To: ALL MEDIAFor immediate release January 15, 2014 For more information contact: Bill Brassard Jr.203-426-1320 New York Benefits from Spending by Target Shooters   Read the Report View/Download as PDF   View INFOGRAPHIC LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation has released a major new report about the importance of target shooting activities to the economies of New York and the nation. NSSF is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry. The report, Target Shooting in America: Millions of Shooters, Billions of Dollars, was released today in conjunction with a press conference at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show), the largest trade show of its kind in the world and a showcase for the firearms and ammunition industry. The report provides a first-ever look at U.S. target shooting-related expenditures. Also included are state-by-state statistics for the number of target shooters, retail sales, taxes and jobs. The target-shooting report complements the Hunting in America report released by NSSF and the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies in March 2013. In New York, target shooting-related spending contributed $817,050,105 to the state's economy and supported 6,333 jobs. Nationally, the money target shooters spent in 2011 resulted in $23 billion being added to the nation's economy and supported more than 185,000 jobs. "More people target shooting is good news for the industry, and it is equally good news for America’s economy," said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. Retail sales related to target shooting account for nearly $10 billion, with rifle and handgun shooting being the leading contributors, followed by shotgun and muzzleloader shooting. California and Texas are the top two states ranked by retail sales. Combining data from Target Shooting in America and Hunting in America shows that target shooters and hunters together poured more than $110 billion into the nation’s economy, fueling more than 866,000 jobs. “Communities and businesses of all sizes benefit from these activities,” said Sanetti. Target shooters ($8.2 billion) and hunters ($8.4 billion) spend nearly equal amounts on equipment common to both pursuits, such as firearms, ammunition and accessories. Hunters spend more overall than target shooters when factors such as fuel, food, lodging and transportation are included. “The Target Shooting in America and Hunting in America reports give us a more complete understanding of the economic importance of the shooting sports to America,” said Sanetti. “We’ve long known about the recreational benefits of these activities, and now we know how much they contribute to our country’s financial well-being.” Read Target Shooting in America: Millions of Shooters, Billions of Dollars or view the report as a printable PDF. -30- About NSSFThe 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 10,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.  

      Carl Zeiss Sports Optics Announces 2014 NRA Show Celebrity Signings         NORTH CHESTERFIELD, VA., (April 21, 2014) - Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, the world's leading manufacturer of high performance sports optics is pleased to announce that former professional cage fighter Matt Hughes, TV host of “Uncaged”, along with Larry Weishuhn, TV host of “Trailing the Hunter’s Moon”, and Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo, TV hosts of “Archers Choice” & “The Choice,” will be appearing in the Zeiss booth (#6854) at the 143nd Annual NRA Meetings and Exhibits in Indianapolis (IN), April 25-27, 2014. ZEISS is a proud sponsor and optics partner of all three shows.  The “Uncaged” TV Show is hosted by 9-time UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes, and airs on the Sportsman Channel.  The show is an adventure series focusing on challenging, free-range hunts around the world.  Larry Weishuhn’s “Trailing the Hunter’s Moon” TV Show airs on the Sportsman Channel, featuring “Mr. Whitetail” who travels the world in search of exotic and popular trophy game.  Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo are hosts of two of today’s top rated award-winning hunting TV shows.  These two have introduced millions of viewers to their very unique relationship and incredible hunting adventures on “Archers Choice” & “The Choice” TV shows that air on The Outdoor Channel. Carl Zeiss Sports Optics will showcase their innovative hunting optics at the NRA convention, including products from the premium entry TERRA line, the premium CONQUEST line and super-premium VICTORY line.  NRA attendees are encouraged to stop by the Zeiss booth (#6854) to meet Matt, Larry, Ralph & Vicki, and experience the latest offerings from the industry leader in optical technology.  See the full schedule of celebrity signing times below.  