Above, check out some of the shots snapped by Brownells/NRA Youth Ambassadors Ben Hayes and Jessy Hagy during their time in Vegas for the 2010 Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show.

"The best part about the SHOT Show?" NRA Youth Ambassador Ben Hayes repeats the question. "Having the chance to see the most up to date and new products in the firearm, ammunition, and outdoor gear industry along with opportunity to test a few at Media Day on the range."

"Plus, what 20 year old male would not want to spend a week in Las Vegas having fun with guns?" the Ohio State University student adds.

And stick around -- Claudia Olsen tells us all 7 youth ambassadors will make an appearance at the NRA's Annual Meetings in Charlotte!

Written by Larry Summarell, NRA Field Representative for Kentucky:

Friends of NRA: Kentucky State Meeting

Volunteer committee members from around Kentucky all came to Elizabethtown, KY again this year for the annual Friends of NRA Kentucky State Fund Committee meeting. We were honored again this year to have Mike Webb, NRA Field Representative for Tennessee, with us to share ideas for our events to continue to grow and achieve new levels. Richard D’Alauro, NRA Field Rep Specialist, also took time to come and give us new game ideas for our events. We also recognized twelve committees around the state by awarding them achievement banners to mark their success in 2009.

After lunch, the Friends of NRA grant committee and officers of the local committees stayed to distribute the funds raised in 2009 to qualified grant applicants. In 2009, Kentucky committees raised a net of $192K to support the shooting sports. $97K stayed in Kentucky and the balance went to support grants on a national level. Larry Summarell, NRA Field Representative for Kentucky, was recognized with a special gift in appreciation for his leadership and dedication to improving the Friends of NRA in Kentucky. He was presented with a Kimber Ultra Carry II “Freedom Defender."

Hats off to Kentucky Volunteer of the Year Scott Smith from the Big Rivers Friends of NRA committee in Owensboro! His tireless dedication to support the shooting sports and selfless volunteer spirit earned him this much-deserved award.

A big thank you to all our friends who attend our events and made our efforts a success! For information about an event in your area, contact Summarell at lsummarell@nrahq.org.

Fresh from the National Firearms Museum's (NFM) studio we have another segment of Curator's Corner Goes to the Movies. This week, Senior Curator Phil Schreier and NRANews Executive Producer John Popp take at look at the guns used by Denzel Washington in 2009's The Book of Eli.

In Phil's hands you see a Remington 870 Shotgun. To coincide with the movie's timeline, the pump-action 12 gauge was sawed off on both ends, distressed, and taped at the butt.

John is holding a Heckler & Koch HK45. Also distressed and taped for a weathered look, the HK is a .45 caliber semi-auto with an ergonomic grip and a convertible backstrap. It also happens to be the first gun made at HK's new facility in Newington, New Hampshire.

For the rest of the story on these beauties from the soon to be revealed Hollywood Guns exhibit, you'll have to tune in tonight for the second in a six part serial presentation as Curator's Corner Goes to the Movies at 10:20 p.m. on NRANews.com or on Sirius Patriot channel 144.

The 31st Annual National Collegiate Men's and Women's Rifle Championships will be held this weekend, March 12 & 13, at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. West Virginia and Alaska-Fairbanks are heavy favorites to add another team championship under their belt, but don't think one of the other six schools can't sweep in and take it home this year.

NRAblog will be there to cover the action and bring you updates, photos and interviews from the championships.

More...

Ann Marie Foster was thrilled to share the following news with NRAblog: "This young lady, Sydney Duncan, recently obtained Distinguished Expert.   "She's a hunter, too!" Foster said.

“This has been a great program and I have really enjoyed the challenge," Duncan told Foster. Above, Duncan has carefully collected and preserved each of her badges.

"I started shooting at 8 years old and hunting with my Dad. From the very beginning I loved it dearly," Duncan continued. "Now at 15, I am a avid hunter and a accomplished competition skeet shooter. I think everyone should try shooting sports and this program provides structure and goals to keep you on track."

"It has taught me patience and self-discipline like nothing else I have ever done," Duncan said. "I plan to support the NRA and continue shooting for the rest of my life. Look for my Distinguished Expert application in rifle and handgun very soon."

We'll keep you updated on this talented young lady! Learn more about the Winchester/NRA Qualification program here.

One of our friends over in the NRA Publications division needs your help. Ben O'Brien, Online Hunting Editor, has a blog he needs to name:

"I think the naming of any blog is probably the most crucial part of its creation," O'Brien writes. "So much goes into a name. Who I am, who I think you might want me to be, what you can expect to read and just how clever, informative and/or funny I can be."

Continue reading here.  

NRAblog told the folks down the hall that our readers are pretty creative. Our two favorites thus far are Deer Ben O'Brien and BEN DEER, DONE THAT. O'Brien is offering an American Hunter prize, and bragging rights.  Good luck!

