Second Amendment 'Test Case' To Supreme Court

Washington, D.C., To Appeal Parker Case Decision . . . Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and city Attorney General Linda Singer at a press conference today disclosed their intention to appeal to the United States Supreme Court a decision by the D.C Circuit Court holding that the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms. The decision in the Parker, et al., v. District of Columbia (Circuit docket 04-7041) case was handed down on March 9 of this year. NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane called the ruling “a watershed moment for the Second Amendment.”

• RECORD TURNOUT AT SCTP SKEET AND SPORTING CLAYS NATIONALS . . . Youth shooting teams from 13 states earned national honors and scholarships  at the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Skeet and Sporting Clays National Championships July 14-15 at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio. The largest skeet and sporting clays championship in SCTP history saw 400 competitors from 19 states represented in varsity, junior varsity, intermediate and rookie divisions. The championship brought out America's best young talents. Some will be selected to attend an Olympic development camp next month in Colorado Springs; others will go on to compete at the collegiate level. SCTP, for youths in grades 12 and under, has been called "the Little League of shooting sports." Almost 10,000 students in over 40 states competed in 2007 in trap, skeet and sporting clays. NSSF manages SCTP in partnership with the Amateur Trapshooting Association, National Skeet Shooting Association and National Sporting Clays Association. Trap national championships are slated for Aug. 5-7 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Ill.

• OSHA TO WITHDRAW FLAWED AMMO RULE . . . In a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, 26 members of Congress expressed concerns with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed explosives rule. This bi-partisan opposition, along with NRA grassroots initiatives and the work of NSSF and SAMMI, made OSHA understand the necessity in taking prompt action to revise its notice of proposed rulemaking and clarify the purpose of the regulation. NSSF and SAAMI will continue to work with regulators concerning the myriad problems with the proposed rule and the appropriate changes needed for the industry. For more information please visit www.saami.org.

• CONGRESS REJECTS BLOOMBERG'S CAMPAIGN . . . Despite spending millions of dollars, distorting the facts in order to mislead the public, and even threatening lawmakers, last week New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was dealt a serious blow by members of the United States House of Representatives Appropriations Committee when they voted down two amendments designed to gut protections given to law enforcement as part of the Tiahrt Amendment. The Tiahrt Amendment restricts access to sensitive firearms tracing data solely to law enforcement in order to protect the integrity of investigations and the lives of law enforcement officers. Mayor Bloomberg, who wants public access to firearms trace data in order to litigate against the lawful firearms industry, has made repealing the Tiahrt Amendment a top priority. Read the NSSF press release.

  Watch the first of STEP OUTSIDE TV's "Shooting Sports Minutes." Each week during these segments NSSF President Doug Painter will provide tips for introducing newcomers to hunting and shooting.

• OUTDOOR CHANNEL KICKS OFF 4TH SEASON OF 'STEP OUTSIDE' . . . If a weekly show on Outdoor Channel is any indication, millions of Americans are embracing NSSF's STEP OUTSIDE® concept of introducing newcomers to hunting and shooting. Outdoor Channel's "STEP OUTSIDE" has kicked off its fourth season with 13 new episodes tracking the adventures of newcomers to the outdoors. The show airs on Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m., Thursdays at 6 a.m., Saturdays at 7 a.m. and Sundays at 3 a.m. (all times EST). The show is hosted by NSSF President Doug Painter and three-time Olympic shooting medalist Kim Rhode. The show also, produced this season by SchaZam Productions, features a weekly segment, "Shooting Sports Minute," hosted by Painter and produced in-house by NSSF.

  Source: FBI NICS

• INDICATOR OF STRONG GUN SALES . . . Data released by the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reveal a very active year so far for background checks leading to the sale of firearms. From January through June, NICS reported 5,221,633 background checks, a 19 percent increase from 4,384,156 in the same period in 2006. May and June showed the largest increase year over year, with 28 percent and 29 percent increases respectively. The increase coincides with an uptick in excise taxes reported by firearms and ammunition manufacturers, another key economic indicator for the firearms industry.

