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April 29th, 2010
 At a Capitol Hill breakfast briefing today, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) released a newly commissioned report detailing the significant economic impact the firearms and ammunition industry has on the nation’s and each state’s economy. The numbers were impressive. Overall, the firearms industry had an economic impact of $27.8 BILLION dollars in 2009. The firearms industry generated $8.2 Billion in workers’ wages and $4.4 Billion in tax revenues. “During difficult economic times and high unemployment rates nationally, our industry actually grew and created 16,800 new, well-paying jobs,” said NSSF President Steve Sanetti. “Our industry is proud to be one of the bright spots in this economy.”
The economic growth America’s firearms and ammunition industry experienced last year was driven by an unprecedented number of Americans choosing to exercise their fundamental right to keep and bear arms and purchase a firearm and ammunition. Also cited in the Economic Impact Report were the significant taxes paid by industry member companies to federal and state governments and the Pittman-Robertson excise tax — a major source of wildlife conservation funding in America. “In 2009 our industry increased its contribution to wildlife conservation by over 37.6 percent, which translates into sportsmen contributing more than $7.5 million dollars daily to conservation efforts,” said NSSF General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane.
April 21st, 2010
 The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has released the results of a survey of Americans 18 years or older. The study showed that 34.4 million adult Americans (11.2% of the U.S. population*), went target shooting in 2009. This number surpasses all previous survey estimates of annual sport shooting participation. The study, “Shooting Sports Participation Survey in the United States in 2009,” was conducted for the NSSF by Responsive Management through a random digit dialing telephone survey of 8,204 U.S. residents ages 18 and older.
Mark Duda, executive director of Responsive Management, declared: “This was a highly scientific study with the sample meticulously developed on a state-by-state basis to construct the national number. Both landline and cell phones were utilized in the actual proportions they exist within the American population.” Duda said this type of telephone survey yields a 95 percent confidence level. The report’s sampling error is ± 1.08 percentage points. Added Duda, “This study measured all shooting participation— from hunters sighting in, to friends going shooting with friends who own firearms, to women practicing their self-defense skills. This study measured the full range of shooting activities across America.” CLICK HERE for NSSF Survey Report.
24 Million Adult Rifle Shooters and 22 Million Adult Handgunners
In the NSSF survey, respondents were asked about their use of particular types of rifles. An estimated 24 million adult Americans shot traditional sporting rifles, while 22 million adults shot handguns. Users of AR-style rifles (aka “modern sporting rifles”), numbered an estimated 8.9 million adults. Interestingly, however, the AR owners went shooting more often than did sport shooters using other types of firearms. The estimated 8.9 million adults who shot a modern sporting rifle in 2009, did so on 22.9 days per year on average. Though more people shot other types of rifles (24 million) and handguns (22 million) than shot modern sporting rifles, they ranked below modern sporting rifle shooters in activity, with traditional rifle users participating on 17.3 days and handgun shooters 16.7 days.
AR Shooters Outnumber Trap/Skeet Shooters
More people shot with modern sporting rifles (ARs), and more often, than with shotguns in the established sports of skeet, trap and sporting clays. As noted above, 8.9 million Americans used their ARs for sport shooting. The survey showed 7.6 million people went trap shooting on 14.8 days, 7 million went skeet shooting on 15.5 days and 8.4 million participated in sporting clays on 13.7 days.
The survey sought to define the demographic makeup of those who shoot with a modern sporting rifle, such as an AR-15. As expected, men represented 84 percent of modern sporting rifle shooters and women 16 percent. Most modern sporting rifle users reside in small cities or towns (25 percent) and non-farm rural areas (25 percent) compared with urban areas (19 percent), suburban areas (16 percent) and farms/ranches (15 percent). Modern sporting rifles appealed to younger shooters, with 64 percent of users ranging in age from 18 to 44. Modern sporting rifle users were 86 percent white, with Hispanic/Latinos the next largest ethnic group at 5 percent.
*The US population was 307,006,500 in July 2009, according to U.S. Census Bureau Data.
April 6th, 2010
 Summer is just a couple months away. If you’re looking for supervised shooting opportunities for your youngsters this summer, the NSSF has created a list of suitable programs. Parents can choose from shotgun, rifle and/or handgun programs with certified adult instructors. All the programs listed below offer an introduction to target shooting, and some provide opportunities for individual and team competition. To learn more about training programs for young people, read “A Parent’s Guide to Recreational Shooting for Youngsters,” which is available online at www.nssf.org/lit.
AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship): AIM provides a safe, positive experience with firearms and registered trapshooting for youth, elementary school through college age. AIM encourages good sportsmanship and personal responsibility. Learn more at www.shootata.com/aim/aim4ata.html.
American Legion: Thousands of male and female junior shooters have participated in the American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Program, which has a perfect safety record. The Junior Program includes a Basic Marksmanship Course, Qualification Awards and Air Rifle Competition. To learn more, visit www.legion.org/shooting.
