Bullet Points

[NSSF]

Vol. 5 No. 16 April 26, 2004



President George W. Bush looks over maps of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve with Manager Paul Dest in Wells, Maine, on Thursday (White House photo).

Improving America's Wetlands
Essential to
Hunting's Future

President George Bush announced a new wetlands initiative that goes beyond a policy of "no net loss" of wetlands to having an "overall increase" of wetlands in America each year. The announcement, made on Earth Day last week, comes after two meetings the president had with leaders of the country's major conservation organizations in the last four months. The president said his goal is to create, improve and protect at least 3,000,000 wetland acres over the next five years in order to increase overall wetland acres and quality. Thirty years ago, the U.S. was losing almost 500,000 acres of wetlands per year but that loss has slowed dramatically. "Instead of just limiting our losses, we will expand the wetlands of America," said President Bush. The president's proposed '05 budget contains spending of $4.4 billion for conservation programs that include funding for wetlands. "As a sportsman, President Bush understands the value of habitat to increasing wildlife populations and his new wetland initiative will help ensure healthy waterfowl populations in the years ahead," said NSSF President Doug Painter.

HUNTER ED PART TWO . . . California's Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is responding to an emerging need among those who want to hunt. Beyond the safety lessons and fundamental instructions offered in hunter education courses, many beginners are looking for help getting started in a particular discipline. So DFG offers more advanced clinics as introductions to waterfowl, upland game and big game hunting, with hands-on instruction about land navigation using map and compass, survival skills and proper use of firearms for hunting. The good news is that classes are full. The bad news is, there's no money in California's budget for offering an expanded schedule, and that's where program coordinator Susan Herrgesell is hoping the shooting sports industry will step in to help. She's looking for items to raffle in a fund-raising effort so more of the advanced instruction can be offered to additional numbers of beginning hunters. If your company or organization can help, now or in the future, contact Susan (sherrges@dfg.ca.gov ) at (916) 653-7448 as soon as possible. California hunters interested in future courses can register at the DFG site.

WOMEN HUNTERS . . . The NRA's Women on Target program to provide ladies the opportunity to hunt with other women still has hunting packages available this fall for whitetail and mule deer, upland birds and pronghorn. See http://www.nrahq.org/women/wot.asp for details. The site also lists large numbers of instructional shooting clinics for women across the country with a full schedule starting May 1.

PREVENTING CRIMINAL GUN SALES . . . Federally licensed firearms dealers and their employees can benefit from seminars designed to prevent the criminal misuse of guns through guidance and education on the rules and regulations governing their sale and transfer. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, in partnership with NSSF, is jointly sponsoring firearms dealers awareness seminars around the country. For a location near you and to learn more about these valuable seminars, visit the National Association of Firearms Retailers Web site.

ENFORCING EXISTING LAWS

TURNING UP THE HEAT . . . The U.S. Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, continues his crackdown on illegal guns with the indictment of three local men, including a former football star, for drug distribution and firearms violations. The Post-Gazette reports the indictments are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods' collaborative effort by federal, state and local authorities to reduce violence with the assistance of community organizations.

AROUND THE STATES

PENNSYLVANIA . . . After neighboring Maryland's failed attempt to do the same, at least one legislator from the Pittsburgh area is trying to enact a statewide restriction on some semi-automatic firearms with a warning about the federal "ban" on "assault weapons" sunsetting in September. Left unsaid by the legislator and in news coverage about the proposal, the fact that millions of Americans still lawfully own and enjoy the sporting use of such "banned" firearms for hunting and target shooting, because Federal law never prohibited their ownership, sale or use.

MINNESOTA . . . Don't forget, the Minnesota Twins host the Anaheim Angels in a game on Sunday, May 2. Before the game, "Step Outside to Celebrate the Outdoors" will offer families a fun hands-on introduction to traditional outdoor activities at the Metrodome in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. There will be an airgun range, and kids will be introduced to wildlife with the Touch of the Wild sensory safari museum sponsored by Gander Mountain. All attendees will be provided with a free firearm safety kit that includes a gun lock compliments of Project ChildSafe, the nationwide firearm safety education program sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the U.S. Department of Justice. Discounted tickets are available through direct order to the Minnesota Twins by contacting Jason Stern at (612) 375-7502.

UTAH . . . The University of Utah's board of trustees has refused to back down from its policy banning lawful carry of firearms on campus, even though the state's legislature passed a law specifically for that purpose. Meanwhile, an independent student newspaper on campus, The Chronicle, reports there's actually a gold medal-winning shooting team at the school, firing handguns in collegiate competition, though few know about it.

FLORIDA . . . Governor Jeb Bush is expected to sign a new law prohibiting the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other government agencies from filing malicious lawsuits to shut down and bankrupt sport-shooting ranges, passed with the backing of Unified Sportsmen of Florida.

AROUND THE INTERNET

NRA NEWS . . . The best place to stay up-to-date on a daily basis with news about politics and firearms issues is the newly launched NRA NEWS Web site, with a daily Internet multi-media talk show that airs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.

WHY WOMEN OWN GUNS . . Self-defense plays a very important role among the reasons women buy firearms, according to journalist Caitlin Kelly, author of a newly released book. You can hear her interview on National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation program.

SMART CARRY, SMART MOVE . . . The concealed carry holster company, SmartCarry, is out front with its support for the Vote Your Sport campaign, becoming the first firearms industry Web site we've found to carry the icon you'll see below. It directs recreational shooting enthusiasts to a place where they can register to vote and help make a difference in this fall's presidential and Congressional elections.



PROTECT OUR INDUSTRY,
PROTECT YOUR JOB -- GET REGISTERED
AND VOTE YOUR SPORT

Read more in The Washington Post about how employees are protecting their jobs by working with their companies on issues that affect