National Shooting Sports Foundation facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | NSSF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1961 |
| Type | Industry trade group Lobby group |
| Legal status | Foundation |
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is an organization in the United States. It works with companies that make and sell firearms, which are guns. The NSSF started in 1961 in Newtown, Connecticut. It was founded by Warren Page. Today, the organization has more than 8,000 members.
The NSSF helps create rules for gun safety and how to use guns properly. It also puts on a big yearly event called the Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show, or SHOT Show. The NSSF supports gun rights in the United States. For example, it has spoken against limits on certain types of gun magazines. It also supports laws that allow people to carry concealed firearms. The NSSF has also suggested that the Environmental Protection Agency should not control chemicals in ammunition. Steve Sanetti has been the president since 2008.
What is the SHOT Show?
The NSSF owns and organizes the SHOT Show. This is a large trade fair held every year in Las Vegas. It is the biggest gun show in the United States. More than 50,000 people visit the show. It covers a huge area, about 630,000 square feet. This makes it one of the top 25 trade shows in the country.
How the NSSF and Gun Industry Grew
Connecticut has a long history of making guns. Famous gun makers like Eli Whitney and Samuel Colt started there. Over time, hunting became less popular for some people. Because of this, gun companies started selling more powerful semi-automatic rifles. The NSSF has focused on marketing these types of rifles.
In the early 2000s, there was an investigation into gun companies. It looked at whether they were unfairly treating Smith & Wesson. This company had agreed to new rules with the government. These rules included background checks for gun buyers and providing gun locks. The investigation was stopped in 2003.
After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, the NSSF shared its sadness. The shooting happened very close to their headquarters. The NSSF president, Steve Sanetti, spoke about how the event affected his employees. He said that everyone was moved by the tragedy.
NSSF and Laws
The NSSF supports laws that help hunters and outdoor sports. For example, it supported a bill called the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014. The NSSF thanked Senator Thad Cochran for helping with this bill.
In July 2024, the NSSF signed a letter. This letter was sent to lawmakers in the US military committees. It was about a part of a bill that would require companies to share repair information for military goods. The NSSF opposed this part of the bill.
See also
- Gun Owners of America
- National Rifle Association of America
