Page 25 - June 2017 Newsletter

Stay on target with Firearms Safety Days
Preventive maintenance for your firearm can Save a life...maybe yours
n BY RAY CASIANO, JR.
Brothers and sisters, I was glad to be back serving and protecting members of the Lodge as part of FOP Firearms Safety Days on May 24-25. It was a huge success, with many different gun manufacturers on hand to help the more than 250 members who attended.
This event could not have come at a better time, since many members just finished their annual prescribed qualification with the Department or, if retired, qualified with IROCC. Along with the many old faithful firearm manufacturers that we have had participating for years, we also had some new vendors like Shield U, an insur- ance group specific to gun owners, and GALLS, a new au- thorized vendor of CPD uniforms and other law enforce- ment equipment and apparel.
It was a success not just because of the turnout, but also because many of the qualified gunsmiths and armorers found problems with some of the firearms that could be the difference between life or death if deadly force is nec- essary. One of the vendors, who is an authorized dealer for Glock, mentioned that many members have Glocks that would have had a malfunction due to using after- market parts, or improper maintenance. If you have any doubts, refer to your firearms owner’s manual about how to properly maintain your firearm or see one of the De- partment’s firearms instructors.
I had the chance to sit with one of our original armor- ers, Neil Bednar of Midwest Sporting Goods, and we rem- inisced on the past 16 years of the Firearms Safety Day program. He repairs every make of gun with the motto, “As long as it can be fixed.” He mentioned that throughout the past 16 years, the ongoing problem with weapons he sees has been improper maintenance resulting from offi- cers not knowing how to properly clean their guns.
Neil once had to “evict a family of spiders” from one officer’s gun that he had in his ankle holster. The offi- cer laughed it off saying had he known, he would have charged rent. Another story he told was about an officer who had the front sight of his weapon missing...for five years. And he never failed to qualify.
As Mr. Bednar looked around the FOP Hall, he did ad- mit that today’s younger generation of officers (especially the female officers) is more meticulous and more aware of the performance of their guns. They are willing to ask questions about mechanics and eager to learn how to properly care for this most important tool in their liveli- hoods.
From this old gunsmith, we also heard the following ad- vice:
• Learn about your weapon.
• Visit the range often and practice, practice, practice.
• Develop a respectful relationship with your gun; it
just may save your life. Or mine.
When it comes to firearms, there are two sounds you
Neal Bednar of Midwest Sporting Goods helps a Lodge 7 member with care for his rearm.
A Lodge 7 member has his rearm cleaned during FOP Firearms Days.
Many Lodge 7 members came to FOP Firearms Days to learn about proper maintenance for their duty weapons.
never want to hear: “Click” when it should go “bang.” And “bang” when it should go “click.”
Mark your calendar: Firearms Days 2018 is scheduled for May 23-24. It should be exciting, since more contacts have been made to bring in new vendors and interactive activities for our members.
On behalf of Lodge 7, I would like to thank all of the par- ticipants in this year’s event and the CPD Rangemaster for providing the necessary range instructors. d
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2017 25