EDITOR'S NOTE: Last night, the industry gathered for the National Shooting Sports Foundation's annual State of the Industry Dinner. At that dinner, NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti delivered a keynote address that was certainly different from any in the past few years. Rather than a rallying call to keep fighting, it seems the industry sees something different: "A New Hope"

Stephen L. Sanetti, President & CEO

Good evening ladies and gentlemen!

I confess that, just a few short months ago, I had absolutely no idea about what kind of speech I would be making tonight. Would it be one of resolve, preparing ourselves for a bitter and protracted onslaught that was promised and predicted? Stealing ourselves for a fight that could last for years, with an uncertain outcome at best? That certainly seemed likely in the closing days of the election. But something whispered, "Wait…"

And so I did. The gun controllers lost. As we saw, for all the plans being made to fight the good fight, that strategy thankfully was sidetracked much quicker than anyone anticipated. We are profoundly grateful to those who so generously supported our GunVote voter education and registration efforts in so many ways during the election. And, of course, efforts of organizations such as the NRA were crucial to the victory. Now we look forward with new hope to a period in which we may breathe a bit easier.

Sir Winston Churchill spoke of another time of hope amid conflict:

"A wonderful story is unfolding before our eyes. How it will end we are not allowed to know. But we all feel that we are a part of it, and that our future and that of many generations is at stake. We are sure that the character of our society will be shaped by the resolves we take and the deeds we do."

Our overriding hope is that when it comes to helping stop the misuse of firearms by criminals, and preventing access to them by legally prohibited felons, the violently mentally ill, and the drug gangs who terrorize disarmed inhabitants of our cities, the American public will realize we are all on the same side.

We certainly can't list all our hopes for the coming year, so let me outline just a few.

We hope that the parade of newcomers to the lawful and responsible enjoyment of hunting and the shooting sports will continue, as it has for the past eight years. We welcome the widest possible inclusion of all American citizens of all races, nationalities and orientations, regardless of whether they live in the city, suburbs or countryside, to join our ranks. And we hope that all of you will help encourage and welcome the newcomers – for they too are the faces of America's future.

We hope that our fellow citizens who, like us, are appalled at violent crime, will heed our call – "Law-abiding firearms owners and our industry are not the enemy. Support what works – regardless of the source." We know the messages that resonate with firearms owners and promote responsible and safe ownership and use of firearms. And we, yes, the members of the American firearms industry, are the ones with effective programs and policies that actually work without trampling upon the rights of the law-abiding.

We've got to come together and be smart in curbing firearms misuse –not just stake out a political position that further divides us, or just "do something" proposed out of fear and ignorance of firearms and their lawful owners, which won't prevent tragedies.

The NSSF's Project ChildSafe program works. It has furnished over 37 million free gun safety kits and locks to over 15,000 communities, and we have seen fatal firearms accidents plummet 24% during the last ten years. It deserves additional support and Federal funding, because we can do so much more by working together.

We hope that our new suicide prevention efforts can help stem this terrible waste of lives, including those of our veterans, and will open the eyes of some in the mental health community that they should be our allies in this, rather than demonizing firearms owners and our industry.

We hope that violence prevention efforts focus on all types of violent acts – not just those involving guns – because misnaming such acts such as "gun violence" distracts from the actors, their motivation, and conduct, and wrongly focuses on the tools used. That's not the way to change behavior.

We hope the misuses of firearms in violent crime, accidents, and suicides continue to drop, as they have during the last decade, even as more and more law abiding citizens purchased firearms in record numbers.

We hope that those who tout the oft-stated goal of "saving just one life" recognize that the life of a loved one saved because a person successfully defended him or herself or a family member from violent attack, is also to be treasured.

We also hope that violent crimes committed by criminals with illegally-owned firearms will stop being considered to be a "public health" issue – crime is a criminal justice issue and should be treated as such.

