NRA Sports - Winter 2018

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA WINTER 2018

President's Column: Safety And Training Are Our Hallmarks

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NRA Hunter Education:

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Free Online Hunter Ed Course Debuts in Florida

Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program Eddie Eagle Reaches 30 Million Children!

YHEC

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5 Reasons to Get Involved

NRA School Shield Program

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Doubling down on training

Y.E.S.

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We See the Future of Freedom

Brownells/NRA Day How to Plan an Event at Your Club Future Leaders

NRA Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors Our Future Leaders

NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award Presented by Brownells

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Published quarterly by the National Rifle Association of America Recreational Programs & Ranges

Editor: Son Nguyen, National Manager Clubs & Associations and Range Services snguyen@nrahq.org

© Copyright 2018 National Rifle Association

Design & Layout: Stephen Czarnik, Sr. Program Coord.

Clubs & Associations and Range Services sczarnik@nrahq.org Samantha Olsen, Lead Program Specialist Clubs & Associations and Range Services solsen@nrahq.org

(800) NRA-Club (672-2582)

clubs@nrahq.org COVER: Liz, Ted, and Ranger are ready to set you up for success through the new online NRA Hunter Education course.

NRA Clubs & Associations • 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 • (800) NRA-Club • clubs.nra.org

P R E S I D E N T ’ S by

C O L U M N

Pete R . Brownell, President

NRA OFFICERS OFFICERS NRA Pete R.R. Brownell Brownell Pete Richard Childress Childress Richard Carolyn D. D. Meadows Meadows Carolyn Wayne LaPierre Wayne LaPierre John Frazer Frazer John Wilson H. Wilson H. Phillips Phillips Jr. Jr. Christopher W. W. Cox Cox Christopher Josh Powell Powell Josh

Safety And Training Are Our Hallmarks

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he nra is America’s most prolific proponent and provider of firearm safety and education, period.

Despite the cries of the national news media, we are much more than political lobbyists. Gun safety and training is—and will always be—at our core.

Our training programs date all the way back to the founding of the nra in 1871 … and will continue to carry the nra well into the future.

Indeed, in addition to defending and preserving our Second Amendment-protected freedom, the primary missions of the nra are to “promote public safety, law and order, and the national defense”; to train “people of good repute in marksmanship, and in the safe handling and efficient use of small arms”; and “to foster, promote and support the shooting sports.”

When it comes to firearm safety training and education, no one is bigger or better than your nra … and despite all the misinformation in the media, Americans trust the nra more than anyone else.

The nra has trained more than 30 million kids to be safe.

Our Eddie Eagle GunSafe program (eddieeagle.nra.org) is an accident-prevention program that educates parents, teachers, community groups and law enforcement officers about gun safety and how to relay that message in a memorable way to children.

Since its inception in 1988, more than 30 million children have been taught a simple message: “If you see a gun, stop. Don’t touch. Run away. Tell a grown-up.” There’s no telling how many young lives have been saved through this critical program.

The nra has trained about 300,000 women, in just the past six years, through the Basic Pistol Course.

Women on Target (wot.nra.org) instructional shooting clinics allow women to learn about firearms and build confidence with new, self-empowering skills.

Refuse to Be A Victim (rtbav.nra.org), established in 1993, presents crime-prevention and personal safety tips and techniques for women (and men) of all ages.

The nra Women’s Wilderness Escape (wwe.nra.org) provides an eight-day getaway for novice and seasoned outdoorswomen to experience firearm education among outdoor-related activities.

The nra has more than 115,000 certified instructors in place around the country, plus 8,000 coaches and 2,200 training counselors—all training millions of Americans each year in rifle, pistol, shotgun, home defense and personal protection (firearmtraining.nra.org and nrainstructors.org).

Nationally, the nra is recognized as the gold standard in firearm training, with courses designed by experts to ensure gun owners learn the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary for the responsible, safe and enjoyable use of firearms. Whether you’re a new gun owner or experienced shooter, the nra has a program for you.

As a diverse organization, serving a nation of diverse citizens, nra training programs are ever-evolving and adapting to meet the needs of Americans embracing their Second Amendment freedom like never before.

PRESIDENT PRESIDENT FIRST VICE VICE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT FIRST SECOND VICE VICE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT SECOND EXECUTIVE VICE VICE PRESIDENT PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SECRETARY TREASURER TREASURER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE INSTITUTE FOR FOR LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE ACTION ACTION INSTITUTE CHIEF OF STAFF, OFFICE OF EVP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GENERAL OPERATIONS

OF GENERAL OPERATIONS Right now, about 17.5 million Americans have a permit to carry a concealed firearm. That number is growing, largely driven by more and more urban Americans of all races, creeds and sexes seeking the personal protection found in firearm ownership … and seeking the very real and practical training needed to own and carry a gun responsibly.

To serve this growing citizenry of gun owners, we launched nra Carry Guard (nracarryguard.com). As I discussed in this space in October, nra Carry Guard provides specialized training and protection to every citizen who chooses to carry a firearm. In addition to advanced concealed-carry training, the program also provides world-class insurance coverage for any law-abiding citizen who may one day need to use a firearm in self-defense Your nra is clearly a large organization that, going all the way back to our beginning, delivers personalized safety training and education for every gun owner and for every prospective gun owner in America.

There is no doubt the nra is a political organization. We are proud and staunch defenders of our Second Amendment-protected freedoms.

Through political efforts and, to an even greater degree, our multi-faceted state-of-the-art training programs, the nra keeps people safe … no matter where they live or what their background may be. The Second Amendment is for everyone … and so is the nra!

For news about legislation and your NRA, visit nraila.org, nranews.com and nra.org.

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Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 1

Free NRA Online Hunter Ed Course Debuts in Florida

by Brian McCombie

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any of today’s younger hunters probably don’t realize it, but their hunter education course had its origins with the National Rifle Association (NRA). In 1949, the State of New York decided to mandate a hunter education and safety course for new hunters. A good idea, but no such course existed. So New York officials solicited help from the organization that knew the most about firearms, firearms safety and hunting: the NRA. “The NRA created the basic hunter’s education curriculum for New York State, and soon other states began adopting it,” said Peter Churchbourne, Director of NRA Hunter Services. “The actual hunter’s ed booklet they created, ‘The NRA Hunter Safety Handbook,’ was used well into the early 1970s by game agency classes all over the country. In fact, your hunter’s education card used to read, ‘NRA Hunter safety.’”

Today, the NRA is back in the business of teaching new hunters in the form of its new, free online NRA Hunter Education program that launched earlier this month. At the time this article was written, the program is currently running in a handful of states, and NRA expects to have it approved for hunter 2 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

education in numerous other states by next year.

The genesis for NRA Hunter Education began in 2015, when NRA began looking at ways to encourage more people to try hunting.

“One of the barriers we found was the cost of some of the hunter education courses,” said Churchbourne. “Plus, some states had very limited in-classroom scheduling for these courses. So, we thought, what if we offered hunter education online, made it free, and had it approved for use with every state’s specific requirements?”

Using the curriculum guidelines established by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA), NRA began creating a fresh approach to hunter education. They drew up story boards and scripts for videos and then recorded attentiongrabbing videos. They had eye-catching graphics created, and located dozens of action photos, using the most up-to-date technology to present the curriculum in appealing, easy-to-access components.

The result is a 15-chapter, online sequence. Each chapter ends with a 10- to 20-question assessment to help reinforce the materials in a student’s mind.

Once the whole sequence is completed, students take a 60-question test, with a score of 80 percent or better required to pass. The entire online course takes most people between five and eight-and-a-half hours to complete—from the comfort of their homes and at times that are most convenient for them.

