A flurry of phone calls on Friday afternoon led to the appearance of NRAblog contributor Lars Dalseide on NRANews.com.

"It was great to be back in the studio and see the guys," said Dalseide. "The only odd part was being in front of the camera instead of behind the scenes."

Before he came to work at the National Rifle Association, Lars was a producer for NRANews. Then his days were spent researching stories, booking guests, and producing the live show. Now things are a touch different.

"On Friday's show, for example, I was able to promote the National Rifle & Pistol Championships, the National Police Shooting Championships, Disabled Shooting clinics, POMA, and more," said Dalseide. "If there's a choice between producing the show and appearing on the show, I'll take appearing every time."

Pictured to the right along side NRANews producer Cameron Gray, Lars ended up staying for the entire show. Before long, he started to creep back into his old producer shoes.

"I was helping with the guests, taking a few calls, and even started making camera suggestions," Dalseide recalled. "That's when I knew it was time to step back. The guys who run the show today do an incredible job. The last thing they need is me mucking up the works."

NRANews received a number of calls regarding this interview. You can now view the Lars Dalseide interview on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=N87yIvCCbNk

“Brownells, a longtime supporter of the NRA’s Law Enforcement Division, is continuing their support of the 2010 National Police Shooting Championships," Glen Hoyer, Director of NRA Law Enforcement, told us today. NRAblog will be reporting live from beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the duration of the competition, from September 19-23.

"Brownells will have representatives at a booth in the vendor hall this year, so stop by and learn more about their products, and what they have to offer the police community," Hoyer added.

As NRAblog reported, Brownells recently launched www.PoliceStore.com, a powerful website with an increased inventory.

Check it out today, and for the latest on the National Police Shooting Championships, stay tuned to NRAblog!

Earlier this year, Jerome Soltis of Soltis Rifles placed a call to NRA's Law Enforcement Division. He just learned of the Division's 50th Anniversary and wanted to make a donation. It arrived a few days ago in the form of a custom-made rifle.

A Signature Custom, Model T (Tactical), .308 Winchester rifle built by Soltis himself.

"I read a piece in American Rifleman that explained how some police departments were looking to upgrade their arsenals with more SWAT type arms," said Soltis. "This tactical rifle was designed for just that purpose."

While we can't go into all the specs, here are a few of the highlights:

• Shilen trigger
• Remington 700 action
• Krieger Match-Grade Barrel
• Vais Varmint Muzzle Brake
• Bottom Metal of one-piece Dakota steel
• DuraCoat painted Soltis Rifles custom tiger stripes
• 40mm Leupold VX-III 4.5-14X Tactical Scope with Mil-Dot Reticle

"This is an incredibly generous donation on the part of Jerome," said Law Enforcement Director Glen Hoyer. "What makes it all the more impressive is that he just called us out of the blue with the offer. This rifle is going to make someone very happy come September."

That's because September, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is when and where the rifle will officially be raffled off. Serving as headliner for the National Police Shooting Championship Awards Banquet raffle, the Soltis rifle is a welcome addition to the copious collection of firearms already scheduled for the drawing.

"It's a great way to wrap things up," said Hoyer. "These guys spend a few days competing against some of the best shots in the world. Hopefully they'll pick up a few pointers and walk away with a nice prize or two. And, I have to admit, I wouldn't mind walking away with the Soltis."

Once again, NRAblog carries the message of Gunny R. Lee Ermey straight from the range at the National Police Shooting Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. What? You aren't keeping up with your NRA Law Enforcement training? Don't let Gunny know ...

Are you a serving or retired law enforcement officer? Handy with a pistol? Feel like showing your stuff alongside the best pistol shooting policemen in the world? Then it's time to sign up for the 2010 National Police Shooting Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

With online registration available, the National Police Shooting Championship (NPSC) is easily accessible to all active and retired police and military. We're told the experience is a great test of accuracy under pressure. And you don't have to qualify before the event -- just make sure you meet the eligibility requirements, show up, and compete.

Held in New Mexico since 2006, NPSC is a traditional Police Pistol Combat tournament. Competitors spend five days shooting more than 30 matches before the champion is crowned.

