effort to be more focused on customers as it expands its brand.
NOMINEE FOR U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE DIRECTOR . . . President Bush will nominate H. Dale Hall for Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to replace Matt Hogan, acting director of FWS, and former director Steve Williams, who stepped down earlier this year to become president of Wildlife Management Institute. Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior, made the announcement about Hall, a 27-year employee who started with FWS in 1978 conducting field work in wetland ecology in Mississippi and worked his way up to the Southwest Regional Director, a post he has held since 2001. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
PRESIDENT HEARS FROM CONSERVATION LEADERS . . . Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, and members of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) met last Tuesday with President Bush's principle advisor on environmental issues, Council on Environmental Quality Chairman Jim Connaughton. The AWCP, a coalition of leading sportsmen’s organizations, including founding member NSSF, compiled a series of recommendations for the second-term Bush Administration on key conservation challenges entitled, Wildlife for the 21st Century: II, which the group presented to Chairman Connaughton.
MORE SPORTING OPPORTUNITIES ON REFUGES . . . The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced on Tuesday plans to open six refuges to hunting and fishing and further expand opportunities for sportsmen at seven more. Hunters and anglers in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York and Washington will benefit from this proposal.
NEW JERSEY BEARS BACK ON TV SCHEDULE . . . The Asbury Park Press reports that the on-again, off-again airing of "Bears: Too Close for Comfort," a documentary on New Jersey's growing bear population, has been edited and re-scheduled for airing on NJN Public Television at 9 p.m. on Monday, July 25. The originally scheduled airing was scratched after pressure from animal-rights interests got officials to cave in. The edited version eliminates two interviews and replaces them with comments from a bear preservation group and a habitat-protection, pro-hunting organization. The July 25 airing will be followed by a broadcast 30-minute panel discussion on bears in New Jersey.
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 Steve Wagner, Bullet Points editor, by e-mailing to swagner@nssf.org.
NSSF's Mission Statement
"Our purpose is to provide trusted leadership in addressing industry challenges and in delivering programs and services to meet the identified needs of our members."
Click here to visit the NSSF Web site and see how we accomplish this mission.
You'll find Bullet Points on the NSSF Web site each week at http://www.nssf.org
SENATE NEAR TO VOTING ON S. 397
The U.S. Senate is soon to debate the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a critical tort reform bill that would prevent unwarranted lawsuits against the firearms industry.
Your Support Is Needed . . . All indications are that the Senate will take up S. 397, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, next week, which means it is critical that you voice your support for this historic piece of legislation. If passed, the bill would put an end to “junk” lawsuits aimed at bankrupting firearm manufacturers by holding them to blame for the illegal acts of criminals. The legislation enjoys strong, bi-partisan support in Congress as underscored by this letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist by his colleagues.
In your phone call or e-mail, remember to urge your Senators to pass a "clean" bill without amendments.
“This is a historic moment for our industry and an important opportunity. Getting this legislation so close to a vote has taken a tremendous effort, and now it's time for the final push.” said Doug Painter, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “Whether you are a sportsman or you work for a retailer, a distributor, a manufacturer or in any other segment of the outdoor industry, it is critically important that you take this last step. Call your Senators; urge them to vote for S.397 and against all anti-gun amendments.”
To join in the final push for passage follow these simple steps:
1. Call your Senators at (202) 224-3121
2. Send them an e-mail.
3. Mobilize your co-workers and friends to do so as well.
Read the Washington Post's story about the bill.
CALIFORNIA BILLS STILL IN PLAY . . . When the California General Assembly returns from summer recess on August 15 two bills that will do considerable harm to law-abiding gun owners and the firearms industry will be awaiting committee reviews. SB 357, which has been re-referred to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, would require manufacturers to laser imprint a serial number on each bullet and its casing, and the number would be registered to the purchaser. "Criminals don't obey such laws. This legislation will only burden the law-abiding gun owner with very expensive ammunition or no ammunition at all because manufacturers will not be able to comply without building a new factory, something they are unlikely to do. The bill would become a de facto ban on ammunition in California," said Lawrence G. Keane, general counsel for NSSF. Read Senator Don Young's letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff explaining the potential impacts to law enforcement and military. Meanwhile, SB 352, which has been re-referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, would expand the definition of "unsafe handguns" to include semiautomatic pistols that are not equipped with technology to microstamp the make, model and serial number of the gun on each cartridge, thereby creating a ban on handguns Californians currently own. California residents should contact their lawmakers immediately.
OREGON FORMS SPORTSMEN'S CAUCUS . . . Oregon became the 24th state to form a legislative sportsmen's caucus when nearly two-dozen lawmakers dedicated to defending the rights of sportsmen and conservation stepped up for the state's 935,000 hunters and anglers last Friday. Representatives from this growing national network, the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, met recently in Lake Pleasant, New York, to review its progress in promoting a pro-sportsmen’s agenda in state legislatures across the country during its first six months. “From the onset, NASC took the position of playing offense and working to promote a pro-sportsmen’s agenda. The impact of sharing ideas, modeling legislation and having established lines of communications among state caucuses has been tremendous,” stated Maryland State Senator John Astle (D-Annapolis), NASC President. The group laid out plans for its 2nd Annual Meeting on Maryland’s Eastern Shore November 13 - 16.
