| New Hunting License Sales Reach 34,000
APPRENTICE PROGRAMS SHOW PROMISE . . . The sale of apprentice hunting licenses in six states brought nearly 34,000 new hunters safely afield in 2006, an acknowledgement of industry and sportsmen's efforts to establish new opportunities for novice hunters. Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Ohio began offering the new licenses last year to youths and other newcomers with the guidance and support of NSSF, the National Wild Turkey Federation and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. "To see 34,000 new hunters take advantage of new opportunities in their states is encouraging news for everyone in the hunting and shooting sports community," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF senior vice president. "It goes to show that when given more opportunities, hunters are very willing to utilize them. In the years to come, these new licenses have the potential to make a significant impact on the future of hunting and conservation in America." According to industry estimates, if these new hunters choose to stick with their new outdoor pursuits they will spend more than $10 million in the coming year on hunting-related equipment and more than $550 million over their lifetimes. With the support of the Families Afield initiative, 12 states have now adopted laws that provide youths and other newcomers more opportunities to go afield with family members, friends and mentors.
WHITE HOUSE NOMINATES FEDERAL PROSECUTOR TO HEAD ATF . . . President Bush last week nominated Michael Sullivan, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Sullivan is currently serving as acting director of ATF. Under a recent change in federal law, the Senate must now confirm the ATF director. "Mr. Sullivan would appear to be well qualified for this important position. We look forward to continuing our cooperative relationship with ATF under the leadership of Mr. Sullivan as he moves ATF forward in a positive direction," said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel.
NORTHWEST ELIMINATES DISCRIMINATORY FEES . . . Last week it came to our attention that Northwest Airlines and its partner KLM Royal Dutch Airlines had implemented a new policy that singled out overseas travelers with long-gun cases for an enormous additional luggage fee of $300. But by the end of the week, thanks to efforts by SCI and NRA, Northwest had amended its policy, eliminating the exorbitant fee and accepting long-gun cases on overseas flights under the "free luggage allowance" as long as travelers comply with firearms regulations in the countries they are traveling to, including those in which connections occur. Read the new policy.
NSSF NOW ACCEPTING HUNTING HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP PROPOSALS . . . NSSF is requesting proposals from state agencies for its Hunting Heritage Partnership grant program. Since 2004, the firearms industry has provided nearly $1.5 million in grants to state wildlife agencies through the program, and will distribute another $500,000 in grants this year. The program is aimed at helping states boost hunter participation through hunter recruitment, retention and access efforts. State agencies and others interested in learning more about the program can visit www.nssf.org/hhp for information on past grant recipients, how to apply for grants, effective methods for projects and success stories, plus links to many other resources.
NSSF PRESENTS AT NORTH AMERICAN . . . NSSF presented last week at the 72nd North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Portland, Ore. Officials from state wildlife agencies received a look at the foundation's First Shots, STEP OUTSIDE and Hunting Heritage Partnership programs. Based on the success of recent First Shots seminars held in partnership with Arizona Game & Fish Department, agencies were encouraged to utilize the fast-growing introductory handgun program in their states. A video shown during the presentation spotlighting First Shot's partnership with Arizona is available online. Watch video.
SCHOLASTIC CLAY TARGET SEASON KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND . . . With more than 10,000 youths expected to take part this year, NSSF's Scholastic Clay Target Program will officially kick off its 2007 season this weekend when Arizona holds its SCTP Commissioner's Cup Sporting Clays Championships. In Arizona, SCTP is funded and managed by the Arizona Game & Fish Department. The state boasts one of the nation's largest and most diverse SCTP programs, with most of its young competitors shooting three SCTP disciplines: trap, skeet and sporting clays. A list of upcoming SCTP state championships that have been scheduled so far is available online at SCTP's Web site. Check back often for additions.
NSSF VISITS TWO MEMBER COMPANIES . . . The North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Portland, Ore., presented the perfect opportunity for officials of the National Shooting Sports Foundation to piggyback visits to nearby member companies. “We wanted to reach out to the companies and their employees to give them an in-depth explanation of the issues facing the industry and what NSSF is doing to resolve those issues,” said NSSF senior vice president Chris Dolnack, who was joined on the visits to Leupold & Stevens and Crimson Trace by Randy Clark, NSSF managing director of program development. If your member company would like to request a visit from an NSSF staff member, contact Dolnack at cdolnack@nssf.org.