Once the online coursework is done, many state game agencies then require a “field day” to test firearm and other competencies. Upon successful completion of the field day, the student receives his or her hunter education certification.

“This has all taken a huge amount of work, and we still have more to do,” said Churchbourne. “Each state has a little different take on hunter ed, and we tailor the class specifically for each state’s requirements.

Right now, we are contacting each state game agency and asking them to review our program.”

He continued, “I think we’ll have most of the states covered in a couple years. Our longterm goal is to make NRA Hunter Education approved in all 50 states within five years.”

For more information about the NRA Hunter Education Program or take the course, please visit nrahe.org

Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 3

Eddie Eagle

Reaches 30 Million Children!

By Eric Lipp, National Manager, Community Outreach

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his has been an exciting year for Eddie Eagle and his Wing Team. Recently, the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe® Program reached its 30 millionth child with his life saving message: Stop! Don’t Touch. Run Away. Tell a Grown-Up. Since the founding of the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program in 1988, by past NRA President Marion P. Hammer, Eddie Eagle has been working with children around the country about what to do if they ever came across a firearm. With the help of our volunteers, educators, and law enforcement, Eddie Eagle has helped educate millions of children and save lives.

Unintentional firearm fatalities among children of the Eddie Eagle program’s targeted age group have declined approximately 80% since the Eddie Eagle Program debuted. Eddie Eagle wants to keep children safe and firearms are found in approximately 40% of all American households. Even 4 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

if there are no guns present in one family's home, does not mean they are not found in the homes of friends that your children visit. To ensure their safety, children should be taught what to do if they ever encounter a firearm.

NRA Community Outreach National Manager,

Eric Lipp emphasized, “Nothing is more important to all of us than the safety and wellbeing of our children, and that was the driving force behind the development of the Eddie Eagle program. Nearly 30 years later, its message is as powerful and impactful as it’s ever been. As we eclipse this incredible milestone of making a difference in the lives of 30 million children, we are encouraged, proud, and determined to keep spreading this life-saving education.”

Through grants from the NRA Foundation (supported by the Friends of NRA), the Eddie Eagle Program provides

materials to law enforce-ment, schools, daycares, and hospitals for free. Eddie Eagle Gunsafe materials include grade specific activity books, from PreK- 4th grade, and go along with an eight minute video starring Eddie Eagle and the Wing Team. Children can watch the video and repeat Eddie Eagle’s safety message to learn what they should do if they were to come across a firearm. Eddie Eagle instructors help children understand and practice the safety message.

In addition to his safety materials, some children are lucky enough to get to meet Eddie himself! Children get very excited to see Eddie and love seeing him do the ‘Eddie Shuffle’. Since their introduction in 1996, there

are over 400 active Eddie Eagle Mascot Costumes teaching children Eddie’s GunSafe message across the United States. The Eddie Eagle costume, is a great way to reach out to children and enhance their learning experience.

Anyone may teach the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, and no formal training is required to participate. The Eddie Eagle Program may be easily incorporated into existing school curriculum, taught at safety events, or at local youth events. If interested in becoming an Eddie Eagle volunteer email; eddie@nrahq.org . To view the safety video and download kid-friendly workbooks, visit: www.eddieeagle.com.

Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 5

5 Reasons to Get Involved with

YHEC

By NRA YHEC Staff

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he shooting sports, hunting, and the entire outdoor lifestyle are near and dear to many of us. It’s up to us to pass down our knowledge and passion to the next generation in order to keep our country's grand traditions alive. NRA's Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) is a prime example of how these outdoor skills can be developed and applied.

YHEC provides a fun environment for kids 18 and under to improve their hunting, marksmanship and safety skills. Through its simulated hunting situations, live fire exercises, educational and responsibility events, YHEC helps build upon skills learned in basic hunter education courses and encourages safer, lifelong hunting habits.

Wondering what makes YHEC so much fun?

Check out these five reasons below!

1. Time To Be Outdoors Forget the classroom. When youth attend a state or local YHEC, they will experience a fun, unique and interactive hunter education event that goes far beyond the lessons taught in basic hunter certification courses.

Better yet, it’s all outdoors! Most YHEC events feature four live-fire shooting events and four responsibility events designed to simulate real-life hunting situations.

The archery, shotgun, muzzleloader and .22 rifle shooting events cover all the firearm bases so youth can further develop and improve their marksmanship and firearm safety skills. The hunter responsibility exam, hunter safety trail, orienteering and wildlife identification events are both interactive and educational. They allow youth to learn through hands-on safety lessons rather than lectures in a classroom. YHEC participants will have to blaze a trail with only a map and compass, distinguish between wildlife species based on real animal parts and prove they can make responsible safety decisions that every hunter must face while in a simulated hunting environment.

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2. Something For The Entire Family Family plays a key role in a young hunter’s development and it is important to the YHEC program that parents and family members get involved. Ninety-one percent of YHEC participants were introduced to hunting by a parent and as a result, family members can contribute in a variety of ways. At YHEC events across the country, parents serve as coaches for individuals and teams or as volunteers to handle registrations, manage logistics, track scores, etc. Multiple siblings can participate as most YHEC events are open to ages 18 and under and all are designed to be spectator friendly so family members can provide encouragement and show support for their child during the event. Because of the inclusive nature of the program, entire families can benefit from the shared experience of a YHEC event.

3. NRA Approved Any person with the right venue, volunteers and passion for hunting can start a YHEC. The NRA does not charge anything to host an event and provides a great deal of support in an effort to grow state and local YHEC programs across the country. NRA provides a variety of materials at no cost to the event including t-shirts, bags, life-size paper targets, scorebooks, bumper stickers, certificates of participation, orange safety tape and more. Insurance and marketing support (including email blasts, posters and brochures) are also made available. Additionally, YHEC provides grant opportunities through The NRA Foundation and has a subsidy program set up for official state events in which $10 is given for every participant to help cover some of the costs associated with hosting.

4. High Level Competition Since 1985, NRA has hosted the YHEC National Championship, inviting individuals and teams from state and local YHEC programs from all over the country to

compete in all eight shooting and responsibility events over the course of four days. This is the highest level of the YHEC program and successful individuals and teams can earn great prizes and awards based on their performances.

NYHEC is more than a competition, it is a gathering place for the nationwide YHEC family. Special activities like the nightly swap meet, flu-flu arrow competition and the turkey shoot are fun for the whole family and help foster comradery and long-lasting friendships. Many teams travel thousands of miles and come back to NYHEC year after year. In 2017, over 300 youth participated in the NYHEC in Raton, New Mexico, and we expect another great turnout at the next NYHEC in Mansfield, PA in July of 2018.

5. Paving The Way For The Future The future of hunting and firearm ownership is constantly under threat. To make sure hunting traditions of this country are preserved for future generations, young people need to be exposed to hunting and shooting in the

right environment. YHEC is a perfect program to introduce kids to hunting in a fun and positive way. It also keeps them involved in hunting year-round and maintains their interest in outdoor activities. According to a recent survey, over 79 percent of YHEC participants have purchased a hunting license in their home state and 23.6 percent have one in another state. Since 1985, this program has educated and provided opportunities to over 1.25 million adolescents, reaching over 8,000 participants in 36 states at 50 local events this past year at the local/state level. Growing and supporting the YHEC program will only help to create more advocates for hunting, conservation and firearm ownership.

For more information about NRA’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge, including where to f ind a local or state event and how to host your own YHEC, visit yhec.nra.org, email yhec@nrahq.org, or call (800) 492-4868.

Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 7

National School Shield Doubles Down on Training in 2017

By Sheila Brantley, Director , National School Shield

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nnounced in December 2012, the NRA’s National School Shield® program is quickly gaining traction in many communities across the nation with a singular mission – to protect our children.

