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- DISMISSAL OF NEW ORLEANS LAWSUIT WILL NOT IMPACT 2004 SHOT SHOW . . .
Following the good news regarding the dismissal by the Louisiana Supreme
Court of the New Orleans lawsuit against firearms manufacturers, we have
received calls and e-mails asking if this changes the decision to move
the 2004 SHOT SHOW from New Orleans to Las Vegas.  The answer is no.

- STATE PREEMPTION LAWS CURB INDUSTRY SUITS . . .
With the enactment last week of a North Dakota law barring municipalities
from suing the firearm industry, and the expected signing of a similar
law by the governor of Indiana, 25 states have now sent a clear message to
their city and county governments - politically driven lawsuits that seek
to bankrupt gun manufacturers and usurp the state's legislative authority
to regulate firearms will not be tolerated. Two other states, Florida
and Ohio, are currently considering preemption legislation. Those states
that have already enacted such laws include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona,
Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan,
Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia. In Missouri, the state enacted a
"loser pay" law that inhibits the kind of reckless and groundless suits
being filed against the industry by imposing court costs and attorneys'
fees on municipalities if they lose their case. In Wyoming, the
legislature passed a strongly worded resolution that urges the state
attorney general to act on behalf of the industry should such a lawsuit
be filed.

- SCHOLASTIC TRAP PROGRAM TO HOLD FIRST COMPETITION . . .
The inaugural Scholastic Trapshooting Program's first competition will be
held this Saturday, April 14, at the Missouri Trapshooters Association
facility in Linn Creek, MO. This cooperative effort by the National
Shooting Sports Foundation and the Amateur Trapshooting Association
promises to be one of the hottest events this spring and summer, as it
brings local junior high and senior high school-aged teams from around
United States together to vie for the title of National Scholastic
Trapshooting Team Champion. If you would like additional information about
the MTA facility, contact Nancy Pruett at 573-346-2449. For more
information about the Scholastic Trapshooting Program, go to the NSSF Web
site at www.nssf.org or contact Scott Moore at smoore@nssf.org.

- MORE INFORMATION ON WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE . . .
Following last week's Bullet Points announcement regarding a presentation
of awards to those firearms and ammunition manufacturers who support the
Wildlife Management Institute (WMI), we have received several requests for
more information on WMI and which members of our industry support that
organization.  The Wildlife Management Institute was founded by our
industry in 1911.  It has developed and overseen development of a wide
variety of legislation and government programs that support wildlife
management as a foundation for hunting, and is a highly respected voice
for wildlife conservation across our nation.  Currently WMI is leading
efforts to enhance CRP and other Farm Bill programs that benefit wildlife,
chairs the SAAMI Environmental Committee working to overcome obstacles to
operation of shooting ranges, is seeking new funding for state wildlife
agencies, and working to restore a focus on wildlife in management on our
National Forests.  At the request of state and federal wildlife agencies,
WMI conducts audits of programs such as wildlife management, law
enforcement, hunter education; WMI is a science-based voice for
responsible multiple use of habitats and wildlife. Industry members who
are currently supporting WMI include Alliant Powder, Blount Inc. Outdoor
Sports Group, Browning Arms Company, Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc., Hornady
Manufacturing Company, Marlin Firearms Company, Michaels of Oregon
Company, National Shooting Sports Foundation, O. F. Mossberg and Sons,
Inc., Remington Arms Company, Inc., Smith and Wesson Corporation, Sturm,
Ruger and Company, Inc., Taurus International Firearms, Weatherby Inc.,
Winchester Division/Olin Corporation, and SigArms Corporation. For
membership information, contact Rollie Sparrowe, President, at 1101 14th
Street, N.W., Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20005, 202-371-1808,
fax 202-408-5059 or e-mail wmirs@aol.com.

