When he was awakened by his home security system, NRA Endowment member Steve Bason prepared for the worst-he got his Benelli M1 12-ga. shotgun, while his wife, Beth, an NRA Life member, grabbed her Glock 9 mm pistol. "At first we figured it was just another false alarm.” Bason told the editor of the "Armed Citizen.” “Then a light came on in our barn and I thought, 'My goodness, this is real!"' Police say the couple cautiously approached the barn. They peered inside and found a man standing next to Bason's truck with the door open. "There was some yelling and we probably said some words that aren't fit for print," Bason recalled. The suspect quickly found himself staring down the barrels of two different guns and waited patiently for police. (The Express, Lock Haven, PA, 02/02/10)

The incessant ringing of her doorbell. woke a woman from her sleep. She looked through the front door peephole and saw someone in a hooded sweatshirt outside continuing to ring the bell. Police say the woman ran to the bedroom, got her handgun and dialed 9-1-1. As she returned to the front door, a second hooded suspect emerged, sprinted to the door and kicked it. His foot busted a hole in the door, knocking down the woman. She looked through the hole and saw the suspect preparing to run and kick the door again, so she stuck the barrel of her handgun out of the hole and fired two shots. The suspects fled the scene and are being sought by police. (KNXV-TV, Phoenix, AZ, 02/11/10)

Some twisted individual broke into a rural home, tied up a woman and her mother and sexually assaulted the younger woman, according to police. The older woman managed to send a cell phone text message to her neighbor. The neighbor's boyfriend, Sonny Osborn, ran to the scene, saw what was occurring and ran to get his gun. He returned and shot the attacker three times. The suspect was treated at a hospital and taken to jail. Incredibly, the police and the attacker agree Osborn did the right thing. "[The suspect] even looked at Sonny and said, 'I have no hard feelings man. You done what you were supposed to do' said Sheriff's Department Sgt. Bill Snead. "He said, 'You just protected these people' (WTHR-13, Indianapolis, IN, 02/24/10)

Richard Evans didn't feel safe in his own home the day after four teens broke into the house and stole guns and electronics. Unfortunately for all concerned, the teens returned. Police believe they were intent on stealing Evans' four-wheel drive vehicle, for which they'd stolen the keys in the prior burglary. The teens wore masks and climbed Evans' fence. He shouted at them to get off his property, but they did not comply. Fearing the teens were carrying guns, Evans grabbed his shotgun and opened fire. All four teens were wounded and taken to the hospital. Police plan to charge them with armed burglary and grand theft. (Florida Today, Melbourne, FL, 02/02/10)

Michael Hommes' German shepherd was strangely upset in the middle of the night, running frantically to various windows in the home. Trusting his dog's intuition, Hommes released it outside. The German shepherd likely saw the prowler in the yard. The next thing Hommes heard was his dog being shot. He ran back into the home and grabbed a pistol. By the time he returned to the front door, the prowler had already forced his way inside. Hommes shot at the armed intruder, causing him to flee the home. Hommes' loyal dog was treated by a veterinarian for its injuries and will survive. An investigation is under· way. (Star-Beacon, Ashtabula, OH, 02/16/10)

A group of armed men allegedly concocted an elaborate robbery ploy. The first step in their scheme was to break into an unoccupied home. Then they used a phone book to call electricians to the house so they could rob them. According to police, when the first electrician arrived, the robbers ambushed him. One of the robbers shot him in the leg and tied him up in another room. Shortly thereafter a second electrician arrived, who was also promptly shot in the leg. This electrician, however, turned out to be an armed citizen with a concealed carry permit, and he was in no mood to become a victim. He drew a handgun and shot one of the robbers, likely saving his own life and that 'of his fellow electrician. The wounded robber was taken to the hospital. His accomplices fled and are still being sought. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, GA, 02/'12/10)

What The NRA Does For You

"What's the NRA done for me?"

That question was recently posed by a young man at an airport. He recognized me and struck up a conversation about gun control. I asked him if he was an NRA member and he said, "No." That's when he hit me with, "What's NRA done for me?"

As NRA members, we've all heard that question-especially from casual gun owners who enjoy the benefit of our success and I guess your reaction is the same as mine: It's worth a thoughtful response.

Before I answered, I wanted to know more about him-always a key to confronting a lack of knowledge or misconception.

Did he believe in the Second Amendment? "You bet."

