ICYMI: Headlines From
June 20–June 24, 2022

Rock Island Armory USA Launched With Ribbon Cutting

Officials gathered on June 8, to welcome Rock Island Armory (RIA) to Cedar City, Utah. RIA-USA is planning to bring up to 88 new high-paying jobs in the next six years, with potential for even more expansion in the future.

“We are looking forward to expanding our American-based production in Cedar City,” said Lisa Tuason, president of RIA-USA and SVP of marketing and public relations. “The skilled workforce and welcoming community is a perfect fit. Our entry in Cedar City will provide unprecedented growth that could only happen in the great state of Utah.”

The company has already hired 15 employees this year and is looking forward to expanding in the coming years.

“We’re very proud to have begun manufacturing quality firearms on U.S. soil,” added Martin Tuason, president and CEO of parent company, Armscor. “This has been a longtime dream for our family, and we’re very excited the time has come. We’re excited about what the future holds, and I think our customers will be, too.”

For more info: www.armscor.com

Philadelphia Campaign Targets Illegal Gun Purchases

As part of an ongoing national effort to help prevent illegal “straw” purchases of firearms, the NSSF, ATF and DOJ launched a month-long awareness campaign on June 21. The campaign is in its 22nd year and is a cornerstone of the cooperative relationship of the firearm industry, law enforcement and retailers.

Billboard, radio, social media, streaming audio and digital advertisements for the “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” program have been purchased by NSSF in key locations throughout the region with the message: “Buy a gun for someone who can’t and buy yourself 10 years in jail. Don’t Lie for the Other Guy.”

The Philadelphia area “Don’t Lie” campaign includes more than 11 outdoor billboards, digital bulletin boards and posters. There are also more than 450 radio spots playing and 600,000 digital streaming radio service impressions. On social media, “Don’t Lie” advertisements total more than 1.5 million targeted geofenced online mobile advertisements on Facebook and Instagram impressions. In addition, there will be more than 600 Philadelphia public transit advertisements on commuter rail and bus services. Philadelphia was chosen for this special campaign by ATF. No taxpayer dollars are used; the program is funded in full by the firearm industry.

“The firearm industry has always been fully committed to keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not possess them. We’re proud of our more than two-decade cooperative relationship with the ATF, the DOJ and the entire law enforcement community to assist them in their collective efforts to reduce criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF president and CEO. “We’re pleased to work with our partners at DOJ and ATF to launch this ‘Don’t Lie’ campaign in Philadelphia this summer.”

This public awareness campaign constitutes only part of the “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” outreach effort. The full “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” program, which also involves educating firearm retailers to better detect and prevent straw purchases, has been rolled out in major cities throughout the country. In the retailer segment, federal firearms licensees are provided a “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” retailer kit containing a training video and informational brochure for storeowners and staff, as well as point-of-purchase displays aimed to deter illegal straw purchases.

For more info: dontlie.org

Federal Raises $218,000 For Local Organizations

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Federal Ammunition is donating more than $218,000 to local organizations in support of their critical missions. Funds for these donations resulted from silent and live auctions that occurred during a company event on June 18, celebrating the anniversary milestone with current and retired employees and their families, industry friends and local dignitaries.

“Industry partners stepped up and generously donated to the auctions in support of a key element in Federal’s mission statement and its legacy of giving back and supporting the local communities where our employees live and work,” said Jason Vanderbrink, Federal Ammunition president.

The three organizations benefiting from the auctions and other generous donations are: the Anoka Police Department, Feed My Starving Children and the Anoka County Brotherhood Council. Each organization will receive nearly $73,000 to support their organizations and missions.

Attending the celebration and accepting the donations were Anoka’s Chief of Police Eric Peterson; Ann Hill, development officer at Feed My Starving Children; and Stephanie Lehman, executive director at the Anoka County Brotherhood Council.

For more info: federalpremium.com

Freedom Munitions To Expand Manufacturing Capacity

KASH CA Inc., parent company to Freedom Munitions, broke ground on a new facility intended to expand Freedom’s line of rifle ammunition. This 10,000 sq. ft. building will give the company more capacity to fully manufacture cases and projectiles for a wide array of calibers ranging from .223 to .30-06.

Current rifle ammunition offered by Freedom Munitions is loaded using premium components from well-respected brands. Freedom also remanufactures ammunition utilizing strict quality protocols and high-tech equipment.

The new plant, located on KASH CA property in downtown Lewiston, Idaho, will be fully equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and highly trained operators to ensure utmost quality, tolerances and consistency. Each cartridge from Freedom Munitions is USA made and manufactured to SAAMI specifications.

“KASH CA is utilizing our already vast technical expertise to expand into a new line of rifle cartridge cases and projectfacturers continue to struggle with shortages on raw goods, particularly [brass cases for us], we decided to better control the situation by making Freedom Munitions fully capable of manufacturing these items.”

The new facility is expected to create 20–30 new positions and be fully operational by spring 2023.

For more info: freedommunitions.com