ATF Study on the Importability of Certain Shotguns

[Machine]

There was an old thread on the topic, but rather than trying to resuscitate it, I am adding a new one. I just received a reminder about this from AR-15 forum. I wanted to share the study, contact information, and part of my email to the ATF just to state my own opinion on the matter.

Here is the ATF Study text: http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/012611-study-on-importality-of-certain-shotguns.pdf
Here is the ATF email address for the study:   shotgunstudy@atf.gov
Here is the ATF Fax: (202) 648-9601
Letters must be sent by May 1st, 2011.
Here is my letter to them. I tried to be firm, yet respectful. I hope I accomplished my objective.

I am a lawful gun owner in the state of Illinois and am writing to give my viewpoint on the "ATF Study on the Importability of Certain Shotguns."
 
Shotguns are not a focus area for me, yet I am offended that additional opportunities for collecting firearms would be taken away from me with the wrongful interpretations of sporting purpose. Particular to the issue is the clear choice of the study to ignore shooting events like USPSA. It is clear from the text itself that the study chooses to ignore
these events because it suits its agenda.
 
Quoted from "A. Scope of Sporting Purposes":
 
Because a determination on the sporting purpose of practical shooting events should be made only after an in-depth study of those events, the working group determined that it was not appropriate to use this shotgun study to make a definitive conclusion as to whether practical shooting events are “sporting” for purposes of section 925(d)(3). Any such study must include rifles, shotguns and handguns because practical shooting events use all of these firearms, and a change in position by ATF on practical shooting or “police/combat-type” competitions may have an impact on the sporting suitability of rifles and handguns. Further, while it is clear that shotguns are used at certain practical shooting events, it is unclear whether shotgun use is so prevalent that it is “generally recognized” as a sporting purpose. If shotgun use is not sufficiently popular at such events, practical shooting would have no effect on any sporting suitability determination of shotguns. Therefore, it would be impractical to make a determination based upon one component or aspect of the practical shooting competitions.

 
So, based on the underlined text, rather than accept that these events should first evaluated and the shotguns also included in the acceptable class, the study choses to exclude them from coverage? This certainly doesn't pass the 'smell test' of a fair evaluation. In addition, how is it that your study group feels it is justified in making a determination of what is considered a sport based on the number of people that participate. Is rugby not a sport since we don't play it much in the U.S.?
 
I respectfully ask that you disband the study and reassert the resources toward more critical purposes.

[jmstevens2]

Hmm... I guess we can't call it "sporting clays" anymore then according to them.