1st Annual Northeast Regional Legislators Day at the Range

On Friday, May 23, 2008 Gun Owners' Action League, the National Shooting Sports Foundation along with the National Rifle Association held the First Annual Northeast Regional Legislators Day at the Range at the North Leominster Rod and Gun Club. Legislators their family and staff from three states, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire were invited to a day at the range. With over forty people in attendance this first annual event was a huge success.

Guests attended a firearm safety briefing in the morning and then were invited to try their hand at several shooting disciplines under the guidance of certified instructors and industry experts. Trap, skeet, smallbore rifle, highpower rifle, revolver, pistol in 12 gauge, 20 gauge, .223, .308, 500 Mag, .45 .40, 9mm, .22,  were available for attendees to try out. Many of the attending legislators loved the idea of being able to spend the day with their colleagues from neighboring states and couldn't wait until next year's event.

"This was a wonderful first year event. It is fabulous that we were able to hold such a successful shooting event for legislators in a state that has gained a nationwide reputation for being unfriendly to gun owners," said Jim Wallace Executive Director of GOAL. "GOAL had run smaller local events for legislators in the past that were a great success. This regional concept was a logical and fun evolution of those smaller events."

Special thanks goes to the following for helping put on this successful event:

• North Leominster Rod & Gun Club for providing the facilities, trap and skeet instructors and lunch.

• Smith & Wesson for providing a variety of firearms and a team of experts for the day.

• Savage Arms for providing rifles for the event.

• Winchester Ammunition for providing the bulk of the ammunition used during the event.

• All of the volunteer instructors that provided a professional friendly atmosphere for the new shooters.