Each year, our nation’s schools are entrusted to provide a safe environment for approximately 55 million elementary and secondary school students in both public and private K-12 schools. Families and communities expect schools to keep their children safe from threats - no task is more important than creating a secure learning environment for America’s youth.

Recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to school security, the National School Shield® program is committed to addressing the many facets of school security, including best practices in security infrastructure, technology, personnel, training, and policy. Through this multidimensional effort, National School Shield® seeks to engage communities and empower leaders to help make our schools more secure.

One proven and effective way to enhance security in schools is to conduct a comprehensive vulnerability assessment. These assessments provide an all-inclusive approach to analyzing a school’s climate, physical security, communications systems, and overall preparedness.

Vulnerability assessments highlight and reinforce what a school is doing right to keep students and staff safe, and highlights potential areas requiring improvement.

A cornerstone of the National School Shield® program is the Security Assessor Training, which seeks to facilitate a partnership between schools and local stakeholders in a

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shared commitment to more secure schools. At the conclusion of this training, participants are adequately primed to conduct school vulnerability assessments - assisting schools in recognizing security strengths as well as potential vulnerabilities.

The first National School Shield® Security Assessor Training was held in TN in August 2015 and has since continued to grow. By the end of 2016, program staff successfully completed an additional five (5) trainings and expanded into ID, PA, and SD. By the end of 2017, program staff will have completed eleven (11) additional trainings in even more states including AK, KS, MT, OH, OR, TX, VA, and WA – more than double the trainings offered in the previous year in both quantity and geographical reach.

“2016 was very much a proof of concept—adjusting the schedule based on training attendee feedback, adding in more hands-on engagement and group work—giving the training a solid footing and receiving approval in multiple states proved to us that the curriculum was unique, timely and in demand,” said Sheila Brantley, National School Shield® Program Director. “2017 is all about growth— adding to our instructor cadre and expanding our training host locations to empower many more communities across our nation to take a proactive lead in protecting our children.”

For more information about the National School Shield® program, including more information about the Security Assessor Training, please visit https://www.nationalschoolshield.org/

Get started at www.clearent.com/NRA/

Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 9

BRAND GUIDELINES

The group gathers on the lawn of George Washington's Mount Vernon NRA Youth Education Summit Logo

Primary Logo

Secondary Logo

By 2017 Youth Education Summit Alumni, Gianna Guzzo, Brent Hinchcliff, Simon Sefzik, Peter Leonard and Emily Rassmussen

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n Monday, July 24th, 46 students from 35 different states embarked on a weeklong journey to THE NRA YOUTH EDUCATION SUMMIT LOGO Washington, D.C., for the 2017 National NRA Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.). Beginning with introductions and icebreaker activities on that first day and continuing with teamwork on formal debates and discussions of current events throughout the week, participants met and built relationships with peers from around the country.

As the group took in the inspiring sights around the D.C. area, the program brought history textbooks to life and encouraged students to explore their interests in the military, politics and the shooting sports. From museum visits and meeting with a congressman to honoring the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery and shooting at the NRA Range, the week’s activities centered around these common themes of history, government, military and shooting.

Every experience during Y.E.S. connected to history in some way. The NRA National Firearms Museum featured weapons from wars and other impactful periods in America’s past. The federal government branches the students visited have preserved Americans’ rights and freedoms since the establishment of the Constitution.

Memorials reminded everyone of the greatest leaders, heroes and defenders of 10 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

Photo Credits: Peter Fountain and Tyler Proksa

freedom in American history.

An important part of America’s freedom is her democracy. During the summit, students got a firsthand look at the institutions and procedures involved in the democratic process and American politics. They met with Congressman Jeff Duncan of South Carolina who spoke about the importance of the Second Amendment and continued by sharing encouraging words with the students and answering a few questions. They toured the U.S. Capitol—including a stop in the House Gallery—visited the Supreme Court and explored the National Archives, where they saw the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. A current events discussion and a formal debate provided the opportunity for the students to engage in the political process by discussing relevant and timely topics.

The military theme also wove through many of the week’s events and experiences. The National Museum of the Marine Corps immersed the students in that branch’s history before the group honored its members at the Iwo Jima Memorial. On the last day of the summit, a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery provided the opportunity to honor all of the servicemen and women who paid the ultimate price for

Posing at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial

HISTORY

Americans’ freedom and liberty.

While some participants came to Y.E.S. with little to no experience with shooting, many brought with them a background in and enthusiasm for the shooting sports.

Everyone had the chance to shoot at the NRA Range after learning how the NRA works to promote firearms safety and education through a variety of different programs.

Students left their visit to NRA Headquarters with the tools to bring these programs back to their own communities.

All the Y.E.S. students, regardless of their familiarity with firearms, are patriots and protectors of the Constitution.

This program has empowered them to go out into the world with each other’s support to preserve the rights and liberty granted to every American citizen. The students of Y.E.S. will Lead the Legacy of freedom into the next generation. – GIANNA GUZZO (NY)

From the moment that the airplane began its approach to Reagan International Airport, everything for which this nation has struggled lay before my eyes. With a glimpse of the Washington Monument—standing tall above the rest of the city—through the small window port, I was struck anew with wonder at what great things had been accomplished in this one city, the capital of the United States. Many world-changing decisions were made right here, and now myself and 45 other Y.E.S. participants would walk the same paths that great American and world leaders have for hundreds of years.

The NRA National Firearms Museum provided our first close-up encounter of history in the Washington, D.C., area. Walking through the softly glowing corridors, each turn revealed a new room and a new realm of firearm ingenuity. Students who already had a strong interest in and knowledge of firearms history shared their passion with others, creating their own mini-tours of the collection.

From old flintlocks and a rifle used by John Wayne in filming, to the types of firearms used by our servicemen and women today, we watched the evolution of firearms unfold before us.

The next day’s activities continued to awe and inspire.

The U.S. Capitol building was one of the most impressive sights of the week. We witnessed the Statue of Freedom, perched high above us atop the dome and standing as a reminder that Americans are a free people.

The huge scale of the ornate building truly represents the importance and power of what takes place inside—the passage of legislation to protect the nation’s citizens and Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 11

their personal rights and liberties. Sitting in the House Chamber and watching representatives speak on various issues, we observed the political struggle that Congress goes through every day. “It is amazing to think,” remarked Gianna Guzzo (NY), “that this is where everything that allows us to be here today happens.”

Walking through the National Mall and Memorial Parks to see the monuments was no less immersive. From the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech to the pattering fountain at the World War II Memorial, each place struck the group with reverence and respect at the moments of history that they stand for.

By the end of the week, we were sad to leave D.C. because of how great it was to learn so much there. But now we are left with pictures and memories of the past, and it is time to make our own mark on the history of this great nation. – BRENT HINCHLIFF (CA)

POLITICS

“Ever since I was a young child, service in political office seemed to me to be something reserved for only the ‘great’ people,” remarked Jonathan McCormick Jr. (Oklahoma). “But fortunately, I was mistaken. I realized that our government—‘of, by, and for the people’—not only allows but also necessitates that our nation’s leaders arise from the People. With this in mind, I chose to apply for the NRA Youth Education Summit. To my jubilation, I was selected!”

Jonathan is not unlike the 45 other students who attended this year’s Y.E.S.—students who understand the importance of civics, government, current events and respectful discourse. At the summit, the NRA provided us all with a productive and engaging way to learn about our nation’s history and how we can impact its future.

The group was privileged to meet Congressman Duncan on the steps of the Capitol as he spoke about the importance of civil liberties and self-defense. Being in the nation’s capital alone is incredibly honoring, and we were grateful to meet with and learn from the experience of an elected official.

