Fear & Loading: Good Deeds in the News

by
posted on February 20, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
yamaha_lede.jpg

Earlier this month, Derek Meyer spotted a police cruiser stopped with its lights on in Utah, but was shocked to see the officer being beaten as he drove past the scene. The concealed-carry permittee parked, drew his handgun and confronted the perpetrator, who immediately fled.

The attacker was caught later and the officer is expected to recover from his injuries—fractured eye socket and lacerations around the eye. “Had he not been in the right place at the right time, who knows what would have happened,” Cpl. Cory Waters of the Springville (UT) Police Department told Fox13. “But he definitely stopped the attack from continuing and becoming much worse. He might have even saved either one of their lives.”

Meyer told the reporter, “I carry a gun to protect me and those around me, but primarily I carry a gun to protect my family first and foremost.”

Nationwide
The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative, Yamaha Motor’s effort dedicated to ensure outdoor recreation opportunities for future generations, celebrated its 10-year anniversary in January. The announcement was made during SHOT Show and, unfortunately, the $3.5 million the program has raised in funding and support was overshadowed by the premier of new guns and gear in Vegas. Here’s a look at some of the hundreds of projects it has supported so far.

“The outdoor community is remarkably diverse, yet unified by the necessity of admittance to land,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s RV marketing manager. “Yamaha is proud to be leading the way for access, and we look forward to many more years as a productive partner with those working to safeguard land available for enjoyment.”

Excise Taxes Sent to Work in Arkansas
A $2 million grant recently awarded to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission was made possible by excise taxes paid by shooters and hunters. The funds are going toward the construction of a new shooting sports complex near the city of Jonesboro.

Once completed, the range is expected to have nine trap fields, a 200-yard rifle range, 50-yard pistol range, archery and more. Total cost is estimated to be $10 million.

The money was generated through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, which collects an excise tax from manufacturers of sporting arms and ammunition. Part of the Arkansas project includes 38 acres on the corner of the property to be left undisturbed, “in perpetuity.”

Latest

Allan Cors In Memoriam
Allan Cors In Memoriam

Past NRA President Allan Cors, 1936-2026: Liberty Takes A Loss

One of liberty’s champions, past NRA President Allan D. Cors died on August 10, 2026.

Moving to the Micro Red-Dot: An Old Dog Learns Some New Tricks

After shooting open-sighted handguns for more than 40 years, the author's aging eyes finally caught up to him, and his concealed-carry pistol now sports a red-dot optic.

Record-Setting Number of Women Receive Free Firearms Training in Michigan

Across two days of free training at Recoil Firearms in Taylor, Mich., a record-setting 2,454 women were given hands-on instruction in the safe and effective use of firearms.

7 New Pistol Suppressors for 2026

For handgunners, having a suppressor makes range trips much more comfortable, and many new suppressors have been designed for maximum compatibility across today's most popular handgun styles and chamberings.

A Victory That Ends A Gun Registry

On August 5, U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix of the Northern District of Texas held that key regulatory provisions of the NFA are unconstitutional as applied to certain categories of firearms.

Criminal Clues: Tips to Avoid Appearing Like a Soft Target

You don’t have to be the hardest target, but you don’t want to be the softest. Here are some tips on how to avoid becoming a target for a criminal looking for his or her next opportunity.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.