NSSF Honored for Commitment to Defending Sportsmen's Rights (Columbus) - The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) was recognized today with a Lifetime Giving Award from the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) for its total commitment of more than $700,000 to the fight to protect hunting and shooting in America. President and CEO Doug Painter received the award during NSSF’s Night of the Industry Gala celebration. Bud Pidgeon, president of the USSA, made the presentation. “The NSSF has been a stalwart defender of our hunting and shooting heritage for our entire existence,” said Pidgeon. “We see them as an invaluable partner today and in the years to come.” The NSSF has been a sponsor of the USSA since 1989. Thanks in large part to its support, numerous programs have flourished. These include the Families Afield initiative which, along with support from the National Wild Turkey Federation, has help put 40,000 new sportsmen in the field by reducing barriers to hunting. It has also been a major sponsor of the award-winning Trailblazer Adventure Program, which has introduced over 500,000 youth and their families to shooting and hunting. NSSF’s leadership and contributions have also been key to the success of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund – successfully representing sportsmen’s interests in courtroom battles from coast to coast. The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protect the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.