The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall is a mobile, 3/4 scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located in Washington, DC. The granite replica is 240 feet in length and eight feet high. It is inscribed with the names of over 58,000 American military personnel who died, or remain missing in action in Vietnam. The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall was created and built by the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation, and cemetery service providers. Since 1990, this traveling monument has been displayed in more than 200 cities across these United States. It has permitted millions of Americans to experience the magnificence of the memorial who might never visit the nation's capital to experience the original firsthand. The last occasion the Dignity Wall was hosted in Bartlett was September 2001. This is a rare event in the MidSouth and should not be missed.

The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Experience will be erected at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens located in Bartlett. It is scheduled to arrive Wednesday, 1 June at approximately 10:00am. An escort is being arranged. Click here to join the escort. Assembly shall begin at noon the same day. Exhibition shall commence on the morning of Friday, 3 June at 9:00. The wall will be open and staffed 24 hours a day until it closes on Sunday evening, 5 June. There shall be related displays and events scheduled during the exhibition. Click here to visit the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall website.

It never fails, Father's Day always sneaks up on us. We have 364 days to get ready for it, but it always seems we scramble around at the last minute trying to find something for dear ol' Dad. So, as a service to fathers everywhere as well as those buying gifts for dads, we are providing a list of some great gift ideas from Range USA that are sure to please the father or fathers in your life!

1. Range USA gift cards! Gift cards are always the right size, right color, and the right caliber! The cards can be purchased in ANY denomonation and can be used for anything Range USA has to offer! We can even mail them, if you need us to.

2. Range Passes! You receive a great discount when you purchase range passes by the sheet (there are 10 range passes to a sheet).

3. Cleaning Supplies! This is one thing dad can always use - solvent, oil, brushes, patches, etc.

4. Ammunition! You can never have too much ammunition. Just be sure to know what caliber he shoots or you might use that as an excuse to purchase another firearm in that caliber! Been there; done that!

5. Accessories! Trust me - dad can always use another flashlight, knife, pepper spray, batteries, etc.

Feel free to call us or come by and speak to someone in person for specific details on some great gift ideas. I guarantee that anything on this list will make a great gift idea for the father(s) in your life! He will definitely love it!

P.S. If you are buying a Father's Day gift for your husband, a Date Night Gift Certificate makes a great gift. You get to spend time with your hubby on a date and you are sure that he is enjoying the events of the evening. Face it, he has gone to enough chick-flicks, musicals, and operas over the years because you wanted to. Repay him with a date to the shooting range!

For June's organization, we chose Bartlett Animal Shelter! Our pets are so much a part of our families and lives. Not all pets are taken care of like the ones in our lives. The Bartlett Animal Shelter gives strays and homeless animals a second chance at a new home. If you would like to donate to the Bartlett Animal Shelter, click here.  ______________________________________________________________________________

On Thursday, July 28th from 8:00am-5:00pm, Range USA, Inc. will be hosting a Glock Armorers Course. All GSSF Members are eligible to enroll in this course! Learn everything you ever wanted to know about the Glock pistol. For more information and to register for the course, click here.

Fifteen year old Briarcrest student, Rena South, submitted this essay for consideration into the NRA YES program. This young lady is fifteen years old and understands the 2nd Amendment more than most adults and most politicians. With views like this in the next generation of leaders, America's future looks bright! Thank you, Ms. South, for this great essay!

Q. Where do you stand on the issue of gun control?  Does the government have the right to step in and disarm the American people, even though the right to bear arms is one of the main principles this country was built on?

When the forefathers gave citizens the right to bear arms, they created a check and balance in the U.S. Constitution, much like the branches of the government.  If the United States  must have an armed military force, then the people must have the right to bear arms to maintain balance. If there is one truth  to human nature that has been proven across time  it is the consistent abuse of power.  Lord Acton states "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." What is to prevent a military commander, or official from taking over and putting the country under martial law?  Absolutely nothing if the right to bear arms is not in place.

            A militia, not the military, not a police force, and not the National Guard is the ultimate defense of our freedom.  Exactly what is a militia today? "The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard."   Title 10  U.S. Code, Section 311, subtitle  A chapter 13.  The current meaning of militia  has evolved from the term  that our forefathers knew in 1776.  Our forefathers knew that the United States would grow and that citizens would need to be able to protect their rights and freedoms.

            When the Bill of Rights was written by our forefathers, they understood that the defense of these freedoms should be in the hands of the people and not the government.  The right to bear arms  insures as United States citizens we can protect ourselves from having  another dictator.       Having a check and balance for the armed internal strength  prevents such situations. Other governments would rise and fall, but the United States would remain strong.  It is the civilian population, our militia, that insures the government remains in the hands of the people. It is the militia, that secures the freedom that all United States citizens enjoy.  "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people ... To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them." (George Mason, Virginia Ratification Convention, 1788)         

            A member of my own family  was a victim of violence where a firearm was used.  Some people may think that would make me an advocate for gun control, that the Second Amendment is out date. It does not.  Would my murdered unarmed cousin still be alive if he had exercised his Second Amendment Rights?  Our forefathers knew crime would always exists, that there would be threats against individuals, their homes and country. Yes, some people  would  decide to abuse the right to bear arms. A fire arm does not have a mind of its own.   It is an inanimate object, a machine.   A machine that we control. A machine that has been used to save lives, to protect and defend.  Firearms do not kill people.  People kill people.