• REPORT: CONSUMERS SPENT $1 BILLION ON USED SPORTING GOODS IN '06 . . . A new report by the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) shows consumers spent $1.01 billion on used sporting goods equipment in 2006, most of which included equipment used for camping, fishing and the shooting sports. Spending on equipment for those outdoor sports increased to $602 million, up 19 percent from 2005, according to the report.

• REPORT INDICATES INCREASE IN BREEDING DUCKS . . . Preliminary results from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&WS) and Canadian Wildlife Service’s Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey indicate a total duck population estimate of more than 41 million birds in the traditional survey area. This represents a 14 percent increase from 2006 and is 24 percent above the 1955-2006 average. “We have five species that are at record or near record highs,” said H. Dale Hall, director of the USF&WS.

• LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY THREATS TO BAN LEAD AMMO IN CALIFORNIA . . . The state Fish and Game Commission will hold a special session on Aug. 27 to discuss a possible ban on lead ammunition for hunting next year to protect the California condor. Assembly Bill 821, which would require the use of non-lead centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition when hunting big game and coyotes within specified areas of California, is in the Senate Appropriations Committee. NSSF is actively working with officials at the Fish and Game Commission and state lawmakers to address these serious threats. Read story in the Monterey Herald (registration required).

• CAR ACCIDENT CLAIMS CIRILLO'S LIFE . . . Jim Cirillo, 76, a renowned firearms instructor, was killed in a tractor trailer collision in Brookfield, N.Y., last Thursday. A member of NYPD's famed stakeout unit, Cirillo is said to have participated in more than 250 armed encounters, some of which he describes in his book, "Guns, Bullets and Gunfights: Lessons and Tales from a Modern Day Gunfighter." Cirillo was a friend to NSSF, helping to instruct mainstream media professionals at NSSF's Media Education Seminars. "Jim was the real deal, and because he was unassuming and had so many great stories to tell the media was drawn to him and that connection helped make him one of the most popular instructors at our media seminars," said Bill Brassard, NSSF's managing director of communications, safety and education. See today's Shooting Wire for a tribute to Cirillo.

• INTERMEDIA OUTDOORS TO BUY OUTDOORSFAN MEDIA . . . Intermedia Outdoors Holdings, Inc., will acquire the assets of OutdoorsFan Media, including ShotgunFan.com and fishing and other outdoor-related Internet-based businesses, and a membership and fishing tournament program. Intermedia Outdoors, Inc. owns a large network of hunting, shooting and fishing Web sites, 17 magazines, including Guns & Ammo and Petersen’s Hunting, and television and radio interests. The purchase represents “an important next step in our commitment to becoming the preeminent multimedia company serving the outdoors community across all forms of media,” said Willy Burkhardt, Intermedia’s executive vice president in charge of digital media, events and merchandising.

• SUSTAINING HUNTING HERITAGE IS FOCUS OF WORKSHOP . . . The 73rd North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., will feature a full-day workshop on the development of a North American Hunting Heritage Action Plan. The goals of the workshop, scheduled for Tuesday, March 25, 2008, are to provide a compelling case for the necessity of the plan to sustain hunting and wildlife management, engage agency and organizational staff in the development of the plan and motivate individuals to provide leadership in implementing the plan. More information on the workshop, and the conference, will be available later this year.

• CABELA'S NAMES NEW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT . . . Cabela's (NYSE:CAB) has announced that Lynn P. Ferguson has been named senior vice president of retail strategy and real estate development, a new position. In this role, he will report to Cabela's President and CEO Dennis Highby, and will be responsible for Cabela's retail store expansion plans and retail strategy.

