 |
|
|
Safari Club International is the Leader in Protecting the Freedom to Hunt and Promoting Wildlife Conservation Worldwide |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Washington, D.C. – Safari Club International is pleased to
announce a breakthrough reached today in overturning a recent policy decision by
American Airlines barring the carriage of firearms in checked luggage.
Thanks to the vigilance of SCI members,
Safari Club International was alerted immediately when American Airlines
changed its policy on firearms to prohibit them in checked luggage on
flights to Europe and Asia. The change
was made effective on September 24, 2007.
Working closely together with the National
Rifle Association, SCI lobbyists made contact with American Airlines and
requested an immediate review of the new regulation and its scope. Some
seventy-two hours later, American Airlines has announced it is lifting its
blanket prohibition on firearms on flights to Europe and Asia.
Regrettably, due to onerous restrictions in
the United Kingdom, American
is currently unable to lift the prohibition for flights destined for the UK. However,
discussions between American, SCI and the NRA continue, with the goal of
resolving this issue as well.
SCI President Dennis Anderson lauded the
speedy turn-around, saying "This accomplishment illustrates the power of
sportsmen when we work together. SCI is pleased with the progress we have
made on this issue, working cooperatively with the NRA, and we remain committed
to resolving the issues that remain."
Anderson remarked
on a new report issued by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
yesterday, saying "Just yesterday, leaders of the conservation community
gathered in Washington
to release a report that documents the $75 billion dollars spent annually by
sportsmen. Hunters, particularly traveling hunters, make enormous contributions
to the economy. We commend American Airlines for recognizing that hunters are a
valuable segment of the transportation market, and for working with SCI and NRA
to address the problems – and loss of revenue – that their new policy
inevitably would have caused."
The CSF report is available at www.sportsmenslink.org. American
Airlines has issued a press release and its text follows here. It can
also be accessed on its website at: http://www.aa.com/content/amrcorp/pressReleases/2007_0/26_firearms.jhtml
"American Airlines
recently implemented a policy, effective for tickets purchased on or after
Sept. 24, 2007, that it would no longer allow the transportation of civilian
firearms in checked luggage to Europe and Asia, as a result of onerous
restrictions in the United
Kingdom.
"After hearing from our
customers and interested parties, including the National Rifle Association
(NRA) and Safari Club International (SCI), American has determined that it can
modify its policy to allow legally declared firearms to be transported on
nonstop flights to other destinations in Europe outside of the UK,
and to our Asian destinations. We regret that, at this time, as a result of UK policies we can not allow civilian transport
of firearms into the UK.
"We look forward to working
with the NRA, SCI, and other industry groups in an attempt to resolve those
issues in the hopes of allowing civilian firearms to be transported to the UK on
American Airlines in the near future."
Contact:
Ken Schwartz
SCI-DC
kschwartz@sci-dc.org
202-543-8733
###
SCI-First For Hunters is
the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife
conservation worldwide. SCI’s 179 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States
as well as 13 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of
cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs,
with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions
and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community
members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit
the home page www.safariclub.org or
call (520) 620-1220 for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
