National Act Trade & Collectors Association® The Partisan

THIRD QUARTER, 2014 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3

Cooperation or Pontification?

It should come as no sur- Ostensibly, this meeting was mally presented. There have prise that the current White to serve as a forum for an- been some minor updates House administration has nouncements, a discussion of through the years, however, taken an insulated position regulatory issues and a report all of us are keenly aware that in regard to working with on increases in efficiency. It the handbook has been in the very industry and com- had been nearly two years need of a major overhaul. It munity that ATF is was confirmed charged with regulat- that the guide is ing. It should also being reviewed come as no surprise for updates and that the gun control that the measures that the NFATCA will White House could help insure that not implement via industry and legislation are now community being brought to bear input will be

by attempted Execu- considered so as "Perhaps the fact that we have seen tive action and end to retain the millions voting themselves into com- run tactics. That, too, has since such a meeting took value of the resource. Visitors plete dependence on a tyrant has been met with stiff opposi- place. Each branch of ATF to ATF’s website will note made our generation understand that tion. Facing gridlock and was present and participated in that the handbook is currently to choose one’s government is not backlash, the Department of the open, albeit guarded inter- unavailable (as of the printing necessarily to secure freedom." Justice and ATF convened a actions. Of particular note was of this newsletter) for

July 18, 2014 meeting at the the NFA Handbook. download. We will advise ~ Freidrich August von Hayek ATF’s Washington DC The NFA Handbook was when it is once again accessi- headquarters to meet with created by the NFATCA and ble. industry and attempt to responsibility for updates fell reopen communication. upon ATF once it was for- (continued on Page 2) NFATCA

Upcoming Events The Run on Russia  Knob Creek Shoot, October 10- On July 16, 2014, the U.S. In short, if one of the SDN’s blocked pursuant to OFAC’s Treasury Department’s Office has any financial interest in designation of Kalashnikov 12, 2014, West Point KY of Foreign Assets Control the , it is sanctioned. Concern on July 16, 2014. If a  SAR West, December 5-7, 2014, (OFAC) announced new This includes that are U.S. person has an inventory of Phoenix AZ sanctions on persons and already here but are not paid Kalashnikov Concern products entities in Russia determined for. Further, from the Treas- in which Kalashnikov Concern to be contributing to the ury Department: If a U.S. has an interest (for example, the unstable situation in person is in possession of a products are not fully paid for or Ukraine . The announcement Kalashnikov Concern product are being sold on consignment), added many individuals and that was bought and fully paid we advise that U.S. person to almost a dozen companies to for prior to the date of designa- contact OFAC for further guid- the list of Specially Designated tion (i.e., no payment remains ance on handling of the inven- Nationals (SDN’s) pursuant to due to Kalashnikov Concern), tory. [7-16-2014] Executive Order 13662, dated then that product is not blocked March 20, 2014. The complete and OFAC sanctions would not All are cautioned against list of SDN’s can be found prohibit the U.S. person from violating OFAC sanctions. here: http://goo.gl/mwMSXn keeping or selling the product in Civil penalties can be up to Of particular concern to the the secondary market, so long as $250,000 per violation or U.S. firearms community is Kalashnikov Concern has no twice the transaction value, the inclusion of various interest in the transaction. New whichever is greater. Crimi- Kalishnikov, Izmash and Saiga transactions by U.S. persons nal penalties can be up to $1 weapons. There are lots of with Kalashnikov Concern are million per violation or twice questions regarding what US prohibited, however, and any the transaction value, which- citizens can and cannot do property in which Kalashnikov ever is greater, and up to 20 with these brands of weapons. Concern has an interest is years imprisonment, or both. THE PARTISAN Page 2

