August is National Shooting Sports Month
24 million Americans are interested in trying target shooting, says NSSF.
August is National Shooting Sports Month, a time to celebrate one of America’s great pastimes — target shooting — a safe, fun activity enjoyed by millions of people across the country, with millions more wanting to take their first shots.
Research by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) shows that 24 million Americans are very interested in learning about the shooting sports, making National Shooting Sports Month the perfect time for someone to give target shooting a try. There are dozens of sports from which to choose, from hitting steel targets with handguns and rifles to breaking clay targets in the shotgun sports of trap, skeet and sporting clays.
“The shooting sports truly offer something for everyone,” said Steve Sanetti, NSSF President and CEO. “A day at the range gives people an opportunity to tune out distractions, learn a new skill, socialize and share their experiences.”
LetsGoShooting.org, a new website developed by NSSF, is the place to find information about National Shooting Sports Month and the many target shooting sports available. At LetsGoShooting.org, you can also find a shooting range or firearms retailer near you, learn about shooting and sales events, print targets, watch instructional videos and learn how to safely handle and store firearms.
And don’t forget the Trigger Time Sweepstakes, which is a big part of National Shooting Sports Month. You’ll be able to enter the sweepstakes at LetsGoShooting.org for a chance to win great prizes totaling more than $35,000 in weekly drawings.
NSSF, the trade association for the firearms industry, launched National Shooting Sports Month last year to great success. During that time, recent shooting sports trends, such as more women taking up target shooting and more first-time participants, were obvious at ranges and firearms retailers across the country.
“One of the many people interested in trying target shooting may well be in your family — a daughter, son or spouse — or a friend just waiting for you to ask them to spend a day at the range,” said NSSF’s Zach Snow, Director of Shooting Range Services. “Extend that invitation — you’ll be glad you did.”
Don’t have a mentor? No problem. Shooting ranges work with newcomers all the time and can help you get started with safe, supervised instruction.
Snow encourages the use of the hashtag #LetsGoShooting on social media. “Tell us about your experience on our Facebook page, share your Instagram and Twitter posts,” he said. “It’s going to be fun month, and we want to know how everyone is celebrating.”
Spend a day at the range. Learn more about National Shooting Sports Month and target shooting at LetsGoShooting.org.
Study Finds Fewer People Willing to Answer Questions about Gun Ownership
“Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22
A common thought (maybe even a rational one) is that gun owners hesitate to share their status as gun owners in surveys. It makes perfect sense, particularly in times of heightened concerns that anti-gun politicians are plotting to restrict our 2nd Amendment rights and the routine vilification of law-abiding gun owners by politicians, celebrities, and the media. A recent study confirmed that more people are refusing to answer questions about firearms ownership.
Iowa State University political scientist Robert Urbatsch analyzed data from the General Social Survey (GSS) and found that the number of people refusing to answer a question about gun ownership roughly tripled since the year 2000. The increase appears steady from the year 2000 through 2016 and Urbatsch found the increased non-response rate concentrated among Republicans (though the rates among Democrats and Independents also increased). Coincidentally, Pew recently confirmed that gun ownership is far more common among Republicans – meaning, the people driving the increase in the GSS question refusals are also those most likely to own a gun. Go figure.
Urbatsch discusses how this increase could be driven by increased polarization, by political elites’ and partisan commentators’ fear-mongering, or by distrust of government and an institutionalized belief in individual autonomy. For some reason, more people are hesitating to share their gun-owning status with a stranger on the phone conducting a survey for the government.
