NSSF PAC Achieves Unprecedented Support in 2019
More than $250,000 in contributions, 77 pro-industry legislators supported
The National Shooting Sports Foundation Political Action Committee, NSSF PAC, released its 2019 Year in Review report to members and industry partners announcing over $250,000 in contributions received during the last year. The contribution total represents unprecedented support for the NSSF PAC during an off-election year and places the committee in a strong position to support pro-firearm and ammunition industry legislators during the 2020 election year.
“NSSF had a tremendously successful 2019 and accomplished our mission to place member companies in the best position to be successful moving forward,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF PAC Treasurer and Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Public Affairs. “With the financial resources the NSSF PAC received from our friends in the firearm, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry last year, we look forward to working to elect even more pro-industry, pro-sportsmen and pro-Second Amendment allies to join us in Washington, D.C. after November’s elections.”
Highlights included in detail in the 2019 NSSF PAC Year in Review: Continue reading
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seeks Comments on Firearm Possession Revision
Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) published an announcement to seek public comment on a proposed revision to an existing regulation governing the possession and transportation of firearms and other sporting equipment at USACE managed projects and locations.
Currently, sportsmen and women are prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment on USACE managed lands and waters unless the equipment is unloaded during transportation to hunting and fishing sites, in possession at authorized shooting ranges, or written permission has been received from a USACE District Commander. As such, sportsmen and women may not possess such equipment for personal protection while participating in outdoor recreation activities unless they have received written permission.
This proposed revision will eliminate the requirement to obtain written permission to carry a firearm and other equipment on USACE projects, which will strengthen the ability of sportsmen and women to safely participate in hunting and fishing on federal lands and waters. Furthermore, the proposal will also align USACE’s regulations to be more consistent with other federal land management agencies as well as state and local regulations regarding the possession for firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment.
Vortex Optics Awarded OTA for the US Army’S Competitively Solicited Next Generation Squad Weapon Fire Control (NGSW-FC) Prototype Program
For the last 18 years, innovation has meant everything to Vortex Optics. It’s meant our emergence as a leader in the sport optics industry. It’s allowed us to provide our customers the tools they need to pursue and protect what matters most in their lives.
But starting today, our dedication to innovation means something even more.
We’re honored to announce that the US Army – PM Soldier Lethality awarded Vortex an agreement to deliver the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Fire Control (NGSW-FC) Production Ready Prototypes for Soldier TouchPoint (STP) evaluations.
As a direct-view optic, the 1-8×30 Active Reticle Fire Control provides everything you’d expect from a variable-power, first focal plane riflescope. When augmented with an overlaid digital display, however, it provides features unheard of in a traditional small arms fire control.
“As a veteran-owned, non-traditional defense contractor, it’s very important to us that we listen to warfighters,” said Sam Hamilton, Chief Technical Officer at Vortex Optics. “When we learned of the soldier’s need for increased lethality out of their squad weapons—combined with the Small Arms Ammunition Configuration (SAAC) study, which proved that advancements in electro-optical fire control had the greatest potential to increase soldier’s lethality—we knew there was an important capability gap we could fill.” Continue reading
NRA, SAF, FPC, et al. File Lawsuit Against Anti-Gun New Mexico Governor
Suit is Among Many filed in Fight Against Gun Store Closures During COVID-19 Pandemic
The National Rifle Association (NRA) and other pro-Second Amendment organizations filed a lawsuit in New Mexico today challenging anti-gun Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s use of emergency powers and her COVID-19 statewide order to shut down firearm retailers and ranges.
“Politicians imperil our families by declaring our fundamental right of self defense ‘non-essential’ while they free criminals,” said Jason Ouimet, executive director, National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. “As always, the NRA and its membership will continue to fight every hypocrite who enjoys armed security while denying American families their essential access to firearms.”
The NRA filed the suit in U.S. Distict Court with the Second Amendment Foundation, the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Mountain States Legal Foundation, and the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association.
