The 16th Annual West Virginia Challenged Sportsman’s Games were held in Charleston starting on May 27. In addition to being the 16th annual, it also marked the return of shooting to the games. As luck would have it, games sponsor Charleston Area Medical Center opted to host an NRA Disabled Air Rifle Regional Championship which drew competitors from as far away as Texas and New York.

NRA Disabled Shooting Manager Vanessa Ross, Event Organizer Jeremiah Gagnon and his wife, Mary, along with other volunteers set up the shooting equipment in the main hall of the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Coonskin Park Lodge on May 26. Built as a function hall, the lodge came complete with a small stage along with three walls made of glass.

Windows were lined with sheets of cardboard to protect the glass. We then began assembling the Creedmoor Range Systems. Curtains made from high density ballistic nylon able, to withstand multiple impacts, stood 83” tall and 60” wide. Once assembled, each firing point Velcros to the next, making a full wall backstop for the range. We then headed out for dinner and a good night’s sleep to prepare for the morning’s Adaptive Shooting Clinic and matches.

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Another weekend means another road trip for NRA Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Ross. This time she's off to the Midwest for an adaptive shooting clinic at the Indian Creek Shooting Club in Georgetown, Indiana.

Partnering with the Kentucky-Indiana Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (KIPVA), Vanessa will be on hand to hold two adaptive shooting clinics at 10:00 am and 12:30 pm on June 5, 2010. Free to the public, each clinic lasts two hours and cover a wide array of competitive shooting tips and techniques.

“Paralyzed Veterans of America (PAV) holds wonderful events like this all the time,” said Vanessa. “The Kentucky-Indiana Chapter’s partnership with the NRA for this clinic is just another great example of how we can come together to support those who sacrificed so much.”

Each participant will receive an overview of how to properly shoot an air rifle, standard shooting positions, appropriate equipment, sight alignment, and trigger control. Upon completion of the clinic, every shooter should have the necessary skill set to compete in any air rifle match.

To register for the KIPVA disabled shooting clinic -- and pre-registration is mandatory -- visit their website at www.kipva.org or contact the chapter office at (502) 635-6539.

Art Merrill, a freelance writer for "Shooting Illustrated," completes his series from Disabled Shooting's Open Range Day in Phoenix, Arizona.

Vanessa's shout of safety brief Saturday morning was the no-nonsense, all-business dialogue we're used to hearing from match directors and rangemasters – except for the “sip & puff” part:

“Always always always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction! Keep your finger away from the trigger until you're ready to shoot. If you're using the sip & puff trigger mechanism, don't put it your mouth 'til you're ready to shoot. If you need help, if you have a question, don't be stubborn - ask a volunteer. Keep them busy.”

After that, it was pretty much all fun in the desert sun.

The air rifles appealed to a lot of shooters today, and not just because it was indoors, sheltered from the 95-degree desert spring. Every shooter enjoys hitting reactive targets, in this case, air rifle metallic silhouette targets. But there are other reasons, as well.

“I don't like loud bangs,” Ashleigh Justice said. “I liked the .22 pistol, but the .38 was too much.”

Ashleigh had never shot a firearm before today. What motivated her to come out to Open Range Day? “I was afraid of guns. I wanted to get over it,” she said. “My husband shoots and I was tired of the anxiety I felt around guns.” Note how she spoke in past tense...

Beyond that, however, was a desire to push the envelope of her disability to achieve something more.

“I want to be good at something that takes skill more than physical ability,” she said. Looks like she found it: she, too came away from the firing line talking about the possibility of a regular air rifle competition.

For Mike Tagliapetra, it's all about challenge. You can feel it in his handshake even before he talks about competing in marathons and even a triathlon – using his wheelchair. Mike's motivation, a quote from writer Ella Wheeler Wilcox, is boldly emblazoned on his business card: “There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.”

Contributions from many shooting sports businesses gave Ashleigh and Mike and the other Open Range Day shooters this remarkable opportunity for discovery and empowerment. In addition to those already mentioned, Davidson's Gallery of Guns in Prescott, AZ donated the use of Weatherby shotguns, and White Flyer provided the clay targets for trap shooting; Kowa provided brand new spotting scopes; the air rifle pellets came from Pyramid Air. Colt, Ruger, Savage Arms and Winchester are all represented by their generosity, as are Birchwood Casey (Shoot n See targets) and Symbius Medical (lunch). More...

