The United States of America is unique in how we treat the right to keep and bear arms. It's a human right that all free men and women have, but we're the only nation that remotely tries to respect it as a God-given right. It's a massive part of our national identity.
So, it kind of makes sense that the nation's oldest civil rights organization is holding shooting challenges to celebrate our 250th birthday.
It's not just one or two places, either, but across the entire nation.
The National Rifle Association is inviting Americans, coast-to-coast, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States—and the freedom for which it stands—by exercising their rights by participating in the "ARC Across America" National Challenge. The nationwide competitive shooting event, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, brings responsible firearm owners together in friendly competition while learning new skills and honoring the traditions that helped found and shape this great nation.
The challenge allows firearm owners across the country to compete in ARC matches at participating clubs and ranges and see where they rank against fellow competitors nationwide. At the heart of the program is the ARC Level 1 format, the foundation of the national event and the perfect entry point for firearm owners of all experience levels.
Built around practical rifle skills across four stages of fire, the Level 1 course challenges participants to demonstrate accuracy, control and safe firearm handling in a structured but welcoming environment. Whether you are a new owner looking to build confidence, or a seasoned rifleman ready to test your skills, ARC offers something for everyone.
It’s an ideal opportunity to challenge friends and family in a fun, exciting and safe environment. The friendly competitions are also a chance to develop new skills, reconnect with service members and see where you rank nationally. A “re-entry match” format allows to improve scores by competing multiple times.
The ARC Level 1 format is designed to be easily accessible, even for those who don't have a lot of shooting experience. With relatively short distances, fewer rounds required for competition, and simple to understand stages, it has all the makings of a good introduction to competition-style shooting, but with the goal of creating a challenging environment that will give shooters a reason to increase their skills.
And let us remember the role armed citizens played in winning our independence. Our Founding Fathers preserved the right to keep and bear arms because they knew that an armed populace was essential for maintaining liberty. In fact, many of them didn't want a standing military at all, seeing them as instruments of tyranny. We've avoided that problem, thankfully, but an armed and skilled population that can resist a tyrannical government is no less important today than it was 250 years ago.
If you've got an AR-style rifle or something similar, consider finding out if one of these challenges will be held near you.
If, on the other hand, you've been looking for an excuse to get an AR or something similar, well, here's a golden opportunity.
What says "freedom" more than having a firearm in your hand that most of the world can only see on a screen?