NSSF AT BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE . . . NSSF will promote safe shooting skills through its Junior USA Shooting Team Patch Program at the Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County, Va., July 25 through August 3. Over 40,000 Scouts and troop leaders will camp on-site and another 100,000 Scouts will attend as day visitors. NSSF will offer a modified version of its popular shooting patch rifle program throughout the Jamboree, allowing young people, under adult supervision, the opportunity to test their marksmanship skills. "This is a great opportunity for NSSF to promote the fun of target shooting to a young audience," said Jim Cassells, NSSF's organizer of the event. A partnership between NSSF and Boys' Life magazine, with assistance of NRA-certified volunteer instructors, is making it all possible. Unable to attend the Jamboree? You can find out more information about the Junior USA Shooting Team patch program and print your official 2005 qualifying target.
HERITAGE FUND SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS . . . Twenty-five students from 16 states have been awarded $1,000 scholarships through the Hunting and Shooting Sports Heritage Fund. The scholarship program assists employees of fund-member companies or family members of those employees. “It is a wonderful thing to be able to assist the young men and women who are the future of the shooting sports,” said Bettyjane Swann, scholarship director. “The scholarship program is a great opportunity to show appreciation to the companies and their employees who are directly contributing to the future of the shooting sports and the industry that supports them.” Applicants were asked to write a 350-word essay. Entries were judged on how well the essay explained the importance and tradition of hunting and the shooting sports. Enjoy reading one of the winning essays by Lina Vasquez of Florida.
NEW DIRECTORY OFFERS RESEARCH SOURCE . . . A new directory released by the National Shooting Sports Foundation highlights a spectrum of research tools designed to help industry members stay informed about the latest participation numbers, demographics and industry trends.
TARGETED FOR LEAD . . . A Connecticut federal court has ruled that it will allow six homeowners to press their hazardous waste case against the Metacon Gun Club in Simsbury under the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The homeowners, who live near the range, claim the gun club contaminates water and soil from lead and ammunition fragments. Referencing NSSF's guide to lead management at shooting ranges, the judge dismissed one of the claims, saying that lead shot is not considered hazardous waste under RCRA because it is being used for its intended purpose at the time of being discharged. Read the story.
NATIONAL SHOTGUN CHAMPIONS . . . Brandie Neal and Randy Sotowa captured the women's and men's USA Shooting National Skeet Championship this past weekend in Fort Carson, Colorado. In the junior division, Kent Vail shot his way to top honors. See the USA Shooting Web site for complete results.
NRA PULLING OUT OF COLUMBUS . . . Citing the City Council's vote to ban semi-automatic firearms, Excecutive Vice President Wayne LaPierre announced that the NRA was pulling its 2007 convention out of Columbus, costing the city an estimated $20 million in business. According to an NRA news release, LaPierre said the NRA would return to Columbus when the Ohio legislature enacts a preemption law that would override the ban.
CELEBRATING 1852 . . . Smith & Wesson offered factory tours as part of a three-day weekend event celebrating its Club 1852, which was formed last year to develop stronger relationships with consumers and already boasts 44,000 members. Thousands of visitors were able to enjoy the tours and seminars and browse vendor tents at the company's Springfield, Mass., headquarters. "It's to have a place where people who are passionate about Smith & Wesson can come together," Tom Taylor, vice president of marketing, said in a news story that pointed out that the event was part of the company's effort to be more focused on customers as it expands its brand.
NOMINEE FOR U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE DIRECTOR . . . President Bush will nominate H. Dale Hall for Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to replace Matt Hogan, acting director of FWS, and former director Steve Williams, who stepped down earlier this year to become president of Wildlife Management Institute. Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior, made the announcement about Hall, a 27-year employee who started with FWS in 1978 conducting field work in wetland ecology in Mississippi and worked his way up to the Southwest Regional Director, a post he has held since 2001. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
PRESIDENT HEARS FROM CONSERVATION LEADERS . . . Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, and members of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) met last Tuesday with President Bush's principle advisor on environmental issues, Council on Environmental Quality Chairman Jim Connaughton. The AWCP, a coalition of leading sportsmen’s organizations, including founding member NSSF, compiled a series of recommendations for the second-term Bush Administration on key conservation challenges entitled, Wildlife for the 21st Century: II, which the group presented to Chairman Connaughton.
MORE SPORTING OPPORTUNITIES ON REFUGES . . . The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced on Tuesday plans to open six refuges to hunting and fishing and further expand opportunities for sportsmen at seven more. Hunters and anglers in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York and Washington will benefit from this proposal.
NEW JERSEY BEARS BACK ON TV SCHEDULE . . . The Asbury Park Press reports that the on-again, off-again airing of "Bears: Too Close for Comfort," a documentary on New Jersey's growing bear population, has been edited and re-scheduled for airing on NJN Public Television at 9 p.m. on Monday, July 25. The originally scheduled airing was scratched after pressure from animal-rights interests got officials to cave in. The edited version eliminates two interviews and replaces them with comments from a bear preservation group and a habitat-protection, pro-hunting organization. The July 25 airing will be followed by a broadcast 30-minute panel discussion on bears in New Jersey.
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 Steve Wagner, Bullet Points editor, by e-mailing to swagner@nssf.org.
NSSF's Mission Statement
"Our purpose is to provide trusted leadership in addressing industry challenges and in delivering programs and services to meet the identified needs of our members."
Click here to visit the NSSF Web site and see how we accomplish this mission.