MARYLAND SPORTSMEN'S CAUCUS LEADING THE WAY . . . The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus has publicly opposed a ban on many semi-automatic rifles and shotguns (Senate Bill 43) based on cosmetic features, and legislation (House Bill 441) to mandate an additional 10 percent state tax on so-called "assault weapons" that, when coupled with existing state and federal taxes, would raise the final tax bill to over 25 percent on the cost of a firearm. By taking a strong position on these anti-gun bills, the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, led by leaders Senator John Astle and Delegate Richard Weldon, is not only doing its part to protect Maryland sportsmen and firearms enthusiasts, but demonstrating how a proactive state caucus can positively affect legislation. Sen. Astle is also the chairman of the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses.
PUBLISHING GIANT ROBERT E. PETERSEN DIES AT 80 . . . Robert "Pete" Petersen, who built a publishing empire with two trailblazing automobile publications, Hot Rod and Motor Trend, died last Friday of complications from neuroendocrine cancer at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., according to the Los Angeles Times. Petersen was a familiar face in the firearms industry because of the well-known hunting and shooting sports magazines his company published, among them Petersen's Hunting and Guns and Ammo, and because of his personal enthusiasm for hunting. "As much as Petersen loved fast and beautiful automobiles, he loved hunting and the outdoors more," said a spokesperson in the Times recalling Petersen's safaris in Africa and India. Petersen was known at the SHOT Show for his generous bidding on firearms that were auctioned to benefit NSSF programs. NSSF's SHOT Business magazine was at one time produced by the Petersen Publishing Company, a special-interest magazine powerhouse that was sold to private investors in 1996. The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles was a favorite project later in life--one that Petersen and his wife, Margie, supported with a $30 million endowment.
JACK SAMSON, DISTINGUISHED JOURNALIST, DIES . . . Former Field & Stream Editor Jack Samson died at his Santa Fe home a day before his 85th birthday. Samson spent 15 years with Field & Stream, 13 of them at the magazine's editorial helm. Prior to that association, Samson's accomplishments included being a war hero and correspondent, first public information officer for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and Nieman Fellow at Harvard University.
NSSF HELPS OUT NAM WITH CONGRESSIONAL RECEPTION . . . The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) recently honored members of Congress with excellent pro-manufacturing, pro-growth voting records in the 109th Congress with NAM's Award for Manufacturing Excellence at a Capitol Hill reception for freshman members of the 110th Congress. NAM has scored congressional votes on bills important to the firearms industry like the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. NSSF was proud to help sponsor NAM's Congressional reception.
MIT IS A HIT . . . The Massachusetts Institute of Technology won the national title at the 27th NRA Intercollegiate Pistol Championships held March 13-17 at West Point, N.Y. More than 90 shooters represented 16 educational institutions, including four ROTC teams. Host and defending champion U.S. Military Academy took second place, and the U.S. Naval Academy finished third. Overall team aggregate scores—MIT totaled 6372—were a combination of team scores from free, standard and open air pistol events.
NEW USDA CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM . . . The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency has announced the new Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP), called Conservation Practice 38 (CP-38), which will give states the flexibility to design conservation programs to fit their own specific wildlife needs. "We applaud the USDA for initiating this," said Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's vice president of government affairs. "This new conservation practice will give us the ability, on a daily basis, to work with wildlife-conscious farmers, ranchers and landowners in developing beneficial programs for wildlife in tandem with state wildlife and natural resource agencies." Last month U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the USDA would offer no new CRP general signups in 2007 and 2008. Though the CP-38 practice is not a complete replacement for general signups, the new practice does signify a strong step in the right direction, said Pheasants Forever. Initially, CP-38 will affect up to 500,000 acres. For more details, read the Pheasants Forever release.
NWTF ANNOUNCES BOARD OF DIRECTORS . . . The National Wild Turkey Federation has announced its 2007 Board of Directors.
BERETTA HIRES PR FIRM . . . Beretta USA Corp. has announced that Lutto & Associates, Inc., a public relations agency specializing in the outdoor industry, has been hired to supplement its in-house press program. The PR firm will be primarily responsible for the generation and dissemination of press releases, as well as assist Beretta USA in-house personnel with media contacts for the firearms and apparel products under the Beretta, Sako and Tikka brands. The appointment, effective immediately, follows a comprehensive public relations review process.
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