NRA's Disabled Shooting Services touch many lives. John Powell competed in one of the department's very first indoor air rifle competitions. (Read about it here.) The MormonTimes ran the following article on Monday, and we think it's worth a read.

Disabled Texan relishing life

There's not much of anything that gets in John Powell's way.

The 61-year-old competes in the National Rifle Association's disabled shooting program and took second in the nation last year. At a recent competition in Houston, he finished second overall in the air rifle shooting and third in obstacle courses and wall climbing. He also took fifth in the disabled division of the Houston marathon.

And he's a second alternate on the U.S. Paralympic wheelchair curling team, set to compete in Vancouver this month.

"I just like the challenge," said Powell, a member of the Dallas 5th Ward, Dallas Texas East Stake. "I haven't met a challenge yet I didn't like."

When he was much younger, Powell played basketball, bowled, hunted and was an archer.

Continue reading here.

The folks over at NSSF were receiving quite a few questions about the Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show from attendees. Below, their answers:

Answers to your questions about the show

Since the show, we've received feedback in all forms, including social media, the live chat we held last month and surveys we've sent to all of the show's exhibitors and attendees.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be addressing the questions we've received and posting the answers right here on the blog.

Here is the first batch: 

Q: Can there be more staff on the floor? I had a lot of trouble finding vendors I wanted to see.
A: We will have more information staff on the floor and in the lobbies for 2011.   

Q: Will the Sands Convention Center have the roof fixed in case of rain next year? Will dry storage be considered for crates?
A: We have asked the Sands to address this for 2011. The rain we experienced was highly unusual as Las Vegas received nearly a year's worth of rain in a couple of days.

Q: Why must the SHOT Show take place in early January?
A: Because that's when the vast majority of our customers tell us they want the show. In fact, 85 percent say it should be in early January in Las Vegas.

Q: Can the SHOT Show get on a regular schedule every year? The last week of January, first week of February, etc?
A: We are currently scheduled for the third week in January but would certainly move to the second week if it became available.

Continue reading the article.

Stay tuned -- NRAblog will again be on the scene to bring you the freshest news from the 2011 Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. If you missed out, read up on our 2010 SHOT Show coverage. 

Here are this week's Friends of NRA banquets, brought to us by Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon.

"2010 Friends of NRA events have seen substantial increases in online tickets sales. Over the first quarter of 2010, www.friendsofnra.org has had over 950 ticket orders for over $45,000 in revenue, up over 600% compared to the same period in 2009," Jeremy Greene, Event Services Manager told us. "The success of the Friends of NRA website and new online ticket feature make Friends of NRA more efficient and help our volunteers in their grassroots efforts."

03/10/2010
Appleton, Wisconsin
Deer Lodge, Montana

03/11/2010
Carmel, Indiana
Diboll, Texas
Sioux City, Iowa 

More...

Joe Mosby: Take a local look at the NRA

With any large organization, a quick glance isn’t enough to tell the story. You usually need to get down to the grass roots, the local and everyday people in the group, to get a handle on what really goes on.

Today we’re talking about the National Rifle Association (NRA), but more specifically the Toad Suck Friends of NRA. That’s local people. They have their annual fundraising dinner coming up Saturday, April 17.

In the big picture, meaning nationwide, the NRA is a lightning rod. Mention the name and reactions are hot or cold. Love ‘em or hate ‘em. The major news media is partly to blame in that it quickly pushes buttons to bring forth NRA’s comments on any issue involving firearms.

We hear NRA’s strong opposition to whatever Democrat is in office as well as whenever somebody says more gun controls are needed. Nobody bashed Bill Clinton more than NRA, and Barack Obama is catching the flak now.

OK, that’s on the national scene. What we’re looking at here are the people around Faulkner County who are involved in this support group called Friends of NRA and who are active in promoting responsible shooting programs for 4-H clubs, the Boy Scouts and school-affiliated shooting sports.

Yes, shooting and school can go together. The trapshooting and archery programs launched by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in recent years have become highly successful. We’ve got a couple of students at Greenbrier High School, Kayle Browning and Wesley Wilcox, who have obtained proficiency enough that they will be in the competition for United States slots in the next Olympics.

Teaching a young person the proper, safe, efficient ways to shoot a gun is extremely important in Arkansas, every bit as vital as teaching him or her how to drive a car. Do you want to argue that a gun is more dangerous than a car?

No, you didn't read that wrong -- NRAblog neglected to post this latest installment of Membership Monday yesterday. Enjoy this tardy post, exclusive to our readers, and provided by the talented Brian Evans, the NRAStore™ Merchandise Buyer:

Looking for an off-body carry method? Look no further than the NRA Concealed Carry Day Planner, designed exclusively for the NRAstore™. When you can’t carry on your person, this planner will help you to stay close to your firearm while staying concealed. Made of sturdy 600 Denier polyester, this planner features two zippered compartments: one for your planner and one for your handgun. The handgun compartment features an adjustable hook and loop holster and mag pouch with lockable zippers. The holster will fit small to medium-sized handguns.