Did he believe in the right to carry?

"Absolutely. I have a permit." The right to armed self-defense? "Of course." Was he a collector? "Yes." Semi-automatics? "Everybody should own an AR."

Was he a target shooter? He proudly corrected me. "A precision shooter."

A hunter? "Yes."

Just then he was called to board his plane. So I knew I had to answer that question in print for his benefit and for your use.

First and foremost, he can thank the NRA for our 35 years supporting the superb scholarship and practical legal experience that led to the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2008 definitive ruling declaring the Second Amendment to protect an individual constitutional right. That case struck down the District of Columbia's ban on handguns and the ban on any armed self-defense in the home. It wouldn't have happened without the NRA. That goes for the case pending before the same court challenging Chicago's ban and demanding that the Right to Keep and Bear Arms apply to state and local governments.

'The NRA grassroots effort that re-elected President George W. Bush centered on the importance of his high court appointments. Without that total commitment, the court would surely have been dominated by AI Gore's and John Kerry's gun-ban appointees.

Beyond the high court, in broad strokes, here's what the NRA has achieved for my airport inquisitor based on his interests:

He exercises the right to carry and he can thank the NRA for his "shall-issue" permit. Since 1987, that right has been extended to 40 states with 36 states issuing permits to all qualified applicants.

If this young man had carried or even possessed a firearm in a national park before Feb. 20, 2010, it would have been a crime. Thanks to the NRA and our friends in Congress, citizens can now possess and carry firearms in federal parklands in conformity with the laws of the state.

As for today's array of handgun designs and models available to consumers, our friend can thank the NRA for defeating every national scheme to ban pistols and revolvers-from so-called concealable "Saturday Night Specials." to handguns with polymer frames, to semiautomatics capable of using "high capacity magazines" to handguns in small or large caliber, to handguns not possessing . built-in "smart gun" technology.

Then there is the question of ammunition. The NRA Institute for Legislative Action's first decisive victory in 1977 prevented the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission from outlawing handgun ammunition as a "hazardous substance" in the home.

As to where a firearm can be used in lawful self-defense, the NRA has been responsible for Castle Doctrine laws enacted in 24 states, many replacing laws that required potential victims of violent crime to run away when confronted with deadly force outside their homes. We've already preserved the rights of employees in 12 states who wish to keep lawful firearms locked and properly stored in their vehicles.

Among the citizen safeguards in the landmark 1986 McClure-Volkmer Act, known as the Firearms Owners' Protection Act, is a provision protecting gun owners traversing any state with properly stored firearms. Previous to that, gun owners traveling through states like New Jersey were subject to felony prosecution for illegal possession for transporting a gun in their vehicle.'

That law reformed the worst provisions of the Gun Control Act of 1968 and curbed massive abuse of power against gun owners, licensed dealers and collectors.

That brings me to how my young inquirer obtains his firearms. From dealers? At gun shows? From other lawful individuals? Were it not for the NRA, all of those sources would have been closed down long ago.

Through enactment of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in 2005, Congress effectively slammed the door on scores of big city lawsuits designed to put federally licensed gun dealers and manufacturers out of business.

We have held the line against Brady Campaign and Violence Policy Center legislation intended to close gun shows nationwide. As for criminalizing now-lawful intrastate sales between individuals the goal of the Brady Campaign- we have blocked that one as well.

As for the young man's ownership of an AR-1 5, the NRA was responsible for the sunset provisions of the onerous Clinton gun ban, and we used our collective might to make sure that worthless ban faded from law.

"Precision shooter?" We have stopped bans on accurate rifles claimed to be "sniper rifles."

There is more: we worked to arm airline pilots, an essential to protecting passengers.

And he can thank the NRA for keeping the United Nations' gun-ban treaty at bay.

Without the NRA, this young man would have no place to shoot or to hunt. Preserving and developing both has long been an aggressive NRA effort, as is our gun safety focus in training millions of gun owners and law enforcement officers.

Anyone who asks that question- "What's NRA done for me" -owes a deep debt they can pay by joining our ranks.

As NRA members, we share a sense of pride in what our members and dedicated staff have accomplished.

To show unity and strength in answering new challenges to our rights, I urge you to attend the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Charlotte, N.C., May 13-16, and to participate in our Celebration of American Values Freedom Weekend at this important moment in freedom's history.