This isn’t new. Take a look at the Gallup trend below; notice the sharp increase after 1993…right around the time Congress was working on a major gun control effort (the 1994 assault weapons ban). In December 1993, less than 0.5% of respondents refused to answer that question. In July 1996 (the next time the question was asked), 2% of respondents refused. The number acknowledging they had a gun in their household dropped from 49% to 38% in the same time period. The percent refusing first hit 4% in October 2009, then hit 4% again in October 2013 and October 2014 – when anti-gun politicians controlled both the White House and the Senate. The number of refusals dropped from 2016 to 2017. A simple trend line does not indicate causation…but one major difference between 2016 and 2017 was the political outlook. In 2016, there was a concern that a historically anti-gun politician could win the Presidency; by October 2017, President Trump had secured the White House. Continue reading
National Rifle Association Set to Support America’s Shooting Team at National Sporting Clays Cup Fundraisers
Add the National Rifle Association (NRA) to the list of shooting industry organizations stepping up in a big way to help America’s Shooting Team during USA Shooting’s National Sporting Clays Cup Fundraiser on August 30 at Fork Farm and Childress Vineyards in North Carolina.
With Tokyo in Sight, USA Shooting’s National Sporting Clays Cup fundraiser will entice shooting sport enthusiasts to North Carolina on August 30 in support of the USA Shooting Team as they head toward the 2018 World Championships and the upcoming 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. As the only non-government supported shooting team in the world, USA Shooting relies heavily on donors and sponsors to help maintain a history of success that includes 110 Olympic medals.
“USA Shooting’s 2020 vision can only be realized by the involvement, generosity and backing of the shooting industry and with two years to go before the next Olympic and Paralympic Games, key partners and supporters are stepping up to assist America’s shooting team athletes,” said Keith Enlow, CEO of USA Shooting. “We appreciate the NRA and their willingness to help make this summer’s fundraiser be the bullseye we need to sharpen our aim in 2020.”
“On behalf of the millions of NRA members and the tens of millions of shooting sports enthusiasts across our great country, it is my true honor to help America’s finest in their quest for excellence,” said Richard Childress, first vice president of the National Rifle Association. “These athletes and those who support them are the highest profile ambassadors we have for the shooting sports and we are all honored to stand behind them. Good luck Team America!”
The National Rifle Association of America was founded in 1871 by Colonel William Church and Captain George Wingate of the New York National Guard. The U.S. Revolver Association, founded in 1900, selected, trained, and financed Olympic pistol teams through the 1936 Games. Subsequently, the NRA assumed leadership and developmental responsibilities for pistol, rifle and, beginning in 1960, shotgun shooting. In 1994, USA Shooting became the U.S. National Governing Body for Olympic competition.
While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America’s foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the NRA has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. USA Shooting’s tradition of excellence was established and strengthened by NRA’s seven-decade involvement with Olympic shooting. The two organizations are now working collaboratively on programs to benefit youth development and coaching education as well as showcasing the passion to shoot inherent in the sport.
The NRA Foundation provided a $30,000 grant in 2017 to USA Shooting to that is going toward much-needed upgrades to USA Shooting’s International Shooting Park. The grant is already helping enhance training and competitive opportunities for America’s shooting team. Earlier this year, USA Shooting’s Paralympic Team travel to the World Championships was made possible due to a generous grant from The NRA Foundation of $30,600.
Join USA Shooting, the NRA and many other top shooting sport industry executives in celebration of America’s athletes and National Shooting Sports Month. It’s the can’t miss fundraiser of the summer featuring a fun Sporting Clays shoot and VIP dinner at the exclusive Childress Vineyards.
Thompson/Center Arms Launches Rebate on New T/CR22 Rifle
Save Big on Thompson/Center’s T/CR22 Rifle from August 1 to December 31, 2018
Thompson/Center Arms today announced the launch of its “Rimfire Redefined” rebate program, offering a $50 Smith & Wesson® prepaid MasterCard* with the purchase of a new Thompson/Center T/CR22 semi-automatic rimfire rifle. The “Rimfire Redefined” rebate program is valid on qualifying Thompson/Center T/CR22 rifles purchased from August 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.
The new T/CR22 rifle integrates a variety of high-end features into an innovative rimfire package that has been expertly crafted for hunters, plinkers, and first-time shooters alike. Chambered in .22LR, the new T/CR22 rifle ships with one 10-round detachable rotary magazine, includes Thompson/Center’s limited lifetime warranty, and is priced at an MSRP of $399.