            Removing the Second Amendment does not keep firearms out of the hands of evil people. It would prevent good law abiding citizens from defending their country, themselves, their family and their property.         Those who commit crimes should be punished under the law.  Does one man  committing murder  really mean that those who do not abuse the right to bear arms should lose  their means of providing protection?   Do you let one rotten apple ruin an entire barrel of apples? No, you do not.  You decide.  Do you take a chance to have to live under martial law, with no freedom?  Or, do you want the freedom to protect your loved ones, possessions and your county?  You choose.  I choose to punish criminals under the law  and keep my rights.  I believe in the check and balance  that was set in place when our U.S. Constitution was written., 

            The United States exists in a time of uncertainty.  We face the threat of terrorists' attacks on our homeland.   Economic conditions have caused companies to collapse, high unemployment, raising healthcare costs, and a tide of illegal immigration.  When our country was still an infant, the United States also faced uncertain times.  Would the United States grow and continue to thrive and to evolve? Our  forefathers added the Second Amendment to the Constitution for a specific reason.  Our freedom came at a high cost in life and property. Our forefathers saw a time when this newly won freedom may have to be  fought for again.  They wanted to make sure that citizens had the tools necessary to defend and maintain freedom. I value my freedom.  How much do you value yours?  Are you ready defend your homeland  from a terrorist?  Are you ready to defend your family from an assault in your home?  Can you save the life of  your child, your wife, any member from of your family  when faced with an attacker?  A firearm  can equalize an encounter and could prevent lost of life.  The right to own and bear  arms was given to us for a reason.  The strength of our citizens is the hidden power core of the United States.  Today we have a subtle militia that lingers among our current citizens.

            The United States has one of the most powerful military forces in world.  Our military does not walk the streets.  Our first army was a militia.  It was made up ordinary everyday people  that took up their personal firearms that established this country and secured our freedom.   The fact our population can bear arms makes this country a indomitable force.  An assault on this country can fought from the military down to the militia level.  After the advent of 911, who can say  when the next attack will be on our country.  On September 11^th when the United States was attacked by terrorists, it was the militia that stopped Flight 93 from reaching what was believed to be their intended target of Washington D.C.   There were no police officers on Flight 93, or a military presence.   The National Guard did not appear to fight the terrorists..  It was the passengers.  They were typical United States citizens  going about their daily lives.  When the passengers realized that the United States was under attack, they assaulted the hijackers stopping them from completing their mission. The Second Amendment is as relevant to today as it was over 230 years ago.   The United States is a bastion of freedom to the world.  The Second Amendment  is just as critical right now as it was then.

            "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."   I consider myself to be one of the people, my parents,  my neighbors, and other citizens that I do not know.   Citizens have the right to bear arms. The Second Amendment is a fail safe guarantee  to ensure that citizens would always be able to defend all aspects of freedom.  Freedom is a spirit that continues to grow, and evolve in the future. Our forefathers anticipated this. They recognized the American spirit.  They realized then that taking the right to bear arms from the people  would slowly crush that spirit  and transform the United States into a shadow of itself.   

CRAWFISH BOIL - Saturday, July 2nd! Come out for Date Night or just to eat and partake of our very first Crawfish Boil! Crawfish, sausage, red potatoes, corn on the cob and whatever else goes into a boil! Then after you get full, go watch the fireworks in Bartlett! What a great way to celebrate the Independence Day weekend!

Beginning in May, you can get breakfast on Saturday mornings at 1776 starting at 8:00am. The menu will initially consist of bacon, sausage, eggs, hashbrown casserole, toast, coffee, milk, and juice, but will expand as the weeks go on. Come out on Saturday mornings, enjoy a great breakfast and be the first ones on the range for some trigger time! Then you have the rest of the day for errands and honey-do lists.

1776 now has Free Wi-Fi! Come on in and work on homework, surf the web, or get on Facebook to invite friends to Range USA!

1776 has changed up their menu a little! Come check out some of the new additions. And, the daily plate lunches have started. Stop by for some good home-cooked plate lunches. The weekly plate lunch menu is posted on Facebook every Friday - click here  to see 1776's Facebook page. Be sure to "like" the 1776 page and get updates on promotions, coupons, give aways, and contests! Also, ask about hosting your business meeting at Range USA - 1776 can cater it! 1776 can also cater off-site events! The possibilities are endless. If you are having or thinking about having any kind of event and you want it to be different and memorable, check with Range USA!

And, don't forget about Trivia Night at 1776!

Do you have an organization you are trying to raise money for? Have the bake sales and car washes let you down? Have we got a program for you! Now it's easy for your marching band, cheerlading squad, t-ball team, youth group, football team, dance group, etc. to raise money! Range USA will designate a day for your group, you spread the word to anyone and everyone associated with the group of that day, tell them to come spend money at Range USA, and we will donate a percentage of those sales to your group! The hardest thing you have to do is to let everyone know what day is yours. If they plan on shooting, buying ammo, taking a class, or buying a gun, have them do it on your groups day! Then you will benefit from their sale. If you are interested in having a day for your group, email us - contact us. I will give you more details and we can discuss which day you are interested in.

Groupon - if you know anything about this organizations, you know the great deals they offer. You will want to subscribe to Groupon fairly soon in order to take advantage of the offer Range USA will be posting! Click here for Groupon.

Range USA Rewards Cards  - you get points, which equal Range USA dollars, with every purchase you make at Range USA. Then you can use those points to make future purchases at Range USA.

Youth/Adult Airsoft League - if you are interested in joining the Range USA Airsoft League, email contact us. More details will be announced in future newsletters.

June 3rd-5th - Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall 

June 19th - Father's Day 

June 26th - Starlight Spectacular at Bellevue Baptist Church

July 2nd - Crawfish Boil at 1776! 

July 4th - Independence Day

July 16th - Member Appreciation Event 

July 28th - Glock Armorers Course

August 12th - SoulMate Live!