I've never been that great at math. OK, let's be honest. I'm terrible.
Back when the Earth was new - right after the last dinosaurs had been exterminated by market hunters - I was considering a major in college. I've told many people I chose criminal justice because it would involve very little math.
I think the whole thing started in seventh grade, when a fresh and innovative form of torture was inflicted on students in my neck of the woods. This diabolical scheme was called "new math," and any hope I had of success in the numbers world was dashed the day I walked into that class. Oh well - somehow I made it through 36 years of law enforcement, math-impaired or not.
Recently, I made a math mistake in a public forum. While at the National Rifle Association convention in Louisville, Ky., I posted on Facebook that the gathering featured "10 acres of guns and freedom." Well, the Kentucky Exposition Center has 500,000 square feet under its roof, and I'm told this converts to almost 11 1/2 acres. Believe me when I tell you that I did not do this math.
Let's think about that for a minute. More than 11 acres of guns, hunting and shooting equipment - almost anything you can think of in the firearms world.
All of the major (and minor) firearms manufacturers displayed their wares, and all the related hunting or shooting gear known to man was there, too. This year's convention had more than 750 exhibitors, and you could look till you glazed over.
You can't see it all folks. I've tried. What you miss this year, you just have to come back for next year.
This was the 145th year the NRA has held a convention. Formed in 1871, the NRA has long been known as the premier organization protecting the Second Amendment and your rights regarding firearms. Training, marksmanship and shooting competitions have long been a major focus of the organization, and as early as 1903 the NRA began the important work of promoting and teaching firearms safety and marksmanship to America's young people.
Today, youth programs are still a cornerstone of the NRA, with more than a million young people participating in NRA shooting sports events and affiliated programs with groups such as 4-H, Boy Scouts of America, American Legion, Royal Rangers, National High School Rodeo Association and others.
Threats against your Second Amendment rights are nothing new. In 1934 the NRA formed the Legislative Affairs Division. While the NRA did not lobby directly at this time, it did mail out legislative facts and analyses to members so they could take action on their own. In 1975, recognizing the critical need for political defense of the Second Amendment, the NRA formed the Institute for Legislative Action.
If you are hunter, recreational shooter or firearms collector, or you just want to have a gun in the house to protect you and your family, you need to be a member of the NRA, period. If you think your rights to keep and bear arms under the Constitution of the United States of America are not under attack, you may want to seek counseling or change your medication. Visit nra.org to learn more.
This is the third NRA convention I have attended in as many years. I quickly found out the main thing people want to know when go to these functions is whether I saw "anything good," such as guns or gear I "just couldn't live without."
If the editors gave me 20 pages (doubtful), I still couldn't write about everything I saw, but I'll try to enlighten you on a few items.
- Sleeping Indian fine wool garments: Are you tired of being cold? I am, and if you are too, you will check out this maker of excellent wool hunting clothes (sleepingindianusa.com). Wool is a natural insulator, and mankind has been using it to protect against the elements for thousands of years. Many of the "techno" garments we see today are not anywhere near as breathable, so we are often wet from sweating, which means we are soon going to be very cold. Wool is very breathable, though, and these garments are tough as a pine knot. There are Sleeping Indian fans out there who will be delighted to hear this company has been resurrected with new management. All of the clothing, the wool and the sheep are made right here in the USA. Did you ever see a cold sheep?
- Stoeger P3000 shotgun: If you're in the market for a good, all-purpose shotgun with economy in mind, take a look at the latest offering from Stoeger (stoegerindustries.com). This all-new, pump-action weapon from Stoeger will reliably handle any 12-gauge load from 2-inch field rounds to 3-inch Magnums. It sports a precision-machined, anodized aluminum receiver and has an easily accessible cross-bolt safety at the rear of the trigger guard. Throw it in the truck, drag it into the duck blind, turkey hunt with it, use it for home defense or paddle the canoe - I don't think you will hurt it too much. I'm not sure you can beat the suggested retail price of $299.
- African Custom Knives: Hunters and shooters like knives, and many of us like to collect them. Well, brothers Nathan and Nolan Reynerson from Baton Rouge, La., represent custom knife makers from Africa (africancustomknives.com). We have plenty of knife makers here at home, and we have some dang good ones. But it is hard to deny a tingle of excitement when you are handed a knife and told it has wart hog ivory or crocodile hide for the handles and Cape buffalo leather for the sheath! I was surprised at how reasonably many of them were priced.
"The Trail Less Traveled" is written by Larry Case, who lives in Fayette County, W.Va., has been a devoted outdoorsman all of his life and is a contributing columnist for The Times Free Press. You can write to him at larryocase3@gmail.com.