Conservation Leaders Promote #ResponsibleRecreation

As quarantine restrictions ease across the country, leading conservation organizations have partnered together to promote the #ResponsibleRecreation campaign — which encourages Americans to enjoy outdoor recreation while adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols.

The participating group includes the likes of the Association for Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and other outdoor/fishing organizations. (FN America and Everest later signed on to support the campaign in early June.)

Central to the #ResponsibleRecreation effort is highlighting how hunting, fishing, recreational shooting and other outdoor activities support both mental and physical well-being, while also promoting safe social distancing measures. Its website (responsible-recreation.org) lists practical ways those in the outdoors can stay safe, including: purchasing licenses and park passes online, recreating close to home, adhering to best practices to avoid COVID-19, packing out trash and sharing adventures in a respectful way on social media outlets. The website also has an option for visitors to take the #ResponsibleRecreation pledge.

“It’s imperative we come together and create an initiative to bolster activities that can support both conservation and public health and safety,” said Jeff Crane, CSF president. “All of these organizations represent different recreational opportunities that positively affect conservation, and this is a powerful way to reach the wide array of stakeholders we represent.”

In addition to advocating safe outdoor etiquette, the campaign also invites Americans to take advantage of the numerous opportunities available to them to visit public lands, waters and parks.

“There’s no better way to cope with our country’s current situation than to head outdoors to engage in hunting, fishing, biking, etc., as long as we practice #ResponsibleRecreation,” said Becky Humphries, NWTF CEO. “This collaborative effort by the outdoor community is a reminder that while this country has numerous opportunities for recreation on its lands and waters, we need to do so in a manner that is respectful to the land and the rest of the public who also wish to enjoy these precious resources.”

An additional benefit to promoting safe outdoor recreation: Stakeholders will be able to contribute to conservation efforts during a period of economic uncertainty, as well as supporting small businesses that support these activities.

“Just as we’ve stepped up to fund conservation efforts and recover at-risk species, hunters and anglers have yet another opportunity to lead by example and ensure outdoor recreation can continue to delight and facilitate healing for anyone who ventures outside,” said Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

Adding a consumer engagement dimension to the effort, campaign organizers encourage participants to use the #ResponsibleRecreation hashtag when sharing their experiences on the social media platform of their choice.
/ responsible-recreation.org

ATF Releases New Form 4473

The ATF has released the newest version of Form 4473 (May 2020) that all Federal Firearm License (FFL) holders are required to use for background checks of prospective firearms purchasers.

The FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and state-approved, point-of-contact law enforcement agencies screen the forms (both paper and electronic versions) to approve firearm purchases.

The Form 4473 currently in use is the October 2016 version. Use of the May 2020 version will be mandatory for all FFLs beginning Nov. 1 of this year. Until that date, FFL dealers may use supplies of their current forms.

The new Form 4473 includes several changes:
• The warning at the top of the form now includes information about illegal exportation.

• Information on the firearm(s) to be transferred is now Section A, which must be completed before the transferee completes Section B.

• The “County” block has been changed to “County/Parish/Borough” to accommodate Louisiana and Alaska, respectively.
• A new item (26c) has been included for the recording of official military orders establishing permanent change of station.

• Item 26b, which applies to situations in which the identification document did not show the current residence address of the transferee, has been updated to include situations in which the identification document does not include the full legal name of the transferee.

The new Form 4473 and continuation sheets are available for preorder in both English and Spanish at www.atf.gov/preorder-revised-4473. Preorders are set to begin shipping in late July (limit 3,000 forms).

The ATF expects to ship 50-quantity starter packs of the new Form 4473 to all FFLs in late July. The agency intends to have an updated eForm 4473 up and running during that same time period.

The NSSF has ordered both Spanish and English overlays for the new Form 4473, and they will be available free through its member portal to NSSF members. The overlays will help improve accuracy in completion of the forms. / atf.gov

GTM Makes COVID-19 Impact

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, GTM Original (Gun Tote’n Mamas) continues working with its connections in China, along with associated dealers and retailers in the U.S., to keep production of its leather, concealed-carry bags and purses moving.

