ATA Partners With NSSF’s First Shots Program

NSSF announced the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) is now an official partner of NSSF’s First Shots program, the introductory and refresher target-shooting program made available through host target-shooting ranges and gun clubs across the country.

ATA, the governing body for the sport of American-style trapshooting, works to grow participation to increase interest in trapshooting through programs such as its AIM National Trapshooting Day and satellite competitions associated with its widely known Grand American World Trapshooting Tournament conducted annually in Sparta, Ill. ATA recognizes the ability of NSSF’s First Shots program to reach a whole new audience.

Zach Snow, NSSF director, member development, said, “Being on a trap field with friends is one of recreational shooting’s most enjoyable pastimes, and NSSF and ATA want more people to have that experience. Americans in growing numbers are eager to learn about firearm ownership, and First Shots has been designed to assist them by providing education in the classroom and experience on the firing line.”

“As a dedicated partner of First Shots, we’re all in on opening up the wide world of recreational shooting opportunities — particularly trapshooting — that can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. We hope more people will discover trapshooting thanks to First Shots,” said Liz Lloyd, ATA marketing director and AIM coordinator.

For more info: nssf.org, shootata.com

WMD Guns Awarded Contract For Brazilian SBRs

WMD Guns won the contract to supply 5.56 short-barrel rifles to two State of Parana Special Operations Units in Brazil. Selected over many large OEM competitors, the WMD Guns’ rifles passed all qualification tests IAW Brazilian Army and contractual requirements, including a 20,000 round live-fire test, drop tests, mud soak testing and sand drag testing. WMD’s NiB-X coated firearms proved their durability and reliability in the harshest environments.

WMD President Wynn Atterbury noted, “We had a great team, including our agent in Brazil, that worked very hard to win this contract. This is another step in our expansion efforts to supply the LE, security and military professionals tools that work reliably in all environments and critical situations. We believe that fielding our SBRs to these high-level operators lays a solid foundation from which to build upon in South America.”

WMD Guns was established in 2011 by a group of firearms, plating and technology experts determined to bring advanced surface finishing technologies to the firearms industry. Their product line began with a bolt carrier group coated in their exclusive NiB-X nickel boron formulation.

For more info: wmdguns.com

NSSF Donates $100,000 To Challenge Massachusetts’ New Gun Control Law

NSSF donated $100,000 to Massachusetts Gun Owners’ Action League (GOAL) to support a legal challenge to the new onerous gun control law passed by the state legislature and signed by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey. The donation will support the legal fight against the law that severely restricts lawful firearm ownership and creates a bureaucratic maze of licensing requirements that have still yet to be defined.

The law, H. 4885 — also known as Chapter 135 — was drafted in secret, even denying access to all Massachusetts lawmakers. There was no input from NSSF or other firearm owner advocacy groups as the final draft was crafted behind closed doors.

Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF SVP and general counsel, said, “The fight to protect liberty and individual rights begins anew and we are confident that when federal courts apply scrutiny to this law, it will be relegated to the trash bin where it belongs. Massachusetts lawmakers are failing to defend the rights of the people and instead are kowtowing to the special-interest gun control machine that funds their perpetual re-elections.”

Jim Wallace, executive director of Gun Owners’ Action League, stated, “For over a year, the supporters of this law have violated and suspended nearly every rule regarding an open legislative process. The final drafting of the bill was done in secret and the final language was not provided to the public, or legislators, until the night before the vote. Clearly the supporters understood the unconstitutional language would never survive the light of day and serious scrutiny. We would like to thank NSSF for helping us fight back against this historic attack on the Bill of Rights.”

Gov. Healey said the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, which found New York’s firearm permitting scheme to be unconstitutional and chastised lower courts for creating fabricated legal “tests” to decide if gun control laws passed Constitutional muster, posed a “grave danger to Americans as they go about their daily lives in public spaces.” State legislators responded to Gov. Healey’s demand for action and delivered a 116-page bill that expanded the state’s already strict ban on Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs), placed new restrictions on where law-abiding concealed carry permit holders could exercise their right to armed self-defense and mandated new standards and licensing requirements for citizens seeking a license to carry.

