| 'Watershed Moment for Second Amendment'
COURT: D.C. GUN BAN VIOLATES INDIVIDUAL'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS . . . Washington, D.C.'s 31-year-old ban on handguns in the home is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. "We conclude that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said in its 58-page ruling. The court also rejected the argument that the Second Amendment does not apply to the District of Columbia because it is not a state and rejected the law's requirement that gun owners keep firearms disassembled or use trigger locks, making them non-functional. Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel, called the ruling "a watershed moment for the Second Amendment." Read the ruling.
NWTF RECOGNIZES INDUSTRY'S EFFORTS . . . At its annual convention and sport show, the National Wild Turkey Federation honored NSSF with its Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Award. It is the first time an organization has received the annual honor, which recognizes those who are committed to preserving America's hunting heritage. Former Arkansas governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was on hand in Nashville to present the award to NSSF president Doug Painter. Watch video.
ILLINOIS SENATE EYES GUN BAN . . . The Illinois Senate could vote any time on legislation that would ban the purchase, possession and manufacturing of many semi-automatic firearms, individual parts from these firearms and magazines. Enactment of Senate Bill 16, pushed by Chicago's anti-gun Mayor Richard Daley and his allies in the legislature, would also create a registry of existing or grandfathered-in firearms owners who would have 90 days to comply with the registration process or face arrest and felony prosecution. Illinoisans are encouraged to contact their senators and urge them to oppose SB 16.
A NEW LOOK FOR FIRSTSHOTS.ORG . . . NSSF's First Shots program has unveiled a new look to www.firstshots.org. The site features links for ranges and new shooters with information on how to get involved in the introductory handgun program. At ranges across the country, First Shots introduces local residents to firearm safety, the rules and requirements of handgun ownership, and gives all a chance to give shooting a try. The program has been credited with helping to erase common misconceptions related to handguns and has helped attract enthusiastic new customers to ranges.
POSSIBLE LEAD BAN FOR HUNTERS ON CALIFORNIA AGENDA . . . A ban on lead bullets for hunting is one possible alternative the California Fish and Game Commission is expected to discuss when it meets April 13. The commission is looking at four potential alternatives related to the use of lead bullets in areas frequented by the endangered California condor. The commission may vote on whether to take no action, ban lead ammunition in specific deer-hunting areas, ban it statewide or offer hunters incentives to voluntarily use non-lead ammo while hunting big game. NSSF is continuing its dialogue with department and commission officials.
ANTI-HUNTER UP FOR TOP NEW YORK CONSERVATION POST . . . NSSF is cautioning New Yorkers that state Assemblyman Alexander "Pete" Grannis' voting record in the New York State Assembly makes him unqualified for the position of Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) commissioner. Grannis has sponsored and signed on to numerous anti-gun and anti-hunting bills, as well as legislation to outlaw trapping. As DEC commissioner, he would have the legal authority and ability to impose, through regulations, his anti-sportsmen agenda. New York sportsmen are urged to voice their concerns over Grannis' nomination.
RUGER REPORTS 2006 EARNINGS . . . Sturm, Ruger & Co. (NYSE:RGR) last week released its 2006 Annual Report, reporting net firearm sales of $139.1 million for fiscal year 2006, up 4.7 percent from $132.8 million the previous year. Ruger, which also operates a castings business, reported total net sales of $167.6 million, up from $154.7 million in 2005. Net income for the year was $1.1 million, up nearly 28 percent from the previous year.
A FOUNDING FATHER OF NWTF PASSES AWAY . . . Wayne Bailey, known to many as the godfather of modern turkey management, died on Feb. 27 after a long battle with cancer. He was a founder of the National Wild Turkey Federation, serving as a member of the organization's first advisory board in 1973. In 1978, he became the first recipient of the NWTF Conservationist of the Year Award. "Wayne Bailey was a pioneer in modern turkey restoration and thanks to his relentless efforts the successful comeback of the wild turkey was possible," said NWTF CEO Rob Keck.
APPRENTICE HUNTING LICENSE PROGRAM IN ILLINOIS . . . More families in Illinois will be able to turkey hunt together this spring thanks to a new apprentice hunting license program. The new law was based on model legislation created under the Families Afield campaign of the NSSF, NWTF and the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance.
MARCH MADNESS OVER SHOOTING IN ALASKA . . . It was bullets, not basketballs, that had everyone bouncing off the wall, reports the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, when the NCAA Rifle Championships were underway at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) last week. This marked the first time the school and city had played host to any national collegiate event. "It's the greatest thing for shooting that's ever happened in this community," said Joe Nava, Alaska representative for the NRA and president of the UAF rifle team's booster club. The fact that the hosting college placed first added, of course, to the excitement.
LARGEST SHOOTING WORLD CUP TO BE HELD AT FT. BENNING . . . The first rifle/pistol International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup of the season will be hosted by USA Shooting March 31 to April 8 at Ft. Benning, Ga. To date, 505 athletes from 62 nations have registered for 834 competition entries, to mark the largest shooting World Cup ever to be held on U.S. soil.
JUNIOR OLYMPIC PISTOL, RIFLE NATIONALS UNDER WAY . . . Young pistol and rifle shooters are competing through March 24 at the U.S. Olympic Shooting Facility in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the 2007 USA Shooting Junior Olympic National Championships. Shooters earned their ticket to the event based on performances in their state qualifiers.
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