At its recent annual board and committee meetings in Springfield, Mass., the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute® (SAAMI®) auctioned many generously donated products from the industry to raise $28,000 in support of USA Shooting, the National Governing Body for international shooting sports in the United States. The U.S. Olympic Shooting Team earned five total medals while competing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Team USA will return to Olympic competition at Los Angeles 2028.
SAAMI commemorated its 100th anniversary in 2026, recognizing a century of promoting firearm safety by creating standards that ensure safety, reliability and interchangeability of firearms, ammunition, suppressors and components.
"We had amazing support from our industry in support of this fundraising effort. Because we are celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the founding of SAAMI this year, we were especially trying to exceed last year's donation to USA Shooting, which — I am happy to report — we did. We are proud that our members not only donated great auction items, but they were also engaged in showing their support for USA Shooting by actively participating in the fundraising auction," said SAAMI President and CEO Joe Bartozzi. Several one-of-a-kind special edition firearms specifically commemorating this major milestone for SAAMI were provided by member companies.
"USA Shooting's athletes are outstanding standard-bearers for the shooting sports and firearm safety," added Bartozzi. "Our members are very proud to support the amazing American athletes that showcase the shooting sports at world-class levels."
USA Shooting supports the training and competition of world-class athletes that participate in the Olympic Games, World Cups, National Championships and National Junior Olympic Championships, among other competitions.
Industry sponsors of the SAAMI auction were Bachstein Consulting, Benelli USA, Beretta USA, Braztech International, Browning, Colt, CZ, Dan Martin – Art & Photo, Fiocchi of America, GLOCK, Henry Repeating Arms, Heritage Manufacturing, Hodgdon Powder Company, Hornady, Kahr, Liberty Ammunition, Norma Precision, North American Arms, Q, RCBS, Ruger Firearms, Savage Arms, SIG SAUER, Smith & Wesson, Supply Energetics, Taurus, The Kinetic Group, True Velocity and Winchester.
About SAAMI: The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government, is dedicated to creating and promulgating technical, performance and safety standards for firearms, ammunition, suppressors, and components, and is committed to being the preeminent global resource for the safe and responsible design, manufacture, transportation, storage and use of these products.