In January, the California State Court of Appeals overturned one of the most restrictive gun bans in the country. In 2005, NRA attorneys sought an injunction against the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to prevent it from enacting a gun ban. NRA won the injunction, but the city’s mayor and Board of Supervisors ignored 288 the court order and approved a set of penalties, including a $1,000 fine and a jail term of between 90 days and six months, for city residents who owned firearms. “[The] decision by the California State Court of Appeals is a big win for the law-abiding citizens and NRA members of San Francisco,” declared Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist.
-Smith & Wesson Forms Military Advisory Council. S&W has formed a Military Advisory Council comprised of distinguished military leaders, including Four Star General Bryan Brown, U.S. Army (Ret); Four Star General James T. Hill, U.S. Army (Ret); and Rear Admiral David M. Stone, U.S. Navy (Ret). The council’s mission will be to share its knowledge and experience by helping Smith & Wesson’s senior management team understand the needs of the military market and to deliver products that meet those needs.
-Credit Card Processing Company Rejects Firearms Industry. Citi Merchant Services and First Data Corp. are refusing to process any credit card transactions between federally licensed firearms retailers, distributors and manufacturers, according to firearms retailer CDNN.
“We were contacted recently by First Data/Citi Merchant Services by a June Rivera-Mantilla stating that we were terminated and funds were being seized for selling firearms in a non-face-to-face transaction,” said Charlie Crawford, president of CDNN Sports Inc. “Although perfectly legal, we were also informed that no transactions would be processed in the future, even for non-firearms. I find this very frightening.”
To change to a National Shooting Sports Foundation-affiliated credit card processing program, contact Payment Alliance International at (866) 371-2273 (ext. 1131).
-Pete Brownell Named President of Brownells, Inc. Sixty-eight years after Bob Brownell hung his shingle as a gunsmith, his grandson, Pete Brownell, was named president of Brownells, Inc. as of January 1, 2008.
Pete is now the third generation of Brownell family members to lead the company. Former company president, Frank Brownell, remains with the company as chairman and chief executive officer. He will remain actively involved in the Brownells family of companies.
“Dad [built] the company on the foundation of providing customers unsurpassed service, selection, and satisfaction,” Frank Brownell commented. “I’ve done my best to carry on that tradition. I’m positive that as Pete transitions into his new role, he’ll continue to put our customers atop his priorities.” GT