Civilian Marksmanship Program: The CMP offers many programs for youth shooters, including indoor air rifle clinics, summer shooting camps, and Rimfire Sporter competitions which are held natiowide. CLICK HERE to read about Rimfire Sporter matches, and learn more about all CMP youth programs at www.odcmp.com.
Junior USA Shooting Patch Program: This NSSF patch program allows youngsters to get started in target shooting. Under adult supervision, participants learn safety and shooting basics while earning official Junior USA Shooting team rifle or shotgun patches. Learn more at www.nssf.org/JRUSA/.
National 4-H Shooting Sports: More than 300,000 4-H members have been introduced to shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader and handgun shooting through this program, which emphasizes the development of youth as responsible, productive citizens. Learn more at www.4-hshootingsports.org.
Scholastic Clay Target Program: Directed by adult coaches, the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) provides team competition for youth in skeet, trap and sporting clays, with the opportunity to win state and national championships. Learn more at www.sssfonline.org.
Scholastic Steel Challenge: The SSC provides the opportunity for young adults aged 12 through 20 to participate in the challenging sport of “speed steel” in a supportive environment taught by trained adult coaches who focus on the safe handling and use of handguns.
March 23rd, 2010
 Heard of the World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities (WFSA)? Probably not. But this international consortium has been working to preserve the freedom to own and use sporting firearms worldwide. Steve Sanetti, President of the U.S.-based National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), explains that hunters and shooters around the world rely on WFSA to protect their rights, though they may not know it. “The average hunter or sport shooter in America, Italy or any other place . . . is only vaguely aware of what is in store for us in this new globalized environment.” According to Sanetti, the WFSA plays a vital role in monitoring international threats, such as environmental bans on traditional ammunition, which can affect shooting sports worldwide.
With politically powerful forces (including the U.N.) pushing to curtail gun ownership internationally, the WFSA helps national gun owners’ organizations respond to such threats. Over the past year, WFSA has had many successes, but the WFSA faces big challenges ahead: the Int’l Arms Trade Treaty, the U.N. Firearms Protocol, efforts to establish international small arms control standards, environmental restrictions on ammunition and reloading components, and attempts to ban ownership of firearms.
The WFSA’s annual meeting took place recently at the IWA trade show in Nuremberg, Germany. There, Sanetti called for the WFSA to become a bigger, more powerful organization so it can better represent the concerns of more than 100 million sport shooters worldwide.
WFSA Works to Halt Semi-Auto Gun Ban in Finland
“Last month . . . a government commission in Finland recommended the banning of all semi-automatic handguns — 200,000 of the 600,000 guns legally possessed by the citizens of Finland,” said Sanetti. “This was shocking . . . and it could be a portent of things to come.” He pointed out that firearms used in the Olympics, for waterfowl shooting and for target shooting all share the same basic semi-automatic action. “We cannot fall into the trap of saying that certain guns are good and certain guns are bad,” emphasized Sanetti. The WFSA’s Project on Myths works to counter this and other distortions about firearms and their use. To learn more about the WFSA, visit www.WFSA.net.
This report excerpted from the NSSF Blog.
February 2nd, 2010
 Starting March 1, 2010, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) will offer daily 90-second radio spots about the shooting sports and hunting. The new “Insights” radio featurettes, hosted by John Quaintance, will cover a wide variety of shooting topics, including firearms history, self-defense, competitive marksmanship, and firearms industry news. Each week one or more “Insights” segments will offer helpful hunting and shooting tips. According to Mark Thomas (NSSF Marketing Director), this program “will help NSSF reach a new audience of hunters and shooters, and will inspire potential participants … to try our sports.” For those who can’t get the daily NSSF “Insights” via radio, you can download the audio clips at nssf.org/insights and through iTunes.
 Listen to Sample Programs (MP3 files)
– Sight-in your Rifle in Record Time
– Select the Right Bullet for your Game
– Is it a Kentucky or a Pennsylvania Rifle?
– The Return of the 28 Gauge
NSSF encourages readers to let their local radio stations know about this free daily radio program. Station managers should contact NSSF for a sample program and to learn more about adding the show to their lineup.
January 6th, 2010
 A new California law requiring that all new semi-auto handguns sold in California incorporate microstamping technology was to go into effect on January 1st, 2010. Many readers are concerned that this law will make it illegal to purchase new, self-loading handguns in California. However, because the law mandated technology which, thus far, has NOT been made available to pistol manufacturers, the law is NOT being applied for now. This was the case of misguided legislators passing a gun law requiring technology that didn’t really exist.
The NSSF reports: “Firearms microstamping, signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) in October 2007 and slated to take effect New Year’s Day (2010), is not in effect since the technology remains encumbered by patents.” Microstamping is the process by which firearms manufacturers must micro-laser-engrave a gun’s make, model and serial number on two distinct parts of each gun, including the firing pin, so that, in theory, this data is imprinted on the cartridge casing when the pistol is fired. By its terms, the microstamping law required that the technology be “patent-free” (as determined by the California Department of Justice) before the law could go into effect.
