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National Shooting Sports Foundation Government Relations

Government Relations
 

 FREEDOM GROUP ACQUIRES PARA USA . . . Freedom Group Inc. announcedtoday that it has finalized an asset purchase agreement to acquire certain assets of handgun manufacturer Para USA. In a press release, Freedom Group Chief Sales and Marketing Officer E. Scott Blackwell said, "Para USA is a leader in handgun technology and their fine products exemplify quality, innovation and performance. Para is a perfect complement to our industry-leading family of brands, and our success in 2011 with the Remington R1 - 1911. We look forward to deploying both human and financial resources to continue to develop and supply current and future handguns for consumers and our channel partners. We also wish to thank all its employees for their continued dedication that has made Para a success." Para will continue day-to-day operations at their Pineville, N.C.-based facility.

THREE ANTI-GUN BILLS PENDING IN ILLINOIS HOUSE . . .Three anti-gun bills last week passed out of the Illinois House Rules Committee. These bills will now move to the full house where they can be voted on as early as this week. Please read NSSF's legislative alertand contact your state representative today.

HOUSE PASSES DIGITAL DUCK STAMP BILL . . . The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3117, the Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2011, which would grant the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize states to issue electronic duck stamps. If passed by the Senate and signed by the president, the new law would effectively make it easier for hunters to obtain a duck stamp and, in so doing, help fund conservation efforts.

Sales to Military ....Are you confused about the requirements in transferring a firearm to a member of the U.S. Military? A new video uploaded to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' YouTube website offers instruction that focuses on necessary documentation establishing residency requirements for military personnel under permanent or temporary change of duty stations.
View this video.
 

FOX Bans Firearms and Ammunition Ads
URGE NETWORK TO RESCIND POLICY . . . NSSF has learned that FOX Sports Media Group has banned advertisements featuring firearms and ammunition from its coverage of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events. Though the UFC has yet to make an official announcement, NSSF has confirmed that "absolutely no firearms, ammo, hunting or knife companies will be permitted as sponsors in any Zuffa-promoted events." Learn more and contact FOX today to urge the network to rescind this anti-gun corporate policy.

ONE-GUN-A-MONTH LAW REPEALED IN VIRGINIA . . . Legislation (HB940, SB323) overturning Virginia's one-gun-a-month law is now on its way to the governor's desk after passing the Virginia Senate today (21-19). Gov. Bob McDonnell has said he will sign the repeal into law. "We are pleased that the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have recognized the importance of repealing one gun a month, legislation that rationed the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Virginians," said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. "We look forward to Gov. McDonnell's signature on this very important bill."

LEGISLATION TO PROTECT HUNTING RIGHTS ON FEDERAL LANDS . . . Legislation (S. 2066) that would protect the right to hunt, shoot and fish on federal lands was introduced last week in the U.S. Senate. The bill is the Senate companion to H.R. 2834, which was introduced in the House in September. The Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act protects the public right to engage in recreational hunting, fishing and shooting on federal lands. It mandates that Bureau of Land Management- and U.S. Forest Service-managed lands be open to recreational hunting, fishing and shooting unless specifically closed by the agencies.

JANUARY NSSF-ADJUSTED NICS BACKGROUND CHECKS UP 17.3% . . . The January 2012 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 920,840 is an increase of 17.3 percent over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 784,856 in January 2011. For comparison, the unadjusted January 2012 NICS figure of 1,368,816 reflects a 4.3 percent increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,312,544 in January 2011. This marks the 20th straight month that NSSF-adjusted NICS figures have increased when compared to the same period the previous year. Read more.

USITC FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION DATA FOR NOVEMBER 2011 . . . NSSF reports that overall U.S. imports (in units) in six sporting arms and ammunition categories increased 22.8 percent in November 2011 compared to November 2010. November 2011 imported units in tracked categories totaled 132.7 million, up from 108.1 million reported in November 2010. All figures sourced from U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).  See a complete breakdownof each category's November import data.
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NEW STUDY ON DEFENSIVE FIREARM USE . . . Based on gathered news reports, a new study released by Cato Institute reveals how Americans defend themselves with firearms and prevent much criminal mayhem by doing so. Key points from "Tough Targets": the overwhelming number of self-defense cases involve situations where the gun is never fired; media prefer to cover crime stories instead of "crime-prevented" stories; and when a gun owner does shoot or hold at gunpoint a criminal, more than one crime has been prevented since the culprit, if not stopped, would likely have targeted other individuals. A new website will serve as an incident clearinghouse. Listen to a podcast interview with   interview with co-author Clayton Cramer. David Burnett of Students for Concealed Carry is a co-author.
 
News of Note

BRADY GUN-CONTROL ORGANIZATION GETS NEW PRESIDENT . . . The anti-gun Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has elected its new president, Daniel Gross. Gross is the co-founder and executive director of the Center to Prevent Youth Violence.  . Read more
 
HUMANE SOCIETY FOR SHELTER PETS . . . Richard Berman, a longtime opponent of the Humane Society of the United States, an anti-hunting group that erroneously claims to support local animal shelters, has established a counter group that will work to educate Americans about the need to support local pet shelters as well as address the misperception that national animal charities work locally. The Humane Society for Shelter Pets is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to fostering a broad base of support for America's local pet shelters and humane societies. . Read more here

WILDLIFE RESTORATION, HUNTER EDUCATION LAUDED . . . Outdoor communicator Tammy Sapp cited last week not only the accomplishments in the field of wildlife restoration that have been funded by the industry-supported Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration (WSFR) program, now celebrating its roots established 75 years ago, but also the advancement of hunter education programs. WSFR was amended in 1972 to allow funds to be earmarked for hunter safety programs.  Read Sapp's article