And that the small number of repeat violent criminals that have caused senseless carnage on the streets of some of our cities face stiff prison sentences by enforcing the thousands of laws already on the books. Project Exile, which mandated strict penalties for criminals who were found supplying or carrying illegal guns on city streets, successfully lowered the homicide rate when it was in effect. Let's hope that big city mayors plagued by staggering instances of violent crime consider that common sense approach!

Because we hope that the failed philosophy of placing ever-more restrictions on the law abiding in the vain hope of controlling the lawless will assume its rightful place in the dustbin of history, as we see support for stricter gun control on the wane.

And that the Judges nominated and confirmed to serve on Federal courts at all levels affirm the Heller and McDonald cases as accepted law – that the U.S. Constitution recognizes the fundamental individual right of law abiding citizens of this great nation to keep and bear arms.

And that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which prohibits senseless lawsuits based on intentional criminal misuses of lawfully sold, non-defective products, which no industry could survive, continues to be recognized as settled law to dismiss any such claims.

We hope that, as a highly regulated industry, our relationship with our regulators, such as the ATF and the State Department, will be that of mutual respect and cooperation, and that some rather puzzling and contorted interpretations of laws and regulations will be rescinded. We look forward to working with them to help stop burglaries and thefts from FFL's, and that ATF receive additional Federal funding to do its important job and reduce bureaucratic backlogs for retailers and their customers.

We are hopeful that Executive Orders banning the import of older firearms for lawful purposes will be withdrawn, and that control of export of firearms and ammunition be transferred from the State Department to the Commerce Department, just like every other category of exports.

We hope that International Treaties and protocols respect the natural right of people everywhere to self-defense, and that the United States will steadfastly oppose the ongoing attempts of some nations and disarmament groups to deprive honorable citizens of their rights in the name of controlling the lawless elements of other nations.

We hope that conservation efforts, supported largely by excise taxes on firearms and ammunition which our industry willingly pays, will be based solely upon sound science and their effects on species populations, and that Federal lands, which belong to all the people, will be kept open for all appropriate outdoor recreation activities, such as hunting and recreational shooting.

And I personally hope for the passage of the Hearing Protection Act, both as a public service to hold down the noise and not disturb our neighbors near shooting ranges, but also to help preserve what little hearing I have left!

Finally, we hope that the unity our industry has shown will continue, even in the face of half-truths, slander, bias, and fearfulness, and that we will continue to work together, not just in times of peril, but in recognition that our cause is right, and true, and enshrined by the drafters of our Constitution. And by doing so, we can turn our hopes into reality.

We must put aside whatever differences we may have had, and look forward, not backward. We have been through this before, and we become unified during the worst of times. My best hope is that we stay unified in the better days ahead.

Now, make no mistake – there remain many who for their own reasons and personal feelings and experiences, are still of the belief that firearms manufacturers, sellers and owners are not entitled to our beliefs, our livelihoods, or our way of life, which differ very much from their own.

We should never be complacent. Their will is determined and their resources are enormous. And when their side lost the election they bristled at the opportunity which they just had struck from their hands. It is in times of peace when we must allocate our resources to prepare for the next battle, whenever it may come.

If those who are immovably against us choose to fight us, we will be ready. But I hope that the measures I've outlined tonight and our outreach efforts will strike enough of a chord with the American public, to command their attention. We know not all will agree, but we ask those who are sincere in the dual goals of protecting the Constitutional rights of all Americans and making America a safer place, to join us, and at least give us a chance to show how we can help, and are succeeding, right now.

Let's renew our determination, our courage, and our hope for the future. For it is upon us to demonstrate to our divided and anxious nation that ours is indeed the best way ahead. It is long past time that our many contributions to the safety of our nation are recognized and supported.

And if we act with fairness, in a spirit of inclusion, then our hope of better days for our industry, our customers, and the general public, will surely be fulfilled.

We need and sincerely appreciate all your help and support. Now is the time to make the things we hope for happen for the benefit of our industry, our customers, and the American people! Thank you.