 The one company which has pioneered micro-stamping technology for pistols has NOT released its patents. Hence, by its own terms, California’s micro-stamping law is “dead on arrival”. However, last month the California Department of Justice nonetheless proposed new microstamping regulations, a move that was questioned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the trade association for the firearms industry.
“In the midst of California’s budget crisis and despite the possibility this law may never go into effect — as the technology remains encumbered by patents — one has to question the decision by the California Department of Justice to spend its time and limited resources on drafting regulations for the flawed technology,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane.
Opposition to microstamping has intensified as manufacturers have indicated the new law would force them to raise prices of guns significantly. Estimates of price increases go as high as $200 per firearm, as the unreliable technology would require a complete reconfiguring of the manufacturing and assembly processes.
CLICK HERE for more information on Firearms Microstamping.
December 24th, 2009
From Ivy League to smaller schools, the National Shooting Sports Foundation has provided 16 colleges and universities with early Christmas presents — grants to help more students get involved in the shooting sports. Among the grant recipients are Harvard University, Clemson University, the University of Vermont, and Hillsdale College. “NSSF is making these grants available in response to a growing interest in the shooting sports on campuses across the country,” said Zach Snow, NSSF’s senior shooting promotions coordinator. “Graduates of scholastic shooting programs like the NSSF-developed Scholastic Clay Target Program want to continue participating in their favorite sport when they go off to college, and once there, they’re eager to introduce new friends, classmates and faculty to this lifetime activity. At the same time, collegiate shooting programs help create a positive image for the shooting sports and firearms ownership.”
A total of $109,500 in grant money was awarded for new and existing shooting programs at the schools. Harvard University, for example, will use its grant to revive the Harvard Shooting Club, founded in 1883, and which has been dormant since 2003; raise awareness of the shooting sports within Harvard community and general public; and host firearms education events on campus. READ MORE about the 16 schools and their plans for their grant awards. Find more information on NSSF’s College Shooting Sports Initiative at www.nssf.org/college.
November 16th, 2009
Thanksgiving is coming soon. We know many readers will be traveling far from home to be with the family clan during the holiday. If you’ve got some free time after the traditional feast, maybe you’d like to find a shooting range near your destination, where you can have fun with your relatives. Or maybe you’re just looking for a facility close to home that offers specialized instruction programs so you can try a new shooting discipline. You can quickly find exactly what you want at the WhereToShoot.org website.
A service of the NSSF (Nat’l Shooting Sports Foundation), WhereToShoot.org offers a Searchable Database of pistol, rifle, and shotgun ranges around the country. You can search by state, search by area code, or select a particular distance from any zip code. The database is very complete. The individual range pages also include web addresses, phone numbers, and map links. The example below shows the results of a search for rifle-specific ranges in Arizona:
Five-Star Ranges
Your search results may reveal ranges identified with up to five stars. This is a rating system developed by the National Association of Shooting Ranges (NASR) that distinguishes these ranges as the best at providing quality-level recreational experiences.
October 14th, 2009
 For the third straight year, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has provided $100,000 to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Shooting Sports Grant Program. “The future of shooting sports is bright in the Boy Scouts of America,” said Frank Reigelman, who oversees the grant program. “Shooting sports [are] among the most popular camp activities at all levels of the BSA and we are seeing an expansion of year-round programs. Today, many BSA councils offer weekend programs throughout the year. The BSA Shooting Sports Grant provides important funding to improve and expand opportunities to attract new members and retain the interest of our current Scouts.”
We applaud the NSSF in supporting Boy Scout marksmanship training. We need more programs that offer firearms handling and safety instruction to young people. Unfortunately, in some jurisdictions, gun-phobic politicians have sponsored legislation that would make it more difficult for Scout training programs to acquire ammunition or to conduct shooting clinics on public land. Hopefully, with the support of organizations such as the NSSF, we’ll continue to see young Scouts earning their Rifle Shooting Merit badges for many years to come.
CLICK HERE for Boy Scout Rifle Shooting Merit Badge Requirements
October 7th, 2009
The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s educational campaign on modern sporting rifles has created a new video that explains how (and why) AR-platform rifles are suited for hunting, varminting, and other sporting uses. The campaign is designed to reach a wide audience in the hunting and target shooting community, with emphasis placed on educating sportsmen whose preference for traditional-looking firearms can lead them to misunderstand AR-15-platform rifles and to even describe them as “assault weapons”. This can inadvertently lend support to elected officials and organizations who want to ban these rifles.
NSSF President Steve Sanetti writes, “We ask everyone who values their gun ownership rights to correct misunderstandings about the use and operation of these modern sporting rifles. If we let misinformation go unchecked, we only assist those who would ban ownership of these and other types of semi-automatic firearms, like your duck-hunting shotgun. We can’t let that happen.”
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