Found: One Troll

Since this is the last big post I’ll be making about the Blog Bash, I’d like to thank some of the folks who made it what it was:

• Insight Tech Gear, Crimson Trace, and Tactical Solutions for providing cool swag and product demos
• Michael Bane and Cam Edwards for hanging with the bloggers, showing us how it’s done, and generally being great guys
• Patrik Jonsson, for his excellent article in the Christian Science Monitor about our event and gun bloggers in general, and for getting it right.
• The representatives from ASRPA, CRPA, and PAFOA for meeting with us and answering our concerns.
• Dick Heller for showing up at the meet-and-greet on Thursday.
• The other bloggers. The event wouldn’t be worth going to if not for the other publishers and readers at the event. I now have a new section at the top of my blogroll: Bloggers I’ve Met. Each and every one of them is a stand-up individual.
• Bitter for organizing this whole thing from the new media end.
• Last, but definitely not least, a huge thanks to the NRA Public Affairs team for making this all possible and for recognizing all the publishers as press.

This morning I was planning on sleeping in, until Sebastian mentioned last night that Crimson Trace was going to be presenting for us at 9:30AM. We went down to their booth and got to demo some of their products unimpeded by the usual crowds. Crimson Trace has an admirable mission statement: Simply to build products that save lives. They, among other gun companies, have founded a new organization to “help the healing and re-integration of disabled combat veterans back into normal American life through participation in outdoor events.”

The Crimson Trace representative asked us for one thing with regard to the organization: simply to refer disabled veterans who would be interested in such an event to them. They have the ability to help people, but they know that there are hundreds, probably thousands, of wounded veterans who may be interested in such a program that they don’t know how to contact. The organization is HAVA: Honored American Veterans Afield and it sounds like a great program.

Yesterday afternoon I won an Insight Tech Gear M6X Tactical Laser Illuminator in a door prize drawing. This evening I had a chance to sit and examine it in detail and it is an extremely nice piece of equipment.

It’s very well-made, sturdy, and bright. I can’t wait to test this thing on the range, except for one problem. I don’t own a gun with rails on the underside of the weapon. I guess I’ll have to buy a new stock for my M14 or a new 1911 or something .

As I sit here writing I am listening to ViciousCircle episode 9, recorded at the Blog Bash by the usual conspirators. It’s a great summary of events down here and I recommend it. I had a wonderful time at the convention and I’m definitely glad I went. It’s great to be able to put a face to the names and voices of some of my favorite bloggers and podcasters. I’m not really a crowd/people person, but my experience here has convinced me to attend PAX and probably the Reno GBR later this year. I haven’t decided if I’ll attend the Blog Bash in Charlotte next year, but I’m leaning toward “yes.”

Bottom Line: Loved it. Super tired. Thanks Bitter. Good night.