To participate in the “Rimfire Redefined” electronic rebate program, customers must complete and submit the online rebate form at www.smithandwessonrebates.com. All submissions must include proof of purchase and be submitted on or before January 31, 2019.
For complete terms and conditions of the T/CR22 rebate, please visit tcarms.com/rebates or contact customer service at (844) 628-7926.
Kavanaugh Pick as Supreme Court Justice Receives Universal Support from Gun Groups
Trump’s Second SCOTUS Nominee Garners Wide Support from RKBA Organizations: NRA, SAF, GOA, NSSF
Just over a year after Justice Neil Gorsuch was confirmed to fill the late Antonin Scalia’s seat on the United States Supreme Court, President Trump has tapped the second SCOTUS nominee of his first term.
President Trump’s has nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to succeed Anthony Kennedy, who has sat on the court since being nominated by Ronald Reagan and confirmed in 1988. Since his July 9th nomination, Kavanaugh has received universal support from major gun rights organizations, including the National Rifle Association (NRA), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), Gun Owners of America (GOA), and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
In their statement, the NRA said that “President Trump has made another outstanding choice in nominating Brett Kavanaugh for the U.S. Supreme Court. He has an impressive record that demonstrates his strong support for the Second Amendment.” The statement also referenced Kavanaugh’s strong dissenting opinion in opposition to Washington, D.C.’s ban on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and their registration requirement which, consistent with Justice Scalia’s opinion in Heller. NRA’s Chris Cox continued, “Judge Kavanaugh has demonstrated his clear belief that the Constitution should be applied as the Framers intended.”
In a separate statement, NRA said that “Judge Brett Kavanaugh has earned NRA members’ support.” In this statement, the gun-rights organization goes into additional details on the nominee’s Second Amendment history.
SAF likewise applauded Kavanaugh’s nomination for the SCOTUS seat, saying “We’re encouraged by this nomination because by adding Judge Kavanaugh, we might see the high court become more willing to accept and rule on important Second Amendment issues, such as right-to-carry.” Second Amendment Founder and Executive VP, Alan Gottlieb, noted that “the Supreme Court has twice affirmed in the last ten years that the Second Amendment protects a fundamental, individual right to keep a firearm for home defense, but the court has yet to even begin defining the right to bear arms outside of the home or business, in public.” Gottlieb says that he hopes that Kavanaugh’s nomination would be “quickly affirmed by the Senate.”
On the topic of Senate confirmation, one potential hold-out that may have stymied Kavanaugh’s progress to Kennedy’s vacant SCOTUS seat, Rand Paul, yesterday got on board with the President’s nomination, saying that “his strong defenses of the First and Second Amendments in landmark cases show someone who isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo and will fight with backbone.” Paul concluded, “Judge Kavanaugh will have my support and my vote to confirm him to the Supreme Court.” Continue reading
SIG SAUER Introduces New 223 Rem and 308 Win SIG FMJ Rifle Ammunition
SIG SAUER continues to grow its Elite Performance line of rifle ammunition with the addition of 223 Rem and 308 Win full metal jacket (FMJ) rounds for training. SIG FMJ practice ammunition is ideal for those seeking cost-efficient, high-quality rounds for target practice. The 55gr 223 Rem load has muzzle velocity of 3,240 fps with muzzle energy of 1,282 ft-lbs, and the 150gr 308 Win has a muzzle velocity of 2,900 fps with muzzle energy of 2,802 ft-lbs.
“We have been inundated with requests for ball ammunition in these popular rifle calibers,” said Brad Criner, Senior Director, Brand Management and Business Development, SIG SAUER Ammunition. “This new SIG FMJ rifle ammunition fills a need for those who want to practice their shooting without paying match-grade prices for competition-level performance.”
All SIG SAUER Elite Performance Ammunition is manufactured by SIG SAUER at its new ammunition manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Arkansas to the same exacting standards as the company’s premium pistols and rifles. For more information, visit sigsauer.com/ammunition
