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Catch a glimpse of Lodge 7 Firearms Days
And how it helped FOP members
n PHOTOS BY JAMES PINTO
From cleaning to inspecting to repairing to securing guns, Lodge 7 Firearms Safety Days provided members with a pleth- ora of resources to better manage the use and storage of their duty weapons and non-duty firearms.
The emphasis was on “safety,” as the title of the event held May 23-24 at the FOP Hall indicated. But the event also pro- vided gunsmiths, retailers, manufacturers and supporting businesses the opportunity to educate members and answer their questions about all matters related to their firearms.
“Some officers refer to it as a member benefit,” said Michael Baker, co-owner of Shield U, which provides gun liability cov- erage for active duty and retired law enforcement officers. “The No. 1 issue of the days was safety, and we were pleased to be able to offer insurance options to protect officers who think they have coverage through their homeowner’s policy or other means.”
Baker, whose company exhibited for the second consec- utive year, noted how Firearms Days focused on the chance to have worn or broken pieces looked at and repaired or re- placed. But he also noticed how the 200-plus members who came through plugged into the additional services available related to maintaining and securing the firearms.
“Of course, you have to tip your hat to the members who showed up,” Baker added. “They knew the importance of coming.”
Baker further commented that members were especially in- terested to see how Firearms Days helped them think about risks related to owning and operating duty and non-duty weapons. He was able to provide information about instanc- es and occurrences that the Department might not cover, and how officers might be under the wrong assumption about their protection.
In the end, perhaps the greatest value of the event was the opportunity for members to visit the nearly 20 vendors who attended and get information about all aspects of firearms care and usage. d
46 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2018