The same day, we enthusiastically attended a session of the House of Representatives and toured the Capitol, learning about the history and architecture of the legislative branch. Then we heard a presentation on the history and legacy of the judiciary branch at the Supreme Court.

Everyone was particularly intrigued to learn that the “Highest Court in the Land” is actually a basketball court on the top floor of the building!

One of the most exciting activities of the week, especially for the students interested in pursuing a future in politics, was the current events discussion. Groups used their research and analysis to formulate answers to 12 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

relevant policy issues. For example, our group answered questions about stand-your-ground laws and the importance of the castle doctrine. These discussions were moderated and observed by NRA staff from various departments including legal, executive and grant management. Though groups and individuals disagreed on some topics, all discussions proceeded in a direct yet respectful manner—a refreshing thought in today’s polarized political environment.

Students also participated in formal team debates at Hillsdale College’s Kirby Center. Engaging in constructive conversations, we discussed topics such as drug abuse, gun violence, violent video games and society’s obligation regarding social welfare. Each student did research and preparation ahead of time in coordination with their assigned teammates, and it was a rewarding experience to work in the debate groups to formulate and present our arguments. Everyone not only did a fantastic job, but also learned a lot in the process.

I will never forget my Y.E.S. experience—neither the organized activities provided by the NRA nor the valuable one-on-one conversations with my peers. I was engaged, empowered, challenged and inspired. Our nation needs leaders, especially in its youth, and I know many were made during the 2017 Youth Education Summit.

– SIMON SEFZIK (WA)

MILITARY

On Thursday afternoon, the Y.E.S. group toured the National Museum of American History. As I walked through the exhibits with Canlin Dionne (LA), I felt a spark of curiosity. On the spur of the moment, I asked Canlin how the military history exhibit—The Price of Freedom: Americans at War—made him feel. Despite the broadness of the question, he handled it very deftly.

“Peter, I don’t really know how I feel, per se,” he began in his Louisiana accent. “But I do now know that these people were real. They fought for us and died for us.

They’re not just names in books but people who lived.

This place has really made that clear for me.”

That sentiment has stuck with me ever since he spoke those words. All of my peers were affected by the monuments we visited in unique ways. To each of us the museums carried different messages. Statues and exhibits alike portrayed valorous and honorable people from American history. As we visited several memorials, including the Vietnam, Lincoln, Korean, World War II, Iwo Jima and Thomas Jefferson, each imparted unique meanings to us all.

But there was a subtle, shared nuance in my interpretation of the monuments that the rest of my peers who also want to serve in the military understood. We all learned that military service isn’t all action and heroics, but that —when it comes down to duty on the battlefield, in the sky or at sea—as a soldier, airman or sailor one must be prepared to make the same sacrifice as so many have before us.

“The monuments and museums inspired me in a couple of ways,” shared Stephen Garner (TX). “One thing that struck me is that we have never gone to conquer but rather to liberate others or to defend ourselves. Most people don’t have the freedoms of Americans, and these monuments are devoted to the men and women who have sacrificed their lives so that others can experience those freedoms and so that we may continue to experience ours.”

Despite this insight, none of us have faltered in our desire to serve our country in the military; we have steeled our will. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to visit all of the historic and sacred locations afforded to us

by Y.E.S., and we will seek to preserve our country’s legacy of freedom. – PETER LEONARD (FL)

SHOOTING

It’s a situation that many people are familiar with—the first time you meet someone new and begin the process of answering their questions about you, your interests, your hobbies. Usually for me it goes something like: “What’s your name? Where are you from? What do you do for fun?” “Emily. Wisconsin. I shoot.”

“Shoot? Like, ‘pew pew’?” “Well, kind of…”

When I came to Y.E.S., for the first time in my life I was in a place where I didn’t have to explain what competitive shooting was. Sure, I had to explain some of the specific clay target disciplines, but in this group it wasn’t abnormal to be a competitive shooter. Everyone at the summit had shot at least once, and many did recreationally or competitively. On day one it already felt like home.

The first place we got to visit during the week was NRA Headquarters. This included hearing from NRA program leaders, participating in a mock Friends of NRA banquet, a tour of the NRA National Firearms Museum, and—my favorite part—shooting at the NRA Range.

After receiving a safety briefing and eye and ear protection, we spread out across the lanes and took turns shooting a variety of pistols and rifles. For some students this was one of their first shooting experiences; for others this was just another Tuesday. No matter where we fell on the spectrum, each of us beamed with excitement and joy. The range also filled with quite a bit of yelling since we were still trying to get to know each other through ear plugs and the noise of bullets.

Throughout the week we continued to learn more about the Second Amendment from leaders at the NRA, from our peers during the current events discussions and from the Bill of Rights itself at the National Archives.

But what stuck with me most was the conversations I had with my peers. Talking with Quinton Taylor (OH) and Cristián Lee (AZ) revealed that we had all been at the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Nationals just a week before. Grayson Davey (AK) and I compared which top competitive shooters we knew and followed.

It was interesting to talk with some of the students who just shot for fun and weren't out on the line at least twice a week. I learned a lot from their mentality when it came to shooting. And even though we came from different states, had different backgrounds and shot differently, our passion for the Second Amendment and our desire to protect it brought us together.

I thought the hardest part about Y.E.S. week would be being away from my shotgun. But, in reality, leaving all the wonderful people who changed my life for the better was much harder. – EMILY RASSMUSSEN (WI) Now it’s your turn! NRA is calling all young leaders interested in Leading the Legacy for the 2018 Youth Education Summit! The summit will run for two, one-week sessions: July 9–July 15 and July 23–July 29.

To apply please email yes@nrahq.org, call (800) 672-3888, ext. 1351, or visit yes.nra.org. Application deadline is January 12, 2018.

Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 13

Planning Your 2018 Brownells/NRA Day Event

By Samantha Olsen

I

t’s that time of year again to start making preparations for the 2018 Shooting Sports Season. Don’t wait until the last minute to get started. Remember, the earlier your club plans an event, the more options of facilities, equipment, and dates you have to choose from. If your club doesn’t know where to begin, below are some suggestions to help start your Shooting Sports year in the correct direction:

Request 2018 Information If you have not planned a Brownells/NRA Day Event before, contact the Brownells/NRA Day Program Specialist at (703) 267-1472 or nraday@nrahq.org and request the Brownells/NRA Day Planning Guide or visit the website for a digital download of the Planning Guide at: http://nraday.nra.org.

Form a Planning Committee Planning a Brownells/NRA Day can be easy if you start early and have help. Form a committee dedicated to organizing the event. With a team, tasks can be divided and given to the members of the committee. Each person could be assigned chair positions of subcommittees (for example, the Event Director can be the head of the Planning Committee and the smaller subcommittees can include volunteer committee, safety committee, equipment and facilities committee, advertising committee, etc.). This way, members are responsible for one task and can focus their time and energy on achieving the goals of the subcommittee and planning committee.

Select Event Type The committee should choose the type that best fits the club and its firearm specialty.

• SAFETY AND FIREARM EDUCATION (Family event, open to everyone) Participants learn how to safely handle, load, shoot, and unload a variety of different guns.

• BASIC SHOOTING EVENT (Family event, open to everyone) Participants complete a formal NRA Basic Course of Instruction (10-14 hours) or an NRA First Steps Course of Instruction (3 hours) enhanced with plenty of range time to apply lessons learned, receive personalized instruction, and develop confidence on the range.

• HUNTERS EVENT (Family event, open to everyone) Participants explore a variety of informative and educational topics such as hunting ethics and responsibility, wildlife identification, field techniques, orienteering, gun handling/shooting, and gun and bow hunting.

