To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Ted Novin, NSSF Director Of Public Affairs Dealers Play Key Role In Voter Education D o you know how to help your customers select the best candidates running for national office this year? As the country gears up for the 2008 elections, sportsmen, gun owners and firearm enthusiasts are beginning to understand just what is at stake. Though gun control is not — and never was — a Republican vs. Democrat issue, the prospect of a having an anti-gun occupant in the White House has many folks taking pause. Such a president would appoint an anti-gun attorney general, nominate the next ATF director and have congressional committees chaired by politicians with clear anti-gun agendas. A lot of questions are being asked about the candidates running for office: Is he in favor of reinstituting the “assault weapons” ban? Is he a proponent of gun registration and licensing? How do they feel about firearm microstamping and bullet serialization? Did they sign on to the congressional brief to the Supreme Court in the D.C. gun-ban case? Do the candidates truly respect the Second Amendment, or are they trying to camouflage their record? Which candidate thinks you cling to your guns out of bitterness? As a firearms retailer, do you know www.nssf.org/08election “Firearms dealers play an integral role.” the answers to these questions? Are you prepared to help your customers find accurate information about the candidates, so they can make a truly informed choice come Election Day? No? If that’s the case, you needn’t be concerned; help is just a click away. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has established a Voter Education Web site to educate sportsmen about candidates, and mobilize them to support those who share their values — no matter their party affiliation. The Voter Education site, www.nssf. org/08election, is a tremendous tool for anyone looking for information on where the candidates stand on firearm-related issues. It contains detailed information on the presidential candidates, including issue statements and voting records, and as we move closer to Election Day, the site will expand to cover targeted Senate and key House races. “Sportsmen and gun owners form one of the most influential voting blocs in American politics today,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “The fact that they have the clout to propel into office individuals whose positions align with theirs, and to send packing those candidates who oppose firearms rights, is all the more reason to ensure they are knowledgeable about the candidates and the issues. This is where firearms dealers play an integral role.” Send A Clear Message P articipation in the NSSF Voter Education campaign by firearms retailers has never been more important. For just as the sportsmen’s voting bloc is the most influential in modern politics, the campaigns being leveled against pro-gun candidates have never been more devious. “Gun control advocates are utilizing deception and stealth tactics in an attempt to splinter the sportsmen’s vote and advance their anti-gun agenda,” Keane said. “In years past, it was a lot easier to spot the camouflaged candidates — think John Kerry discussing his ‘crawling in the woods’ while deer hunting. Today, however, the anti-gun candidates are much more clever. They know how to camouflage their past votes and have even picked up our lingo, routinely talking of ‘bagging quail’ and ‘shoot’n limits.’” As if retailers didn’t have a tough enough job, there are now camouflaged organizations such as the American Hunters and JULY 2008 “You will send a clear message to anyone who walks through your doors.” Shooters Association. The group purports to be pro-hunting, proconservation and pro-gun, but is led by a lobbyist for gun-control groups, who is also a paid witness testifying against members of the firearm industry in still-ongoing municipal lawsuits. With added pressure on voters to determine which candidates are legitimately concerned with defending their firearms freedoms and which are not, retailers are in a great position to make a difference. By helping to educate and inform your customers about the candidates running for office, you can assist in keeping the sportsmen’s voting bloc alive and powerful. You will send a clear message to anyone who walks through your doors that you’re not only looking to sell them a firearm, but also looking to secure their Second Amendment rights — rights that are inextricably linked to your livelihood. Though many of the players have changed, the game has www.shootingindustry.com Use The Tools 22