White House Issues Presidential Message on National Shooting Sports Month
Today, on the first day of National Shooting Sports Month, The White House issued a Presidential message to the nation on the importance and tradition of the shooting sports in America. This annual 31-day celebration, developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) in 2017, reminds people that everyone can enjoy these safe, fun and social activities. It’s also the perfect time for an experienced shooter to mentor a newcomer in a sport that can provide a lifetime of enjoyment at every skill level.
From The White House:
Presidential Message on National Shooting Sports Month, 2019
During National Shooting Sports Month, we celebrate the cherished tradition of recreational and sport shooting activities. Shooting sports bring people together and instill comradery among a significant portion of its fellow enthusiasts. The vibrant shooting sport culture is made possible, in large part, by our steadfast protection of one of our bedrock and most-cherished liberties, the right to keep and bear arms. Continue reading
NSSF Celebrates President Trump Signing ‘Range Bill’
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearms industry trade association, celebrates President Donald Trump’s signing of H.R. 1222, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, at The White House. The President signed the NSSF-priority bill May 10, just two weeks after the bill was passed by Congress.
“We deeply appreciate President Trump’s swift enactment of this legislation that will give state fish and game agencies greater flexibility to build new recreational shooting ranges and expand and improve existing ranges,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “This administration understands the value and investment the firearms and ammunition industry makes to safe recreational shooting and to sustained conservation to benefit wildlife and habitat restoration across the United States. Public shooting ranges provide hunters a place to sight in rifles and pattern shotguns before hunting seasons, for people to take firearm safety and hunter education courses and for recreational target shooters to enjoy their sport.”
The “Range Bill” has been a sustained-effort priority for NSSF and is a crucial step forward in promoting, protecting and preserving hunting and the shooting sports. In the course of more than a decade, versions of the bipartisan legislation were introduced as 29 different numbered bills and 15 separate legislative packages, starting with the 110th Congress. While it had broad support from both Republicans and Democrats in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, previous attempts to pass the legislation were derailed for reasons unrelated to the actual legislation.
The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, also known as the “Range Bill,” allows states to use their Pittman-Robertson Fund allocations to begin construction of new ranges, or improve existing state-run public recreational shooting ranges. Prior to this law’s enactment, states were required to put up 25 percent of the cost of range construction projects to access the matching 75 percent of Pittman-Robertson funds. Now, states can access those funds with a 10 percent match and will have five fiscal years to acquire land for range construction or expansion projects.
Pittman-Robertson funds are derived from an excise tax paid by firearms and ammunition manufacturers. Since 1937, the fund has generated more than $12.5 billion funding wildlife conservation and safety education programs in all 50 states. NSSF estimates more than 80 percent of Pittman-Robertson excise tax contributions are generated by sales attributed to recreational shooting. This means today’s recreational target shooter is an overwhelming contributor to conservation through excise tax support.
A recurring concern of recreational shooters, and those considering entering the sport, is proximity and access to a safe range. This new law would make it easier for states to enable recreational target shooters to enter the sport, which in turn would generate continued contributions to Pittman-Robertson funds and the conservation programs which it supports.
NSSF is especially grateful to U.S. Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), as well as U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Boozman, (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). All are original co-sponsors on both the House and Senate versions of the legislation.
Brownells Becomes Title Sponsor for The 2019 Tactical Games
Today Brownells announced its 2019 title sponsorship of The Tactical Games, a series of exciting “battles” designed to test America’s best warrior-athletes in a combination of two-gun shooting and military-style training, with elements of both Strongman and CrossFit competitions mixed in.
The first two installments of The Tactical Games 2019 schedule are set for February 23 and 24 at the Merdian Public Safety Training Facility in Meridian, Mississippi, and Reveille Peak Ranch in Burnet, Texas, on March 16 and 17. More 2019 dates will be announced soon.
Former U.S. Army Green Beret Tim Burke co-founded The Tactical Games, bringing to bear his more than 21 years of experience in U.S. Special Operations as well as his career as the head of a law enforcement counter-terrorism unit.
“The Tactical Games provide an immediate, no-nonsense metric that either validates or challenges your training methods and conclusions. It is the only sporting event of its type available for open enrollment,” said Burke. “If you work with or carry a gun for any reason, why wouldn’t you compete at The Tactical Games?”
Among athletes scheduled to compete this year are John “Tig” Tiegen who helped defend the American Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and Tes Salb, well-known NRA editor, pistol instructor and pentathlete.
Both men and women are welcome to compete in The Tactical Games. Mens’ classes are broken down into Elite, Intermediate (based on PT scores) and Master (45 years of age and older). Currently, all women, regardless of age or PT score, compete in the women’s division.
Participants do not need to have a military or law enforcement background to enter, but should be in good physical condition and have a reasonable familiarity with firearms. To learn more or to sign up, visit www.thetacticalgames.com.
Mantis wins Best Accessory of 2018
Mantis Tech is humbled to receive the coveted 2018 Caliber Award for Best Accessory at the prestigious NASGW Awards Dinner. Read the GunLink review of the Mantis X system here.
The award is determined by an expert panel of 18 members of NASGW and POMA.
“Two minutes before receiving the award, 90% percent of the members of NASGW had no idea who Mantis is,” says President Austin Allgaier. “And 90% of them still probably have an incomplete picture of what we do. Kudos to the NASGW-POMA panel for recognizing small upstarts making significant waves of innovation in the industry.”