• COMPETITION EVENT (Family event, open to everyone) Participants learn how to hone the skills and techniques that give a competitive edge in matches and championships. Competition camps can be conducted at beginner, intermediate or advanced skill levels.

14 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

• YOUTH SPORTSFEST EVENT (Closed event, limited to youth) Youth participants are introduced to the fun and excitement of shooting sports in a safe, positive, and educational environment. Each SportsFest has its own specialized program based on the resources, expertise, and facilities at the sponsor’s disposal.

• SHOTGUN EVENT (Family event, open to everyone) Participants learn the ins and outs of shotgun shooting and the specifics of the game of Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, or 5-Stand.

• SPECIAL INTEREST EVENT (Closed event, limited to a specific audience.) Sponsors promote new or locally popular shooting activities, or design programs that meet the needs of more specialized segments of the population, such as scouts, youth conservation clubs, and high adventure groups.

• NRA 3 GUN EXPERIENCE EVENT (Family event, open to everyone.) This is a safe familyfun mildly competitive recreational event. Utilizing modern sporting .22 rifles .22 pistols and shotguns as well as AirSoft rifles pistols and shotguns this activity is designed to fully equip each participant with the same firearms and ammunition to give them a level playing field. Depending how the shooting course is staged participants may also have to demonstrate their athletic and tactical abilities.

Set Event Date After knowing the event type and possible volunteers, plan for several possible event dates and schedule your event with a facility as soon as possible. The desired range or center may hold several events per year. Plan early to get the best possible date to make your camp a success.

Fill out 2018 Brownells/NRA Day Application Properly After the date is set, the facility is booked, and camp type has been selected, now it’s time to fill out the 2018 Brownells/NRA Day Event Application. The application must have the following criteria filled out to be accepted: • Event Name (the words Brownells/NRA Day MUST be in the event name) • Event(s) Date(s) • Location (Including the range name, city and state)

• Event Director with contact information • Contact Person with contact information (It may be event director) • Select only ONE event theme

In addition to the application, it is required that a rough draft of the event flyer and the materials order form sheet (included with application). It is very important to fill out the form correctly; any mistakes may delay the processing of your application.

The application is free and is available online at http://nraday.nra.org. You must first register as an Event Director before the application can be submitted. Please remember to submit the application a minimum of 60 days prior to the event. All events registered will receive, free of charge, up to 50 t-shirts, 15 staff hats, lapel pins, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program Booklets and the Gun Safety Rules Card. If you have any questions or need help with the planning process or the event application, contact the Brownells/NRA Day Program Specialist at (703) 267-1472 or nraday@nrahq.org. Have a safe and wonderful 2018 Shooting Sports Season!

Offering a shooting event or clinic at your club or range?

Brownells/NRA Day is just the program for you! With numerous event themes to choose from, you can provide a lifetime experience that the entire family can enjoy in a safe environment.

Register your event today and receive Brownells/NRA branded materials and more for free!

DAY

For more information, visit: http://nraday.nra.org Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 15

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NRAGunClubInsurance.Com 7300 College Boulevard, Suite 500 | Overland Park, KS 66210 | www.MyNRAInsurance.com All programs administered by Lockton Affinity, LLC. | D/B/A Lockton Affinity Insurance Brokers, LLC. | California License #0795478 Product availability is dependent on your state of residence. All coverage descriptions are a summary and not complete descriptions of all terms, exclusions and conditions in the master policy on file at NRA Headquarters. NRA Member dues and contributions are not used for this promotion, program or any other related expenses.

Coverage descriptions are a summary and not complete descriptions of all terms, exclusions and conditions in the policies. No NRA dues or contributions were used in this promotion. of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey • Winter 16*• U.S. NRABureau SPORTS MAGAZINE 2018

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18 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

Hunters for the Hungry 2017 Annual Report

By Emilie Meade, Special Projects Coordinator, Outdoor Recreational Programs

D

id you know there are 13.7 million hunters in the United States alone, according the US National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife? In 2015, 43.1 million people were living in poverty in the US (13.5% of the population), and 42.2 million Americans live in food insecure households? The NRA back in 1993 started an initiative to assist in providing food to the needy in the US by capitalizing off the millions of active hunters we have in the United States.

The NRA’s initiative is called Hunters for the Hungry. It’s been around since 1993 and currently 47 states have a program or affiliate of this initiative. The idea is that hunters, who max out their tags, have an opportunity to donate any unwanted game meat to the needy. The hunter gets to continue doing the recreational activity they enjoy, than processors who are affiliated with the states version of their Hunters for the Hungry program will process the meat, and depending on the state it would be for free, or a discounted rate. Then the low fat, high protein meat is donated to the local food bank, ministry, etc. for distribution. This way the hunter is giving back to his immediate community.

Since the start of Hunters for the Hungry, on average annually 2,029,353 pounds of protein are donated nationwide, which translates to 8,117,412 meals distributed. In 2016 the top 5 states for meat donations were: Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Ohio, and New York.

Top Five States for 2017 collection: Virginia • Missouri Iowa • Pennsylvania Ohio

2015-2016

Meal total 6,522,288 Pounds of Meat 1,630,572

2016-2017

Meal total 6,189,512 Pounds of Meat 1,547,378

Essentially the NRAs major role with Hunters for the Hungry is to act as a Clearinghouse of information to connect hunters with participating processors/programs. Currently the NRA has a GeoTagged map available online which allows people to find processors AND taxidermists in their area.

If a processor were interested in becoming affiliated with Hunters for the Hungry they would need to find their state program. Most states programs provide some funding to cover the butchering costs associated. (State affiliates can apply for NRA Foundation Grants in order to distribute and alleviate costs left for the hunters to endure when donating protein) Every state differs in the types of game meat they accept in donations. Venison is the primary donated protein, but elk, bear, goose, and livestock are also accepted depending on the state. If your state is interested in starting a Hunters for the Hungry program we suggest they contact the state's Department of Natural Resources.

As an individual looking to donate, currently online at https://hfth.nra.org/get-involved/ there is a GeoTagged map that will help you find a participating butcher in your area. If there isn’t one on the map please contact your state affiliate program which information is available in an excel sheet on the website for your convenience. Each state has different regulations on donated game. Please contact your local drop off location prior to be sure you meet these regulations.

For more information or promotional materials please email hservices@nrahq.org or call (800) 492 4868 opt. 3.

Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 19

NEW: NRA One-Mile Club Extreme Long Range Rifle Match

NRA Extreme Long Range debuts at the 2017 High Power Rifle Nationals

Match runner-up Corbin Shell using his KO2M gun, a .338 Lapua Magnum Improved barrel-block rifle.

By John Parker, Managing Editor, Shooting Sports USA n between this year’s National must be smaller than .50 BMG. Any High Power Rifle Mid Range sights, bipod, tripod or bench is allowed. and Long Range Championships at The timed course of fire allowed for Camp Atterbury, IN, the NRA de15 rounds in 10 minutes — five rounds buted the One-Mile Club Extreme at each of the three distances. Only Long Range (ELR) Match. Bright after confirmed impact are competitors and early at 7:30 a.m. on July 20, the allowed to continue to the next disorder of firing was taken by random tance. Shooters that hit the target at draw.

1800 yards were awarded the NRA The One-Mile Club Match uses One-Mile Certificate and Club pin.

36-inch square AR500 steel targets Scoring was point-based with multithat competitors fired at 1400-, 1575-, pliers, a 5x bonus for making a first and 1788-yard distances. Rifle calibers shot hit, 4x for second, etc.

I

Team Applied Ballistics sets the standard for ELR competition.

Inaugural NRA ELR match winner Mitchell Fitzpatrick shooting, with teammates Bryan Litz and Paul Phillips (seated in chair) assisting.

