The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the shooting industry, is severing its ties with British-based Reed Exhibitions. On May 9th, NSSF announced that it has reached an agreement with Reed Exhibitions to terminate the contract the parties had for the management of the SHOT Show. Accordingly, effective immediately, Reed Exhibitions will no longer be manager and producer of the SHOT Show. NSSF is now actively engaged in the process of identifying a new show management company to manage and produce the SHOT Show beginning with the 2014 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.
The NSSF stated: “Reed Exhibitions provided excellent service to NSSF and the customers of the SHOT Show for more than three decades, however, the company’s decision to restrict the sale of certain types of firearms this year at its consumer hunting and fishing show — an event unrelated to NSSF and the SHOT Show — was in conflict with NSSF’s mission to serve the shooting sports industry. As a result, both organizations decided it was in the best interest of the SHOT Show to end their relationship.”
Reed Exhibitions had banned AR-platform rifles and other semi-automatic, mag-fed firearms from the 2013 Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show (ESOS) in Pennsylvania. As a result, consumers complained and many exhibitors boycotted the show. Ultimately, the ESOS was postponed. (Related ESOS Story)
The SHOT Show — the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show — is owned and sponsored by NSSF. It is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for all professionals involved with the shooting sports, hunting and law enforcement industries. The 2014 SHOT Show will be held January 14-17 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Over the objections of legions of Connecticut gun-owners, Connecticut enacted what has been called the “nation’s strictest gun laws” (Huffington Post). Along with new controls on semi-automatic rifles, magazine-capacity limits, and restrictions on ammunition purchases, Connecticut adopted a new system of background checks on all gun transfers. Apparently, the new legislation was so poorly drafted that Connecticut’s new gun laws do not comply with Federal NICS procedures.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, issued the following statement: “Gov. Dannel Malloy … signed into law a package of gun-control legislation that was assembled in secret by a small group of state legislators and that never received a public hearing. Most legislators had little time to even read the actual bill language. The unfortunate results of this process… [are] that mistakes in [the] enacted law will have to be corrected.
For example, language in the new law specifies a procedure for licensed firearms retailers to perform mandatory ‘universal’ background checks on private party transactions that is not permissible based on federal law and regulations governing the National Instant Criminal Background Checks (NICS) system. As we read it, this mistake in lawmaking means that all private party transactions in the state now cannot be accomplished legally. We will be carefully studying all provisions of the law for possible challenge in the courts.”
The new Connecticut gun-control laws are the main focus of this week’s Gun Talk® Radio show with Tom Gresham. Richard Burgess, President of Connecticut Carry, joins Tom this Sunday to discuss the latest anti-gun legislation passed this week by Connecticut legislators and signed into law by Governor Malloy.
The new legislation, among other things, adds more than 100 firearms to the state’s assault weapons ban and creates what is being called the nation’s first dangerous weapon offender registry, as well as a magazine ban and eligibility rules for buying ammunition. You can learn more about Connecticut’s passage of the new laws in a feature from the Litchfield County Times.
In its 19th year of national syndication, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk Radio airs live on Sundays from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Eastern, and runs on more than 138 stations, plus on XM (Ch. 165) Satellite Radio. All Gun Talk shows can be downloaded as podcasts or accessed via Apple iTunes. To get more information, visit www.guntalk.com.
On March 14, 2013, 550 employees of Colt’s Manufacturing Company traveled to the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut. They came in strength to show support for Connecticut-based firearms manufacturing, and their message was direct: “Save our Jobs.”
Last week workers from two Colt operating companies (successors to the famed Colt Armory), boarded buses bound for the Legislative Office Building, in Connecticut’s state Capitol complex. They came to participate in a General Assembly committee hearing on a large number of gun-control measures under consideration in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy. Michael Holmes, Colt United Auto Workers Shop Chairman, testified at the hearing, as did NSSF Director Government Relations, State Affairs Jake McGuigan, Joe Bartozzi from O.F. Mossberg, and Mark Malkowski of Stag Arms. Though not all the proposed additional gun-control legislation will move forward for eventual votes, action on some of the measures is expected within days.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has produced a video in which management and employees of three Connecticut-based companies, O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Stag Arms, and Ammunition Storage Components, talk about the importance of their jobs and how their companies contribute to the Constitution State’s economy.
