NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industries, announces its support for President Donald Trump’s plan to help ensure children are kept safe and that firearms remain beyond the reach of prohibited individuals while respecting the rights of law-abiding firearms owners.
“We are encouraged by President Trump’s proposal that includes NSSF-backed legislation that would allow the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to work as intended by providing incentives for states and require federal agencies to upload all disqualifying criminal and mental health records for those involuntarily committed or adjudicated dangerously mentally ill,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “We support proposals that bolster school security and respect constitutional rights including the right to due process and the rights of young adults to purchase firearms for hunting, sports shooting and their own self-defense. We expect the commission announced today will return recommendations for meaningful reform.”
NSSF launched the FixNICS® campaign in 2013 and worked successfully to reform laws in 16 states, resulting in an increase in the number of disqualifying mental health records in NICS to nearly 5 million, from about 1.7 million, a 200 percent increase. NSSF previously endorsed S. 2135, the Fix NICS Act by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), which topped 62 cosponsors. NSSF also warned against infringements on Second Amendment Rights by instituting age-based gun bans, restricting sales of firearms to adults between the ages of 18-20.
Members of the firearms industry share the goal of all Americans in wanting to see violence in our society reduced and our communities and children made safer. The industry welcomes the opportunity to participate in the national conversation that will help us all achieve our shared goal. NSSF has long advocated for effective solutions to help prevent access to firearms by unauthorized individuals including criminals, children and the dangerously mentally ill who should not have access to firearms.
About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.