This is Part 2 of "Shooting Illustrated" freelance writer Art Merrill's piece "Open Range Day Experience: The AR15."

Ryan's motivation is “just coming out and doing something that's not readily available,” he said. After a moment's thought he added, “I like being active and busy around other people with disabilities. I like showing able-bodied people I can still be active in the community.”

Don Price enjoyed his second year here shooting Open Range Day.

“I was a hunter 28 years ago, before my injury,” he said. “I really enjoy doing what I did before. A couple of us are talking about getting a group together for some regular air rifle shooting.”

Scott Hassel of Mesa, AZ grew up a waterfowler and small game hunter, but hadn't picked up a firearm in years. Only 15 months ago he suffered an injury that makes a wheelchair necessary for mobility. Scott's motivation to shoot again comes from seeing others tackling that same challenge.

“I'll try anything. Before my injury I wasn't so much that way,” he said. “But I look at what some of these guys are doing from the chair...” He trailed off and shook his head in admiration at the other shooters around him.

The volunteers today are equally as admirable. “There about as many as there are shooters,” Vanessa said. Among them, I found champion Long Range shooters Nancy Tompkins and Michelle Gallagher, members of the Phoenix cowboy action group “Dusty Bunch,” and even a handful of kids, who helped prepare lunches and sweep up the copious amounts of brass left by the shooters.

The brass is from cartridges very generously provided by Remington and Lapua. This event is receiving the support of a lot of names in the industry that you know well. I'll share more with you on that in the next posting. Gotta run to the next event...

Art Merrill, a freelance writer for "Shooting Illustrated," sends us another update from Open Range Day in Phoenix, Arizona.

Disabled Shooter Service Manager Vanessa Ross split today's 23 shooters into four groups; they are alternating between the trap field, air rifle house, and small bore and pistol ranges. Everyone seems to be having a good time, and the AR-15 seems to be the hands-down favorite firearm.

Nancy Gerber had only shot once before in her life, and had never shot an AR-15 before today. She came away pretty enthusiastic about the “black gun,” and she kept her target as a memento.

“Oh my gosh, I never thought in a million years I'd be shooting this kind of rifle!” she said. “It was loud but didn't have any kick.”

Asked about her motivation to come out for Open Range Day, she said, “Well, it's very empowering to go out of your comfort zone. And it's very motivating to see all these other participants push beyond anything they've done or thought they could do.”

She also had some positive comments about the NRA Disabled Shooter Service program and its director, Vanessa Ross. “It's just incredible, a fantastic experience for people,” she said. “This is a great intro to the world of safe gun usage, along with giving you the encouragement that you can do this even though you have a disability.”

This is Ryan Huntley's second consecutive year with the Open Range Day and second experience with the AR-15. “It's awesome,” he said. “There's nothing like it.”

Part 2 of this article will run Sunday, May 9, 2010.

The Carolina Director of Turning Point, David Kiley, sent NRAblog the following recap from the Southeastern Wheelchair Sports Association Games:

The last week of April played host to a first-time adaptive clay shooting target event at the wonderful Durham County Wildlife Club in Durham, North Carolina. Most of the first time shooters ended up having a BLAST!

Each adaptive shooter had a local member instructor working with them and the results were astounding. We shot trap in the morning, enjoyed a great chicken and barbecue from Smithfield's for lunch, and shot a sporting clay set up called 5 Stand in the afternoon. There was one member volunteer controlling 18 different throwers. As a shooter, you were allowed to select where the clay pigeons came from. There were some crazy options like a rabbit (clay pigeon) that shot across the ground and it was popular and challenging to all shooters.

The highlight of the day (besides the great turn-out and use of an exclusive club) came when Kevin Williams -- who has Cerebral Palsy and uses a communication board to converse -- attempted to use the gun vice system supplied by North Carolina Handicapped Sportsman.

The system allows the shooter to dial in on the target with a toggle type joy stick, then using a sip and puff adaptation, Kevin blew the tar out of some stationary balloons and clay targets.

