Post by whitehorse on Jun 17, 2020 21:01:11 GMT
Staying “Essential” During COVID-19
Dealers, distributors and manufacturers in many states have been able to stay open
during the COVID-19 pandemic. NSSF has joined efforts at the federal, state and local
levels to ensure industry businesses keep “essential” status.
With many sectors of the U.S. economy struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the firearms industry has continued to flourish. This can certainly be attributed to the sudden surge of first-time gun buyers, but also due to the fact dealers and other businesses have been able to continue their operations in most states.
NSSF has been engaged in numerous battles at the federal, state and local levels to ensure industry businesses are deemed “essential” during the pandemic. NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi sat down with Shooting Industry to share insights on NSSF’s policymaking impact, as well as other resources available to dealers during the pandemic.
The “Essential” Argument
Bartozzi described the NSSF’s multi-tiered approach to secure the “essential” designation for industry businesses.
“The first element to this was because so many of our members (and non-members) are defense contractors — supplying firearms and ammunition to the government and law enforcement groups — it was more or less of a no-brainer: National defense is certainly essential, regardless of us being in a crisis or not,” he said.
NSSF also pressed why retailers and ranges should continue operation.
“We recognized first responders, sheriff’s offices and L.E. personnel in many parts of the country get their guns and ammunition from retailers and distributors and get training at the range. It was a natural outreach; this is certainly something we don’t want to cut back on, especially now,” Bartozzi continued.
Long lines at gun stores also played a significant role in this “essential” designation argument.
“People were really keen on exercising their constitutional rights. To say safety, home/personal protection of citizens is not essential … well, you’d be hard-pressed to argue that,” Bartozzi stated. “We made this point to the Dept. of
Homeland Security (DHS) and we were very successful.”
(March 28: DHS designated firearms manufacturing, distribution and retail/ranges as essential critical services to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.)
ATF FFL Sale Guidance
NSSF was also instrumental in working with the ATF, which provided an open letter to FFL dealers April 10 with significant implications. In part, the letter clarified “a licensed importer, manufacturer or dealer may engage in the firearms or ammunition business for which the business is licensed on any part of its business premises … .” (Emphasis added.)
This guidance facilitated a drive-up model for dealers, to protect both employees and community members.
“This was huge,” Bartozzi noted. “We don’t want people congregating and spreading the virus. With the ATF’s guidance on what constitutes the premises, it opens up the opportunity for people to be safe — while also maintaining the ability to have a retail store and offer firearms and ammunition.”
Bartozzi credited ATF for issuing this guidance swiftly.
“This really helped the retailer of our industry and is the direct result of NSSF’s diligence and ATF’s willingness to listen to us and make a consideration on this — a lot of credit goes to those folks for stepping up and doing it quickly,” he said.
ATF launched other efforts to ensure dealers have all necessary information during the pandemic, and began initiating voluntary calls to stores in mid-April.
Community Engagement
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated plenty of negative headlines. However, Bartozzi stressed this crisis gives the industry an opportunity to make positive inroads in the community.
“We want to get the word out our industry cares, gun owners care and we really want to be a part of the country’s recovery,” he said. “It can be as simple as donating blood or donating to food pantries. A lot of our members are donating PPEs and making masks/face shields — which is wonderful.”
NSSF demonstrated this ethos with recent donations totaling $25,000 to three first-responder groups located near its Newtown, Conn., headquarters.
during the COVID-19 pandemic. NSSF has joined efforts at the federal, state and local
levels to ensure industry businesses keep “essential” status.
With many sectors of the U.S. economy struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the firearms industry has continued to flourish. This can certainly be attributed to the sudden surge of first-time gun buyers, but also due to the fact dealers and other businesses have been able to continue their operations in most states.
NSSF has been engaged in numerous battles at the federal, state and local levels to ensure industry businesses are deemed “essential” during the pandemic. NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi sat down with Shooting Industry to share insights on NSSF’s policymaking impact, as well as other resources available to dealers during the pandemic.
The “Essential” Argument
Bartozzi described the NSSF’s multi-tiered approach to secure the “essential” designation for industry businesses.
“The first element to this was because so many of our members (and non-members) are defense contractors — supplying firearms and ammunition to the government and law enforcement groups — it was more or less of a no-brainer: National defense is certainly essential, regardless of us being in a crisis or not,” he said.
NSSF also pressed why retailers and ranges should continue operation.
“We recognized first responders, sheriff’s offices and L.E. personnel in many parts of the country get their guns and ammunition from retailers and distributors and get training at the range. It was a natural outreach; this is certainly something we don’t want to cut back on, especially now,” Bartozzi continued.
Long lines at gun stores also played a significant role in this “essential” designation argument.
“People were really keen on exercising their constitutional rights. To say safety, home/personal protection of citizens is not essential … well, you’d be hard-pressed to argue that,” Bartozzi stated. “We made this point to the Dept. of
Homeland Security (DHS) and we were very successful.”
(March 28: DHS designated firearms manufacturing, distribution and retail/ranges as essential critical services to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.)
ATF FFL Sale Guidance
NSSF was also instrumental in working with the ATF, which provided an open letter to FFL dealers April 10 with significant implications. In part, the letter clarified “a licensed importer, manufacturer or dealer may engage in the firearms or ammunition business for which the business is licensed on any part of its business premises … .” (Emphasis added.)
This guidance facilitated a drive-up model for dealers, to protect both employees and community members.
“This was huge,” Bartozzi noted. “We don’t want people congregating and spreading the virus. With the ATF’s guidance on what constitutes the premises, it opens up the opportunity for people to be safe — while also maintaining the ability to have a retail store and offer firearms and ammunition.”
Bartozzi credited ATF for issuing this guidance swiftly.
“This really helped the retailer of our industry and is the direct result of NSSF’s diligence and ATF’s willingness to listen to us and make a consideration on this — a lot of credit goes to those folks for stepping up and doing it quickly,” he said.
ATF launched other efforts to ensure dealers have all necessary information during the pandemic, and began initiating voluntary calls to stores in mid-April.
Community Engagement
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated plenty of negative headlines. However, Bartozzi stressed this crisis gives the industry an opportunity to make positive inroads in the community.
“We want to get the word out our industry cares, gun owners care and we really want to be a part of the country’s recovery,” he said. “It can be as simple as donating blood or donating to food pantries. A lot of our members are donating PPEs and making masks/face shields — which is wonderful.”
NSSF demonstrated this ethos with recent donations totaling $25,000 to three first-responder groups located near its Newtown, Conn., headquarters.
