May 2015 Newsletter

UPCOMING SSC EVENTS

SSC Member Meeting

Saturday, June 6th, 2015 KW Construction, 841 F Street, West Sacramento

_________________

California Hunter Safety Class

See flyer on our website! Saturday June 6th and Sunday, June 7th & Saturday August 1st and Sunday, August 2nd , 2015 Waterloo Gun & Bocci Club 4343 North Ashley Lane, Stockton , CA

_________________

Clay Day

See flyer on our website! Saturday July 11, 2015 Birds Landing Hunting Preserve

_________________

SSC Awards Dinner

Saturday August 1st , 2015 The home of Randy and Julie Thomas Lodi

CALENDAR SALE

Sacramento Safari Club is having a calendar sale. We will sell 520 calendars at $100 each. This will be available for anyone, not just SSC members. Every week the board will draw a name. Even if you win your name goes back in the bucket! We will give away 52 guns or store credit. More information to come...

BLUE BAGS

Sacramento Safari Club still has 3 more stuffed Blue Bags with schools supplies, etc. to bring on your next international hunting trip. SSC Life member Ernie Dosio took duffel bags to his trip to South Africa were he killed a buffalo, and Namibia where he got his leopard after our fundraiser (pictures shown above). If you are interested, please contact us at info@sacramentosafariclub.org. Keep in mind, due to the weight of the bags, please inform your airline in advance that you are carrying humanitarian supplies so you can avoid the extra baggage fees. Thank you Ernie for your service!

NEW EU TROPHY IMPORT RULES IN EFFECT DESPITE PROCEDURAL VIOLATIONS

EVEN THOUGH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION DID NOT FOLLOW ALL MANDATORY PROCEDURAL STEPS FOR RULE CHANGES, NEW IMPORTATION RULES IMMEDIATELY APPLY FOR EU HUNTERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY HUNTED, OR ARE PLANNING TO HUNT WHITE RHINO, LION, ELEPHANT, HIPPO, ARGALI SHEEP, AND POLAR BEAR. The European Union (EU) has started enforcing rules that make it more difficult to import hunting trophies of these six species into the EU. The European Commission failed to consult and get approval from the European Council for the rules. Despite acknowledging this error, the European Commission has stated that it is now enforcing the rules prior to Council approval. SCI previously alerted its members of the EU’s actions and stated that the new rules could not go into effect prior to approval from the European Council. Because the European Commission has decided to violate its own procedures, we are now revising the information provided in that alert. Under the new rules, a trophy of any of the six species cannot be imported into an EU country without an import certificate issued by the wildlife authority of the importing country. The importing country will refuse to issue a certificate if it considers, on scientific advice, that the hunt was harmful to the species, or that the country where it was hunted has failed to confirm that the animal was legally taken. The wildlife authority has to take into account the views of the EU Scientific Review Group, but does not necessarily have to follow the Group’s advice. These new requirements will apply even to animals taken prior to the adoption of the new importation rules. What should you do?  If you have hunted any of these species but have not yet imported your trophies, you should apply for an importation permit as soon as possible.  Be aware when you are booking a future hunt for these species that you will not know for certain in advance whether you will be able to import the trophy.  Contact the wildlife authority in your country before the hunt and before the shipment of the trophy so you understand whether you are likely to get an import permit, and what the procedures are. Contact details can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cites/links_national_en.htm Via the following link, you can find information related to the changes in EU wildlife trade law: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cites/news_en.htm

