There's a new video from NRA Law Enforcement

NRA Law Enforcement Director Glen Hoyer left a present in my office last Friday — the Division's latest promotional video. If you're familiar with their work then this will be a nice refresher. But if you've ever wondered what the NRA Law Enforcement offers then, then sit back and watch ... you'll like what you see.

Hollywood's R. Lee Ermey uses unconventional ear protection

Before drawing long lines for autographs, photos and handshakes at SHOT Show, Gunny R. Lee Ermey was making his presence known during Media Day at Glock's shooting bay.

In addition to being a member of Team Glock, the infamous retired Gunnery Sergent is an NRA Board Member and a big proponent of law enforcement shooting (that day he could be seen sporting his jacket from last year's NRA National Police Shooting Championships).

Being a popular figure at an event set up specifically for the media, Gunny found himself constantly in front of cameras. It was nonstop photographs, videos, and interviews throughout the day.

While passing by the Glock booth, NRA General Operations Executive Director Kayne Robinson stepped in to say hello. While waiting for a lull in the interviews, we noticed a flash of light every time Gunny turned his head. Something odd was sticking out of his ears — bullets.

Ithaca Gun Company reveals their new tactical rifle at the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada

While browsing the booths of the Sands Expo and Convention Center, I ran into Mike Farrell of the Ithaca Gun Company. Calling in the SHOT Show crowds with a prime piece of artillery, Mike was anxious to show off something new … the Ithaca Tactical rifle.

Magazine release, at 10 o'clock from the tigger, can be activated with a flip of the thumb or smack of the hand.

“The big thing we changed was the bolt carrier,” said Farrell. “The mechanisms inside are actually done with diamond coating. All in a normal temperature vacuum so we're not heating up and losing any tolerance. The key factor is that you do not have to oil the gun.”

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NRAblog travels through the halls of SHOT Show's Law Enforcement and Tactical displays

To the side of SHOT Show's two main halls at the Sands Expo & Convention Center lay the numerous Law Enforcement and Tactical rooms. Booths in these rooms, like the main halls, contain numerous firearms, but everything has lean toward application in law enforcement, security and the military. More...

Actor R. Lee Ermey makes special appearance at Las Vegas Show

While waiting to snap some pictures of Marine Gunnery Sargent R. Lee Ermey (Ret.) at the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, one patron leaned over to suggested that if Gunny was at the North Pole, there’d be a line for popsicles.

I second that notion. Not because I appreciate the fact that the man served his country (he did), not because I’m a fan of his acting (I am) and not because of his skills behind the trigger (which he has). I second that notion because I’ve seen him deliver the goods time and time again.

No matter what the event — the NRA Annual Meeting, SHOT Show, the National Police Shooting Championship — if you see a line that wraps around the building then there’s a good chance that Gunny R. Lee Ermey is the man they’re waiting to see.

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Jon Draper, Program Coordinator for the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program, sent us the first Eddie Eagle update of the New Year from the Mason County Sheriff's Office.

Mason County Illinois Sheriff Wayne Youell announced that the National Rifle Association has awarded the Mason County Sheriff’s Office’s with an Eddie Eagle costume to assist sheriff’s officers in teaching Mason County’s youth about gun safety.

“Our office is excited to have been awarded this costume and happy to be partnering with the National Rifle Association for this great cause,” said Youell. “We feel the costume will greatly enhance our education efforts of gun safety to our county’s children. Plan to see Eddie Eagle present at many of our community events.”

NRA's Eddie Eagle tells kids “If you see a gun: STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult."

2011 was a banner year for NRA's Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program as they achieved yet another milestone in December by reaching their 25 millionth child with the life-saving message, “If you see a gun: STOP! Don’t Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult."

Eddie Eagle program manager Eric Lipp explained why the program works, “Through the assemblies, videos, coloring books, stickers and everything else, the program leaves a lasting, positive impression on everyone who attends — adults and children alike.”

Created in 1988 by past NRA President Marion P. Hammer, in consultation with elementary school teachers, law enforcement officers, and child psychologists, the program provides pre-K through the third grade children with easy to follow rules should they ever encounter a firearm while unsupervised.

“Now that 25 million children have gone through the Eddie Eagle program, we can concentrate on reaching the next 25 million with this important life saving message,” said Kayne Robinson, NRA Executive Director of General Operations.

To learn more about the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® Program, visit their website at www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie.

2011 National Police Shooting Champion Robert Vadasz provides a closer look at his Rock River Arms 1911

After winning his third National Police Shooting Championship, we took aside U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Vadasz with a special request — can we have a look at the guns he used to win the title. Last year we saw the Nowlin 1911, the Springfield Ultra Compact and the Bob Jones .38 Special Revolver. The New Year starts with another one of his custom 1911s.

Rock River Arms was founded in 1993 by brothers Mark and Chuck Larson. Based in Colona, Illinois, the company is a staple at the National Police Shooting Championships. Initially focused on producing custom 1911 pistols like Vadasz's, Rock River's catalog now includes competition rifles, hunting rifles, personal protection and law enforcement guns. More...

Kerrin's #1 Story from 2011 - Hemphill takes top honors at Camp Perry

I’ve known for a while that I would have to choose my top five stories of 2011, and for the past few months, I had been mulling over which stories to include, shuffling the events in my mind over and over again. But since July, I have known which story I would pick for the top spot: Philip Hemphill winning his first NRA National Pistol Championship.

Sure, he’s well-known in the shooting community as legend at the NRA National Police Shooting Championships, having won 10 National Champion titles with the Mississippi Highway Patrol. But at the National Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, Hemphill had always fallen prey to the “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” stereotype. He has many top five finishes under his belt, but until 2011, the title of National Pistol Champion had eluded him. When I chose my top contenders for the 2011 National Pistol Championships, Hemphill went straight to the top of my list.

Once we got to Camp Perry and the competition began, Hemphill and his fellow shooters faced some rough shooting conditions including blazing heat and high winds. During the Preliminary Pistol Championship, Hemphill placed 4th with a score of 872-42X, just five points behind winner and 2-time National Champion SFC Jim Henderson of the Army Marksmanship Unit.

As we moved into the .22 Caliber Championship, the scores among the top finishers were so close, that only the X count separated the pack. One single “X” bumped Hemphill into 4th place again after shooting an 882-37X. Hemphill found himself in 4th place again following the Center Fire Championship after scoring 869-30X, leaving just the .45 Caliber Championship to boost his scores.

The final day of competition left Hemphill taking third in the .45 Caliber Championship with a score of 881-46X. But despite his previous finishes in the week, his consistent shooting gave him a totaled score of 2632-113X, earning him his very first title of NRA National Pistol Champion.

He assured me he’ll be back in 2012 to defend his title, but is he going to try to pick up nine more National Pistol Champion titles to match his 10 titles from the National Police Shooting Championships?

“We’ll just see about that,” said a grinning Hemphill.