FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — An analysis conducted by Southwick Associates and Andrew Loftus Consulting for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies found that federal excise taxes collected on the sale of hunting and shooting equipment represented an approximate 1,100 percent annual return on investment (ROI) to manufacturers between 1970 to 2006 and taxes collected on sport fishing equipment generated a striking annual ROI of 2,157 percent between 1955 and 2006.

Photo taken May 9 at National Wildlife Refuge on
Ohio State Route 2

The ROIs in the new report "The Benefits to Business from Hunting and Fishing Excise Taxes" were determined by comparing the amount of excise taxes collected annually to the amount of purchases made annually by sportsmen during the respective timeframes. By law, the excise taxes only can be used to maintain fish and wildlife populations, provide public access and support programs that directly benefit hunters, shooting sports enthusiasts and anglers.

On average, the hunting- and shooting sports-related industry paid $251 million in excise taxes, but made $3.1 billion in revenue through sportsmen purchases each year from 1970 to 2006. From 1955 to 2006, the sport fishing industry on average contributed $110 million in annual tax payments/import duties, but generated $2.3 billion in annual taxable equipment sales.

"How many tax models in our country today can show an $11 to $21 return to the company on every dollar spent," said Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus Co-Chair U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller, R-Fla. "This is one of the most impressive examples of how an American industry can profit and bolster the economy while restoring and improving our nation’s cherished natural resources."

The excise taxes are collected quarterly from outdoor industry manufacturers and importers for sales on items such as fishing lures, rods and reels, firearms, ammunition and other products. Hunting-, shooting- and fishing-related taxes are collected under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act and Sport Fish Restoration Act respectively.

By Jim Irvine

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine (R) has released the concealed handgun license (CHL) statistics for the first quarter of 2011. At the end of March, we had an all-time record of approximately 228,088 Ohio residents licensed to carry concealed firearms. (See chart)

The Ohio House recently passed HB45, a bill that would allow license-holders to carry concealed into Ohio restaurants that serve alcohol. The well-known fact that gun owners vote, and will work on campaigns of good candidates, helped those who have been targeted by the anti-gunners to stay strong and support your rights. As the number of license-holders grow, so does our political clout. Only the anti-gunners need a report to know that concealed carry is a popular, mainstream idea in both rural and urban areas. It's not "about the gun," as they claim, but about safety.

There were 13,204 new regular licenses issued, 20 temporary emergency licenses (TELs) and 2,924 licenses renewed in the first three months of this year. Over half of all expiring licenses were renewed and new licenses outpaces unrenewed expired ones better than 5 to 1. Only 57 licenses were revoked. Less than one-half of one percent of all CHLs have ever been revoked for any reason, including death or moving out of state.

Concealed carry works.