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
White House Celebrates National Shooting Sports Month
NSSF, the trade association for the firearm industry, is proud to share the Presidential Message on National Shooting Sports Month 2020, in which President Donald Trump commemorates “…our Constitutional right to bear arms by celebrating America’s cherished past time of recreational and competitive shooting sports.” National Shooting Sports Month was developed by NSSF to celebrate, share and invite newcomers and grow participation in the shooting sports.
The Presidential Message recognizes America’s “rich history of fostering responsible gun ownership.” President Trump notes in his message the shooting sports’ history of community events early in the nation’s growth, bringing communities and families together. Those competitions grew and gave rise to 19th century sharpshooters, including Pawnee Bill and Annie Oakley celebrating shooting skills and a national pioneering character.
The White House message, issued during a time of record-setting firearm sales, encourages Americans to participate in the shooting sports, practice safe firearm storage and handling and seek proper instruction. President Trump reiterated his commitment to preserving and safeguarding America’s Second Amendment rights and individual liberties.
“Since my first day in office, I have made clear that my Administration will always protect and defend the Second Amendment,” President Trump wrote in his message. “We will continue to oppose those individuals and policies that attempt to tread on this essential and cherished liberty.” Continue reading
Millions of New Gun Owners Will Enjoy National Shooting Sports Month in August
America’s millions of first-time firearm owners will find National Shooting Sports Month® in August a great time to pursue training and learn about the dozens of target shooting sports they can enjoy with their newly purchased firearm.
Developed by NSSF®, the firearm industry trade association, National Shooting Sports Month reminds everyone—newcomers as well as experienced gun owners—about the safe, fun, exciting activity of target shooting. It’s a pastime more than 52 million Americans, adults and youth, engage in.
What about the coronavirus? Whether you visit an outdoor or indoor range, target shooting is an activity where social distancing can be followed relatively easily. Also, the shooting sports are well-suited to socializing while heeding your state and local coronavirus safety guidelines.
Here’s 10 great reasons to head to the range during National Shooting Sports Month: Continue reading
SHOT Show 2020 Range Day Highlights
Each year before industry insiders flock to the halls of the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show – better known as SHOT Show – a contingent of firearm folks head out into the desert of southwest Nevada for a pre-show lineup of exhibitors. Live ammunition is forbidden on the SHOT Show floor and any firearms in the exhibit hall must be disabled and are inspected to ensure that they are non-functional.
This policy, however, is not in effect at the annual SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range in Boulder City. Not by a long shot.
At this pre-show demo day, invited members of the media and buyers have the opportunity to meet with manufacturers and vendors among smaller crowds than those at SHOT Show proper. Attendees also have the opportunity to get hands-on live fire trigger time with the latest guns and gear to hit the market and many that are yet to be released. The GunLink team has again been invited to this event and did just that.
We got to see some pretty great firearms and gear at Range Day that seem to indicate that the industry has actually been listening to consumers and developing some new products that fit their needs. And the show has not even begun yet! If this demo day is an indication of what else we will be seeing at SHOT Show 2020, we think this will be a great year for a firearms industry that has shown some signs of slowing down somewhat in the past couple of years.
Read on to see our Range Day highlights and be sure to watch the GunLink Blog and GunLink Forums for more. Continue reading
SAAMI Announces Acceptance of Two New Cartridges
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute Inc., (SAAMI), the organization at the forefront of promoting firearms safety by creating standards that ensure safety, reliability and interchangeability of firearms, ammunition and components, announced the acceptance of a new shotshell cartridge and a new centerfire rifle cartridge for SAAMI standardization.
Developed by Federal Ammunition, the 12-Gauge 1¾-inch shotshell was introduced with a maximum average pressure of 11,500 psi, with a 15/16-ounce #8 lead shot load traveling at a velocity of 1,145 feet per second (fps), a 15-pellet #4 lead buckshot load traveling at a velocity of 1,200 fps and a 1-ounce lead rifled slug traveling at a velocity of 1,200 fps.
Developed by Nosler, the 6.5-284 Norma rifle cartridge was introduced with a maximum average pressure of 58,000 psi, with a 130-grain bullet traveling at a velocity of 2,900 fps.
More information on both cartridges can be found here.
Shooting for Shaw
The 20th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms hosted the inaugural M9 pistol Excellence in Competition shooting event at the Combat Arms training range complex at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, Nov. 4-8.
The event is a U.S. Air Force Sports Branch sanctioned event open to all Department of Defense components over the course of five days that encourages warrior ethos and contributes to Airman readiness to support wartime operations downrange.
“We wanted to increase morale and cohesion while giving an opportunity to practice with their service pistols outside of the parameters of a standard Air Force qualification course,” said Staff Sgt. Troy Maycock, 20th SFS combat arms instructor.
Members from the U.S. Army and Air Force active duty, South Carolina Air National Guard and reservists from five installations throughout Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina attended the event.
The course was broken down into five elements: classroom instruction, a practice round and three phases of firing.
In class, each participant received a 20-minute safety brief, followed by 20 minutes of mechanical review and competition requirements. The event consisted of 40 rounds of live fire from the 9mm pistol. Continue reading