Pardon Me? “Huh?” It is the most common increase the risk of hearing loss. almost impossible. Another varia- response given by a shooter when Also, adding muzzle brakes or other tion is ear muffs that rest on the asked a question. And it is because modifications can make the outer ear. These are a bit more com- we, as a group, simply do a poor job louder. People who do not wear fortable than cups and do provide a of taking care of our ears. People hearing protection while shooting bit more hear-through when not in Associate who use firearms are more likely to can suffer a severe hearing loss use, but they’re still bulky and in- develop hearing loss than those who with as little as one shot, if the convenient. Many occasional shoot- Memberships do not. Firearm users tend to have conditions are right. Audiologists see ers prefer the ear plugs available at high-frequency permanent hearing this often, especially during most gun shops and even many The NFATCA now has loss, which means that they may season when hunters and bystanders hardware stores. These plugs are $50 Associate have trouble hearing speech sounds may be exposed to rapid fire from made from pliable rubber, flexible Memberships available to like "s," "th," or "v" and plastic or moldable wax so provide an opportunity other high-pitched that the user can actually sounds. The left ear (in right- create a mold of his or her for even more folks to handed shooters) often suf- outer ear to provide good help keep NFA weapons fers more damage than the protection from ear trauma. available to all. Join now! right ear because it is closer There are also custom-fitted to, and directly in line with, plugs that can also include www.nfatca.org the muzzle of the firearm. cutting edge technology that Also, the right ear is partially incorporates noise cancellation protected by head technology, but these can be shadow. People with high- pricey. frequency hearing loss may As shooters, we should all be say that they can hear what is aware that every single one of said but that it is not clear, us is at substantial risk of and they may accuse others hearing loss from the very first of mumbling. They may not get big-bore , , or . shot fired. Spectators are also at risk, their hearing tested because they So what to do? Well, the answer is even if just observing from a few don't think they have a problem. obvious. Protect the delicate inner yards back. And once hearing van- They may also have ringing in their ear mechanism using one of many ishes, it really does not come back. ears, called tinnitus. The ringing, options available. Your choice of Worse, you could be in for a lifetime like the hearing loss, can be perma- which method of ear protection you of “ringing” in your ears, or tinni- nent. wear depends on how often you’re tus. You just don’t get too many Exposure to noise greater than 140 exposed to gun and shot and chances to overcome that! dB can permanently damage hear- personal preferences for wearing The shorty 1919, pictured, is one ing. Almost all firearms create noise comfort. Over-the-ear-cups provide of the most popular guns on the that is over the 140-dB level. A excellent protection, blocking out Knob Creek main shooting line. It’s small .22-caliber rifle can produce the destructive sound waves pro- loud and obnoxious and everyone noise around 140 dB, while big-bore duced by the shot of a rifle. How- wants to check it out. The volume rifles and pistols can produce sound ever, many enthusi- of concussive sound belching from over 175 dB. Firing guns in a place asts find this ear protection uncom- this beast should be warning enough where sounds can reverberate, or fortable. And since these cups block to protect your hearing. Sadly, most bounce off walls and other struc- out most sound, carrying on a con- ignore the warning. National Firearms Act tures, can make noises louder and versation while wearing them is Trade & Collectors Association® Pontification, (continued) Power Through Also of interest was the elements of the outline, including evaluated. And since we are only Experience “resurrection” of discussion on the the Standard Operating Procedures just now reopening the lines of FTB Handbook. NFATCA began (SOP’s) that the industry has been communication, we are advising all work on this project clamoring for. Nearly to remain cautiously optimistic. NFATCA® several years ago at the 300 pages were com- Certainly, this renewed activity is a 20603 Big Wells Drive behest of ATF. A piled, yet the work far cry from previous interactions Katy, Texas 77449 memorandum of under- was not finished where we were told that “we are not 281.492.8288 standing (MOU) was because FTB would interested in any industry input at [email protected] signed by both parties not or could not this time.” Only time will tell if this and it was agreed that deliver the remaining is just lip service. We encourage each Publisher: John K. Brown, III Senior Editor: Jeff Folloder NFATCA would de- SOP’s. It would ap- of you to send us your ideas, com- Photography: Oleg Volk liver to ATF a com- pear that ATF is once ments and concerns for both of NFATCA® is a 501(c)(6) corp. pleted draft of the again interested in these manuals. We can be reached Copyright 2014, NFATCA® entire document when helping the industry via email at: [email protected] The NFATCA logo is a registered the draft was complete understand exactly trademark, all rights reserved. and contained all of the how it is tested and