CBP CLARIFIES ITS POSITION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION FOR FIREARMS EXPORT

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has just updated its website to provide clarification on its current position concerning electronic registration for traveling with firearms abroad. On April 29, 2015, CPB added a page to its website explaining that it is “temporarily suspending implementation of the regulation” concerning electronic registration as the agency works to modify the Automated Export System (AES). The CBP webpage can be accessed directly from here: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/323/kw/export%20hunting%20rifle/suggested/1. T he full text of the new CBP notice appears at the bottom of this alert. As this suspension is only temporary, SCI members should continue to monitor their electronic communications from SCI for further developments on the firearms registration requirements. SCI will continue to update you as we receive additional information. The information in this email is not intended to serve as legal advice. Those with questions or need for additional information should contact CBP directly. The following was excerpted from the CBP Website: Traveling outside of the U.S. - Temporarily taking a firearm, rifle, gun, shotgun or ammunition abroad for hunting purposes What is the process for a traveler temporarily taking a firearm, rifle, gun, shotgun or ammunition abroad for hunting or sports-related purposes? Current export regulations issued by the Department of State require travelers to file electronic export information (EEI) for temporary export of personally owned firearms via the Automated Export System (AES) prior to departure from the United States. CBP is aware of issues that travelers are having with the implementation of this regulation and is working to ensure that no traveler attempting to legally take their firearm out of the country experiences significant delays or incurs additional cost. Because of these issues, we are temporarily suspending implementation of the regulation as we work with our government partners to modify the AES system to make it more user-friendly for individual travelers. In the interim, CBP will continue to follow their long standing practice of issuing and certifying a Certificate of Registration (CBP Form 4457). During this time, when a traveler contacts CBP to register their firearm for export and reentry, CBP will:  Complete a CBP Form 4457 to ensure a problem-free return to the U.S., and  Provide a fact sheet about the regulation and how to comply in the interim. If you need to register your firearm in the course of your travel, please give yourself enough time to do so, 2-3 hours is a good estimate. You also have the option of registering in advance at a CBP Port of Entry. Once a firearm is registered, the 4457 can be used repeatedly for that particular firearm. CBP advises travelers to become familiar with the import requirements of the foreign country(s) that they may be traveling through or visiting. Those countries may have more restrictive laws and regulations regarding the use of firearms within their countries. For many countries that do allow the temporary importation of firearms, the CBP Form 4457 is required for entry of a U.S. owned firearm into their country. (Canada does not require it, but it does facilitate the temporary importation. Be sure to become familiar with Canada's import requirements.) Please note, if you are taking ammunition, and there is a possibility you will not use it all and would like to re-import it, your 4457 should reflect the kind of ammunition you are departing with. Upon returning to the United States, the traveler will make a regular declaration regarding the personal effects and goods that they are carrying and ensure that they declare any firearms and ammunition. To satisfy the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives requirements for the re-importation of a firearm please refer to 27 CFR 478.115(a). The ATF regulations allow for the use of the CF 4457 upon re-importation, and does not require an approved import permit (ATF-6), provided that CBP is satisfied that the firearm was previously exported from the United States and is now being returned. To establish such proof, a bill of sale, receipt, copy of ATF Form 4473, household effects inventory, packing list, or registration on Customs Forms 4457 or 4455 may be used, if the registration form is completed prior to departure from the U.S. For military personnel, a properly executed Department of Defense Form 12521 signed by either the serviceman's commanding officer or an authorized Customs officer may be used. The acceptability of such proof is within the purview of the Customs officials at the port of entry.

SSC BOARD MEMBER JAMIE SUSSLIN FEATURE IN "CHICKS WITH GUNS"

Jamie Susslin was just one of the many women featured in Lindsay McCrum’s photography essay book, which was published in 2011. This photo album shows women with various backgrounds and preferences for firearms. You can purchase this on Amazon.com. Disclaimer: please note, Jamie does not receive any compensation from the purchase of this book.

CALIFORNIA BANS HUNTERS FROM USING LEAD BULLETS

Environmental activists cheered the California Fish and Game Commission’s decision to adopt regulations banning the use of lead ammunition for hunting throughout the Golden State. The bill was signed after environmentalists and animal rights activists convinced state politicians that lead bullets poisoned animals that condors and eagles fed on. The Commission’s decision on Thursday, April 10, 2015 makes California the first state to completely ban lead bullets for hunting. Hunting groups argue the ban is intended to stop hunting altogether in the state because ammo prices will skyrocket.