Grisham has exploited this crisis to continue her attack on the rights of law-abiding citizens. Other Democratic colleagues of hers, in states such as Colorado, have deemed gun stores and ranges “essential” and protected residents’ right to purchase and own guns.
A copy of the lawsuit can be found here.
NSSF: Firearm Industry Economic Impact Rises 213% Since 2008
The total economic impact of the firearm and ammunition industry in the United States increased from $19.1 billion in 2008 to $60 billion in 2019, a 213-percent increase, while the total number of full-time-equivalent jobs rose from approximately 166,000 to over 332,000, a 100-percent increase in that period, according to a report released by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearm industry trade association.
On a year-over-year basis, the industry’s economic impact rose from $52 in 2018 to $60 billion. Total jobs increased by 20,000 in the same period, from nearly 312,000 to over 332,000. The broader impact of the industry flows throughout the economy and supports and generates business for firms seemingly unrelated to firearms at a time when every job in America counts. These are real people, with real jobs, working in industries as varied as banking, retail, accounting, metalworking and printing, among others.
The firearm and ammunition industry paid over $6.74 billion in business taxes, including property, income and sales-based levies.
“Our industry continues to show the steady and reliable growth that is a hallmark of a healthy industry,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “The workers who comprise our ranks are the fabric of our communities. They produce the highest quality firearms and ammunition that millions of law-abiding Americans rely upon to exercise their fundamental right to keep and bear arms and safely enjoy the recreational shooting sports. This growth translates to more jobs that add to our local economies, averaging $55,200 in wages and benefits. In addition, since 2008 we increased federal tax payments by 162 percent, Pittman-Robertson excise taxes that support wildlife conservation by 79 percent and state business taxes by 116 percent.”
The Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report provides a state-by-state breakdown of job numbers, wages and output covering direct, supplier and induced employment, as well as federal excise taxes paid. Access the full report here.
Mossberg MC1sc Pistol Wins 2020 NRA Golden Bullseye Award
Mossberg is pleased to announce that their MC1sc (subcompact) 9mm pistol was recognized with the NRA Publications Golden Bullseye Award for the 2020 Shooting Illustrated Handgun of the Year. All 2020 award winners will be recognized in the May 2020 issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter and Shooting Illustrated magazines.
Golden Bullseye Award winners are selected by a committee of editors, graphic designers and veteran members of the NRA publications staff. To qualify for consideration, a product must have been recently introduced and available to consumers; used or tested by a staff member or regular contributor to the magazine; reliable, innovative and meeting or exceeding the evaluator’s expectation. Completing the criteria for award selection are the perceived value of the product to the purchaser and that the product is styled in a manner befitting the shooting and hunting industry, and its enthusiasts.
Mossberg stunned the industry with the introduction of the MC1sc pistol, the company’s first handgun in nearly a century. This full-featured 9mm concealed carry handgun was the result of three years of research and development, combining the highly-desired features of a subcompact with Mossberg’s innovative approach to design. Key features include size, weight, caliber and carryability. And the MC1sc delivers on all; with its overall length of 6.25 inches, weight of 19 ounces (with an empty magazine) and a barrel length of 3.4 inches in the widely-popular 9mm chambering. Mossberg delivered innovation with the patented STS (Safe Takedown System); Clear-Count magazines; and patent-pending, aggressive-signature grip texturing. Not-to-be overlooked, standard features of the MC1sc include a durable frame constructed of glass-reinforced polymer; stainless steel slide with DLC-coating; white 3-dot sights; and flat-profile trigger.
“Mossberg opened its doors in 1919 with the introduction of its first firearm, the Brownie, a 22-caliber pocket pistol,” commented John MacLellan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Now 101 years later, it’s a tremendous honor for our MC1sc pistol to be recognized with a 2020 Golden Bullseye Award in celebration of our commitment to engineering expertise and manufacturing excellence. On behalf of Mossberg, I would like to thank the NRA’s Shooting Illustrated publication staff for this highly-coveted award.”