• BRADY PRESIDENT TO GET PROOF OF IGNORANCE . . . Alan Gottleib, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, says he will supply Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke with documentation that addresses Helmke’s statement on MSNBC that he has been unable to identify anybody who has ever been sued and suffered financially for shooting in self-defense. Helmke’s comments came in a series of debates with Gottleib while protesting the passage of state “stand your ground” laws. Gottleib states he has the “text book case” from Missouri, and he says, “Helmke is sadly uninformed, and we’re going to educate him.”

• IOWA RANGE SEEKS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT PARTNER . . . The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking an experienced management partner to oversee Banner Shooting Range near Des Moines. The successful candidate will work closely with the DNR to create a small business that focuses on shooting sports customer development. The newly renovated range facility includes a 50-yard handgun/rimfire range, 100-yard rifle range, recreational shotgun area and periodic access to a 5-stand sporting clays unit. The range also includes two concession buildings with retail and workshop space. Interested applicants can submit a letter of interest and summary of qualifications to the DNR on or before July 30. For more information, visit http://www.iowadnr.com/rfp.html.

• U.S. SHOOTERS COMPETE AT PAN AM GAMES . . . Twenty-six athletes on the USA Shooting roster are representing their nation at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The assemblage includes nine U.S. Olympians. The games are scheduled to run from July 13-28, and the shooting portion from July 15-21. On the opening day of shooting competition, the U.S. earned two gold and two silver medals.

• MARSH, TOMPKINS REPEAT AS MUZZLE-LOADING CHAMPS . . . Nearly 120 competitors vied for championship honors in open, senior, woman and junior categories at the 2007 NRA Muzzle Loading Championships held in Friendship, Ind. Mark Tompkins defended his pistol title, and Tim Marsh not only repeated as the open Hunter and Offhand Rifle champion, but also added the Round Ball title to his collection.

• HUNTING INDUSTRY MEMBERS NAMED ‘LEGENDS’. . . Five men who have made outstanding contributions to the hunting industry and heritage will be inducted into the “Legends of the Outdoors” National Hall of Fame at an Aug. 17 ceremony in Nashville. Alex Rutledge, Tommy Akin, Larry Weishuhn, Steve McCadams and Marion McCollum have excelled in their areas of specialization, which include product development, outdoor communications, public relations, and guiding. Professional angler Pamela Martin-Wells will also be inducted.

• PLEASANT PHEASANT STATS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA . . . More than 178,000 people hunted upland gamebirds in South Dakota, harvesting almost 1.85 million pheasants. According to South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department estimates, over 80,000 residents and 98,000 nonresidents purchased licenses. The department reports that the 2006 season was the second-best in 40 years, topped only by the 2005 season, when approximately 100,000 more pheasants were bagged.

• KUDOS TO BILL KRENZ . . . Noting the incalculable value of hunting in America, "Bowhunt America" magazine Editor Bill Krentz spotlighted Families Afield as "one of the most worthwhile hunting programs in existence today" in the magazine's "Whitetail Special 2007." Families Afield, an initiative of NSSF, National Wild Turkey Federation and U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance, has been instrumental in creating new opportunities and removing barriers for young and novice hunters. Pick up a copy of "Bowhunt America – Whitetail Special 2007" to read Krenz's column.

NSSF's Mission Statement "Our purpose is to provide trusted leadership in addressing industry challenges and in delivering programs and services to meet the identified needs of our members." Click here to visit the NSSF Web site and see how we accomplish this mission.

COPYRIGHT © 2007 by National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. Permission is granted for broadcast, publication, retransmission to e-mail lists, Web sites or any other copying or storage, in any medium, online or not, if 1) the text is forwarded in its entirety, including this paragraph, and 2) no fee is charged. "Bullet Points®," "National Shooting Sports Foundation®," "NSSF®," and all other trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos and images of the National Shooting Sports Foundation appearing in this publication are the sole property of the Foundation and may not be used without the Foundation's prior express written permission. All other trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos and images appearing in this publication are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.