Kevin, who always looks to be challenged, wanted to take a shot at some moving trap targets. Difficult at best for those who could hold and swing a shot gun; Kevin missed maybe his first 20 shots but with real focus and tenacity he hit a 41mph clay trap target! Then he did it again and then again! He had repetitively blown everyone's mind with his ability to hit difficult moving targets. Shooting a stationary target or a deer is one thing with this system, but moving targets were just unbelievable. Every time he hit a target the entire group of shooters, instructors, and volunteers erupted with high praise and atta boys. You can see the system at work at the following link - http://www.beadaptive.com/pages/hq100.htm

Another addition to the event came fro North Carolina Wildlife and Resources Commission. They provided a ”Huntmaster” unit for display that is used for people with disabilities to either hunt, game watch or take wildlife photography. The unit can be dropped in the woods and will raise up to as high as 19 feet. It can be independently operated from inside and would hold 2- 3 people comfortably. It has a 750 pound weight capacity.

The event was co-partnered with Bridge II Sports and Turning Point Carolina who have developed a statewide sustainable shooting program seeded with grant funding by Blue Cross Blue Shield. The program has been developing very nicely with the incredible support of state agencies, adaptive organizations, and gun clubs throughout the Carolinas.

Summer 2010 kicks off a weekly program for those working with mobility constraints at the Gastonia, NC Skeet and Trap Range operated by the Gastonia Parks and Recreation Program. Everyone involved is looking forward to continue to improve their skill in this first of many sustainable programs in adaptive target sports.

Special Thanks to Colin Chura who shouldered much of the organization of this event and all of our shooting programs and events.

NRAblog was recently invited to sit in on the Competitive Shooting Division's staff meeting for a mystery event. While most of us were expecting an update on Camp Perry, the secret was an award. And the lucky recepient? NRA Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Ross.

Fresh off their California Sectional, the Cal-Diego Paralyzed Veterans Association sent a letter and plaque for Competitive Shooting Director Mike Krei to present to Vanessa which read, in part:

Vanessa Warner Ross, Manager, National Rifle Association's Disabled Shooting Services, displayed great initiative, insight, enthusiasm and specific knowledge while conducting a Disabled Veterans Air Rifle Seminar hosted by the Cal-Diego Paralyzed Veterans Association on 6 April 2010 … Vanessa's actions brought great credit to herself, to Cal-Diego PVA, and to the National Rifle Association.

Because of Vanessa's unique ability as an instructor and significant knowledge of the subject, twenty disabled veterans were able to learn and participate including veterans planning to participate in upcoming competitions.

To quote from the rest of Cal-Diego's letter & award, Vanessa's work out West shows that "the NRA is providing an extremely valuable service to the disabled community, to the US Paralympics and to the United Stats of America … Vanessa's can-do attitude and caring instructor ability coupled with the NRA's prestige, makes this an outstanding program."

Nice work, Vanessa!

Next week marks the launch of NRA's 2nd Annual Open Range Day at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, Arizona. On May 8, Vanessa and her team of certified instructors plan to introduce a wide variety of shooting sports to people with physical disabilities.

"We had a huge response from first-time shooters last year," said NRA Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Ross. "Registration for 2010 is already twice the size of last year's class, and we can’t wait to get things started."

Opening with a safety clinic, participants will learn the proper way to shoot shotguns, rifles, pistols, and air guns. "We're hoping that everyone has the opportunity to explore their potential on the range and have fun," explained Ross.

In addition to numerous volunteers, the event is made possible through the generous donation of materials from companies like Ruger, White Flyer, and Davidson's.

"We wouldn’t be able to hold do Open Range without our corporate sponsors,” said Ross. “Ruger, Savage, and Davidson's are donating the use of their firearms, White Flyer Targets and Birchwood Casey are donating targets, while Kowa Optimed, Pyramyd Air, Lapua and Remington are donating spotting scopes and ammunition."

For more on Open Range Day, contact Vanessa Ross at (703) 267-1495 or email her at disabled-shooting@nrahq.org. To learn about NRA’s disabled shooting programs, visit their website at http://www.nrahq.org/compete/disabled.asp.

NRA's Competitive Shooting Division sends us the following from South Carolina:

The National Rifle Association joins the Southeastern Wheelchair Sports Association (SEWSA) this weekend to launch the inaugural Disabled Indoor Air Rifle Regional Championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. As part of the 16th Annual SEWSA Games, the Regional Championships begin with an adaptive shooting clinic followed by relays of competition that conclude on the 24th.