Nothing in the new law addresses criminals or holds criminals accountable for their actions. Instead, Massachusetts’ H. 4885 — or Chapter 135 — introduces new barriers to lawful firearm ownership and the exercise of the rights to keep and bear arms, which are expressly protected by the U.S. Constitution.

For more info: nssf.org

HAVA Hosts Deschutes River Trip

Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) co-sponsored a fly-fishing trip for veterans and first responders. The drift boat trip allowed participants to take on the challenge of a river trip, share stories and build connections with others who had similar experiences and fight similar struggles. The participants also learned to catch the famous Deschutes River rainbow trout.

The adventure not only provided healing, but also educated others about the internal issues faced by those who serve. Skilled guides, great camps and spectacular food contributed to the magic of the river experience.

The Deschutes River experience reaffirmed HAVA’s purpose by reintegrating disabled veterans and first responders into a normal American life through outdoor events.

HAVA is a 501(c)(3) organization formed by companies in the shooting and outdoor industry with the purpose of raising awareness and further assisting disabled veterans with their healing process through guided hunts, shooting events and other outdoor sports activities. The sustaining sponsor companies are Smith & Wesson, NSSF, SIG SAUER, Academi, Arnold Defense, Crimson Trace, FMG Publications, GLOCK, Hornady, Leapers/UTG, Leupold & Stevens, Mossberg, RSR Group, Ruger, Surefire, Taurus, Vista Outdoor/Federal, XS Sights and Yamaha Outdoors among numerous contributing companies.

For more info: honoredveterans.org

Silencer Shop Donates $25,000 To Protect Liberty PAC

NSSF’s Protect Liberty Political Action Committee (Protect Liberty PAC) announced it received a $25,000 contribution from Silencer Shop Founder and CEO Dave Matheny.

Matheny’s generous personal contribution of $25,000 complements several recent financial contributions to the growing super PAC as momentum builds ahead of election day in just over three months.

“It’s go-time for Americans who value their Constitutional rights, especially their rights to lawfully purchase and possess firearms, to join the fight with the firearm industry to backstop against a potential Harris administration,” said Lawrence G. Keane, Protect Liberty PAC’s treasurer. “As momentum continues to build with Protect Liberty PAC, we are extremely thankful for Mr. Matheny’s leadership and are hopeful more businesses in the firearm, ammunition, hunting, recreational and shooting sports industry and concerned gun owners will stand with Dave and many others who have contributed so far in supporting Protect Liberty PAC.”

“It is chilling to think about what the future could hold if we don’t do everything we can to push back against the continued infringement on our rights that we see every day from this administration and those in elected office who would do away with the right to keep and bear arms in the blink of an eye,” Matheny said. “Silencer Shop is proud to stand with NSSF, Protect Liberty PAC and all our industry colleagues who are joining together in this worthy effort.”

Protect Liberty PAC is a federally registered “super PAC” founded in 2023 by NSSF.  Protect Liberty PAC is an independent-expenditure-only political committee and can accept unlimited personal and corporate contributions from companies in or outside of the industry, so long as they do not have federal contracts. Protect Liberty PAC will expressly advocate for the election or defeat of specific candidates and that advocacy will be completely independent of any candidate or political party.

For more info: protectlibertypac.com

Silencer Central Ranks On Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Companies

Inc. Magazine has once again recognized Silencer Central as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. This year, Silencer Central achieved the remarkable feat of ranking second among companies in South Dakota and second in Sioux Falls on the annual Inc. 5000 list. Nationally, the company placed 87th in the consumer products category and secured the 1,339th spot overall.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized on the Inc. 5000 list, especially as one of the top companies in South Dakota and Sioux Falls,” said Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central. “This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team, as well as the unwavering support of our customers. We are committed to continuing our growth and delivering innovative products that meet the needs of our customers across the country.”

Over the past 19 years, Silencer Central has solidified its reputation as a leader in the firearms industry, offering unparalleled expertise, compliance and customer education in silencers. The company’s focus on silencers has allowed it to maintain a high standard of quality and service, making it one of the largest Class 3 dealers in the nation.

Companies on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list are ranked based on their percentage revenue growth from 2020 to 2023. To be eligible, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2020. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies — as of December 31, 2023. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2020 was $100,000, while the minimum for 2023 was $2 million. Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons, and growth rates used to determine rankings were calculated to four decimal places.

For more info: silencercentral.com