Industry Notes

FAIRFAX, Va. – The National Rifle Association announced Sept. 3 that the Beretta Group of companies, led by Beretta U.S.A., Benelli U.S.A., and Burris in the United States have pledged to give the NRA $1 million over the next five years. This gift will benefit the NRA Institute for Legislative Action and the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund’s litigation activities to further expand the scope of Second Amendment protections in the wake of the recent United States Supreme Court ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller.

MidOcean Partners, a middle market private equity fund, and Bushnell Outdoor Products, a manufacturer in sports optics, premium eyewear, and outdoor accessories for more than 60 years, announced August 26 that Bushnell has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Millett Industries in Huntington Beach, Calif. The transaction is expected to close within the next thirty days. The terms of the purchase agreement were not disclosed.

Alliant Powder’s Blue Dot should not be used in the following applications:

As a Federal firearms licensee (FFL), it is your duty and obligation to account for the acquisition and disposition of firearms, and it is essential to ensure that firearms are not diverted to the criminal element whether by theft or pilferage. ATF is dedicated to your success in fulfilling your duties and preventing the unlawful diversion of firearms. The following guidance on required and recommended security measures is intended to assist you in accomplishing these goals.

WILSONVILLE, OR -- Crimson Trace Corp. has secured an order to supply the Alameda County Sheriff Office with 1,200 Lasergrips for their Sig Sauer duty weapons. Deputy sheriffs from Alameda County will use the Lasergrip-equipped Sig Sauer side-arm as their primary duty weapon.

The upper assembly of the Fabrique Nationale Herstal SA (FN) FNC rifle is classified as the receiver of the firearm for purposes of the Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44, and the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53.

FORT SMITH, AR — Umarex USA has broken ground on a new 100,000+ square foot facility in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Umarex USA is part of Umarex Corporate Group, a diversified German-owned holding company whose holdings include Walther GmBH. Umarex plans to include a 35,000-square-foot manufacturing operation for its newly created U.S. entity, Walther Industries, Inc. in the new building.

The Michael Bloomberg-funded Mayors Against Illegal Guns announced it has sent a six-question survey to both John McCain and Barack Obama that focuses on the foolish and misguided steps the group says should be made to the existing NICS background check system. The coalition sent a similar survey to the major-party candidates during the primaries, but didn't get a response. Now that the field has tightened to two, the “mayors” hope they'll have better luck.

The 2008 Democratic Party’s draft platform confirms that the party still “doesn’t get it” about Second Amendment gun rights versus the Utopian fantasy that gun control laws will somehow make neighborhoods safer, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms has said.

Brownells recently released Catalog #61 contains 576 pages filled with more than 36,000 total products, over 1100 of them are new.

Shooters who are looking to buy one of the better out-of-production guns should search Gunbroker.com for the Heckler & Koch P7 PSP 9mm. On Monday Aug. 4, there were 16 listings for the gun, with prices ranging from $0 on a brand-new auction (with reserve) to $1600 for a 'buy now' price on Auction # 106162335, due to expire today @ 10:23 p.m.

When Gun-Tests.com tested the Beretta AL391 Urika 20 Gauge in the magazine’s June 2008, the retail price was listed as a stiff $1350. But GunBroker.com auctions have the guns selling used for $400 below that. For instance, Auction # 106087392 had a “like new” 20 ga/28 in. for $830.