With unprecedented numbers of first-time women gun buyers, GTM and its community continue to help educate these new owners in how to carry off-body safely.

GTM also has responded to the COVID fight by donating masks, sanitizer, food bank items and airline miles. The company has donated 25,000 masks and an unspecified number of gallons of sanitizer, at a value of $15,000, to nursing homes, healthcare professionals, first responders and essential retailers across the country.

Additionally, GTM has provided 50,000 “United Miles on a Mission” to help fly people to needed critical care, as well as helping to supply a local food pantry in need of food donations.

“In unknown times, it is crucial for those of us who are able, in whatever way possible, to help our communities that cannot help themselves with this silent enemy. Our communities, villages and towns made it possible for GTM to be here. We won’t forget, nor turn our backs on those who need urgent help now,” said Claudia Chisholm, president of GTM.

GTM Original’s affordable line of leather purses and handbags is inspired and developed by women, with feedback from consumers and instructors at elite training facilities. Parent company Kingport Industries LLC has been a Certified Women-Owned Business since 2004.

/ gtmoriginal.com

NASGW Offers Retailers Free Access To SCOPE CLX

The NASGW announces it is inviting shooting sports retailers to get free access to SCOPE CLX reports. SCOPE CLX is an industry-owned, distributor-led initiative to collect and analyze data that helps businesses in the shooting sports industry.

FFL holders can use the reports to understand which products are in demand based on anonymous data from brick-and-mortar stores across the country. Through SCOPE CLX, retailers can keep tabs on the market, get a sense of new product performance and maximize assortment decisions.

“SCOPE CLX is built in partnership with retailers, distributors, manufacturers and associations. Ultimately, our goal is to help our industry grow, and that starts with retailers moving the products consumers demand,” said Easton Kuboushek, NASGW director of data programs.

The NASGW has made the integration process simple and free. Interested retailers can get started by completing the form at www.nasgwscope.org/retailers.

“SCOPE CLX is the culmination of everyone in the supply chain coming together to help the industry,” said NASGW president Kenyon Gleason. “Distributors are spearheading this program, but this is truly going to benefit the entire industry in a big way. NASGW and industry distributors are perfectly positioned to bring everyone together for this crucial program.”

SCOPE CLX is powered by eCom Systems Inc. / nasgw.org

Outdoor Edge Wins Patent Infringement Dispute

Outdoor Edge has prevailed in a patent infringement dispute with American Outdoor Brands (AOB) concerning the company’s popular, trademarked RazorSafe series of replaceable-blade knives.

Outdoor Edge filed a lawsuit January 2020, after AOB displayed a knife for sale under the brand “Old Timer” at the Archery Trade Association Show in Indianapolis. The AOB knife featured a comparable mechanism for locking and releasing a replaceable blade and a similar blade support system to that of Outdoor Edge, allegedly infringing several Outdoor Edge patents.

American Outdoor Brands immediately discontinued its efforts to manufacture, market and sell the infringing design, prompting Outdoor Edge to dismiss its claims against the company without prejudice, while preserving its right to enforce its patent rights against AOB and others if the infringing design or another resurfaces.

“We’re very excited to have secured a win in our fight to protect the intellectual property of Outdoor Edge. The result clearly reinforces the strength of our patent portfolio, and reaffirms our role as a top brand and leading innovator of proprietary cutlery products,” said David Bloch, company owner. “We will continue to enforce our patent rights against any competitor who copies our ideas or infringes on any of our patents.”

Outdoor Edge has been granted exclusive rights to 62 inventions or designs in the U.S., the European Union, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France and China. The company has 12 additional patent applications pending in the U.S., with many more planned.

Outdoor Edge prides itself in offering a variety of products that undergo extensive field-testing in rugged environments, resulting in durable, long-lasting products with a lifetime guarantee.

/ outdooredge.com

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