TAG Members…Let’s See What We’re Made Of…Please Help
I just got this email and it really did a number on me. Some of you on here know I try to help people out as much as I can when they can’t afford my services…Here is a shooter who has really fallen on hard times.
I just called his home and spoke with his Grandson and it sounds very legit to me.
Here is his email to me with his permission…..
Hello Public Relations: Hunting season is over and I’m looking for help with a Air Rifle. I don’t know all that much about BB or pellet guns. I am in need of a little help. My problem is I am 57 and I have Lou Gehrig’s Disease aka ALS Disease. ALS knows no boundary’s,it can effect you too. Although I am fighting my ALS I continue to Deer Hunt with my sons and friends. My determination to hunt even with many setbacks has got the attention of others. Last year my County Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation purchased a HQ-100 Disable Rifle Rest for me to be able safely shoot and practices with. This year ecopeland@texasarc.com Austin Texas Safari Club International purchased a custom off road power wheelchair and scope camera to help me enjoy my hunting better. I need your company’s help. I am looking for away to fight my board-em, and to keep from thinking about all of my problems. I was told by friends to get a AIR RIFLE. You see my ALS has taken my ability to talk, walk or stand, wash or dress myself, and other jobs only a loving wife and family would do. I look just like you or another normal person, only I’m wheelchair bound. My brain is not effected by my ALS, only my body muscles. The enclosed pictures show me with my new hunting equipment from NWTF & SCI Clubs. Does your air guns work for Disable Shooters? Air guns have changed allot since I shot one last. I saw a pig killed with one on TV they must be powerful now. Have you ever Sponsored a Disable Shooter with a air gun? Do you have any program in place that would help me acquire a air gun? A demo, returned, refurbished, damaged wood or scratched air gun will be fine. Sponsorship is my only available way to enjoy your Air Guns. There is no place on the Internet that is to help me a ALS person. I am forced to compete with all other Disable or Challenged Shooters for the little help that is to be offered. I have been offered guided club hunts but I have turned them down when I was told that my name was mixed in with other Disabled young hunters. Just to shoot is fun for me. I can provide Documentation of my ALS Disease from my Neurologist Dr. I am registered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Mississippi where we live. Our income is my disability income only. I would like this to be considered as a act of compassion for a lifelong outdoors person. I can not talk but my wife “Laureen” answers all phone calls at {601}*******. I answer all emails at terry*******.com. In closing I ask for your help, support and human compassion on this matter of a Air Gun. Thank You Terry D Vann
TERRY D VANN
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I would really like to make this happen and give something back for a fellow shooter.
I can donate parts and as much cash I can afford but I do need your help.
Anything will be appreciated.
I posted this quickly without much of a plan right now so please tell me what you think.
Thanks, Tony
All Replies
DH,
that was cold!!
Oh yeah funny as hell might I add
😈
SAW
My father used to say in jest,” I am not tough, but if I find someone I can whip, he better leave town, for I will whip him every day.” Then he wouyld laugh.
Never knew him to be in fight in my lifetime, never knew anybody I figured could whip him either.
Roachcreek
If he’s got ALS, then it should be pretty easy for Lama to kick his ass.
Lurker,
How right you are, it all starts in the family as far as I am concerned.
My wife is from the Philippines, they are middle class, but by our standards here they would be poor.
College is cheap there compared to here, and families are tight and loyal to each other.
I send two family members, the oldest children to college, it costs me 300 US per month to do this.
The deal is, when they get out, and get proffesional jobs, they are required to send two sibblings to college. My plan is to college educate the entire generation this way,
The fact that they are ambitious and get straight “A”‘s and then give most of their paychecks to mom and dad warms my heart.
But I know these people, I see what my funds do to improve their lot in life.
Some would say this is self serving, perhaps, but for me this works so much better than to give it to some faceless charity bureaucrat who makes a very good living off of others donations.
Roachcreek
There are professional con artist using official logos and titles making millions off of bleeding hearts. O’Reilly on Fox News did a little investigating of so called charties a few yeast ago. The actual Charitable organizations don’t complain because they are happy getting the 5-10% of the bleeding hearts generous gift that they feel they otherwise wouldn’t get any of.
When I was young and in a good group, the JCCs, I met one such individual that I consider a leech on American society.
