PROGRAMS & SERVICESinsideNRA
❘ ❘ .
By Joseph P.
DeBergalis Jr.
Executive Director,
General Operations
NPSC:
lecompetitions.nra.orgnrablog.com/Mississippi:
nrablog.com/mississippinrablog.com/Atterbury:
nrablog.com/atterburyPhoto by John ParkerFeatured Program:
Competitive Shooting Sports
[Editor’s Note: For
background information
on this new series, please
refer to the inaugural
monthly update in the July
issue of this magazine.]I
n this second installment of my monthly
update from General Operations, I wish
to recognize the hundreds of thousands
of competitive shooters who exemplify
the traditions of the first NRA Creedmoor
Matches held in April 1873. Whether you
carry your precision-pistol gun box to the 50-
yard line, adjust your sling for the 200-rapid
in service rifle or prepare your equipment
for any of the 11,000 other shooting events
that NRA facilitates each year, know that
your participation in our sport also serves
as an ambassador of freedoms not enjoyed
in many parts of the world. As I reflect
on the respect shared among shooting
sports competitors—from tyros to high
masters—I am reminded of the inspirational
speech to the men and women gathered
to hear President Teddy Roosevelt when he
observed: “... The credit belongs to the man
who is actually in the arena, whose face is
marred by dust and sweat and blood; who
strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short
again and again, because there is no effort
without error and shortcoming ... .” To all of
the youth organizations, adaptive shooters,
men and women who portray the spirit of the
American pioneer, defenders of freedom and
world-class sportsmanship, we salute you.
Let me also highlight two important
changes to the competitive shooting
calendar. First, the National Police Shooting
Championships (NPSC) is moving back
to Mississippi. The Mississippi Highway
Patrol, the Mississippi Department of PublicSafety and the NRA will host the 2019 NRA
NPSC at the Mississippi Law Enforcement
Officer’s Training Academy in Pearl, Miss.,
Sept. 23–25. Rolling out the welcome mat,
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant said,
“Mississippi is proud to host the 2019 NRA
National Police Championships and excited
to show what our great state has to offer to
the hundreds of law enforcement officers
that will be in the Magnolia State.”
Also, the National Pistol and Rifle
Matches are officially moving in 2020 from
Camp Perry, Ohio, to Camp Atterbury, Ind.
Indiana’s Governor Eric J. Holcomb has
announced that, “Camp Atterbury will serve
as an exceptional venue for marksmanship
championships that promote education and
responsibility.” Camp Atterbury, located on
35,000 acres just west of Edinburgh, Ind.,
has a long history of marksmanship training.
Since opening in 1942, Camp Atterbury has
hosted units from all branches of the military.
If you are already among the ranks of NRA
Competitive Shooting, thank you for your
loyal participation. If you would like to learn
more about the NRA Competitive Shooting
Division, competitive resources or how to run
your own tournament, call 877-672-6282 or
email [email protected]. For the free
online NRA magazine Shooting Sports USA,
visitssusa.org.Yours in freedom,