| Lawmakers, Industry Leaders Meet at the Range
The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation held its annual Congressional Shoot-out last week at Prince Georges County Shooting Sports Center in Glenn Dale, Md., where industry executives joined 18 members of Congress for an enjoyable day of clay target shooting, and, at the same time, gained a better understanding about legislation of vital importance to the firearms and shooting sports industry and to wildlife conservation. In this session of Congress, members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus are focused on Endangered Species Act reform, conservation taxes and the Farm Bill reauthorization, the latter providing billions of dollars in funds for programs that support wildlife conservation throughout the country. On the day following the Shoot-out, which was won by the Democrats for only the second time in 10 years, representatives from industry and conservation groups met with U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Connor and Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the Senate co-chairs of the Caucus, who provided details on key legislation affecting sportsmen.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATOR URGED TO DROP MICROSTAMPING BILL . . . NSSF last week called upon California Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-West Hollywood) to withdraw his Assembly Bill 1471, legislation that would require semiautomatic firearms sold in California to use a patented sole-sourced technology that purports to leave the make, model and serial number of the firearm on a cartridge shell casing. The move by NSSF comes on the heels of a recently released study by the University of California at Davis that proves the technology -- called firearms microstamping -- is "flawed," "does not work well …" and is easily defeated. Full Story
COLLEGE TO OFFER HUNTING / SHOOTING SPORTS MANAGEMENT DEGREE . . . Montgomery Community College (MCC) in Troy, N.C., will be offering a first-of-its-kind program for persons interested in getting into the business side of hunting and shooting sports. The two-year associate degree in business administration can be earned almost entirely online, though one gunsmithing lab course will be held on the MCC campus. The unique educational opportunity's conception began with Larry Potterfield, president and CEO of Midway USA distributors, at the NSSF-sponsored SHOT Show, and NSSF has provided an implementation grant for the program.
NICS ANNOUNCES CHANGES ON DELAYED TRANSACTIONS . . . The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Section is implementing a change in how it obtains Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) call-back information on delayed background checks. Full Story
GANDER MOUNTAIN FIRST QUARTER LOSS NARROWS; SALES UP . . . Outdoor retailer Gander Mountain Co. (NASDAQ:GMTN) reported a 13 percent increase in sales in the first quarter, while its quarterly net loss narrowed slightly. Same-store sales -- sales in stores open at least one year -- grew 1 percent during the quarter, compared to the same period the previous year.
DICK'S FIRST QUARTER PROFIT JUMPS 90 PERCENT . . . Retailer Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE:DKS) reported net income increased 90 percent in the first quarter to $21.7 million, or 38 cents per share, compared to $11.4 million, or 21 cents per share, in the same period the previous year. The company attributed much of the increase to higher same-store sales and its recent acquisition of Golf Galaxy.
BERETTA USA NAMES VICE PRESIDENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT & DEFENSE . . . Beretta USA has named Elio J. Oliva as its new vice president, Law Enforcement and Defense Group. Oliva's responsibilities include the ongoing development of Beretta's strategy in support of the government and law enforcement firearms needs in North America. He was most recently with Qualcomm in San Diego.
AP: WAR PUTS HEAVY DEMAND ON AMMO MAKERS . . . The Associated Press last week reported on how ammunition makers are responding to the U.S. military's high demand for small-caliber ammunition, which Army officials say increased from 426 million rounds in 2001 to 1.5 billion rounds in 2006.
ASSEMBLY VOTE IMMINENT FOR CALIFORNIA SPAY AND NEUTER BILL . . . A California bill that will put unnecessary hardships on sporting dog owners and severely restrict the breeding of accomplished hunting dogs is on the Assembly floor and could be brought for a vote at any time, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance reports. Sportsmen are encouraged to contact their state Assembly members immediately to oppose advancing Assembly Bill 1634.
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE APPROVES LANDOWNER LIABILITY LAW . . . After a court found a landowner to be partially responsible for a hunter's errant shot that found its way to an unintended target off his property, House Bill 13 was created to amend the state's landowner liability law. On May 23, the Pennsylvania House voted 199-0 to send the bill to the Senate for further consideration.
NEWCOMERS GIVE SHOOTING A TRY . . . Newcomers to handgun and shotgun shooting will take their First Shots this weekend, as NSSF's fast-growing program partners up with ranges in Minnesota, New Mexico and Arizona. View all upcoming seminars or learn how to get involved at www.firstshots.org.
KOWA JOINS OTHER COMPANIES IN SPONSORING U.S. RIFLE TEAM . . . Optics maker Kowa Optimed pledged a sizeable donation in support of the 2007 USA Young Eagles Rifle Team, which will send 20 young men and women to compete in August at the World Long Range Target Championships. The team, which is fully self-supported, has been seeking donations for its trip to the competition. Other team sponsors include Sierra Bullets, Hodgdon Powders, Sinclair International, Savage Arms and Lapua. For more information, visit usaunder25team.org.
JUNIOR AIR GUN CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR JULY . . . Junior shooters from across the country will meet at NRA's seventh annual National Junior Air Gun Team Championship and Training Summit, to be conducted July 4-7, in Akron, Ohio, and Bowling Green, Ky. For more information on the tournament, contact John Venskoske at 703-267-1477, e-mail rifle@nrahq.org.
BERETTA SEEKING MARKETING MANAGER . . . Beretta USA is seeking a Marketing Manager, American Big Game. Full job description.
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