NSSF Bullet Points Articles

Legislative News Ranges From Good To Bad

Legislatures have raised and upset the spirit of shooters in their respective states because of bills affecting shooting-related facilities. In Minnesota, a Senate committee has approved $100,000 for the Minnesota Shooting Sports Education Center in Grand Rapids.

FFL Newsletter

ATF's most recent FFL Newsletter includes updates on Revised ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record), the Child Safety Lock Act of 2005, importation of dual use firearm barrels, defining "responsible persons" listed on a Federal Firearms License and questions and answers on record keeping requirements regarding acquisition and disposition of personal firearms by licensed dealers. Click here for a printable copy of the newsletter.

NSSF Appoints R&R Manager, Range Promotions Director

NSSF has announced the appointment of Cyndi Dalena as director of shooting range promotions and Melissa Schilling as recruitment and retention manager. In her new role, Dalena will work with members of NSSF's National Association of Shooting Ranges (NASR) to develop range promotions designed to increase target shooting participation, create educational seminars for range operators and direct research and test-marketing projects related to the operation and promotion of shooting sports facilities.

Nebraska Governor Promises To Sign Right-To-Carry Bill

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has promised to sign a bill recently passed by the state’s legislature that will enable law-abiding citizens to carry a firearm for personal protection. Two weeks ago, legislators in Kansas overrode Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’s veto of a similar measure. Wisconsin and Illinois are the only remaining states that do not allow concealed carry for self-protection.

Historic Winchester Plant Closes Doors

After 140 years on Winchester Avenue, U.S. Repeating Arms Co. officially closed the doors to its New Haven, Conn., factory Wednesday. With the plant's closure, production of the iconic Winchester Model 94 and Model 70 rifles and the Model 1300 shotgun will cease.

Hillary Clinton Quietly Signs On To Bill

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton quietly became a co-sponsor of a bill aimed at making traced gun data public, reports the New York Post. Clinton signed on to the bill last week after New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez had already formally filed it, and she never announced her support of it in a press release. Clinton has been a strong advocate of gun control, but has been somewhat silent on the issue recently. Last year, Clinton opposed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which protects firearms industry companies from frivolous lawsuits.

Mayor Courts Brady Campaign

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has left no doubt about whom he is courting alliances with on gun issues. Brady Center lawyer Dennis Henigan refers to Bloomberg as “our hero” in today’s New York Times, and the paper also reports the mayor giving a speech to the Brady Campaign just days after his tirade at a House Judiciary Subcommittee meeting where he opposed sound legislation (HR 5005) that would permanently prohibit making traced gun data available to the public.

Alt To Address QDMA

Dr. Gary Alt, former Pennsylvania Game Commission Deer Project Leader, will deliver the keynote address at the Quality Deer Management Association’s annual National Convention and Whitetail Expo, to be held at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa., from June 22-25. Alt, the noted deer and bear biologist, was at the center of controversy in Pennsylvania when he helped initiate sweeping changes in the Game Commission’s deer management program. In addition to his Friday evening, June 22, speech, Alt will conduct an educational seminar the next day at the deer conservation and management association’s sixth annual gathering.

Industry, Public Input Helps Exclude Ammo From Bill

Illinois’ Lead Poisoning Prevention Bill, which as originally passed by the state’s House of Representatives, could have been used to target ammunition manufacturers, distributors, users and owners of property where firearms are lawfully discharged, has been amended. Awareness efforts helped create an amendment from Sen. Carol Ronen, in which “lead bearing substance” did not include “firearm ammunition or components as defined by the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.” The state House supported the Senate amendment with a vote of 115 to 1.

New York Considers Range Protection Bill

The New York Assembly’s Health Committee was set today to consider A 6608A, which would protect existing shooting ranges from new noise ordinances and nuisance lawsuits aimed at shutting them down. The bill would mandate that ranges comply with noise ordinances in place at the time of construction of the range. The state Senate’s companion bill, S 3353A, may be voted on at any time. New Yorkers are encouraged to contact their legislators – (518) 455-2800 for the Senate; (518) 455-2800 for the Assembly – and urge their support of these bills.