Can you believe it is already the end of 2019? This year has flown by. I sincerely hope that you all have had a wonderful Holiday Season. It is a busy time of year for all of us with parties, family get togethers, sporting events, year-end tasks for our businesses and planning for the new year.   Lastly, it’s time to get one more piece of dessert in before the inevitable diet of 2020 begins.

On December 19th, Congress approved two legislative packages which include many strong provisions that will further conservation efforts and benefit America’s sportsmen and women.

On December 16, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey released the text of two legislative packages that together will fund the government until the end of Fiscal Year 2020. One of the packages released by Chairwoman Lowey, H.R. 1865, includes funding for the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior as well as a number of other federal agencies.

The Government Relations Team of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, dedicates its time and resources to supporting legislation beneficial to our industry and fighting those bills that infringe on our rights to legally conduct business and compromise everyone’s 2nd Amendment rights. Team members attend legislative hearings on the federal, state and local levels year-round across the nation, keeping their finger on the pulse of those issues affecting us. They are pleased to provide a monthly summary of legislation that directly affects and impacts the business of NASGW members.

Sometimes the best presents don’t come in a box, aren’t found under the Christmas tree and aren’t decorated in fancy paper and bows. Every once in a while, the best presents come from cutting a giant ribbon out front of your new building, with hundreds of friends there to celebrate with you.

Such was the case earlier this month when Taurus cut the ribbon for the grand opening of their new manufacturing facility in Bainbridge, Georgia. Taurus was very warmly received in the state of Georgia, and even Governor Brian Kemp was on hand to offer his congratulations to one of the world’s largest gun manufacturers for opening up shop in the state. There were hundreds of industry leaders, city, county, and state officials and plenty of local supporters and gun enthusiasts on site.

This time of year, we can’t help but count our blessings. Thanksgiving brings us together with family and friends to reflect on what really matters in life. Thanksgiving is truly my favorite holiday. One of the reasons may be that the weather finally turns cool(er) in Louisiana, as Fall is the season of change. Holiday time brings out smiles, laughter, family gatherings, and of course, cooking. I can’t say that my kids have memories of waking up on Thanksgiving morning to me cooking hot, fresh muffins or to a pumpkin pie baking in the oven in time for our feast.

Engaging in international commerce in firearms, ammunition, components, and accessories may seem like a daunting task.  Between all the domestic laws, international laws, embargoes and other trade restrictions, it may appear to many to not be worth the hassle.  However, with the proper planning and attention to detail sourcing goods or parts from overseas can be a very simple way to increase the variety of goods your company offers.

On November 20, the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council (HSSCC) held a meeting to discuss pressing issues facing the hunting and shooting sports community, and were joined by the Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, and other senior officials from the Departments of the Interior (DOI) and Agriculture (USDA).

The Government Relations Team of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, dedicates its time and resources to supporting legislation beneficial to our industry and fighting those bills that infringe on our rights to legally conduct business and compromise everyone’s 2nd Amendment rights. Team members attend legislative hearings on the federal, state and local levels year-round across the nation, keeping their finger on the pulse of those issues affecting us. They are pleased to provide a monthly summary of legislation that directly affects and impacts the business of NASGW members.

I was a music student as a kid. Took piano lessons, played saxophone in the band, was a singer in the choir. In each of these musical endeavors, the metronome was involved. If you’re not familiar, or not a musician, a metronome is a device that makes a clicking sound at a regular beat, to make sure that everyone stays on time and the music progresses at the proper speed. 

 Every once in a while, some wisecracker would crank up the metronome to get the band playing at a ridiculously fast pace, prompting the music teacher to sprout a few bulging blood vessels in frustration. Of course, we all got a good chuckle.