This video was produced in response to Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy’s recent call for severe new gun control laws. An NSSF statement noted: “We are troubled by the Governor’s apparent change in attitude[.] We do not believe a rush to quick-fix legislation is likely to produce real public safety solutions, while it holds the clear potential to hurt good-paying manufacturing jobs in our state.”
NSSF and member companies based in Connecticut and western Massachusetts have been working for several weeks to help educate legislators, the media and the public not only about the economic impact of the firearms industry in the Constitution State, but also what measures are most effective at keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals and unauthorized individuals. To that end, NSSF President Steve Sanetti authored an op-ed in The Hartford Courant, entitled “Focus on Gun Access, Not Gun Ban”.
Connecticut has a long tradition of arms-making. In 1848, on a site overlooking the Connecticut River in Hartford, Samuel Colt built the Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company factory. A larger factory, called the Colt Armory, was added in 1855. The 1850s were a decade of phenomenal success for Colt’s Connecticut-based enterprise.
Colt’s Mfg. was the first to widely commercialize the total use of interchangeable parts throughout a product. A leader in assembly line practice, the company was a major innovator and training ground in manufacturing technology. Colt’s armories in Hartford trained several generations of toolmakers and machinists, who had great influence in American manufacturing. Prominent examples included F. Pratt and A. Whitney, and Henry Leland (who would end up at Cadillac and Lincoln).
The National Shooting Sport Foundation (NSSF) has released its new Where2Shoot app for the Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch. The App — available for free in the iTunes App Store — puts North America’s most comprehensive directory of shooting ranges in the palm of your hand.
This free App provides the functionality of NSSF’s WhereToShoot.org website in a smartphone-friendly format. You’ll find listings of literally thousands of ranges and shooting clubs, in locations across the country. Listings are updated frequently with range information in every U.S. state and Canadian province. Click a button to find ranges near you or you can search by state, by zip code, or by keyword. You can also limit your search to specific types of facilities (such as indoor pistol ranges). The App provides specifics about each range, including shooting activities offered and contact information.
The Where2Shoot App also includes news, safety procedures, and firearms tips. New tips for hunters and shooters are also added regularly. Visit the App store to learn more about the Where2Shoot App or download it for free. You can also scan the QR code above with your device to download the free App.
This NSSF article was originally published at NSSFBlog.com.
Skeet-Gate: Some Constructive Advice for the President — By Larry Keane
We here at NSSF were somewhat bemused over the controversy that sprang from President Obama’s assertion that he shot skeet on a regular basis, and the second wave of commentary that attended the White House release of a photo to prove it. There’s a reason we’re citing the New York Times coverage in the link above — we’ll get to that later.
The assertion came as no surprise to us, because NSSF sponsored and oversaw the renovation of the skeet field at Camp David. We provided one of the industry’s top facilities consultants, and donated tens of thousands of dollars of machinery, consulting and oversight to build the regulation field. We provided countless hours of shotgun and safety instruction as well. We were honored to provide this service for the office of the Presidency, and our investment appears to be paying off by recruiting new shooters. Welcome, Mr. President.
In the same vein, we can offer the president some constructive advice on his shooting. Mr. President, try leaning a little further forward into the shot to better manage recoil. Keep your feet about shoulder width apart, and put more weight on your leading foot. You appear to be shooting a gun with “neutral cast,” to wit, a straight stock. Since you’re shooting left-handed, you may want to look into a different stock cast to better accommodate you. And if you’re going to get a custom gun, make sure they measure your length of pull first. Proper gun fit makes an enormous difference in accuracy, and thus in your enjoyment of the sport.
You may also want to try out the semiautomatic shotguns that another one of our member companies donated to Camp David. These too come in left-handed versions, which eject the spent casing to your left, instead of to the right as is customary. No matter which way the case ejects when you shoot the semiautomatic, you’ll notice that the gun still only shoots one round per pull of the trigger, just like the over/under you’re shooting in the picture.