“SEWSA was created to introduce athletic competition to the newly disabled through the promotion of wheelchair sports,” said Vanessa Ross, NRA’s Manager of Disabled Shooting Services. “We’re thrilled to assist them with the reintroduction of air rifles to the games where these competitors can explore personal potential and simply have fun!”

SEWSA brings together wheelchair athletes from across the United States to compete in a variety of sporting events. With matches in swimming, track and field, weightlifting, and archery, SEWSA also offers participants a chance to qualify for a spot on the US Paralympics Team. Air rifle competitors have the opportunity to partake in 3-position and prone matches followed by a shot-for-shot “shoot off” for the top 8 qualifiers.

“We are very excited about the return of air rifle competition to the SEWSA games,” stated Meet Director Melinda Chappell. “Our athletes have been asking for the return of air rifle and we are very appreciative to both the NRA and Vanessa Ross, Manager of Disabled Shooting Services for stepping up to the plate and bringing this request to reality.”

Disabled Shooting Championships are open to those with disabilities in three separate classes: the visually impaired, those with measurable permanent disability in their upper limbs, and those with sufficient upper limb strength to fire a gun without assistance.

For more on SEWSA and the 16th Annual SEWSA Games, contact Melinda Chappell at (843) 280-5632 or mechappell@nmb.us.

Vanessa Ross, Manager of NRA Disabled Shooting Services, hands NRAblog her latest update from Augusta, Maine:

The Maine National Guard Armory was the site for last week’s Adaptive Shooting Clinic. This clinic was the culmination of emails that began in October 2009 between Teresa Olson – Recreation Chief of the Togus, VA Hospital in Augusta, Maine, Ed Stanhope a volunteer with the hospital and Vanessa Ross Manager of Disabled Shooting Services with the NRA. Once given the green light for the clinic Ed, a life-long shooter and Army veteran, began making calls to find a location and acquire shooting gear. In record time he has raised enough money to purchase five competition grade air rifles and all of the lumber needed to build five pellet traps.

Stanhope was the go-to-guy that everyone dreams of. Not only did he obtain donations and buy equipment but after speaking to National Guard General Libby, had a commitment to hold the event at the Armory in Augusta with access to anything that was needed including personnel.

The first of two classes kicked off at 9:00 a.m. The Army National Guard Special Select Honor Guard presented the Colors, Colonel McLaughlin lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Command Sergeant Major Harris fired the ceremonial first shot. After which, 11 clinic participants and as many volunteers moved to the firing line.

The volunteers were from active duty members of the Maine National Guard. So many volunteered to participate in the event that their commanding officer had to cut off the sign up list! Instruction began with an overview of safety rules, types and benefits of shooting, targets and pellets and the names of the rifle parts followed by an explanation and demonstration of adaptive equipment. More...

Vanessa Warner Ross, NRA's Manager of Disabled Shooting Services, sent us the following blurb on the night before her most recent Adaptive Shooting Clinic at the National Guard's Augusta Armory in Maine:

I am in Augusta, Maine. The Armory is all set up and ready for the Adaptive Shooting Clinic in the morning. Volunteers (very enthusiastic volunteers I might add) should be arriving around 7 in the morning. The shooters will soon follow at approximately 8. According to our notes, we have twenty-eight people scheduled to participate!

The National Guard Honor Guard will be doing colors precisely at 9 a.m. after which the General is scheduled to fire the ceremonial first shot!

This should be so cool!

To the right is a picture I took of the Armory sign when we arrived.

Once Vanessa returns to headquarters, we'll be sure to share more pictures and details about her adventures at the Adaptive Shooting Clinic in Maine.

Special thanks to Cal-Diego Paralyzed Veterans Shooting Sports Director Jim Russell for this recap of last week's Disabled Shooting Sectional:

Point Loma Naval Submarine Base Pistol Range was the location of last week's Cal-Diego’s Adapted Shooting Clinic. Planning for the air rifle seminar got started in early December 2009 through conversations with; Paralyzed Veterans of America Shooting Sports Director Andy MacDonald, NRA Manager of Disabled Shooting Services Vanessa Warner Ross, and Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Kelli Kaliszewski from VA San Diego Healthcare System's Spinal Cord Injury Service. We picked a date and started looking for a location.

We initially wanted the multi-purpose room at the VA, until Kelli came up with the idea of using the pistol range at the Point Loma. William Bridgewater, the range manager, was enthusiastic about the idea. Much discussion - including input from the legal beagles - ensued and finally approval was issued. The shoot was on.

