January 15, 2012

FAIRBANKS - Mary Downs-Last looked genuinely surprised when her name was announced as the award recipient for Outstanding Contribution to Public Shooting for 2011 at the annual AIM-COMM and Fish and Game Range banquet and awards ceremony Saturday evening. Wayne Ross, board member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), told attendees during his speech how the act of British troops sent to seize and destroy guns from North American colonists in 1775, fueled the Revolutionary War that eventually led to the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

AIM-COMM and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Hunter Education Indoor Shooting Range (HEDR) in Fairbanks, partner to organize and host the annual banquet. Even with -45°F below zero temperatures and dense ice fog Saturday, the banquet was well attended. The event serves as a volunteer recognition and awards ceremony as well as a fun, social gathering to highlight the programs, activities and achievements related to the six divisions of AIM-COMM: Competitive Shooting, Firearms Instruction, Hunter Education, Law Enforcement, Public Shooting and Youth Shooting. The divisions are representative of the various user groups of the Fish and Game range.

The banquet featured Wayne Anthony Ross, NRA Board Member, as the guest speaker. Ross, who worked in the Alaska Attorney General's office and once ran for Governor, has been influential in Alaska for many years when it comes to the 2nd Amendment and gun rights. During his speech Ross said more people need to get involved with firearm safety and advocating for the right to bear and use guns. He also said everyone should be a member of the NRA and that we need to get more youngsters involved. Ross told a few stories about raising his family and getting his children acquainted with guns and gun safety at an early age. Ross said he may be "preaching to the choir," given the AIM-COMM audience, but said "the message needs to be told."

One poignant and somewhat dramatic moment during the banquet occured during the presentation for the Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement award. Video scenes from a History Channel show featuring retired Alaska State Trooper Jeff Hall were shown that told the story of Hall's participation in an air-to-ground gun fight near Manley Hot Springs, in which he shot and killed a rampage killer, Michael Alan Silva. Silva shot and killed Trooper Troy Duncan who was in the seat behind Hall in the helicopter before shots fired by Hall took Silva down. Hall was awarded the Outstanding Contribution award for more than a quarter-century of military and law enforcement service. Hall is a traveling NRA Adjunct Staff Instructor and a Police Master Instructor who teaches and lectures around the U.S., including at the Law Enforcement Academy in Fairbanks.

Jason Williams, coach for the West Valley High School Rifle Team, was recognized with the ADF&G HEDR Volunteer of the Year Award for 2011. Williams has coached the team for several years now, serves on AIM-COMM's board of directors, helps other school rifle teams out and has been instrumental in promoting safe and responsible participation by youth in the shooting sports.

The banquet was held at the Alpine Lodge, Finish Line Restaurant and Banquet Room. Many door prizes were awarded, thanks to AIM-COMM president Judy Johnson who gathered a lot of prizes to give away. Tom Harmon, a participant of the AIM-COMM shooting leagues, won a raffle for a new Ruger 10/22 rifle.

Awards presented for 2011, at the Annual AIM-COMM and Fish and Game Range Banquet, held Saturday, January 14, 2012:

Outstanding Contribution Awards

• Competitive Shooting: Bill Filiaga
• Firearms Instruction: David Miller
• Hunter Education: Barry Whitehill
• Law Enforcement: Jeff Hall
• Public Shooting: Mary Downs-Last
• Youth Shooting: Lucas Clooten

High Aggregate Score for 2011: Richard "Rick" Briggs (292-10x out of possible 300)

Fish and Game Range - Volunteer of the Year for 2011: Jason Williams