For a chance to shoot at the side of previous champs like Phil Hemphill or Robert Vadasz, take a minute to sign up for the 2010 National Police Shooting Championships now. Even if you don't walk away with the title, there are still plenty of prizes and fun to go around.

As Relay 3 comes to a close and Team Matches begin, the results are beginning to shape up for the .22 Caliber Championship. 9-time National Pistol Champion Brian Zins is currently in first place with a 894-53X, with 10-time National Police Shooting Champion Phillip Hemphill in a close second with 892-49X. 

With the high scores these two have been shooting, we may see one of them walk away with top honors. This would be Zins' 10th title, and for Hemphill it would be his first, proving that he can reign supreme outside of the law enforcement arena.  

We'll have more results for you as all the final scores are entered, so stay tuned for your preliminary results from today's .22 Caliber Championship.  

Wayne LaPierre will be the keynote speaker at the 48th Annual National Police Shooting Championships (NPSC) Awards Banquet in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Awards Banquet, open to all NPSC competitors and vendors, is scheduled for Wednesday, September 22, at the Albuquerque Hilton on University Boulevard.

“On the 50th Anniversary of NRA’s Law Enforcement Division, our brand of firearms instruction has set the standard for America’s men and women in blue,” said Division Director Glen Hoyer. “Wayne LaPierre will address the enormous achievements to date in training America’s law officers and look to the challenges we still face with domestic security concerns in our post 9-11 world.”

Established in 1960, the NRA Law Enforcement Division (LED) has trained more than 50,000 Law Enforcement instructors with a focus on providing officers with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to WIN a lethal encounter.

First held in 1962, National Police Shooting Championships is directed by NRA’s Law Enforcement Division, and supported in part by the Davidson’s Law Enforcement Endowment and the Law Enforcement Training Endowment of the NRA Foundation, including generous donations from more than 100 firearm and equipment manufacturers and businesses.

Live updates and results from the 2010 NPSC will be available right here at NRAblog!

R. Lee Ermey (the infamous Gunny) straight from the range at the National Police Shooting Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico with a few choice words for Law Enforcement officers who don't participate in competitions. Take his advice and find a competition near you.

Those of you counted among the loyal viewers of NRANews – broadcast every weeknight from 9pm to midnight eastern time – should be familiar with the picture on the right. That's the actual NRANews studio where host Cam Edwards interviews guests and shares the latest firearm stories of the day.

The picture was taken during Executive Producer John Popp's traditional pre-show rundown. He checks the cameras, adjusts the lighting, sets the show clock, and so on. But even if you know the show you're probably not familiar with the shot below. That's the control room – where the magic really happens.

The technical staff here leaves nothing to chance. Everything heard or seen on the show – from the music to the graphics to the phone calls – is the result of this talented behind-the-scene team.

NRAblog stopped by earlier this week for a meeting with Executive Producer John Popp. Fresh off the road from his coverage of the Wanenmacher Tulsa Arms Show, Popp took a few minutes to talk about NRANews coverage of upcoming events, like the Annual Meeting in Charlotte, National Rifle & Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, and the National Police Shooting Championships in Albuquerque.

They'll have to pare down the equipment list when hitting the road for all those locations, but there will still be plenty of gadgets and gizmos on hand to make sure that the best product possible makes it to the airways. And with any luck, NRAblog will be there to provide the rest of the story.

Captain Phillip Hemphill, 10-time NRA National Police Shooting Champion and the 2007 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, was spotted several times at the 2010 Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show.

Finally cornered at the Rock River Arms booth, the gentle giant of a champion agreed to a brief interview with NRAblog. Hemphill has been to five SHOT Shows, and he said the 2010 show was positive. “Traffic has been off the charts, and it looks like it’s that way for everybody in the rifle business (on the show’s exhibit hall),” he said.

Hemphill, who serves as the instructor for his department’s Police Academy, assured us his “fully capable, dependable assistant” was managing the range in his absence. NRAblog snuck in a comment about the upcoming 2011 National Police Shooting Championships, hoping Hemphill would divulge his plans. “I have no idea,” was the response. An 11th title might look awfully nice, we pointed out. “It’s still a long time out,” he responded. “I just don’t know.”