20 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

Some of the best rifle shooters around attended the inaugural event — David Tubb, Bryan Litz, Corbin Shell, and last year’s King of 2 Miles champion Mitchell Fitzpatrick — just to name a few. For ELR, knowledge of the equipment used and additionally the ability to adapt to conditional factors such as wind, temperature, light, etc. is paramount for successful shooting at such long distances.

Shell and Fitzpatrick showed off

their long range rifle shooting prowored to have won the inaugural NRA ess — both shooters were tied with ELR match. As ELR grows … it will zero misses at all three yardages going be awesome to look back and know into the shootoff. To break the tie, an we were in at the ground level. Also, MR2 (1000-yard) target center was it should be noted that my extractor attached to the backer at a mindbroke on the second shot at 1788 blowing 1988 yards (1.13 miles). yards, and I ended up having to fire After Fitzpatrick continued his perfect streak of hits, Targetvision is a great Corbin had his first miss of accessory for long range the day, giving Fitzpatrick rifle shooting verifying the win — becoming the hits far downrange. very first NRA One-Mile The camera could also ELR Champion. be viewed on tablets Says Fitzpatrick: and smartphones.

“We pulled off the win by shooting clean, never missing a shot! the last three shots while extracting It was a great event and I look forward my cases with a cleaning rod from to competing in the coming years. the muzzle end.”

They are trying to extend the facility NRA partnered with a few companies to make it a 2400-yard match. With like Targetvision and GSL Technology the NRA having such a rich competitive to aid in confirming hits. Targetvision shooting history… I am beyond hon- provided wireless remote TV cameras

that were placed near each of the targets at each yardage. The video feed was sent to monitors and tablet computers, allowing scorers to see hits on steel in real time. Additionally, GSL Technology provided a drone to capture aerial footage of the match.

Director of NRA Competitive Shooting, Cole McCulloch said, “This is only the beginning of what we can do at Camp Atterbury.

Having a venue with this kind of ELR capability is the just tip of the iceberg.”

2017 NRA Extreme Long Range Leaderboard Winner Mitchell Fitzpatrick 71445 2nd Corbin Shell 71445 3rd Randy Pike 62505 4th Paul Phillips 57293 5th Dan Pohlabel 55505 6th M. White 54767 7th Rusty Phillips 45819 8th Kent Reeve 43225 9th Bryan Litz 42753 10th David Tubb 39390

Rifle calibers up to .50BMG are allowed.

Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 21

Clubs Recruiting for the NRA

By David Helmer, NRA Marketing Representative

T

he NRA Recruiting Program offers gun/hunt clubs the opportunity to strengthen and grow the NRA, while also earning up to $25 for every new member they enroll. With heavy influence on Second Amendment support and practice at the local level, all firearm-related clubs should seriously consider becoming an NRA Recruiter.

It is easy to get your club started as a recruiter and with the right strategy, it is easy to quickly become successful.

Many clubs will associate their club’s renewal with NRA renewal, earning sufficient funds for their treasury with limited effort. Other clubs choose to push NRA membership in their community, signing up members at various events along with all guests who visit the range.

Successful NRA club recruiters realize benefits in addition to commission, once they push for 100% NRA membership and learn about associated awards. No matter the size of your club, you can make a positive difference for NRA. Reach out to us and join the fight the grow the NRA today!

If you have any questions in regards to the program or you would like to get started, please contact me directly at dhelmer@nrahq.org or (703) 267-3781.

The Marksmanship Qualification Club Challenge By Claudia Olsen, Co-op Program Coordinator

T

he Marksmanship Qualification Program, started in 1903, is NRA's flagship core developmental program. Over the course of 114 years, Instructors and Coaches alike have lent a hand in fostering safer shooting skills of new participants in all age groups across the country with the aid of NRA’s Marksmanship Qualification Program. Participation is a year round activity providing incentive with awards for developing and improving marksmanship skills.

The National Rifle Association’s Youth Programs administrates the Marksmanship Qualification Program (MQP) and wants to thank all of the hard working Coaches, Instructors and Club Members who’ve contributed and taken interest with the program—ultimately promoting and growing NRA’s reach. Additionally, NRA Youth Programs is delighted to know its highly skilled mentors have aided MQP participants, guiding them with tips and pointers to achieve better scores and advance through the ranks.

The Marksmanship Qualification Club Challenge wants to thank all of the participating clubs nationwide and would like to encourage new clubs to join. The National Rifle Association is pleased to announce it will be awarding the Club Challenge award to NRA affiliated clubs that have submitted the most Distinguished Expert recognitions within one calendar year, to NRA Headquarters, in three categories; Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun. The winning Clubs will be awarded certificates of excellence and recognized within NRA Sports magazine for each category.

For a detailed program guide to the Marksmanship Qualif ication Program, please visit http://mqp.nra.org.

To learn more about the Marksmanship Qualif ication program or the Club Challenge, or if you have additional questions, please contact our Marksmanship Qualif ication coordinator at (703) 267-1505 or email marksmanship@nrahq.org.

22 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

heritage of the

southwest

Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest tells the history of the region from the earliest Native American inhabitants through early Spanish exploration, the Civil War, and the Old West. It features exceptional decorated arms by modern American engravers, along with competition firearms like those used today on the famous Whittington ranges. 575-445-3615

Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 23

National Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors

By Claudia Olsen, Co-op Program Coordinator

NRA

’s Youth Programs is proud to introduce the 2018 Brownells/NRA National Youth Shooting Sports Ambassador. We are happy to announce that this year we have added on a new organization to the group, the Marine Corps JROTC. The different youth shooting sports organizations that make up the Brownells/NRA National Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors are; Boy Scouts of America, BSA’s Venturing, National High School Rodeo, Royal Rangers, USA Shooting, JROTC and one youth representing NRA. The Ambassadors are chosen by their respective organization and go through a rigorous application process, taking into account not only their involvement in the shooting sports but their academic standings, leadership and commitment to their community.

Boy Scouts of America: Kaleb Rulon, 17, from Arcadia, IN. Kaleb started shooting when he was 10 years old with a .22 and has since moved on to the shotgun sports.

Shotgun shooting is what lead him to join other youth organizations to further his shooting abilities and goals. Kaleb is an NRA Shotgun Instructor and plans to continue to be involved with scouting once he is an adult.

BSA Venturing: James Frasier, 16, of Queen Creek, AZ. James competes in Shotgun, Rifle, and Pistol and he organizes shooting opportunities for youth in Boy Scouts which he finds very rewarding. James’ future plans are attending the US Naval Academy and obtaining an engineering degree then serve our country.

Marine Corps JROTC: Brielle Smith 17, from Albuquerque, NM. Brielle is part of her High School JROTC Rifle Team. As a proud member of her team, she has gone with them to numerous national competitions and has qualified and attended the Junior Olympics. Brielle has her sights set on attending the Naval Academy.

National High School Rodeo Association: 17 year old Ethan Usher from Santa Ynez, CA enjoys many of the shooting disciplines. Ethan competes in Light Rifle and Trap for the California High School Rodeo Association in addition to some of the more traditional rodeo events such as Team Roping and Steer Wrestling. He plans to attend California Polytechnic State University and to continue his rodeo career through college and then transfer into the professional rodeo with the PRCA.

Royal Rangers: Hunter Wealot 18, from Macon, GA. A young man that lives up to his name, he is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. Hunter not only likes taking aim with a firearm, he also shoots a lot of photographs of game.

Hunter has earned a lot of awards in his program and is looking forward to creating shooting teams within his local outpost.