Vanessa arrived with 10 great air rifles, binoculars, and adaptive equipment for the rifles and ran the seminar, Andy did a great job coaching the shooters, while Cal-Diego purchased the ammunition, targets and – with Kelly Price-Nobel’s help – lunch for all of the participants. The Underwater Schools of America (located in Oceanside) graciously donated a scuba tank full of compressed air for the rifles.

Through the outstanding work of MA2 John D. Gummere, the base constructed a great ramp for wheelchair access to the range, stands for the targets, tables for the shooters and in general spiffed up the range. Thanks for a good job John. More...

Special thanks to Michael Molinaro of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit for sharing his most recent article with us:

Ability rather than disability

FORT BENNING, Ga. - Some of today's wounded warriors have lost limbs, feeling in their arms or legs, or the use of both eyes but they haven't lost the feeling of inspiration, motivation or commitment to succeed while still serving their country.

Wounded Soldiers from around the Army came to Fort Benning and the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Mar. 29-Apr. 1 to learn from the military's best shooters in preparation for the inaugural Warrior Games. Air Rifle and Pistol are among the athletic events wounded, ill and injured servicemembers from all branches will compete in at the inaugural games May 10-14 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"I'm really excited to get out there and see what this is going to be like because I guarantee it's not going to be like anything else that I've ever done in my career," said Staff Sgt. Rachelle Renaud, 1st Battalion, Warrior Transition Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. "I am really looking forward to it."

The Warrior Games provide a focal event to empower the incorporation of athletics into military wounded warrior programs, and provide an opportunity to introduce Paralympic sports to injured service members. Warrior Games is an effort to inspire recovery, capitalize on physical fitness and promote opportunities for growth and achievement among wounded troops.

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Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Ross brings us the following from the state of Massachusetts:

The Second Annual Veterans Administration (VA) Boston Healthcare System’s NRA Disabled Indoor Air Rifles Sectional Championships were held at the Brockton Campus on March 20, 2010. The competitors were divided into three relays with each firing three stages of 20 shots for a total of 60 and a possible score of 600 points. The entire match was shot in the offhand position.

Offhand is synonymous with standing to most people, but that is not the case when it comes to shooters with physical disabilities. The positions are adapted to allow shooters with disabilities to shoot in matches and be highly competitive while doing so. Adapted offhand is fired from a seated but unsupported position, meaning that the shooter is still required to support the gun and cannot rest their arms on a chair or shooting table.

When a competitor has a substantial upper body disability or a diagnosed weakness, they are permitted to utilize a spring stand to help support the rifle. The categories are known as SH1 – no stand and SH2 – stand permitted.

The first of the three relays reported to the line at 9 a.m. Despite a couple of glitches early in the day, things moved along well and the matches concluded right on schedule at 3 p.m. with a total of 23 people competing.

While the scorekeepers worked quickly to compile results, volunteers rearranged tables to prepare for the prime rib dinner served by the VA following the awards ceremony.

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NRA grants fund everything from shooting clinics to range development to youth programs. Here's a story from the Auburn Citizen about a group that used an NRA grant to help launch a disabled hunting program in Syracuse, New York:

Adventures agency opens up the outdoors to the disabled

It's 50 degrees outside, the sun's shining, the snow's melting, and I have “the bug.” It hits every spring, and it consumes my thoughts until I satisfy it. My son recently took a couple days off from work, pulled our boat out of storage and proceeded to catch a limit of perch both days. Now I can't wait for the weekend to take my turn at the helm and squash the fishing bug that has me firmly in its grasp. I can almost hear the fillets sizzling in the deep fryer as I write this!

As I've often said, I'm pretty lucky. I have a son who still wants to spend time fishing with the “old man,” and the good health that allows me to do so. I know there are many others, however, who are not so lucky. Fortunately, I've recently come upon an organization dedicated to providing just such opportunities to individuals with disabilities.

Advanced Strategies Adventures Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit service agency that “provides physically challenged, elderly and youth outdoor opportunities as well as hunting and fishing via free guided trips including transportation and necessary gear. Some need special apparatus, while others may simply need a helping hand.”

With a grant from the NRA and private donations, Advanced Strategies Adventures was able to construct a trailer hunting blind and several permanent structure blinds that are specifically designed for wheelchair use.

Read the rest of Advanced Strategies Adventures's story here.