NSSF Bullet Points Articles

Big Help From Big Rock

SPORTING GOODS DISTRIBUTOR CONTRIBUTES $50,000 FOR NSSF EFFORTS . . . Big Rock Sports took a big step forward in helping to fund responses to key industry challenges last week in Hot Springs, Va., with NSSF benefiting in a big way. Big Rock President Ed Small recognized the work NSSF is doing to increase participation in the shooting sports and protecting firearm freedoms through its many programs. Small presented NSSF President Doug Painter with a generous check for $50,000, following a golf, sporting clays and auction fund-raiser. "I want to thank Ed Small and Big Rock for this generous show of support, which will help in supporting NSSF's Scholastic Clay Target Program, National Hunting and Fishing Day and backing pro-hunting and shooting legislation." A good turnout by industry at the event included Steve Sanetti, president of Sturm, Ruger & Co., Michael Golden, president and CEO of Smith & Wesson, and Brett Flaugher, vice president of marketing and sales at Winchester.

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.

OSHA Extends Comment Period on Proposed Ammo Rules

INDUSTRY EFFORTS INSTRUMENTAL . . . Thanks to the efforts of NSSF, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, their respective firearm and ammunition manufacturer and retailer members and the NRA-ILA Grassroots division, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has granted a 60-day extension in which to submit comments on its proposed explosives regulations. The hot-button issue was discussed in great detail on many radio and television networks, including the Rush Limbaugh Show. The new deadline for submitting written comments is Sept. 10. NSSF, SAAMI and the National Association of Firearms Retailers will conduct a more thorough review of the proposed regulations and will continue discussions with OSHA. OSHA's proposed regulations still pose a serious threat to the firearms and ammunition industry. Industry members are, therefore, still encouraged to take action by submitting their own comments on the proposed regulations to OSHA by Sept. 10. Full Story

Gun Maker

SMITH & WESSON POSTS RECORD ANNUAL SALES, PROFIT . . . Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ:SWHC) on Thursday reported net product sales increased 48.8 percent and firearm sales increased more than 50 percent in fiscal 2007. Profits also rose significantly, increasing 41 percent from the previous year. In the fourth quarter, sales were a record $82.6 million, a 59.3 percent increase from the same period in 2006. It was the company's 10th consecutive quarter of double-digit sales growth. The gun maker's stock on Friday jumped $1.24 to close at $16.15. It continued upward again today, rising 37 cents to close at $16.46. A "BusinessWeek" story examines how the company "blew away Wall Street" last week and how it continues to boost sales by double digits.

'Little League World Series' of Shooting Sports

SCTP COMPETITION OPENS GRAND AMERICAN . . . How do you get more than 1,600 young people to travel to a small, rural town in southern Illinois? Hold a trapshooting competition, of course. NSSF's Scholastic Clay Target Program kicked off its annual national trapshooting championships today at the World Recreational and Shooting Complex in Sparta, Ill. Teams from across the country are competing this week in what has become the Little League World Series of the shooting sports. The SCTP competition kicks off the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships, the world's largest shooting competition. Tonight, the multi-Grammy and Country Music Association award-winner Charlie Daniels Band will perform a live show at the event saluting youths in the shooting sports. The concert is sponsored by Winchester, with support from "Trap & Field" magazine and NSSF. SCTP, developed by NSSF six years ago, allows youths to compete as a team in trap, skeet, sporting clays and international trap and skeet. The program is now active in 44 states.

U.S. House Passes Farm Bill

PRO-CONSERVATION LEGISLATION HEADS TO SENATE . . . The Farm Bill, sponsored by Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus member and chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), is one of the most important pieces of conservation legislation, helping to sustain America's rural economy and improve fish and wildlife habitats. Last week the legislation passed out of the U.S. House by a vote of 231-191. NSSF joined with conservation partners, such as Ducks Unlimited, to urge passage of the pro-conservation bill. "This Farm Bill is extraordinarily important to industry," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. "By keeping in place conservation programs that are vital to wildlife habitat, hunting opportunities around the country will improve. We are pleased that the House passed this pro-hunting legislation." The bill now heads to the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Up to the Challenge

WORLD'S FASTEST SHOOTERS COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH WORLD'S NEWEST . . . It was one for the record books at the Steel Challenge World Speedshooting Championships last weekend in Piru, Calif. The U.S. Army's Max Michel put on a jaw-dropping performance, finishing the eight-stage course in a record 79.2 seconds. It was the first time a shooter had cracked 80 seconds at the event. Two others accomplished the feat this year as well: K.C. Eusebio and 18-year-old Army shooter B.J. Norris. Glock shooter Jessica Abbate finished on top in the women's open class with a time of 1:04.18. The world's fastest handgunners weren't the only ones shooting in Piru this weekend. Spectators from around southern California came to try shooting for themselves with the help of NSSF's First Shots program, Turner's Outdoorsman, Smith & Wesson, Sturm, Ruger & Co., Crimson Trace and others in the industry. Play Video

SCTP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

1,600 YOUTHS FLOCK TO SCTP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS . . . More than 1,600 young trap shooters and their families traveled to the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Ill., last week for NSSF's Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Trapshooting Championships. The SCTP competition, which has been called the "Little League World Series of shooting sports," kicked off the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships. Teams from Missouri, Tennessee, Ohio, Alabama, Nebraska and Nevada rose to the top with teams earning national honors. For those who make the trip each year, the annual event isn't all about competing, but also spending time with family and friends -- and seeing what products vendors there have to offer. View video highlights and results from the big event.

Future Stars

OLYMPIC COACH SPEAKS HIGHLY OF SCHOLASTIC PROGRAM . . . As it has for the past few years, NSSF chose a select few young trap and skeet shooters from its Scholastic Clay Target Program to spend five days with the USA Shooting coaching staff last week at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Each had the chance to work one-on-one with U.S. shotgun coach Lloyd Woodhouse and his staff. Woodhouse, who has coached the national team for more than 20 years, could not say enough about SCTP and what it means for the future of shooting sports in the U.S. "I've not observed any other shooting sports program that touches so many young people in this country. I don't know of anything that even comes close. It's just incredible. It's the greatest program that I can think of in the shooting world," Woodhouse said. This year's camp included 18 young men and women from 11 states. Selection involved an application and interview process. NSSF sponsored a portion of the camp costs, while USA Shooting was a major partner. Read more about this year's Junior Olympic Development Camp.

National Hunting and Fishing Day This Saturday

CELEBRATE SPORTSMEN'S EFFORTS . . . National Hunting and Fishing Day -- the 36th annual, Congress-appointed, president-proclaimed celebration of hunters, anglers and conservation -- is set for Saturday, Sept. 22. Honorary chairman Jeff Foxworthy, national sponsors and a growing list of public celebrations around the country -- including a signature event at Wonders of Wildlife museum in Springfield, Mo. -- are in place to help communicate the day's core message. "The fourth Saturday of every September is a formal reminder for Americans who forget that wildlife and wild places exist only because of leadership and funding from hunters and anglers. Together, they keep our country's unique conservation system strong," said NSSF Senior Vice President Chris Dolnack. NSSF founded and fostered the National Hunting and Fishing Day concept in the early 1970s. Dolnack added, "If you can't volunteer, attend an event or show support in a public way, the best way to honor National Hunting and Fishing Day is to simply take a newcomer hunting or fishing." Full Story