by Joseph P. Tartaro | Executive Editor
The FBI’s Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) has announced a new starting date for Phase 1 of the New NICS which had originally been scheduled to launch on July 14 but was postponed.
The new start date for Phase 1 of the new NICS is Jan. 12, 2016. The FBI said the new date was selected to avoid potential risks to federal firearms licensees, the public and the NICS team associated with going live during the fall’s peak selling season, to provide addition time for the CJIS Division’s NICS Section employees to build proficiency with the new system, to allow addition performance testing of the system, and to support NICS Index data migration.
As usual, FFLs were invited to reach out to the NIC S Liaison Staff with any questions at: nicsliaison@ic.fbi.gov.
Meanwhile, the National Shooting Sports Foundation reported another record month for NICS checks in July. The July 2015 monthly NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 946,528 is the highest July on record for the 17-year-old system, with an increase of 15.9% over the July 2014 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 816,588. This follows a similar record breaking month recorded in June 2015.
For comparison, the unadjusted July 2015 NICS figure of 1,589,462 reflects a 14% increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,393,705 in July 2014.
Another measure of recent industry health appeared in the latest Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collection report released by the Department of the Treasury, which indicates that firearm and ammunition manufacturers reported tax liabilities of $177.2 million in the first calendar quarter of 2015.
Acquisition completed
Vista Outdoor Inc. announced on Aug. 3 that it had completed the acquisition of CamelBak Products, LLC, further expanding Vista’s outdoor products portfolio.
CamelBak is a leading provider of personal hydration solutions for outdoor, recreation and military use.
“CamelBak helps strengthen and expand Vista Outdoor’s presence in the outdoor sports and recreation market,” said Mark DeYoung, Vista Outdoor’s chairman and CEO. “Their highly recognizable and respected products are used by all manner of outdoor sports enthusiasts and complement every activity where Vista Outdoor’s products are currently used. This acquisition will help our company provide an even broader portfolio of trusted brands for our consumers.”
On July 27, Vista Outdoor announced it had entered into a defin-itive agreement to acquire CamelBak. Under the terms of the transaction, Vista Outdoor paid $412.5 million, subject to a customary working capital adjustment, utilizing cash on hand and borrowings under its existing credit facilities. Vista Outdoor expects calendar year 2015 net sales for CamelBak of approximately $160 million.
CamelBak was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Petaluma, CA. The company employs approximately 300 people and will be integrated into the Outdoor Products segment of Vista Outdoor. CamelBak will remain headquartered in Petaluma, and CEO Sally McCoy will remain with Vista Outdoor. CamelBak was previously a subsidiary company of Compass Diversified Holdings, another compant listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as is Vista Outdoors.
Panama import review
The government of Panama is set to lift the ban on firearm imports in an effort to promote personal safety, Panam news reported.
Public Safety Minister Rodolfo Aguilera said the country will follow in the footsteps of the United States and Switzerland, where the right to bear arms is believed to lead to fewer homicides.
“Everything seems to indicate that there is no direct correlation in the aphorism that says more guns mean more crime,” said Aguilera, who explained that relaxed gun laws have allowed the United States to reduce the homicide rate over the last 20 years.
Aguilera added that new regulations will include criminal and psychological background checks for future gunowners.
Under the current law, in effect since 2012, only state security forces can import firearms. Meanwhile, the Central American Integration System (SICA) has called for a comprehensive review of Panama’s firearm-import ban before any action is taken by the National Assembly.
“It’s a decision for each sovereign government to make, but we should take into account that for criminals, anything that is prohibited becomes more attractive,” said Hefer Morataya, director of SICA’s Central American Programme of Small Arms Control.
