CLUTCH SHOT GIVES U.S. ITS FIRST SHOOTING MEDAL . . . For someone who has only been shooting her event competitively for a little over two years, 21-year-old Corey Cogdell looked like one of the most experienced trap shooters in the world on Monday in Beijing. Cogdell, of Eagle River, Alaska, claimed the United States' first Olympic medal in shooting, winning bronze in women's international trap. "I wasn't even supposed to get on the Olympic team. My goal was to be on the 2012 Olympic team, so to win a medal at the Olympics at this point in my career is really a dream come true," said Cogdell, a former standout in NSSF's popular Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP). Cogdell entered the final round just one target off the lead. In the 25-target final, she struggled early but finished strong, forcing a shoot-out with three other shooters for bronze. After each of the other shooters missed their targets, Cogdell came through in the clutch to claim her spot on the medal stand. Full Story | Photos

FULL-PAGE POSTER IN L.A. TIMES SPOTLIGHTS OLYMPIC SHOOTER . . . What do Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant and skeet shooter Kim Rhode have in common? Besides being standouts in their respected sports, both Olympic athletes are being featured in full-page posters this week in The Los Angeles Times. Rhode is a resident of nearby El Monte, Calif. The poster featuring her is pictured at left and is available for free download at www.latimes.com/olympics. Rhode, a two-time Olympic gold and one-time bronze medalist in doubles trap, will compete Thursday in women's skeet.

For complete Olympic shooting coverage, visit USAShooting.com and NBCOlympics.com.

ATF LAUNCHES E-MAIL UPDATES . . . The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has announced an e-mail updates feature now available at www.atf.gov. Subscribers can receive automatic updates without having to continuously check the ATF Web site for updates. ATF said it will also soon be launching RSS (Really Simple Syndication) news feeds. NSSF has been encouraging the bureau to provide FFLs and others with these alerts.

GUN, AMMO SALES UP 9.7% IN FIRST QUARTER . . . Sales by firearm and ammunition manufacturers were up 9.7 percent in the first quarter of 2008, led by a 17.3 percent increase in ammunition sales, a 5 percent rise in handgun sales and a 6.7 percent increase in long gun sales, according to the firearm industry's best economic indicator. The statistics are taken from the latest Pittman-Robertson federal excise tax collection report. Excise taxes are calculated as a percentage of wholesale receipts, paid quarterly by firearm and ammunition manufacturers, and earmarked for state wildlife conservation and habitat restoration programs. These statistics are based solely on U.S. civilian sales and do not include sales to military, police, etc. During the quarter, $76.8 million was generated for conservation through excise tax collections, compared to $70.1 million in the same period in 2007. From January through March, $19.9 million was collected for pistols and revolvers, $30.3 million for long guns and $26.4 million for ammunition. The latest tax collections suggest overall sales of $716.4 million, not including retail markup or final retail sales.

ATK ARMAMENT SALES UP 32 PERCENT . . . First quarter sales in the Alliant Techsystems' (NYSE:ATK) Armament Systems group rose 32 percent to $442 million, compared to $336 million in the prior-year quarter. The division of ATK produces commercial and military ammunition and gun systems, propellants and advanced energetics. ATK's overall first-quarter earnings rose 9 percent when compared to the same period the previous year, with sales for the quarter surpassing $1.1 billion.

D.C. FIRST SHOTS, SCTP CHAMPIONSHIPS DISCUSSED ON GUN TALK . . . Tom Gresham's Gun Talk Radio Show on Sunday featured interviews with NSSF President Steve Sanetti on NSSF's upcoming First Shots effort for Washington, D.C., residents and NSSF's Bill Dunn on last week's Scholastic Clay Target Program National Championships in Sparta, Ill. Listen online.

CALIF. BILL WOULD CURB FIREARM SAFETY TRAINING, EDUCATION . . . NSSF and the California Association of Firearms Retailers (CAFR) are encouraging all California gun owners, sportsmen and firearms enthusiasts to contact their state senator and urge him or her to oppose AB 2498, legislation that would force all Californians to undergo a criminal background check prior to receiving training in firearms safety and proficiency from an instructor who does not have a government contract. The bill is inconsistent with prior legislation to increase and encourage individuals to take firearms training. Learn more.

HANK PARKER TO BE SPOKESMAN FOR OUTDOORS WITHOUT LIMITS . . . World champion bass angler and popular outdoor television host, Hank Parker, is the new national spokesperson for Outdoors Without Limits, an organization built around communities creating opportunities for disabled individuals to enjoy outdoor-related activities.

INDUSTRY CAREER CONNECTION . . . Visit www.nssf.org/jobs for current employment opportunities in the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry. Employers: Log in to post a job opening.