NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industries, awarded U.S. House of Representatives Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) the 2018 Legislator of the Year at the organization’s annual dinner in Washington D.C., coinciding with the firearms industry’s annual Congressional Fly-In.
“We honor Congressman Scalise for his perseverance and steadfast leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, particularly for his tireless efforts to advance the U.S. Munitions List to Commerce Control List Transition and we are honored to present him with the 2018 NSSF’s Legislator of the Year Award,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Congressman Scalise’s commitment to advance protections of Constitutional Second Amendment rights and lawful industries that service those who choose to exercise those rights. Congressman Scalise has been resolute in his convictions and his duty to execute his oath of office after enduring an attempt on his life. His grit was on full display for all our nation to admire when he returned to Congress as a stronger champion for the lawful commerce in arms and determined to empower our law enforcement to pursue those who would criminally misuse firearms.”
“I’m honored to receive NSSF’s Legislator of the Year award,” said Whip Steve Scalise. “Even while some in Washington try to restrict our Second Amendment rights, small businesses, retailers, and gunsmiths across the country continue to suffer from heavy-handed regulation and government bureaucracy that infringe on our rights. I’m proud to stand for our Second Amendment, and I will always work to protect these rights.”
The transition of the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List was an effort begun during the Obama administration to enact export control reforms. Of 18 categories of exports, only the three involving sporting firearms and ammunition were purposely left undone. Congressman Scalise championed legislation and is working closely with President Donald Trump’s administration to finalize these reforms for our industry. The reforms would move export licensing of firearms and ammunition from the U.S. State Department to the Commerce Department, an effort that would allow U.S. manufacturers to more evenly compete with foreign manufacturers for competitive contracts. Reduce regulatory burdens while enhancing national security.
The reforms would also eliminate an onerous annual State Department $2,250 registration fee imposed on small manufacturers who do not export firearms and gunsmiths, who don’t produce, nor export firearms, but simply repair firearms.
NSSF eagerly awaits publication of the final rule from the White House, which has supported these reforms.
About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.
The Munitions List change is the one truly significant pro-gun initiative we’ve seen during this administration, and those doing the work deserve credit. Removing fees will help some, but mainly this opens up the global market to US companies that have been suffering tge last couple years.
I can’t believe this ITAR thing is taking so long to resolve. Meanwhile, years after it was started, small ma and pa gunsmiths are still saddled with that outrageous fee to the State Dept. The sooner this gets eliminated the happier we will all be. To NSSF and Scalise and Trump: never stop fighting for us little people, we beg you!
Marcia Mason dont refer to yourself as a little person. Without all of us “little people” what would most of these “big people” have….. probably not even a house or car or any of the other modern and even not so modern contrivances even going back to the days of horse and cart and before. All any of these people really are is good talkers unless they are good leaders that can build up those with the skills to make things and help them prosper then they are nothing without us.
Steve Scalise was the majority whip that didn’t whip anything! He got shot, I’m sorry and glad he is well. He’s good at running his mouth, but, low energy for taking action.
He survived the cut of GOP losers. Now as the minority, he can continue setting back, collecting free money and getting fatter.
Got to hand it to him though, after being shot and seriously injured, he didn’t turn into a gun control nut like some of the others have.
Yeah mack, I bet you’re just an absolute perfect physical specimen.
It sure wasn’t going to be our friend, Mitch McConnell. He’s turned into a useless turd.
I like Steve, he’s my Congress-critter. But when he ran for re-election last year his ads were literally” thanks for your prayers”. No issues, no promises , nothing. I voted for him because the alternative was awful.