Friday, April 25th (all times Eastern Standard Time) 1 pm – 2 pm:  Matt Hughes, “Uncaged” 3 pm – 4 pm:  Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo, “Archer’s Choice” & “The Choice” Saturday, April 26th 11 am – 12 pm:  Larry Weishuhn, “Trailing the Hunter's Moon” 1 pm – 2 pm:      Matt Hughes, “Uncaged” 3 pm – 4 pm:      Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo, “Archer’s Choice” & “The Choice” Sunday, April 27th 11 am – 12 pm:  Larry Weishuhn, “Trailing the Hunter's Moon” 1 pm – 2 pm:      Matt Hughes, “Uncaged” The 143nd NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in the center of downtown Indianapolis, IN, April 25-27, 2014.  Bring the whole family to enjoy the over 600 exhibitors covering over 400,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, educational seminars, celebrities, and fun-filled special events.  There will be something for everyone!  For more information on this event, visit http://www.nraam.org.    About Carl Zeiss Sports Optics   Carl Zeiss Sports Optics is a leading, international provider of premium sports optics and is part of the Consumer Optics Group of Carl Zeiss. Carl Zeiss Sports Optics, LLC is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of its state-of-the-art binoculars, riflescopes, rangefinders and spotting scopes throughout the United States and Canada. Carl Zeiss Sports Optics’ North American headquarters is located in North Chesterfield, VA.   About the ZEISS Group ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. The company has been contributing to technological progress for more than 160 years. Founded in 1846, the company now has its headquarters in Oberkochen in southwest Germany and has representatives in over 40 countries.  

January 23, 2015 Media Contact:Bill Brassard203-426-1320bbrassard@nssf.org    2015 SHOT Show Posts Second Highest Attendance Total Ever    LAS VEGAS -- The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) rang up its second highest attendance ever at the Sands Expo Center Jan. 20-23, giving the industry a very good indicator that a strong sales year lies ahead.Long a bellwether for the industry's prospects, the SHOT Show brings together buyers and sellers from the United States and more than 100 countries. Total attendance for the 2015 SHOT Show was nearly 64,000, second only to last year's record-setting event, where nearly 67,000 came through the turnstiles. Lower attendance reflected strengthened pre-screening of attendees to enhance the overall experience of both exhibitors and buyers."We know from long experience that attendance at the SHOT Show is a reflection of the state of our industry," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "This second highest attendance is in keeping with what we saw in the past year -- that our industry is in good health and that manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers have a positive outlook for this year."NSSF®, the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry, owns and sponsors the SHOT Show.From the opening bell, the show floor hummed with traffic. Cindy Daniel, Executive Vice President of Daniel Defense, a major sponsor of the SHOT Show, said, "It's been a very busy show. We're optimistic that with the good vibe we're seeing on the floor sales will pick up again and we'll have a solid year."Said Kort Nielson with Silencer Co., "We've been pretty busy, and there hasn't been much down time. Increasing our booth size and design and its new position in this hall has been good for traffic, but we're also focusing on education." Silencer Co. put on two seminars this week for retailers on how to educate customers about suppressors, a fast growing sales area.The $8 billion industry has seen rapid growth in the last several years, powered by newcomers to the shooting sports. More than 20 percent of firearms owners are in this category, in that they have purchased their first firearm within the last five years. Women continue to be an undeniable market force. During the show at a packed press conference, NSSF released a new report on "Women Gun Owners: Purchasing, Perceptions and Participation." Women, whose participation in target shooting and hunting as well as interest in owning a firearm for personal and home protection continues to grow rapidly, now purchase about 25 percent of industry products. "This report will help NSSF members better understand the products and features women want and to continue to serve women of all skill levels," said Jim Curcuruto, NSSF Director of Industry Research and Analysis. More than 1,600 exhibiting companies filled the convention center and rooms in the adjoining Venetian Hotel. Total show exhibition space was more than 640,000 net square feet, or 13 acres of product display, with more than 150 new companies exhibiting. Manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, optics, cutlery, apparel, accessories and law enforcement equipment introduced new products and services that retailers will offer consumers during the course of the year. On the first evening of the show, more than 2,400 people attended NSSF's State of the Industry Dinner, where Steve Sanetti, NSSF President and