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

benneeb0y

Participant

May 11, 2010 at 7:03 pm

Good idea pittbull. Also everything is in all caps. That’s usually a sign.

pittbill

May 11, 2010 at 6:33 pm

I would make this suggestion if we at TAG would like to do something for the disabledvets or the disabled in general we could try contacting an established oragnization like PVA or the DVA and gets ome feedback from them…with this post you received it does sound fishy to me unless you can possibly validate through one of the organizations that he belongs to regarding this matter. Also going through an organization they would utilize possibly some sort of raffle system to ensure fairness to all who belong to said organization regarding items donated. The Gun Shows in our Area typically hold raffles that for example raffle off a gun and you buy x amount of tickets for the proceeds then go to help a disabled vets go on hunts etc.

mr-lama

May 11, 2010 at 6:21 pm

I have to say I agree with rob on this one.

Here’s something on the outdoor channel blog:

quote :

PEOPLE PLEASE DON’T PAINT A PICTURE OF ME IN YOUR MIND, AS A OLD FOOL LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO BIT%H ABOUT. OVER 6 WEEKS AGO I STARTED LOOKING FOR SOME KIND OF HELP TO BUY A HQ 100 GUN REST FROM info@beadaptive.com HQ100 $1650.00 + $65.00 Shipping FOR THOSE WILLING TO DONATE CAN DO SO TO THEM IN MY NAME TERRY D VANN.. LOU GEHRIG’s DISEASE PRAY THAT NEVER GET IT! IN FIVE YEARS IT HAS TOOK EVERYTHING I HOLD DEAR TO ME AWAY, MY BUSINESS. MY OUTDOOR SPORTS. MY LIFE. BIG BUSINESS HAS TURNED IT’S BACK TO THE COMMON MAN.YOU WOULD THINK SOMEONE WOULD JUMP FOR THE CHANCH TO PROMOTE THERE OWN BUSINESS BY HELPING ME. THE BIGGEST GUNS RIGHTS GROUP IN USA ONLY CARES ABOUT THERE POCKET BOOK. ALMOST EVERY BUSINESS SUPPORTS THEM. I USE TO ALSO. TO ME IT SEEMS THAT IF YOUR NOT A RICH PERSON OR A FAMOUS HUNTER OR CHAMPION SHOOTER THEY HAVE NO NEED TO BE SEEN WITH YOU. IM 56 AND MY DAD TAUGHT ME TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE. I HAVE BEEN A THARN IN THE BUT TO ALOT OF PEOPLE AND GUN GROUPS. I WILL NOT TAKE NO AS AN ANSWER. MY ALS WILL END MY LIFE SOON.1,200 EMAILS PLEADING FOR HELP HAS GOT ME NOWERE. I DON’T LIKE EMAILS. FACE TO FACE WORK WONDERS. PEOPLE EXPECT THE NEXT PERSON ASKED TO HELP YOU OUT. A GROUP NEEDS TO BE STARTED THAT IS DESIGNED ONLY FOR THE DISABLE SPORTSMAN NEEDS. I JUST HAD TO TALK TO SOMEBODY TO VENT MY DISAPOINTMENT IN THE WAY THE SYSTEM TREATS THE DISABLE SPORTSMAN IN OUR SIDE OF THE WORLD. TERRY D VANN

And two weeks later:

GOOD AFTERNOON, IT HAS BEEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS SINCE MY LAST POST. FINELY I THINK I HAVE SOME GOODNEWS. THERE IS A LOT OF GROUPS THAT WILL HELP YOU TO ENJOY A HUNTING OR FISHING EVENT. PEOPLE WILL PICK YOU UP AND PROVIDE YOU WITH A PLACE TO STAY AS YOU HUNT IF THAT IS YOUR WISH. BEFORE LOU GEHRIG’s DISEASE I SHOT ATLEST 300 ROUND A WEEK.I WAS A SASS MEMBER AND RANGE OFFICER WITH THE MISSISSIPPI PEACEMAKERS. WE ENJOYED SHOOTING WITH OTHER CLUBS. AS A RANGE OFFICER I CHOSE TO PULL MYSELF OUT OF SHOOTING I COULD NOT TRUST MYSELF.I ENJOYED CASTING MY OWN LEAD AND LOADING MY OWN AND FOR OTHERS. GUNS, SHOOTING AND HUNTING GO HAND IN HAND. I HAVE SOLD MOST OF MY GUNS FOR FAMILY NEED, THE OTHERS WILL GO TO MY KIDS. TRUEFULLY I MISS SHOOTING. I WAS AND STILL AM LOOKING FOR HELP IN BUYING A HQ100 FROM BE ADAPTIVE EQUPMENT THE COST IS NOT CHEAP AT AROUND 1,700.00 BUT IT IS WELL MADE. MY LOCAL GROUP OF NWTF IN MY COUNTY IS TRYING TO HELP. ONLY TIME WILL TELL. A NOTE TO ALL OTHER DISABLE SPORTSMEN OR SPORTSWOMEN STAND UP FOR YOUR RITE TO THE OUTDOORS. AND IF YOU NEED HELP START ASKING OTHERS FOR IT AND DON’T TAKE NO AS A ANSWER. SAFETY FIRST THEN HAVE FUN. TERRY D VANN