The planner compartment features a three-ring binder fully stocked with undated calendar pages which can be replaced with all major manufacturers’ custom refills. The cover is embroidered with a black NRA Shield. Dimensions 10" x 7½" x 3½" (max height). Color: Black. Weight: 2¼ lbs.

This item is available at the NRAstore for 39.95. For more information, visit www.nrastore.com/nra/Product.aspx?productid=SA%2022207 or call 1-888-607-6007. Be sure to request a copy of the NRAstore™ catalog!

When they aren't on the road or giving tours at the National Firearms Museum (NFM), how does the staff spend their time? The other day, Senior Curator Phil Schreier spent it in the Gun Vault working on the latest donations to NFM's "Hollywood Guns" collection. To the right, you see him working on two belt fed machine guns.

Heavy machine guns like the M240G or M60 receive their cartridges by way of an ammunition belt and are also referred to as belt feds. While the original belts were usually made of canvas, today's belts consist of individual rounds held together with metal clips. In addition to the advantage of providing continuous fire, belt feeders decreases the weight of the firearm and allows for greater mobility. The one in Phil's grasp is a Browning designed, Marlin manufactured M1895.

Also known as a Potato Digger, this M1895 was brought to shore by a group of sailors mounting an attack on Tangiers in the film The Wind and The Lion. And, as Phil likes to point out, Teddy Roosevelt brought two Potato Diggers with him during his charge up San Juan Hill. Just over his right shoulder is the Browning M1917 machine gun fired by various members of The Wild Bunch and their opposition. Each of these belt feeders are part of the much anticipated "Hollywood Guns" collection that goes on display later this year.

The NCAA Rifle Championships are right around the corner!

From NavySports.com:

Navy Rifle Claims MAC Championship

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The Navy rifle team rallied from an 11-point smallbore deficit to defeat Akron in the Mid-Atlantic Rifle Conference Championship, 4584 - 4564, on Saturday afternoon. The win improves Navy's record to 8-1 overall, heading into next weekend's NCAA Championship.

Navy failed to win the smallbore discipline at the MAC Championships for the first time since 1999, but the air rifle title was the program's seventh straight.

"Getting ready for NCAAs, this was not the score we wanted. We had been shooting significantly higher scores in practice, so today was a disappointing day," said Navy head coach Bill Kelley. "Hopefully, today's performance is a wake-up call."

The Mids trailed 2282 - 2271 after the smallbore portion. Kenan Wang and Chris Burleson led Navy with a 571 each. Ryan Williams totaled a 569, and Alison Lankes rounded out Navy's scoring with a 560.

The Mids then rallied in air rifle, outscoring the Zips, 2313 - 2282, to earn the 20-point victory overall. Lankes led Navy with a 583. Burleson followed with a 579, while Wang and Williams scored a 577 and 574, respectively.

Navy will now practice for a couple of days before leaving for Fort Worth, Texas, for the NCAA Championships on Wednesday.

Continue reading here, and don't go anywhere! Our very own Kyle Jillson will soon be reporting live on this year's collegiate championships.

The National Congress of Old West Shootists aims to promote "safe Western Action Shooting including the re-enactment and promotion of the historical Old West heritage of the United States in all its ethnic, social and occupational diversity."

The Shootists are gathering in Kansas City, Kansas, beginning March 19 for their National Convention and Victorian Sale. Doug Wicklund, a Senior Curator here at the NRA National Firearms Museum, is a featured guest.

At 11 am on Saturday, Wicklund will present a seminar titled "The Right Arm of the West – Handguns on the Frontier."

At 11 am on Sunday, Wicklund will present a seminar titled "Long Range Gun Slinging – Single Shots that Won the West."

Stay tuned for a recap from Doug! 

From Eric Lipp, Manager of the Law Enforcement Division's popular Eddie Eagle program:

The Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program is happy to announce that they recently received grants from The NRA Foundation. Grants are awarded through revenue raised by the Friends of NRA for eligible educational programs.

New Friends of NRA Grants were awarded by the State Fund Committees from the following states: 

• Central California ($3,000)
• Arizona ($7,000)
• New Mexico ($2,500)
• Idaho ($2,000)
• North Carolina ($1,000) and 
• Arkansas ($5,000)

The Foundation grants allow the Eddie Eagle Program to provide Eddie Eagle materials – including workbooks, DVDs, and stickers – absolutely FREE of cost to law enforcement agencies, schools and educators, day cares, hospitals, and libraries.

These grants make it possible for the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program to reach thousands of children every year with Eddie Eagle’s lifesaving message:

“STOP! DON’T TOUCH. LEAVE THE AREA. TELL AN ADULT.”

The funding is easy to use. Qualified users simply call 1-800-231-0752 and ask for ordering assistance using grant funding.

Learn more about the Eddie Eagle program.