have just returned from the NRA Annual Meetings in Phoenix, AZ. Each year at the Annual Meeting we have over 400 exhibits including an air rifle range that is open to the public. For the first time since we have been hosting the air rifle range, adaptive equipment for shooters with disabilities was featured. NRA Disabled Shooting Services was mentioned on NRABlog.com http://nrablog.com/?tag=/disabled+shooting and filmed for NRANews.com, for American Airgunner TV, 6mmbr.com http://accurateshooter.com/bulletin.html and ABC Phoenix affiliate channel 15. In addition to the adaptive equipment that many of you already use or have knowledge of, I was able to demo Electronic Shooting Equipment from Europe that is made specifically for blind or visually impaired shooters. Special thanks to Gabe Vega for his willingness to be the first person to try this equipment.

A couple of days before the show Gabe called to see if it would be ok for him to bring is 8 year old daughter Kayla with him because she felt that her daddy shouldn’t own guns because he was blind. Kayla became so excited by her daddy’s success that we quickly got her on an air rifle next to him on the firing line. By the time they finished shooting Kayla announced that, “she needed a gun” because she had such a great time. Special thanks to Kipp at Airguns of Arizona for his assistance. Although Gabe came to the air rifle range to try the blind shooting equipment his heart is in the pistols. After we finished at the air rifle range I took Kayla, Gabe and our NRA volunteer Jackie to the exhibit floor so that Gabe could check out the pistols. It was great fun watching Gabe stump the technicians and salesmen with his complicated questions. We visited Ruger, Kimber, Taurus, Glock and Colt and not a single professional amongst them was able to avoid being stumped. The contact we had at Taurus was incredible and even taught Gabe how to take down the gun. While Gabe and I played “stump the representative” Jackie and Kayla checked out the ATV’s and found some cookies to munch on.

We had a great time and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed seeing the show through Gabe’s perspective. Gabe has his own blog please feel free to visit if you would like: http://theblindmansbluff.blogspot.com/

Other news….

Matches:

We have just finished creating a Disabled Indoor Air Rifle Regional Championship. The course of fire is as follows:

Day 1

Match 1 – offhand 20 shots

Match 2 – sitting 20 shots

Match 3 – prone 20 shots

Day 2

Match 4 – prone 20 shots

Match 5 – prone 20 shots

Match 6 – aggregate

Final – top 8 shooters. The final is shot with all 8 shooters on the line at the same time. The course of fire is 10 shots fired in the offhand position. After the sighting in period the shooters will be told to load and will have 75 second to fire a shot. After the shooters fire or at the conclusion of the 75 seconds, the scores are announced and the procedure is repeated until all 10 shots are fired. The final scores are added to the aggregate scores to determine the winner.

Anyone can schedule a Regional Championship between now and the end of the calendar year. Please contact me if you are interested.

Postal matches are coming!

I have also created a postal match. The course of fire will be a 3x20 meaning three positions. 20 shots each position of offhand, sitting and prone. Competitors will be required to submit targets and score cards. This will apply to both Precision and Sporter Air rifle and will include teams. Individual Awards will be based on participation and will be divided by SH1, SH2, and SH3, classifications.

Pistol course of fire is 60 shots. Individual awards will be the same at the air rifle.  

National Matches at CampPerry Ohio…

I have made special arrangements for the week of pistol matches for anyone that needs assistance with getting to and from the ranges. If you plan on attending and will need to take advantage of this service, please contact me as soon as possible.

I hope that everyone is well and that I get to see you on the range!

In the meantime keep ‘em in the center.

Yours truly,

Vanessa Warner

Manager, Disabled Shooting Services

National Rifle Association

11250 Waples Mill Road

Fairfax, VA 22030

vwarner@nrahq.org

http://www.nrahq.org/compete/disabled.asp

703-267-1495 office

703-939-4024 mobile

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