May 8, 2010: Ben Avery Shooting Facility, Phoenix, AZ

The National Rifle Association sponsored the 2nd Annual Open Range Day in Phoenix this weekend.  Held at the Ben Avery Shooting Range, people with disabilities were invited to come learn about and shoot all types of firearms.  The free event attracted approximately twenty-five shooters. Most used wheelchairs, and there were a few scooters and slow walkers. Of the participants, it was nice to see many females who often had the best looking targets.

NRA’s Disabled Shooter Service Manager, Vanessa Ross was running the show this year again.  This year she upped the fun a little.  Aside from the shotguns at trap field, the pistols, the small caliber rifles and pellet guns, she brought along some AR-15′s for everyone to enjoy semi-auto style.  To the surprise of many new shooters, the semi-auto version of’ the military’s M-16, is actually pretty easy to shoot because of the minimal recoil. [Note to Vanessa: Please bring some belt-fed fun next year]

In typical fashion, this NRA event was well planned,  The four vans that shuttled shooters about were from the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association, and volunteers prepared a nice lunch for everyone. Many of the shooters this year knew each other which made the all day event even more fun as there was a bit of competitive nature in the air. With temperatures in the high 90′s,  shooters were looking for shade.  This made the indoor air conditioned air-gun range ever more popular.

For more info, check out Art Merril’s blog entry at www.NRABlog.com.

NRA’s 2nd Annual Open Range Day Held in Phoenix, Arizona is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

April 11, 2009: Ben Avery Shooting Facility, Phoenix, AZ

Open Range Day is a new program offered by the National Rifle Association’s Disabled Shooting Services.  The event is designed to introduce people with disabilities to the various sports involving firearms.  Open Range Day was hosted at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility,  a primere shooting facility which often hosts many international events. The range is located just north of Phoenix and is operated by the Arizona Game & Fish, who get high marks for making the place very accessible. Open Range Day offered shotgun, rifle, pistol, and air rifle instruction.   The best part – it was all free.

The NRA didnt just show up with a few hand-me-down plinkers.  Participants all shot new weapons and there was plenty of ammo for everyone to poke alotta holes in alotta targets.  In spite of it being a cold and rainy, those who did show up enjoyed a whole day of instruction and fun.

Hats off to Vanessa Warner and her crew from NRA for hosting such a well organized and enjoyable day.  Sponsors included  Colt Defense, Ruger Firearms, White Flyer Targets, Remington, Kowa Optimed, Birchwood Casey, Davidson’s, Beeman, and Lapua.

NRA Open Range Day is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.