In fact, the semiautomatic shotguns are functionally identical to all the semiautomatic firearms that Senator Dianne Feinstein has proposed to ban in her sweeping new legislation, S. 150. We feel like we have to keep repeating that fact, because many of the media voices that consider themselves learned scholars on gun policy don’t even know the difference between a rifle and a shotgun, for heaven’s sake. Note that The New York Times article has a correction at the bottom of the page, because it originally said that you were shooting a rifle in the picture — a mistake quickly repeated by dozens of other media outlets. Many of these same media outlets have been quick to editorialize about which guns Americans should and should not be allowed to own, when apparently they wouldn’t know a rifle or a shotgun from a barn door. Go figure.
You’re wearing both eye and ear protection, which are required, but a shooting vest and some custom earplugs might make you more comfortable – those earmuffs can get clammy on a hot day. Finally, a note to the photographer: It’s better policy to stand directly behind the shooter on any active range, because it’s safer and besides, you can see (and snap, if you’re quick) whether he hit the target.
Gun owners, by the way, have only a few short weeks before we see whether the Congress puts a target on our Second Amendment rights. We urge you and all our elected lawmakers to know your target, which is the criminal misuse of firearms, not arbitrary limits on which guns and magazines law-abiding citizens can legally purchase. Don’t aim the gun of heavy-handed restrictions and regulations at anything you’re not willing to destroy, including the hundreds of thousands of jobs our industry provides. Did you know that new restrictions on gun and ammunition purchases will also damage wildlife conservation programs? That’s because our nation’s federal conservation grants are funded primarily by the excise taxes on gun and ammo sales.
So the outcome of this pending legislative debate is very important. And believe me, we’re watching that even more closely than the pictures of you shooting a shotgun at Camp David.
The NSSF has issued an alert regarding proposed legislation in Connecticut that would drastically restrict the rights of gun owners. Proposed measures include: mandatory registration of ALL firearms, confiscation of all magazines with capacity of 10+ rounds, registration of ammo purchases, ban on internet ammo purchases, and mandatory locked gun storage. Legislation proposed by Gov. Malloy, Sen. Beth Bye, and Rep. Bob Godfrey, would include the following restrictions:
An outright ban on ALL modern sporting rifles, classifying them as “Assault Weapons.”
Restricting lawful magazine capacity to 10 rounds.
Confiscating ALL magazines (including pistol mags) holding more than 10 rounds.
Statewide gun registration for ALL firearms.
Re-registration every two (2) years with rising fee schedule.
Permit requirement for any rifle with a pistol grip.
Registration of all ammunition purchases.
Limits on ammo quantities one can purchase and possess.
Ban on internet sales of ammo in Connecticut.
Mandatory locked gun storage requirements.
The NSSF states that: “There will only be a few opportunities for discussion and opposition as many in Hartford are trying to pass legislation as quickly as possible. The first hearing (and may be the only time to testify) will occur next Monday, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m. at the Legislative Office Building.”
NSSF is urging all gun owners, sportsmen and hunters to attend Monday’s public hearing to be held in the Legislative Office Building in Room 2C at 10 a.m. and to contact their state representative, senator and all members of the Committee immediately.
Other important gun-related legislation under consideration in Connecticut:
HB 5268, SB140: Requires firearm owners to maintain liability insurance. Establishes a 50% tax on the sale of ammunition. Requires all ammunition to be purchased in person.
SB 122: Makes it a class C felony offense for any person or organization to purchase, sell, donate, transport, possess, or use any gun except one made to fire a single round.
SB 124: Prohibits the possession of magazines that accept more than ten rounds.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has produced a GUN SAFETY Video that presents 10 fundamental rules of safe gun use. The video covers basic safe gun handling procedures, and it also explains how to transport guns safely, and how to secure them properly at home.
We know this stuff is familiar to most of our readers, but we recommend you watch the video as a refresher. Segments show how to safely unload different types of handguns and shotguns. That’s helpful for a rifle guy who may not have much familiarity with other types of arms. The video also explains how you can keep a handgun safe from kids and guests in the home, while still having quick access in an emergency. This video won’t win an Oscar, but it provides good, logical safety advice. If you help run a shooting club, you may want to embed the video into your club’s webpage.
