NRA's Life of Duty takes a look at California Game Wardens.

California State Department of Fish & Game Wardens are tasked with tracking poachers. Their primary concern focuses on wildlife preservation and conservation and emphasize the importance of hunter education. Now their mission has changed. For today, these Wardens are fighting for our national security and quality of life.

As one Warden said, "We still do the regular Fish and Game work, but then we get into the Drug Trafficking organization cartel gunman who isn't going to stop and talk … that's the direction Fish and Game has gone, to do those hard heavy jobs."

See more on NRA Life of Duty ... Presented by Brownells.

St. Louis, Missouri - Julie Golob is known for shooting. After winning the USPSA Ladies Single Stack National Championship two weeks ago in Illinois, she now holds more than 20 National titles along with 7 World championships. Results like that don't come easy — especially when you consider her recent success in the 3-gun arena. To achieve those heights, you have to commit to the training.

"The shooting season kicks off for me with the USPSA Single Stack Nationals and of course Bianchi — one of the most intense matches to train for, so I've definitely put a lot of time into that to make sure everything is ready to go."

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After pouring through hundreds of applications and a couple scheduling hiccups, 45 students have been selected to attend the 2012 Youth Education Summit.

The week-long educational experience in Washington, DC will have students tour most of the memorials and monuments surrounding the nation’s capital as they learn the significance of the American Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the importance of being an active citizen. These kids can expect to find themselves touring the Capitol Building, experiencing boot camp with Marines at Quantico, getting some target practice at the NRA Range and much more.

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Friends of NRA events are vital to supporting the mission of the NRA. Not only are they great fund raising tools, but they also provides you with the opportunity to meet fellow Second Amendment supporters, play a few games and maybe even take home an NRA gun, appliance or accessory.

Senior Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon sends us an email every Wednesday morning with a list of the weeks events. For the folks out in California, Mississippi, Vermont and many more states, this is your chance to fill your weekend with a little NRA fun. If there isn't an event near you this week, take a look at the Friends of NRA website to find out the schedule for your area and sign up today.

Here's this weekend's events:

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Tom Hughes and Jon Leighton are back behind the desk for the second episode of the 2012 MidwayUSA & NRA Bianchi Cup Preview Show. This time, the pair are discussing a variety of topics related to the Bianchi Cup including major sponsors, the history of the championship, and some breaking news on which top shooter has dropped out of the competition due to injury. We're just a week away from the Bianchi Cup, so stay tuned for live coverage beginning next week including more episodes of Bianchi TV live from Columbia, Missouri.

Continuing with our highlights of this year's Region Volunteer of the Year award winners, we bring you the Eastern Region's Diane March.

Friends of NRA's Region Volunteers of the year are chosen by a select committee of senior NRA staff from the pool of Field Rep-selected Area Volunteers of the Year. These exceptional volunteers for Friends of NRA were invited to the NRA Annual Meeting as honored guests where they received special recognition at the National NRA Foundation Banquet.

Diane March is a resident of Wappinger Falls, NY, serving as co-chairman of the Mid Hudson Friends of NRA committee. Approaching its twenty year anniversary, the committee's inception in 1994 saw an impressive 432 attendees at its first banquet, raising over $12,000. Since then, there have been 9,964 attendees at their events who have helped raise a cumulative $1.18 million. Diane raised over $50,000 for the 2011 banquet season alone through tickets sold, sponsorships, underwriting, and donations.

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Actor Joe Mantegna shooting a segment of Gun Stories at the NRA.

Fairfax, Virginia - Joe Mantegna's first trip to the National Firearms Museum occurred almost a year ago today. Along with Michael Bane and the Outdoor Channel crew, he was here to shoot segments of the soon to be debuted television show Gun Stories. Fast forward eleven months and a couple of Golden Moose awards later, Joe and the crew are back at the NRA for season two.

"Today (Monday the 14th) we're going to start with the Thompson Machine Gun, the Garand and the Luger," said Director Tim Cremin. "Later in the week we'll move on to your Hollywood Guns exhibit and maybe get a look in the museum vault."

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California IT guy Chris Cheng takes Top Shot Season 4 finale

Chris Cheng on the Browning M1919 machine gun - photo courtesy of History

Chris Cheng's ascension to Top Shot was not without obstacles. Unassuming, untrained and understated in almost every aspect of the competition, he was not a popular choice when the show began. Eleven shows later, he stood alongside a Civil War Re-enactor, a Federal Officer and a Triple Nickel Award Winner … things didn't look good for the IT guy.

Though a professional shooting contract and a hundred thousand dollars waited for the winner, the four worked together to ensure that each were at the top of their game.

"What was really great was how much Greg, Gary, Augie, and I were helping each out, spotting for each other, giving each other tips and general observations on how we were shooting," explained Cheng. "Going up against the best is what I think competitive people want to experience. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you fall short, but either way you grow from the experience and figure out how to win the next time around."

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NRA's Business Alliance is filled with piles of benefits for every everyday entrepreneur. There are shipping discounts available from Federal Express, reasonable rates on website and software designs from Wild Apricot, lower processing fees from Payment Alliance and more. Now you can throw SoundGear hearing protection into the mix.

SoundGear provides 100% digital, instant-fit hearing protection product for shooters. Without earmuffs or earplugs, SoundGear combines the instant-fit convenience one finds in a behind-the-ear device with the comfort of a customized device. And even though it's sure to block out the dangerous decibels derived from the booms and bangs associated with all kinds of gunfire, it won't block out the rustles, releases or commands.

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