USA Shooting: Nic Moschetti, from Broomfield, CO. At 19 he is the oldest and the most experienced shooter of the group. Having competed in several National Championships and World Cup Matches, he brings with him experience and knowledge. He was also on the 14th consecutive National Championship winning shooting team at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, MO. Nic has now transferred to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs where he will pursuit his degree in Sports management. This move has allowed him to become a Resident Athlete at the Olympic Training Center, where he can focus on reaching his goal of Olympic Gold.

National Rifle Association: As the winner of the 2017 Outstanding Achievement Youth Award, Tatton Allsup is representing the NRA in the Ambassador Program. Tatton 18, from Mule Creek, NM and has been involved with the shooting sports from a young age when he learned safety from his father. Tatton has competed with the Arizona High School Rodeo Association and has qualified to represent Arizona at the High School Rodeo Nationals in both Light Rifle and Trap. Tatton has also won the State finals in trap shooting. Tatton is working on his pilot’s license and is planning to serve his country in the Armed Services.

For more information about the National Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors program, visit https://youthambassadors.nra.org, or email ambassadors@nrahq.org.

24 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award Sponsored by Brownells

Left: Winner, Tatton Allsup Above: Second Place, Taylor Rain Holland Right: Third Place, Sarah Phillips

T

he NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award recognizes junior shooters who best meet the standards of excellence in both the shooting sports and educational achievements. Requirements include: outstanding academic achievement, completion of an NRA Firearm Training Course, participation in a NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program and submission of an essay on: “What the Shooting Sports has Taught Me”.

The winner of the 2017 NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award and $5,000 is: Tatton Allsup from Mule Creek NM. At 18 Tatton has already accomplished a lot. Having spent half of his life in the shooting sports through 4-H and National High School Rodeo Association, he has already earned three Distinguished Experts in the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program. He

is the National Rifle Association’s 166th Triple Distinguished Expert. Tatton was asked to write about his future plans for another project and I think it is worth sharing as this gives insight into what an “Outstanding” young man he is.

The 2ⁿd place winner receiving $3,000 is Taylor Rain Holland 18, from Bee Branch, AR. Taylor has her sights set for the Olympic rings and making the Olympic Development Team for Shotgun Shooting. A Trap shooter from the Arkansas SCTP program she has worked hard compete in both the Jr. Olympics and the NHSRA National Finals.

The 3rd place and winner of $2,000 goes to is Sarah Phillips from Millbrook, Alabama.

“I am proud to be an American, I take pride in the 2nd Amendment, I am an NRA Lifetime Junior Member and more than anything want to one day serve my country by pursuing a career in the military. My future plans (at the moment) consist of following a career in aviation. I am currently working on my Bachelors of Science in Aviation while flying and log-ging hours as a student pilot. My first goal is to acquire my private pilot license before I graduate High School in order to jump start my journey. Obtaining this f irst goal will instill my conf idence to push forward to achieve all that I believe I can do. Everyone is born with an inner pilot, but there is only a select few who can tap into it and let their wings take flight!” — Tatton Allsup To f ind out more about the NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award, please visit https://awards.nra.org/awards/brownellsnra-outstanding-achievement-youth-award/ Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 25

The following is a reprint of Tatton Allsup's essay as submitted to NRA.

26 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

The following is a reprint of Tatton Allsup's essay as submitted to NRA.

Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 27

The following is a reprint of Tatton Allsup's essay as submitted to NRA.

28 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • Winter 2018

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Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 29

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Winter 2018 • NRA SPORTS MAGAZINE • 31

NRA Affiliated State Associations AL STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N Address Currently Unavailable 256-534-7968 Website Currently Unavailable

ID STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N PO Box 140293 Boise, ID 83714-0293 208-452-0293 www.idahosrpa.org

MN RIFLE & REVOLVER ASS'N, INC. P.O. Box 143 Farmington, MN 55024 320-968-6898 www.mrra.org

AK OUTDOOR COUNCIL, INC. 310 K St Ste 200 Anchorage, AK 99501 907-264-6645 www.alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org

IL STATE RIFLE ASS'N, INC. P.O. Box 637 420 E. Locust St. Chatsworth, IL 60921 815-635-3198 www.isra.org

MS STATE FIREARM OWNERS ASS'N PO Box 1061 McComb, MS 39649 601-341-8797 msfoa.tripod.com

AZ STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N P.O. Box 74424 New River, AZ 85087 623-687-4251 www.asrpa.com

IN STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N, INC. Address Currently Unavailable 812-534-3258 www.isrpa.org

MO SPORT SHOOTING ASS’N P.O. Box 209 Winfield, MO 63389-1155 314-440-3811 www.missourisportshooting.org

AR RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N P.O. Box 272 Clarksville, AR 72830 501-327-4702 www.arpa-online.org

IA STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N 240 Prospect Road North Liberty, IA 52317-9660 319-626-2710 www.iasrpa.org

MT RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N P.O. Box 48 Ramsay, MT 59748 406-868-4181 www.mtrpa.org

CA RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N, INC. 271 E Imperial Hwy Ste 620 Fullerton, CA 92835 714-992-2772 www.crpa.org

KS STATE RIFLE ASS'N P.O. Box 219 Bonner Springs, KS 66012 913-608-1910 www.ksraweb.org

NE MARKSMANSHIP ASS’N PO Box 390311 Omaha, NE 68139 402-933-4881 www.nemarksmanship.org

CO STATE SHOOTING ASS'N 609 W Littleton Blvd Ste 206 Littleton, CO 80120 720-283-1376 www.cssa.org

LEAGUE of KY SPORTSMEN, INC. 2500 Handy's Bend Road Wilmore, KY 40390 859-858-0135 www.kentuckysportsmen.com

NV FIREARMS COALITION 5575 Simmons St, Ste I-176 North Las Vegas, NV 89031 702-353-5935 www.nvfac.org

CT STATE RIFLE & REVOLVER ASS'N P.O. Box 754 North Haven, CT 06473 860-480-4600 www.csrra.com

LA SHOOTING ASS'N 350 Quill Ct. Slidell, LA 70461 985-781-4174 www.louisianashooting.com

GUN OWNERS OF NH, INC. P.O. Box 847 Concord, NH 03302-0487 603-225-4664 www.gonh.org

DE STATE SPORTSMEN’S ASS'N P.O. Box 94 Lincoln, DE 19960 302-764-6899 www.dssa.us

(ME) PINE TREE STATE R&P ASS'N, INC 14 Pine Road Wiscasset, ME 04578 207-882-4713 www.mainerpa.org

ASS'N OF NJ R&P CLUBS, INC. 5 Sicomac Rd Ste 292 North Haledon, NJ 07508 973-764-4100 www.anjrpc.org

FL SPORT SHOOTING ASS'N, INC. 4105 Saltwater Blvd Tampa, FL 33615 407-701-1030 www.fssaf.wildapricot.org

MD STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N 341 Whitfield Rd Catonsville, MD 21228 410-838-1734 www.msrpa.org

NM SHOOTING SPORTS ASS'N, INC. P.O. Box 20787 Albuquerque, NM 87154 505-286-8449 www.nmssa.org

GA SPORT SHOOTING ASS’N PO Box 1733 Macon, GA 31202 478-955-7068 www.gssainc.org

(MA) GUN OWNERS’ ACTION LEAGUE

PO Box 567, 361 W Main St Northboro, MA 01606 508-393-5333 www.goal.org

NY STATE R&P ASS’N, INC. 90 S. Swan Street Suite 395 Albany, NY 12210 518-272-2654 www.nysrpa.org

HI RIFLE ASSOCIATION PO Box 543 Kailua, HI 96734 808-306-7194 www.hawaiirifleassociation.org

MI RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N P.O. Box 71 Marshall, MI 49068-0071 269-781-1223 www.michrpa.com