Here’s a good reason to visit your local shooting range over Veteran’s Day weekend (Nov. 8-11, 2012). During that weekend, shooting facilities nationwide will participate in Patriot Range Day, a program that provides scholarships for the families of soldiers killed or disabled in combat. Participating public and private shooting ranges will request a minimum of $1 for each shooter for the Folds of Honor Foundation. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has raised more than $21 million and awarded more than 3,600 educational scholarships. Patriot Range Day is being led by NRA Country and the NSSF with support from commercial sponsors, including Bushnell. To learn more, visit PatriotRangeDay.com.
About Folds of Honor Foundation
The Folds of Honor Foundation was founded in May 2007 by Major Dan Rooney, a former F-16 Fighter Pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, PGA Professional, and USGA member. A decorated military pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, Major Rooney has served three combat tours in Iraq. It was after his second tour, while a passenger on a commercial flight, that Major Rooney witnessed an event that would profoundly change his life. As the plane landed, the pilot announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, we have an American hero on board – Corporal Brock Bucklin. And his twin brother, Corporal Brad Bucklin, is accompanying him home from Iraq. As a sign of respect, please remain seated while Corporal Bucklin’s family receives him in his final homecoming.” Major Rooney watched through the window of the plane as the flag-draped casket was lowered. He saw a family waiting for Brock, and a little four-year old boy waiting for his father. This tragic homecoming inspired Major Rooney to create the Folds of Honor Foundation.
Looking for a shooting facility close to home? Need a place to zero your hunting rifle? Or perhaps you’re planning a trip this fall and want to find a gun range near your vacation destination. Then check out WhereToShoot.org. This NSSF-sponsored website provides the most comprehensive online directory of shooting ranges in North America. Listings are updated frequently with range information for all U.S. States and Canadian Provinces. You can search by state, by zip code, or by keyword. You can also limit your search to specific types of facilities (such as indoor pistol ranges).
Where2Shoot App for iPhones
Folks with smart phones can access the WhereToShoot range database via the FREE Where2Shoot iPhone App. This handy App also provides shooting sports news and safety tips.
UPDATE Oct. 25: NSSF.org and WhereToShoot.org websites are having technical problems.
WhereToShoot.org allows anyone to search for a place to shoot in their area. Site users can simply enter their state or zip code and a list of shooting ranges is created. Searches can be further narrowed by selecting which shooting discipline you are interested in. NOTE: If you own a shooting range or if you’ve recently changed locations, NSSF encourages you to enter or update your range information.
Bonus Features on WhereToShoot.org
In addition to its range-locating capability, the site now offers a number of other Resources for Shooters, including links to video tips, free printable targets, news about local shooting events and opportunities, safety information and more. Below are three of the NSSF’s nine free PDF targets:
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the shooting industry, is severing its ties with British-based Reed Exhibitions. On May 9th, NSSF announced that it has reached an agreement with Reed Exhibitions to terminate the contract the parties had for the management of the SHOT Show. Accordingly, effective immediately, Reed Exhibitions will no longer be manager and producer of the SHOT Show. NSSF is now actively engaged in the process of identifying a new show management company to manage and produce the SHOT Show beginning with the 2014 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.
The new Connecticut gun-control laws are the main focus of this week’s Gun Talk® Radio show with Tom Gresham. Richard Burgess, President of Connecticut Carry, joins Tom this Sunday to discuss the latest anti-gun legislation passed this week by Connecticut legislators and signed into law by Governor Malloy.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has produced a video in which management and employees of three Connecticut-based companies, O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Stag Arms, and Ammunition Storage Components, talk about the importance of their jobs and how their companies contribute to the Constitution State’s economy.
The National Shooting Sport Foundation (NSSF) has released its new 
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Here’s a good reason to visit your local shooting range over Veteran’s Day weekend (Nov. 8-11, 2012). During that weekend, shooting facilities nationwide will participate in 
