NSSF Bullet Points Articles

Smith & Wesson Forms Military Advisory Council

Smith & Wesson announced it has formed a Military Advisory Council comprised of military leaders. CEO Michael Golden said the new council's mission is "to share knowledge and experience by helping Smith & Wesson's senior management team to understand the needs of the military market and to deliver products that meet those needs."

Pete Brownell Named Brownells President

Pete Brownell has been named president of Brownells Inc. as of Jan. 1. He is the third generation of Brownells to lead the company. Former president Frank Brownell remains with the company as chairman and chief executive officer and will remain actively involved in the Brownells family of companies.

Remembering Ken Sedlecky

Hall of Fame skeet shooter, industry representative and tireless supporter of the shooting sports Ken Sedlecky passed away Jan. 3 in Plano, Texas. During his professional career, Sedlecky worked for Federal Cartridge Co., Winchester and with Smith & Wesson for the past 30 years. A champion skeet shooter, he was inducted into the National Skeet Shooting Association Hall of Fame in 1979. He was also awarded "SHOT Business" magazine's 2005 Manufacturer's Rep of the Year. A memorial Mass is planned for Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1700 Spring Creek Pkwy. in Plano. Read more about the life of Ken Sedlecky.

Grab Those Absentee Ballots, Shot Show Goers

This year's SHOT Show not only falls on Super Bowl Sunday, but show attendees will also be out of their home states on Super Tuesday -- the day when the largest number of states hold their primary elections and the single day when the most nominating delegates can be won. NSSF reminds everyone attending SHOT to request an absentee ballot from your town hall. The following states have primaries scheduled for Feb. 5: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah. Learn more about the presidential candidates in NSSF's Voter Education section of www.nssf.org.

NRA Statement On U.S. Supreme Court Case

The U.S. Government, through its Solicitor General, has filed an amicus brief in the District of Columbia v. Heller case. Click here to read a statement from the National Rifle Association.

Citi Merchant Services and First Data Update

Following up on a story in last week's Bullet Points, Citi Merchant Services and First Data Corp. have insisted that their policy of refusing to process any non-face-to-face credit card transactions involving firearms, including business-to-business transactions between federally licensed firearms retailers, distributors and manufacturers, is not anti-industry or anti-gun. Read NSSF's response to First Data. As the trade association for the firearms industry, NSSF wants to make sure that Americans are aware of the anti-gun business practices of these groups. If individuals want to voice their discontent to senior management at Citi Merchant Services or First Data, the appropriate contact information is available at the NSSF Web site, www.nssf.org.

D.C. Courst Upholds DIsmissal of Lawsuit Against Gun Makers

A unanimous District of Columbia Court of Appeals upheld a May 2006 decision dismissing a lawsuit against the firearms industry filed in January 2000 by the District of Columbia and the families of nine victims of criminal shootings. The district and the plaintiffs had sued 25 manufacturers under D.C.'s so-called Assault Weapons Manufacturing Strict Liability Act. "This ruling is very gratifying to members of the firearms industry," said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. "The District of Columbia lawsuit was like blaming car makers for drunk-driving accidents."

States Passing Hunter-Friendly Laws See Upswing

The latest National Hunting License Report released from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a slight increase in the number of paid hunting license holders, from 14.57 million in 2005 to 14.62 million in 2006. Encouragingly, seven states that passed youth- and apprentice-friendly hunting laws between 2004 and 2006 saw increases -- Kansas, Minnesota, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and Utah. Through 2007, Families Afield -- an initiative of NSSF, the National Wild Turkey Federation and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance -- has helped create new hunting opportunities for youths and other newcomers in these and 14 other states. The latest National Hunting License Report also shows a 4.1 percent increase in gross dollars reported for the purchase of hunting licenses, tags, permits and stamps, from $723.71 million in 2005 to $753.57 million in 2006.

NATIONAL PHEASANT FEST ANNOUNCES SEMINARS

The Pheasants Forever National Pheasant Fest 2008 is quickly approaching, and attendees can now make plans for the seminars that will be presented at the Jan. 18-20 gathering at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in Saint Paul, Minn. Also, the host organization has announced that only a limited number of tickets, at $95 each, to the 25th anniversary banquet to be held on Jan. 19 as part of the weekend events, are available. Ticket inquiries and orders can be directed toll-free to Sandy Pramann, telephone 877-773-2070.

Proposal Will Put Tight Leash On Sporting Dog Breeders

Despite assurances by Pennsylvania's administration that new kennel proposals are not intended to burden sportsmen, recent proposals to address abusive commercial dog breeders will continue to put sporting kennels and hobby breeders at risk, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance reports.