Taurus USA Contributes $100,000 to NSSF’s 2020 #GUNVOTE Voter Education Campaign
NSSF, the trade association for the firearm industry, is pleased to announce that Taurus USA, one of the nation’s leading firearm manufacturers, has contributed $100,000 to NSSF’s #GUNVOTE voter registration, education and mobilization campaign.
“In order to make sure Americans’ Second Amendment rights continue to exist, we need every gun owner, old and new, to cast their ballot in November for candidates who will uphold the Constitution and protect the individual right to keep and bear arms.” said Taurus USA CEO Bret Vorhees. “NSSF’s #GUNVOTE campaign is a critical resource to educate and activate millions of Second Amendment supporters across the country. At Taurus USA, we’re proud to make this contribution to help achieve these shared goals in November.”
“The firearm and ammunition industry is fortunate to have a leader like Bret Vorhees, whose dedication to protecting the Second Amendment and ensuring the growth and success of our industry is unquestioned,” stated Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “With their generous contribution to NSSF’s #GUNVOTE campaign, Taurus USA is going above and beyond to assist NSSF in registering, educating and activating voters ahead of November’s election. Taurus USA’s substantial contribution is vital now more than ever and is to be commended.” Continue reading
NSSF Releases 2020 Congressional Report Card
NSSF, the trade association for the firearm industry, released its 2020 Congressional Report Card, grading all 431 U.S. Representatives and 100 U.S. Senators on key legislation that was of critical importance to the firearm and ammunition industry, Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and America’s hunters and target shooters. Four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives remain vacant.
“This scorecard is of vital importance to voters as we head into November elections. This tells voters exactly where their lawmakers stand on issues they care about like recreational shooting and hunting and the right to keep and bear arms,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “The unparalleled firearm sales this year reflect the importance of ensuring lawmakers continue to protect and support the industry that makes it possible for Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights. This nonpartisan scorecard reflects the voting record of each legislator. These grades indicate their public voting record as well as the weight and importance of these lawmakers sponsoring and co-sponsoring key legislation, their work on committees, letters signed to support issues and leadership to stand for our industry.” Continue reading
Firearm Industry Commends U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s Commitment to True Gun Safety
NSSF, the trade association for the firearm industry, joined U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R – S.C.) at Palmetto State Armory, in Greenville, S.C., to commend him for his commitment to Real Solutions for Safer Communities. NSSF revealed Senator Graham is receiving an A+ rating, the highest possible score, in the trade association’s congressional scorecard. Senator Graham earned the score for his leadership on firearm safety initiatives, true gun safety legislation and programs that prevent firearms from being possessed by prohibited individuals while respecting the rights of law-abiding citizens.
“The firearm industry is proud to award Senator Graham our highest rating,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel, who joined Senator Graham at the Palmetto State Armory event. “His commitment to firearm safety and protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens is long-standing. Senator Graham has been a champion for the industry’s ‘Real Solutions. Safer Communities’ campaign, which is focused on ensuring those who should never possess a firearm are not able to get hold of one. Senator Graham continues to push for legislation to protect federally-licensed firearm retailers and hold criminals accountable for thefts and robberies that put our communities in danger. At the same time, he’s a vocal proponent of NSSF’s Project Childsafe, a proven safety program to safely store firearms in the home and keep guns from those who should never have them.” Continue reading
NSSF Statement on New York Attorney General’s Intent to Dissolve the National Rifle Association
NSSF, the trade association for the firearm industry, is troubled by the politically-driven decision of New York Attorney General Letitia James to seek to dissolve the National Rifle Association, America’s oldest civil rights organization. The lawsuit filed today by Attorney General James seeks to punish the over five million members of the National Rifle Association based on mere allegations of possible wrongdoing by a few individuals.
NSSF is deeply concerned about the apparent political agenda to silence the strongest voice in support of the Second Amendment ahead of the election in November.
This lawsuit, and one filed today by the District of Columbia Attorney General, should concern all Americans who cherish both the First and Second Amendments to our Constitution regardless of their views on what laws and regulations are appropriate to address the criminal misuse of firearms.
NSSF Likely Voter Survey Shows Firearm Free Choice a Key Election Issue
NSSF
, the trade association for the firearm industry, surveyed likely voters in 18 election battleground states and learned that enforcing existing gun laws and protecting lawful firearms sales is on the forefront of voters’ minds. The survey results can be found here, at NSSF’s website.
NSSF learned that 94 percent surveyed are very likely to vote. Nearly three quarters responded they would be more likely to support a political candidate that supported true firearm safety programs. Nearly 60 percent believe a ban on semiautomatic Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) would not reduce crime in their community and more than half said law-abiding citizens should be able to choose the type of firearm and amount of legal ammunition for lawful use. More than half also oppose a ban on MSRs.
More than half believe self-defense is the primary motivation for firearm ownership. Nearly half surveyed said magazine capacity limits for self-defense would have no effect on crime reduction. Forty-one percent said enforcing existing laws would have an immediate impact on reducing criminal misuse of firearms. Continue reading
Gun Control Takes Center Stage in 2020 Democratic Presidential Race
U.S. Senator Cory Booker on Monday released a sweeping plan to curb gun violence by creating a national licensing program and repealing a law that gives gun manufacturers legal immunity, becoming the latest Democrat in the 2020 presidential race to make gun control measures a feature of their campaign.
In the past, Democrats have feared that supporting gun restrictions could cost them the backing of working-class, swing voters – the group widely credited with tipping the 2016 presidential contest to Republican Donald Trump.
After dozens of mass shootings in recent years, however, including at schools like the February 2018 massacre in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead, curbing gun violence has become a component of the Democratic policy platform embraced by congressional and presidential candidates.
“In my community, kids fear fireworks on the Fourth of July because they sound like gunshots,” Booker said of his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, in a news release. “In communities across the country, from Newark to Charlotte, from San Diego to Chicago, and everywhere in between, Americans are being killed and families are being torn apart. We must do better. We need to do better.”
Booker’s plan would also ban assault weapons; allow the Consumer Product Safety Commission to regulate gun manufacturers; require microstamping technology be incorporated into new models of semi-automatic handguns; calls for universal background checks for gun sales; and close the “boyfriend loophole” that allows dating partners to purchase firearms after being convicted of abuse or under a restraining order. Current and former spouses convicted of abuse or under a restraining order are prohibited from purchasing a firearm.
Most but not all components of Booker’s plan would require approval of the U.S. Congress. Democrats currently control the House of Representatives and Republicans the Senate, where gun safety legislation would likely meet intense pushback. Continue reading