- TEXAS OUTDOOR WRITERS INVITE BOY SCOUTS TO STEP OUTSIDE� . . .
A STEP OUTSIDE event last month hosted by the Texas Outdoor Writers
Association during their annual meeting in Port Aransas, Texas, drew an
enthusiastic crowd, and it was hard to tell who had more fun, the Boy
Scouts who were shooting for the first time or the outdoor writers who
were introducing them to the shooting sports. According to Ralph
Winningham, the outdoor writer/photographer for the San Antonio Express
News who coordinated the event with the Scouts and the Port Aransas
Chamber of Commerce, by the end of the afternoon's outing, a number of
young men and women who had never fired a gun before were definitely
hooked on shooting. "The event worked great and the Scouts and their
leaders thoroughly enjoyed it," Winningham said. Marty Malin, of The
Wildlife Report, who teamed up with one of the first time shooters,
summed up the event by saying,  "I'd encourage anyone who enjoys shooting
and hunting to invite those who have never tried them to STEP OUTSIDE
and see what they are all about.  After all, the future of these sports
rests with the younger generation."  For more information on how to
sponsor a similar event with your organization, contact Jodi DiCamillo,
STEP OUTSIDE National Coordinator, at (203) 426-1320 or access the
Web site at www.stepoutside.org.

- NICS DELAYS IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC ACCESS PROGRAM . . .
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Program
Office has announced that the NICS E-Check system that was projected to
be implemented in the spring of 2001 has been delayed for development of
security and operational enhancements. The NICS E-Check will allow
Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL's) electronic access to initiate a NICS
background check via the Internet during normal NICS operation hours of
8 a.m. to 1 a.m., Eastern Time. In addition, the NICS E-Check will allow
the user to check the status of previous transactions 24 hours a day.
The toll-free NICS Call Center will continue to be available to initiate
background checks. The revised implementation date for NICS E-Check is
the last quarter of 2001.

- GOOD NEWS REGARDING FUTURE SHOT SHOW DATES . . .
It has caused significant problems in the past when the dates of the
SHOT SHOW and the Safari Club International Convention overlap.  We
are pleased to report that, in part through coordination with our friends
at SCI, and in part through luck, the SHOT SHOW and SCI dates will not
conflict from 2002 through 2004.  There is some potential for conflict in
2005, which we may be able to remedy.

- NSSF DEALER SEMINARS DRAW STRONG ATTENDANCE . . .
Two "Partnership for Progress" seminars held last week in
Bloomington, MN., and Milwaukee, WI., drew solid attendance from area
firearm retailers who heard presentations on firearm laws and programs
from representatives of the NSSF and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco & Firearms. Approximately 130 dealers in Bloomington, and some
150 in Milwaukee, heard John Badowski, director of retail partnerships
for NSSF, and John Jarowski, ATF director of industry operations for
Minnesota and Wisconsin, give presentations on the dealer inspection
process, theft and security issues, criminal enforcement programs, state
laws and other legal issues, as well as an overview of the joint NSSF/ATF
"Don't Lie for the Other Guy" campaign aimed at detecting and deterring
straw purchases. The seminars are part of an ongoing effort by NSSF and
ATF to foster better awareness, understanding and cooperation between
the industry and its federal regulators.

- NEW ORLEANS DISMISSAL REAFFIRMS HERITAGE FUND'S CONTINUED SUCCESS . . .
Outpouring of congratulations rolled in following the Louisiana's Supreme
Court ruling that the state's pre-emption statute could be applied
retroactively to dismiss the City of New Orleans' suit without violating
either the United States or Louisiana State Constitutions. Typical of
these was a letter from Traditions Performance Firearms President Jay
Brenneman who wrote, "We greatly appreciate the work of the Heritage
Fund supporting the hunting and shooting sports industry. While we
recognize that the muzzleloading segment of the industry is not imminently
threatened, we also recognize that the threats faced by those named in the
suit will impact all of us. Congratulations on winning the City of New
Orleans dismissal.  Keep up the good work. Enclosed is our check for our
quarterly contribution to the Heritage Fund." SHOT SHOW Sales Manager
David Jeannette was among the dozens of industry associates who renewed
their Century Club membership following the announcement of the Louisiana
Supreme Court's ruling. "Congratulations to you and all involved with the
great triumph in New Orleans," said Jeannette. "I am sure there will be
many more to follow. Enclosed is my check to renew my Century Club
membership for 2001. I wish you continued success." From the Heritage Fund
perspective, we thank all participants and especially our friends at the
National Rifle Association, without whose leadership and effort the
Louisiana statute�and more than 20 others� would likely never have become
law," said Bob Delfay, president and CEO of the Heritage Fund. For
Heritage Fund membership information, visit www.hsshf.org or contact
Chris Dolnack at cdolnack@nssf.org.
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