CEO, delivered a well-received speech on the industry's determination to counter its detractors with facts on firearm safety and deter efforts to burden law-abiding gun owners with unnecessary legislation. "Much of the public and the media are woefully misinformed about who we are and all that we do about genuine gun safety," said Sanetti, who pointed out to such notable NSSF programs as Project ChildSafe, Fix NICS and Don't Like for the Other Guy programs. "Some pundits state that the shooting sports are 'in retreat,'" said Sanetti. "Well, look at the facts. Last year's SHOT Show, one of the fastest growing trade shows in the nation, had its highest attendance and satisfaction levels ever; the number of federally licensed firearms dealers is growing; firearm sales experienced the second highest year ever and ammunition sales continue at near record levels; firearms permit and safety classes report long waiting lists; and the number of apprentice hunting licenses increased to well over 1 million. If this is a 'retreat,' as those who see no appeal in what we do have alleged, I truly wonder what an advance would look like." At the dinner, Richard Lipsey, owner of Lipsey's, one of the nation's largest sporting goods distributors, received the prestigious NSSF Ken Sedlecky Award for longterm commitment to the success of the industry and supporting NSSF's mission to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Mark Keefe, editor-in-chief of American Rifleman magazine, was awarded the POMA-NSSF Grits Gresham Shooting Sports Communicator Award. Media was out in force again at the show, totaling 2,500, including international press. Some of the country's most well-known radio personalities, including Mike Gallagher, Lars Larson and Dana Loesch, broadcasted live from the show's popular "Radio Row." Prior to the show, NSSF hosted a fundraising golf tournament to benefit Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA), an industry developed and supported effort to help the healing and reintegration of disabled combat veterans back into normal American life though participation in outdoor events. The SHOT Show is not just about selling and buying products. The show provides educational opportunities for firearms retailers at SHOT Show University, which was sold out, and at other seminars, and for law enforcement professionals at the Law Enforcement Education Program. The SHOT Show is managed by Las Vegas-based ConvExx. Major sponsors of the 2015 SHOT Show in addition to Daniel Defense were Outdoor Channel, GunBroker.com, Brownell's, Gamo Outdoor USA, Georgia Department of Economic Development, Mossy Oak, Trijicon, Smith & Wesson and Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, among others. Ram Truck Brand was the official truck of the SHOT Show. Nissan was sponsor of the show's press room. The SHOT Show, the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas, pumps nearly $90 million in non-gaming revenue into the Las Vegas economy. Next year's SHOT Show is scheduled for Jan. 19-22 at the Sands Expo.   -30-     About NSSFThe 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 10,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsman's organizations and publications. For more information, visit nssf.org

To: ALL MEDIA For immediate release June 16, 2014 For more information contact: Bill Brassard 203-426-1320 NSSF, Sands Expo Extend SHOT   Show Agreement to 2020 LAS VEGAS-   The National Shooting Sports Foundation and Sands Expo and Convention Center have followed up the 2014 record-setting Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) by adding another two years to their agreement.   Under the new terms, the SHOT Show will be presented at the Sands Expo through 2020.   The 2014 SHOT Show, which ran Jan. 14-17, attracted more than 67,000 in total attendance, an all-time high, and was the fifth consecutive SHOT Show held at Sands Expo. NSSF had previously announced, in February, that it was extending its stay at the venue through 2017.   "We're pleased with the multi-million dollar investment that the Sands Expo has made in order to meet SHOT Show's needs," said Chris Dolnack, NSSF Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "The 2014 SHOT Show was the highest rated by both attendees and exhibitors alike, and we want to continue to build on our success here in Las Vegas."   SHOT Show is the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas and the largest trade show of its kind in the world.   "As one of the largest events we host at Sands Expo, it has been exciting to watch SHOT Show grow every year," said Ashlyn LaPorte, Sands Expo Executive Director of Event Management. "We are proud of the partnership that has developed between our venue and show management, and look forward to continuing this relationship through the rest of the decade."   The Sands Expo and Convention Center houses more than 2 million square feet of meeting and event space.   The SHOT Show generates more than $73 million for the Las Vegas economy.