Mantis manufactures the MantisX: a small, powerful precision sensing device that tracks the minutest of movements, collecting thousands of datapoints per second. Once rail-mounted, it analyzes shooter movements, and sends the data over Bluetooth to the MantisX app for smartphones and tablets.
“With the pending public launch of 4 new products at SHOT Show 2019, our pace of innovation is only accelerating. Combining powerful electronics with complex software and big data, we’re making tremendous breakthroughs in changing how we all shoot,” says Allgaier.
USA Shooting Aiming for 2020 Vision with Fundraising Stop in Tar Heel State
The stage is ready and the targets have been set as countdown has begun in anticipation of the National Sporting Clays Cup fundraiser next Thursday in the Tar Heel State.
More than 35 sponsors, donors and industry partners have stepped forward in a big way to help America’s Shooting Team during USA Shooting’s Fundraiser on August 30 at Fork Farm and Childress Vineyards. It will be a fitting end to National Shooting Sports Month and a true showcase of the strength and support that can be realized when the shooting industry bands together for an important cause.
USA Shooting’s direct marketing provider, Resource One, an Oklahoma-based organization specializing in non-profit direct marketing, became the first major event sponsor followed shortly by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
The National Rifle Association also has chosen to back this event along with major shooting industry stakeholders including USA Shooting sponsors Federal Premium, Kimber, SKB Cases, Baron Engraving and Brazen Sports as well as Glock, Sig Sauer, Remington, Henry, Mossy Oak, Nomad, ORCA Coolers, Skull Hooker, Outdoor Edge and Davidsons.
In addition to the generous support provided by the Fork Farm and Childress Vineyards, other North Carolina-based companies are helping drive USA Shooting’s fundraising success at this event. Those companies include: Big Rock Sports, Matthews Mobile Media, Carolina Limousine, Lucky Clays Farm, Hog Heaven Outfitters and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
Helping drive further support for America’s Shooting Team athletes that depend heavily on private donation will be an exciting list of auction and raffle items that includes guns, gun cases, ammunition, targets, knives, coolers, hunting clothing, and a variety of different hunting and fishing packages. Outfitters supporting USA Shooting for this event include: David Denies, Global Sporting Safaris, Hog Heaven, 777, Cheyenne Ridge Lodge, Caryonah Hunting Lodge, Outta Line Charters and Decoy Sport Fishing.
As one of 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.
Athletes participating in the National Sporting Clays Cup fundraiser that includes a Sporting Clays shoot at Fork Farm followed by a VIP dinner/auction at Childress Vineyards that evening will include 2016 Paralympic pistol representative Marco De La Rosa (Chicago, Illinois) reigning World Champion in Women’s Skeet Dania Vizzi (Odessa, Florida), two-time Junior Olympic Champion in Women’s Trap Emily Hampson, and former Junior National Champion in Men’s Double Trap Hank Garvey (Newburyport, Massachusetts).
Two days following the USA Shooting fundraiser the competition for 84 USA Shooting Team athletes begins at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship in Changwon, South Korea. The 52nd ISSF World Championship is the largest gathering of international-style shooting competitors vying for world glory, as well as the 60 Olympic quotas up for grabs during the two-week-long Championship.
“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,” said Richard Childress, first vice president of the National Rifle Association. “Good luck Team America!”
It is not too late to get involved in helping support America’s Shooting Team in 2018, another fundraiser is scheduled for October 12-13 at the Oak Tree Gun Club in Newhall, California and USA Shooting is looking for organizations and individuals to participate in this event. Get involved and come shoot this multi-shoot fundraising event alongside six-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode, two-time Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock, world-record trap shooter Jake Wallace and three-time pistol Olympian Keith Sanderson.
Win a FREE Ruger 10/22 Shooting Package from Gunz and GunLink
#LetsGoShooting this National Shooting Sports Month… with a Free Rifle Package
August is National Shooting Sports Month – 31 beautiful summer days to celebrate a time-honored pastime and a part of our American heritage.
This month is the perfect time to get out to the range and do some plinking, participate in a shooting course or competition, or – with fall just around the corner – get your hunting rifle zeroed in. It is also the perfect opportunity to take someone who is new to the world of firearms and shooting out and introduce them to firearms safety and other basics.
Whether you are a long-time shooter or just wanting to start dabbling in firearms, GunLink has teamed up with Gunz Incorporated to give away a fantastic shooting package that is equally well suited for popping cans at the range, qualifying at an Appleseed event, or taking down small game this hunting season.
Included in this great shooting package is America’s favorite .22LR rifle, the Ruger 10/22 semi-auto carbine with 2-position cross-bolt safety, Satin Black finish, 1:16 twist 18.5″ barrel featuring gold bead front sight and folding rear sight, and Hardwood Stock. It also comes with Ruger’s famously reliable 10-round rotary magazine, a Weaver 3-9×40 Scope, a Taylor Targets Spinner Target, and Ruger Branded Hard Case.
With more than a dozen ways to enter, this is the perfect way to get involved in this month-long celebration of shooting activities. Get started with the widget below and don’t miss out on the opportunity to score TEN entries just for posting the phrase “#LetsGoShooting with a FREE Rifle” in the giveaway thread on the GunLink Forums!
Be sure to check out our partner and giveaway sponsor, Gunz, Inc., on Facebook. While you’re there, don’t forget to follow GunLink if you aren’t already.
Ruger 10/22 Package Giveaway Presented by Gunz and GunLink
