Advocacy At Work
On Capitol Hill

For the first time since 2019, NSSF hosted an in-person Congressional Fly-In in Washington, D.C., April 5–6. (The 2020 event was cancelled at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 event was conducted virtually.)

Fifty professionals representing the manufacturing, distribution and retail segments of the firearms industry met with 41 Congressional members and U.S. Senators. These meetings enabled industry professionals to share how they’ve been impacted by financial discrimination by big banks, as well as asking for their support on critical legislative issues impacting the industry.

Key meetings were held with U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), House Republican Whip; Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ranking Republican Member on the Senate Finance Committee; Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Ranking Republican Member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; and Sen. Hagerty (R-TN) Member of both the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Banking Committee.

Members Of Congress Address Attendees

During the two-day event, three U.S. Senators and the highest-ranking Republican woman in Congress personally addressed Fly-In attendees.

On the evening of Tuesday, Apr. 5, 38 U.S. House members attended the NSSF PAC reception, with Sen. Rick Scott (R–FL) serving as the keynote speaker. Sen. Scott is chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Later during the Tuesday evening event, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R–IA) was honored as the 2021 NSSF Legislator of the Year. Sen. Grassley was instrumental in blocking gun control lobbyist David Chipman’s nomination to lead the ATF last year.

“Sen. Grassley is an unyielding champion of the firearm and ammunition industry on Capitol Hill. His thorough accounting of David Chipman’s gun control record was invaluable in exposing his lack of fitness to lead the ATF,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF SVP and general counsel. “Sen. Grassley, through his service as Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, prevented the ATF from becoming a rubber stamp for radical gun control proposed by the Biden administration.”

The morning of April 6, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R–ND) shared an update on how he has personally endeavored to stop discriminatory banking practices that affect the firearms industry. Sen. Cramer serves on the Senate Banking Committee and introduced the Fair Access to Banking Act (S.563), a bill that would prevent discrimination by banks and financial service providers against constitutionally-protected industries and law-abiding businesses. Sen. Cramer was NSSF’s 2020 Legislator of the Year.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R–NY), chair of the House Republican Conference and the third-highest ranking Republican, was the keynote speaker during lunch on the day of the Fly-In. Rep. Stefanik outlined how the power structure in the lower chamber is poised to change after the midterm election — highlighting the emergence of several young, pro-gun Republican women that could be elected to Congress in November.

Legislative Priorities

There were several legislative priorities presented to U.S. Congressional members, including: asking for support for the Recreational Lands Package (S.3266) and the MAPLand Act (S.904), dispelling the myths of “blanket immunity” from the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) and magazine bans, appropriations requests for FY 2023 and more.

The three main points of interest during conversations with members and their staffs were: financial discrimination against the firearm industry (with nearly every attendee providing firsthand accounts of being denied financial services based on the sole nature of being in the firearms industry — rather than credit), ATF oversight and the impact of President Biden’s “zero tolerance” policy and the FFL Protection Act (strengthening the penalty for thefts of firearms from FFLs).

Follow-Ups

In less than 24 hours after the event, NSSF officials reported five cosponsors were added to priority legislation — with several more agreed in principle.

Mere hours after the last meeting of the Fly-In, the Senate passed the MAPLand Act (Modernizing Access to our Public Land Act), which will improve public land access by digitizing integrated mapping resources for outdoor recreation. After gaining near unanimous passage through the House of Representatives in March, this bill will be headed to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Save The Date

The 2023 NSSF Congressional Fly-In will be held April 18–19, 2023. For more info, visit nssf.org/government-relations.