NC RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N P.O. Box 4116 Pinehurst, NC 28374 910-295-7220 www.ncrpa.org

NRA Clubs & Associations • 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 • clubs.nra.org

NRA Affiliated State Associations ND SHOOTING SPORTS ASS'N P.O. Box 228 Bismarck, ND 58502 701-255-4601 www.ndssa.org

UT STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N 5926 S Fashion Point Dr. #200 Ogden, UT 84403 801-499-9763 Website Currently Unavailable

OH RIFLE & PISTOL ASS’N PO Box 1201 Morehead, KY 40351-5201 513-426-7944 www.orpa.net

VT FED'N OF SPRTMN’S CLUBS, INC. PO Box 225 Lyndonville, VT 05851 802-535-7111 www.vtfsc.org

OK RIFLE ASS'N P.O. Box 280 Maud, OK 74854-0280 405-374-8262 www.oklarifle.org

VA SHOOTING SPORTS ASS’N P.O. Box 1258 Orange, VA 22960 540-672-5848 www.myvssa.org

OR STATE SHOOTING ASS’N P.O. Box 231191 Portland, OR 97281-1161 541-409-3358 www.ossa.org

WA STATE R&P ASS'N, INC. Address Currently Unavailable 206-427-8257 www.wsrpa.net

PA RIFLE & PISTOL ASS'N Address Currently Unavailable 814-236-0708 www.pennarifleandpistol.org

WV SRPA PO Box 553 Charles Town, WV 25414 304-783-5381 www.wvasrpa.org

GUN RIGHTS & SAFETY ASS'N OF PR PO Box 191919 San Juan, PR 00919-1919 787-691-1919 www.grsapr.org

WI F.O.R.C.E. PO Box 130 Seymour, WI 54165 607-799-3539 www.wi-force.org

RI 2ⁿd AMENDMENT COALITION 928 Atwood Ave Johnston, RI 02919 401-944-1600 www.ri2nd.org

WY STATE SHOOTING ASS'N, INC. Address Currently Unavailable 307-335-9323 www.wyossa.com

GUN OWNERS OF SC P.O. Box 211 Little Mountain, SC 29075 803-345-5761 www.gosc.org SD SHOOTING SPORTS ASS'N PO Box 3 Dell Rapids, SD 57022 605-428-5488 www.sdshootingsports.org TN SHOOTING SPORTS ASS'N, INC. 6653 Jocelyn Hollow Road Nashville, TN 37205 615-791-1879 www.tennesseeshootingsportsassociation.org

TX STATE RIFLE ASS'N 8411 N. IH 35 Austin, TX 78753 512-615-4200 www.tsra.com

NRA Clubs & Associations • 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 • clubs.nra.org

NRA Field Representative Directory EASTERN REGION Eastern Regional Director

Bryan Hoover

Area 1 (ME, NH, VT)

Brian Smith

Area 2 (NY) Jay Rusnock

bhoover@nrahq.org bsmith@nrahq.org jrusnock@nrahq.org

Area 3 (CT, MA, RI, NJ, Lower NY)

VACANT

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Area 4 (DE, Eastern PA)

Kory Enck

kenck@nrahq.org

Area 5 (Western PA)

Thomas Baldrige

tbaldridge@nrahq.org

Area 7 (WV, Western VA, Western MD)

Jim Kilgore

jkilgore@nrahq.org

Area 12 (Southern OH)

David Graham

dgraham@nrahq.org

Area 45 (DC, Eatern MD, Eastern VA)

David Wells

dwells@nrahq.org

Area 49 (Northern OH)

Marc Peugeot

mpeugeot@nrahq.org

Central Regional Director

Chad Franklin

cfranklin@nrahq.org

Area 13 (Northern MO)

Travis Scott

tscott@nrahq.org

CENTRAL REGION

Area 14 (IN) Craig Haggard

chaggard@nrahq.org

Area 15 (KY) John LaRowe

jlarowe@nrahq.org

Area 17 (WI) Scott Taetsch

staetsch@nrahq.org

Area 18 (Northern IL)

Michael Huber

mhuber@nrahq.org

Area 19 (MO)

VACANT

Area 23 (IA, NE)

Tim Bacon

Area 51 (MI) Allan Herman Area 52 (Southern IL)

---------------------------------------------tbacon@nrahq.org aherman@nrahq.org

Donald Higgs

dhiggs@nrahq.org

Southern Regional Director

Al Hammond

ahammond@nrahq.org

Area 8 (Eastern NC)

Garland B. Storey III

ledwards@nrahq.org

Area 9 (SC)

Freeman Coleman

fcoleman@nrahq.org

SOUTHERN REGION

Area 10 (GA) Neely Raper Area 11 (Northern FL)

Bret Eldridge

Area 16 (LA) Chad Bowen Area 22 (AL, MS)

Gene Newman

Area 42 (Western NC)

Doug Merrill

nraper@nrahq.org beldridge@nrahq.org cbowen@nrahq.org gnewman@nrahq.org dmerrill@nrahq.org

Area 43 (TN) Mike Webb

mwebb@nrahq.org

Area 48 (Southern FL)

tknight@nrahq.org

Tom Knight

NRA Clubs & Associations • 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 • clubs.nra.org

NRA Field Representative Directory MID WEST REGION Mid West Regional Director

Tom Ulik

tulik@nrahq.org

Area 20 (OK) Darren DeLong

ddelong@nrahq.org

Area 24 (KS) Christine Sharp

csharp@nrahq.org

Area 25 (Northern TX)

Terry Free

tfree@nrahq.org

Area 26 (Southern TX)

VACANT

----------------------------------------------

Area 27 (NM) Kevin Post

kpost@nrahq.org

Area 30 (CO) Brad Dreier

bdrier@nrahq.org

Area 39 (AR) Erica Willard-Dunn

ewillard@nrahq.org

Area 47 (Western TX)

Jack Cannon

jcannon@nrahq.org

Brad Kruger

bkruger@nrahq.org

WESTERN REGION Western Regional Director

Area 21 (MN) Eric Linder

elinder@nrahq.org

Area 28 (MT) Joseph Crismore

jcrismore@nrahq.org

Area 29 (WY) David Manzer

dmanser@nrahq.org

Area 33 (ID) Steve Vreeland

svreeland@nrahq.org

Area 34 (HI, OR)

Mike Carey

mcarey@nrahq.org

Area 38 (Southern AK)

Greg Stephens

gstephens@nrahq.org

Area 40 (WA) Michael Herrera

mherrera@nrahq.org

Area 41 (ND, SD)

Doug DeLaRoi

ddelaroi@nrahq.org

Area 53 (Northern AK)

Josh Toennessen

jtoennessen@nrahq.org

SOUTHWESTERN REGION Southwestern Regional Director

Jason Quick

jquick@nrahq.org

Area 6 (NV) Steve Wilson

swilson@nrahq.org

Area 31 (AZ) Winston Pendelton

wpendelton@nrahq.org

Area 32 (UT) Jim Reardon

jreardon@nrahq.org

Area 35 (Northern CA)

Daniel Wilhelm

dwilhelm@nrahq.org

Area 36 (Southern CA)

Mike Davis

mdavis@nrahq.org

Area 37 (Central CA)

VACANT

Area 46 (Eastern CA)

Cole Beverly

cbeverly@nrahq.org

Area 50 (Mid California)

Bob Anderson

banderson@nrahq.org

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NRA Clubs & Associations • 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 • clubs.nra.org

Recreational Programs & Ranges 11250 Waples Mill Road Fairfax, VA 22030

Nonprofit Org U.S. POSTAGE PAID Dulles, VA Permit No. 67

m a g a z i n e

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