Author: Buckeye Firearms Association

NSSF: Today’s “new gun buyer” is not who you think

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Jim Shepherd

A news release…has the announcement of the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s report on 2012’s first-time gun buyers. The news release talks about insight, but having spent time in the internals of the report, it’s a very interesting insight into the “new gun culture”.

It’s also confirmation of something I’ve said before but have only had anecdotal evidence to backup: today’s new gun buyer definitely isn’t the gun buyer of only a few years ago.

How so? There are several reasons laid out statistically in the new report (it’s available free to NSSF members and can be purchased by non-members through the NSSF) and they point to what I believe is a key fact: today’s first-time gun buyer isn’t buying primarily because he or she is afraid guns won’t be available later. It is a factor, but not the deciding one.

Today’s first time buyer is purchasing a gun for a variety of reasons (more on that in a minute) but one of the primary drivers is their being convinced they need to be responsible for their own defense.

Doesn’t read like much in a line by itself, but when you look at the ripple of that statistic, it doesn’t give a resounding endorsement to the state of today’s government. It does, however, point to the fact that many in our so-called soft society aren’t prepared to go quietly if it ever comes down to the fight or flight scenario.

And the new research into what the first-time buyer is buying in that initial purchase might go a long way toward explaining-again- one reason some ammunition is difficult to find. Instead of the “old” first-time buyer who may or may not have bought a box or two of ammo to go along with their gun, the new buyer is spending nearly an equal amount on accessories. Meaning holsters, safe/responsible storage, and ammunition.

They’re not buying them for the sock drawer -or “just in case” -today’s first-timer is buying them to SHOOT, whether it be learning to shoot in a self-defense or mandated concealed carry training session, or participation in one of the many organized shooting sports.

That’s big, and points out the fact that the industry has several things it must do to keep new shooters engaged in the sport.

NSSF Announces S.A.F.E Summer To Promote Firearms Safety

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

Group Expands Project ChildSafe with New Message; 500,000 Firearms Safety Kits

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is kicking off a “S.A.F.E. Summer” effort to focus attention on the importance of safe firearm storage–particularly while children are home from school and more likely to be unattended–and has pledged an additional $1 million to provide half a million free firearm safety kits, including a gun lock, to firearms owners throughout the U.S. as part of the campaign.

NSSF is implementing S.A.F.E. Summer to further spread the message of Project ChildSafe and help prevent firearm accidents, theft and misuse. With “SAFE” serving as an acronym for Secure your firearms when not in use; Be Aware of those around you who should not have unauthorized access to guns; Focus on your responsibility as a firearm owner and Educate yourself and others about safe firearm handling and storage, the effort is focused on providing education and tools that helps gun owners take responsible action to keep their families and communities safer.

“Our primary message is that if you own a firearm, respect it and secure it,” says Steve Sanetti, NSSF president and CEO. “Proper storage is the number one way to help prevent firearm accidents in the home; it has an instant effect in making homes and communities safer, and saves lives. If you can’t or won’t accept that responsibility, we strongly urge you not to own a firearm.”

Support for “universal background check” gun control legislation continues to drop in Ohio

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

by Chad D. Baus

Anyone who follows politics closely knows that, depending on how you ask the question, you can make a poll say almost anything.

In the wake of the horrendous attack on Sandy Hook Elementary last December, the media and anti-gun politicians were hell-bent on passing new laws to limit the sale of firearms, even though not one of the suggestions they were proposing would have prevented last year’s shootings, or others like it in the future.

In March, Quinnipiac (KWIHN’-uh-pee-ak) University released a poll which stated that, when asked “Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?,” 90% of Ohioans said “support.”

One month later, when asked the same vague question, 84% answered the same way – a 6% drop in just one month. (The same poll also found that a majority of Ohioans believe that “if there are background checks for all gun purchases the government will use that information in the future to confiscate legally-owned guns.”)

At the time the results were released, I commented that the poll would be much more interesting if the question were worded as the proposed law would actually be implemented: “Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all legal gun buyers rather than doing more to prevent criminals from obtaining guns illegally?” But alas, no pollster that I have found has decided to ask this much more realistic question.

Two months later, though, Quinnipiac is back again with poll results, and while they didn’t ask the question I would like to see them ask, they did update the question from their last two rounds.

NSSF® Launches New Project ChildSafe® Website

Posted on by Buckeye Firearms Association

Expanded site offers new tools to encourage firearm safety in the home

NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) has launched a new Project ChildSafe® website as part of its “S.A.F.E. Summer” campaign. The new site, and the campaign, are designed to focus attention on the importance of safe and responsible firearm storage, to reinforce that anyone who is going to own a firearm should respect it and secure it, and to provide educational resources that can help prevent firearm accidents and misuse.

The enhanced site at www.projectchildsafe.org features several new interactive tools to help educate visitors on how to properly store forearms when not in use. Visitors can also make a commitment to be a responsible gun owner. Examples of these new tools include:

  • An interactive quiz to help owners determine how safely their firearms are stored
  • An online pledge to practice and encourage responsible firearm ownership, shareable on social media
  • A new infographic designed to help firearm owners choose a safe storage option based on their lifestyle and needs
  • Links to information on where to get a Firearm Safety Kit in their area
  • Tools for law enforcement agencies looking to partner with Project ChildSafe in distributing firearms safety kits and encouraging firearm safety

“We want to do as much as we can to help responsible firearms owners become powerful voices in sharing safety messages with family members and others in their communities,” says Steve Sanetti, NSSF president and CEO.

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