We tried a different angle. “Well, maybe you should retire … Border Patrol Agent Robert Vadasz would appreciate the chance to reclaim the NPSC title.”

“Vadasz always says he shoots better when I’m there,” he said. [Vadasz won in 2008 when Hemphill stepped back from the line, and narrowly lost to Hemphill upon his 2009 return. The two are friends.] “Anything to help that boy out,” he grinned.

Stay tuned for more on Hemphill’s next move. For now, it’s back to Mississippi, sharing his knowledge with the next generation of law enforcement officers.

Remember Andrew Williams? The NRA Certified Instructor and Training Counselor hails from Trinidad and Tobago, and first met NRAblog at the 2008 National Police Shooting Championships.

Pictured at right, Williams presents Major Otmar Puljun from Suriname with his NRA Pistol Instructor Certificate. We thank him for the following update:

"Major Puljun was in Trinidad and Tobago for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting where he met Andrew Williams and was introduced in being NRA certified."

"Major Puljun is the first person to be NRA certified in Suriname," Williams continued.

"After completing the course, he said he would be carrying the new information back to his country and updating his training programs."

Do you have an update on an NRA program in your area? Drop us a line at GOblog@nrahq.org.

Thanks to Walt Hinton, who NRAblog has had the pleasure of meeting at several NRA events, for passing along the following article. It ran in his company newsletter's "Outside the Office" column:

About 10 times a year, Walt Hinton, a Rosslyn-based industrial security representative, has mere seconds to make every shot count. He travels the coast, networks with law enforcement officials, and shoots a pistol for 45 minutes straight during national police pistol combat competitions, sponsored by the NRA, of which he is a Life Member.

In 26 years of competition, Hinton has traveled to nine states, collected more than 50 trophies and participated in over 150 competitive matches, including two championships at the national level. He has also ranked in the top 25 and among the top 50 competitors four years in a row in the California Police Pistol Association.“It’s a pleasure to attend these competitions,” says Hinton. “We talk about training, meet old friends, and have an opportunity to gauge our training and skills against some of the best Municipal, County, State, Federal, Industrial and Military Law Enforcement officers in the country.”

A typical competition consists of 60 rounds, fired in five stages, each timed. Ideally, a competitor attempts to accumulate the maximum point value for a particular stage with turning targets. For example, a stage includes 24 rounds, with six shots from four positions – sitting, prone, standing left hand barricade and standing right hand barricade from 50 Yards, with a possible score of 240.

His passion for shooting keeps him busy during the season from March through October. An ex-military policeman, Hinton was hooked from his first competition at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., where he was serving as a Military Police.

“Through competitive shooting, officers are given an opportunity to perform under pressure, to gain confidence that they can perform "on the street," and to add to their training repertoire some of the finer aspects of shooting - which could someday save lives”, explains Hinton.

His most recent competition, the National Police Shooting Championship in Albuquerque, N.M., is considered the United States “World Series” of shooting sports, and draws several hundred marksmen from around the country. There, he won numerous competitions, including first place in Sharpshooter and Marksman Classification. He also placed in the top five for other categories such as Revolver, Semi-Automatic and Open Class Revolver, totaling eight trophies in the Industrial Law Enforcement Category. More...

Tinker sergeant a top marksman

“Your heart’s pumping and you’re breathing hard, but you’ve got to calm down and aim your shots,” explains Mike Henderson. “Techniques vary, but it all comes down to three things: concentration, keeping your sight picture clear and trigger squeeze.”

It’s not combat that the staff sergeant is talking about. It’s competition. And it’s tough. “It’s very, very competitive,” he says. “There are some good shooters out there.” And he should know. He’s one of them.

A combat arms instructor with the 72nd Security Forces Squadron, Henderson is the top competitive military police shooter in the country, winning the National Rifle Association’s National Police Shooting Championship in the military category two years running. Not bad, considering this is only his second year of competing. 

“I never thought I’d be doing it,” he says.

The Albuquerque Police Mounted Unit has become a favorite of competitors and staff alike at the National Police Shooting Championships in New Mexico.

Albuquerque Deputy Chief of Police Mike Castro talks about the 2009 Todd Parkins Memorial Regional NRA Match, held just before the National Police Shooting Championships in New Mexico.