Friday, June 26, 2009

Get Your Registration and Reservations in ASAP

It's only a bit over two months away, so get your Gun Blogger Rendezvous registration and hotel room reservations in ASAP. To get the best flights and prices, you should get on that right away, too.

The Silver Legacy in Reno is giving us a special group rate, and by booking our rooms at the Silver Legacy, they provide our hospitality room for us for five days at no charge. There's a small catch, though, that if we don't have enough rooms, then it costs us money for the hospitality room.

We have blocked out rooms for Wednesday the 9th, through Sunday the 13th. Most folks plan on arriving on Thursday, and then leaving Reno either Late on Sunday, or on Monday. KeeWee and I are planning on arriving around Noon on Wednesday. Since we will be having GBR activities on Sunday, you may want to consider leaving for home on Monday if you can arrange it.

The room rates are a bit higher than last year as the Silver Legacy is a bit more expensive that where we were last year, but it's supposed to be rated a bit higher as hotels go, too. The rates for a room for up to two people is $69 per night on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Friday and Saturday rate is $119 per night. There is also a $3.00 "Resort Charge" on to of that ,and a 17% (!) Reno room tax. Wireless internet, usually an extra $10.00 per night, is included in the room rate.

To book your room, call the Silver Legacy direct at 1-800-687-8733 and be sure to mention the group code of GBLOG09 to get the reduced rates.

Everything is all set for you to register for this September's Gun Blogger Rendezvous at the Silver Legacy in Reno on September 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th. (Note that we've moved it a month earlier to take advantage of the much warmer weather) The registration is $30 per person, the same as last year. The majority of the registration money will go to Project Valour-IT, and a small amount of it will go to GBR expenses.

To register, download the registration form, fill it out, and mail it in along with your check to the address on the registration form. Your money will be deposited into an escrow account, so every penny is accounted for.

To download the registration form, click on The Registration Form. We need your registrations in as soon as possible, as advance registrations give me an idea of how many attendees to plan for.

You don't have to be a gun blogger, or even a blogger to attend the Rendezvous. Since you are reading this blog, you are welcome to attend! Don't put it off any longer, get your transportation, room reservations, and Rendezvous Registration in TODAY!

See You in RENO!


Mark Knapp, Firearms Lawyer to Rendezvous

Last Sunday I was at the Paul Bunyan Gun Club in Puyallup, Washington shooting in one of their monthly "Fun Steel" matches. On our squad was a fellow named Mark Knapp. I'd never met Mark before, and as the day progressed we got a chance to talk a bit. Mark is an attorney (yeah, I know, but Mark isn't one of those slimy types at all!) Mark not only specializes in firearms law in Washington State, but he's a good solid shooter and a gun blogger too! How 'bout that!

Mark Knapp, Firearms Lawyer & Blogger

I wish I would have remembered to take my camera so I could put up a picture of Mark shooting rather than in his "Lawyer Suit", but you use what you've got! At Puyallup made what I would consider the shot of the day, at least in our squad. Mark hit a 12" plate one handed while in full gallop to the second shooting position! A bit of luck was involved, for sure, but he hit it, none the less. Quite a shot.....

Mark is also making plans to attend this year's Gun Blogger Rendezvous. On top of everything else, Mark is running for judge in Federal Way, just South of Seattle. Too bad we can't just send him straight to the Supreme Court. How cool would it be to have one of the Supremes be a regular competitive shooter!

Check out Mark's blog Washington State Gun Lawyer, and his Firearms Lawyer website. There's lots of good reading on both. If you'd like to meet Mark in person, why not come to the Gun Blogger Rendezvous?

See you next month at Puyallup, Mark, and maybe over at Kitsap if you can make it!



Thursday, June 25, 2009

NSSF To Co-Sponsor GBR-IV



This one's been in the works for a while, but it's now official, The National Shooting Sports Federation will be co-sponsoring this year's Gun Blogger Rendezvous. NSSF has agreed to pick up the tab for the "All you can eat" Pizza feed on Saturday night in our Hospitality room. Since the cost of the pizza will now not come out of the Rendezvous Registration money, it, in effect, is a donation to Project Valour-IT, as all money after expenses raised by the Rendezvous goes to Project Valour-IT.

If you are not too familiar with NSSF, you should definitely check out their website. They do a bunch of good things to promote hunting and shooting sports. Most recently they donated $50,000 as startup funding to establish the Scholastic Steel Challenge program to introduce Steel Challenge shooting into the schools.

If a representative from NSSF will be able to attend the Rendezvous has yet to be determined, but good lines of communication established between the Gun Bloggers and NSSF could certainly be a positive benefit towards the hunting and shooting sports. Let's hope they can be there!

Be sure to check out their website, as there is a lot of good information there!



Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Para To Donate a Pistol To the Rendezvous Raffle


Last Year's Raffle Para PXT LDA Limited Single Stack Pistol

I now have confirmation from Kerby Smith of Para USA regarding the pistol that Para USA is donating to the Project Valour-IT fund raising raffle to be held at the Gun Blogger Rendezvous. Para is having a hard time meeting the demand for their products, but they will definitely be donating a brand new Para pistol to the Gun Blogger Rendezvous to help raise money for Project Valour-IT through the GBR raffle. They don't know for sure which model it will be, but I can't think of any of them that I wouldn't like to win in the raffle!

We all owe a big thanks to Kerby Smith and Para USA for their generous donation.

Thanks!!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Smallest Minority donates PARA Pistol To GBR-IV

Kevin Baker, prolific gun blogger at The Smallest Minority and Rendezvous regular, has stepped up to the plate big time in support of the Gun Blogger Rendezvous, and more importantly, in support of Project Valour-IT.

As you may recall, Project Valour-IT buys voice actuated laptop computers and gives them to injured service men and women who otherwise are unable to use a computer due to their injuries. Anyhow, Kevin busted open his piggy bank and bought a Para USA GI Expert and is donating it to the Gun Blogger Rendezvous Valour-IT fund raising raffle.

ParaUSA's new GI Expert entry-level 1911. The specs are:
Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 5 inches, stainless steel
Twist: 1 in 16 inches, left-hand
Action: Single-action, Semi-automatic
Sights: Dovetail Fixed, 3-White Dot
Receiver: Carbon Steel
Trigger: Medium length
Hammer: Skeletonized Spur
Magazine: 8-round with removable base pad (two provided with pistol)
Overall Length: 8.5 inches
Height: 5.75 inches
Weight: 39 ounces
Finish: Covert Black Para Koteā„¢
Stocks: Checkered Polymer
Safeties: Slide Lock, Internal Firing Block, Grip
Additional Features: Lowered and flared ejection port, beveled magazine well, flat mainspring housing, grip safety contoured for spur hammer
MSRP: $599
Tickets will be available at the Rendezvous, and if all goes according to plan, we will also have tickets available on-line soon.