Four donations go to NRA, Whittington Center and NRA's Law Enforcement Division

Houston, Texas - The NRA Annual Meeting officially opened for business at 9:00am local time inside the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. Officially being the operative word. For not everything that happened at the Annual Meeting happened after the opening. There was the Antique Guns and Gold Showcase, the opening of the NRA Store, and GLOCK's six figure donation to the National Rifle Association.

More on GLOCK's donation to the National Rifle Association ...

First time use of Remington 11-87 Police Shotgun keeps straight for the win

Albuquerque, New Mexico - The shotgun can be an intimidating firearm. When used by Law Enforcement, that's part of the point. When used at the National Police Shooting Championships at Albuquerque's Shooting Range Park, there better be a little bit of accuracy thrown in there too. If you want to win the Grand Championship that is.

That's why Patrolman Charles "Chase" Blohm, Jr. of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office in Memphis, Tennessee (who finished the 2012 National Police Shooting Championships ranked as the High Sheriff) went with a Remington 11-87.

More on the High Sheriff's 11-87 Remington Police Shotgun ...

Winning four title in five years is Border Patrol's Robert Vadasz

Fairfax, Virginia - In four out of the last five years, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Vadasz has departed from the Albuquerque International Airport to his home in Florida as a National Champion. This was one of those years.

Every year, during the third week of September, Law Enforcement Officers from around the globe come to the Shooting Range Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico for NRA's National Police Shooting Championship. It is there that Vadasz lays claim to those National Championship titles. There that he fights his way through hundreds of top marksmen. Local, state, federal ... they all came again to push him off the mountain top. And this year, only he succeeded.

After finishing first in the Open Class 3000 Pistol Championship, Vadasz powered through the remaining competitions to win the 2012 Grand Aggregate title by a whopping 16 points.

More on the Best of 2012 - #4 National Police Shooting Champ Robert Vadasz ...

New grips and no practice on the High Sheriff's Smith & Wesson Model 66 revolver at the NRA Police Championships

Albuquerque, New Mexico - Before heading off to lunch, we return to the sands and sun of New Mexico for the Guns of the High Sheriff. A continuing series, the Guns of the High Sheriff takes a close up look at the firearms used by Detective Charles "Chase" Blohm of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office in Memphis, Tennessee to win the title of High Sheriff at the 2012 NRA Police Shooting Championships in New Mexico.

Now up — a 4-inch Smith & Wesson Model 66 Revolver.

More on the High Sheriff's Smith & Wesson Model 66 revolver ...

Shot in 2011 Police Shooting Championship Open Revolver 1500

A .38 Caliber Bob Jones Revolver - owned by Border Patrol Agent Robert Vadasz

Albuquerque, New Mexico - Around this time last year, we were going over the guns used by U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Vadasz to win his third National Police Shooting Championship title in four years. Specifically, his Bob Jones .38 revolver.

To get the entire story, take a look at our post from 2011 as NRAblog Rewind brings back the Bob Jones PPC revolver.

Clint Eastwood's .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson on NRANews

Fairfax, Virginia - Are you feeling lucky, punk?

Well if you're tuned in tonight for Curator's Corner you will be, because that's where you're going to get close up and personal with Dirty Harry's Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum Model 29 revolver. At the time of filming, back in 1971, it was the most powerful handgun in the world.

Unlike previous Dirty Harry segments on NRANews, this one has a twist.

More on Dirty Harry's .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson on Curator's Corner ...

When on the Amazing Race, fat and slow overcomes thin and fast

That stupid sled.

U.S. Border Patrol Agents Art and J.J. had no problems stacking watermelons, landing helicopters or rappelling down side scrappers, but when asked to ride a sled ... that's where everything began to unwind.

"When I got up there, I never thought there would be a problem," explained Velez at the 2012 NRA National Police Shooting Championships in New Mexico. "I needed to pick a sled with the thinnest rails so I could go as fast as possible. The idea of trying to balance on that thing never even crossed my mind. Thought it would be a piece of cake.

"They guys were holding all these sleds. I thought the one with the thinnest rails would go the fastest. If I had picked the other sled that had the wider fat rails, I would have made it down the hill in a flash. But I went for the thin rails. That’s what ended up killing me."

More on Art's final leg on Amazing Race ...

Smith & Wesson PPC 9 six-inch at NRA's Police Championships

Albuquerque, New Mexico - A couple of weeks ago, we began a review of guns. The guns used by Chase Blohm to win High Sheriff at NRA's 2012 National Police Shooting Championships in Albuquerque. Since last time we looked at a revolver, I thought now was the time for a semi-automatic. Presenting the Smith & Wesson PPC 9 six inch.

"About four years ago I purchased this PPC 9," said Blohm. "Originally I shot a five inch and just worked my way up. When I made the change, my points jumped up at least ten."

More on Blohm's Smith & Wesson PPC 9 six-inch semi-auto ...

Kept quiet about his time dancing and rappelling on CBS reality show Amazing Race

Albuquerque, New Mexico - For the past couple of Mondays, we've been sharing the story of Art Velez and his time on the CBS reality show Amazing Race. Art is a shooter for the U.S. Border Patrol pistol team. That means we can't help but bump into him every September during the National Police Shooting Championships. He took the opportunity to do something he couldn't do while the show aired ... talk.

"That was probably the most frustrating part," said Velez. "I was allowed to tell my wife and my son but that was it.

"Everybody in the family had to sign non-disclosure agreements. My parents, her parents, my sister. It was probably hardest for my son because he was a freshman in high school. The kids were always on him for the inside scoop."

More on Art & J.J. learning to dance and rappel on Amazing Race ...