When you wear your heart on your sleve you’ll have someone elses hands in your pocket.
Charity begins at home. Do something unexpected for someone in your own family. You will be surprised once in a while when it pays off and you see it passed on.
That’s my 2 cents worth.
You have a good heart Tony , but leave it on the dresser when you surf the net .
If it was one of your regulars or someone we were familiar with I think the response would definately be different.
I think the guys here would help out anyone here, except for maybe WOK 😆 (I know you laughed!)
No , really, I was thinking along the same lines too. shakeing and jerking doesnt make for a fun session of shooting especialy for others!!
Im not buying what he selling .
good catch rob3dr
Yeah I thought of DadWilson when I read this.
I was dumb enough to send him $40 to try and get his boy another air rifle, and lucky enough to receive it all back when you guys pulled together and called him on it.
I too dont see him as the beneficiary of donations to keep him hunting. As WOK said, anyone with ALS is barely able to drink a glass of water without spilling it all over themselves.
Maybe he is legit, maybe not. The Internet is too wierd of a place these days, and my gut says NO to this one.
I call bullshit.
If it were one of our own here, I’d do whatever it took to help. But outside, in that Internet and this day and age – the man would need a lot of credible folks standing up for him or an Agency of some sort.
You got a big heart Tony
Later
With ALS (Lou Gherigs disease) it would negligent to shoot guns, any kind of gun.
It attacks the motor neurons and the muscles will atrophy and have uncontrolled twitching.
Terry D Van might be a real person who has this disease, but that does not mean he is the one profiting from asking for guns and crossbows. With ALS there is no way he could cock a cross bow or safely pull a trigger. If he is to the point he can not talk due to ALS there is no way he is going to be able to handle any airgun, especially one that needs HPA or even a springer.
Yep. Gotta agree with rob.. again. Tony, you are awesome for this. No matter what happens, we know you’re one of the good guys.
What has happened to the world when people try to use serious illness to get people to give them money. That’s just sick beyond words. I understand some people need help, but I just don’t think the priorities are straight if you are struggling for money (or are supposed to be) and they want money to buy hunting stuff? Seems like you should probably be wanting money for other things in that situation…
I know…I might be jumping the gun here…
and yes Dadwilson did come to mind, or maybe it’s Dong…
this one just seems a bit odd….
I’m betting this is DadWilson.
people in need do not put such a plee out there full of too much detail.
need an airgun, sell a deer gun.
….and I would be remiss if I didnt say that Tony, you have a heart of gold. I just am leery of this one, but I’m all for helping a fellow shooter out and if we can find some legit organization or individual, I’m all for it….
this one just seems a bit odd….
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Latest email……
Good Afternoon Mr, Tony: Yesterday I talked with Ms, Copeland from SCI. I am to take pictures showing me using the power wheelchair & Wild Life Optic Camera that they purchased for me. If you remember I told all that my County Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation purchased a HQ-100 Disabled Rifle Rest for me. This rest will also be in my pictures. I would love to see and tell all that you too chose to help me regain some of what my Lou Gehrig’s Disease has STOLEN for me. Giving me a safe air rifle, easy to load and use, will allow me to shoot when I’m able to do so. SCI’s Camera mounts to the scope, just like in the pictures included. We will be taking all of the pictures, and I will send the best shots showing ALL donated products. I will keep your Talon in all of the pictures and also ask Ms, Copeland to mention AIR FORCES donation also to me. This is all to happen in the next weekend. The news letters go out next month. There are to be follow up articles threw out the year. Especially during hunting season. Mr. Tony I will always try to mention Air Forces hand in giving me back what means so much to me, the ability to shoot again. If you would like to have a hand in this please contact me today or asap. I am straight forward kind of guy, truthful, good morals, a friend to all. If you like you commented yesterday “would like to help me” this is your chance to join in. Let me know. TERRY D VANN From: Evete Copeland (ecopeland@texasarc.com)
Sent: Tue 5/11/10 2:17 PM
To: terry vann (terrydvannals@hotmail.com)
I had no clue about the chair – I am sorry – I know stan could have swapped it had he known (he is very handy)
I am also glad you are better and hope you continue to get better
We will put an article in the next newsletter and I am adding you to the mailing list so send pics when you can – we have about a month