And the crossbow one that rob was talking about:

HELLO PUBLIC RELATIONS: WE ARE 40 DAYS INTO DEER SEASON IN THE SOUTH. I HAVE LOU GEHRIG’s DISEASE FOR THE PAST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. I AM REGISTERED WITH M.D.A. IN MISSISSIPPI WERE I LIVE. RECENTLY COMERE DEER (bobby hulsander) CROSSLAND CALLS (gene hoyt) A NEW DISABLE RIFLE REST FROM COPIAH COUNTY CHAPTER OF N.W.T.F. AND MS RENEE AT BE ADAPTIVE EQUPMENT ALL SAW FIT TO SPONSOR ME A DISABLE HUNTER. THEY NOW ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I DIE OF MY ALS. I AM SEEKING A SPONSOR FOR CROSS BOW BOLTS. I HAVE TRADED MY PSE BOW FOR A BARNETT REVOLUTION .. I NEED 22″ BOLTS. I AM TOLD THAT THE ENDS NEEDS TO BE A (half moon) NOCK. I AM SEEKING SOME FOR PRACTICES AND FOR HUNTING. I HAVE ACCESS TO A TARGET BUT CAN NOT STAND UP TO PULL BOLTS FROM TARGET. I WAS TOLD TO GET MORE FOR PRACICES SINCE I NEED TO LEARN TO SHOOT FROM THE REST. I AM 56 AND MY FAMILY LIVES ON DISABLITY INCOME. THERE IS NO MORE LOCAL HELP AROUND TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM OF MINE. I SEEK HUMAN COMPASSION ALONG WITH YOUR SUPPORT AND HELP. PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT THE NEXT PERSON TO HELP ME. THE ABOVE MENTIONED SPONSORS TOOK TWO MONTHS FOR ME TO FIND. MANY COMPANY’S SAY NO HELP TO INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, IF THAT IS YOUR CASE PLEASE WAVE THAT POLICY..I REMEMBER A OLD SAYING IT SAYS “DO NOT JUDGE A PERSON WITH OUT FIRST WALKING A MILE IN HIS SHOES” WHAT IF YOU OR YOUR FARTHER WAS IN MY PLACE? I CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH PROOF OF INCOME AND MY ALS JUST ASK AT lougehrigsdisease2009@live.com I WILL ANSWER ALL EMAILS. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IT TAKES TO GET YOU HELP AND SUPPORT NOW NOT DOWN THE LINE. (sorry to sound pushy but my days are numbered ) SEND TO TERRY D VANN 5035 ROCKY FALLS RD HAZLEHURST MS 39083 (601) 894-0302 WIFE WILL ANSWER PHONE, I CAN NOT TALK, WALK, WASH OR DRESS MYSELF AS OF TODAY. EVER DAY I LOOSE MORE BODY CONTROL. ALS DOSE NOT EFFECT THE BRAIN. THAT MEANS I WILL BE TRAPED WITHIN A BODY THAT I HAVE NO CONTROL OF, ONLY TO DIE IN A MANOR THAT NO HUMAN SHOULD EXPERIENCE. PLEASE HELP??????? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME………………..TERRY D VANN

All of that “it won’t be long before I die” stuff just sounds strange. He’s also looking for a gun rest and crossbow stuff.

My gut feeling is something is wrong here…

rob3dr

May 11, 2010 at 5:19 pm

Tony….

Google “TERRY D VANN”

This gent sent out the same type email to a Crossbow company in Dec of 09

but was also commenting on a lumber yard just a few months earlier.

he was also well enough in Sept of 09 to visit the local pawn shops…

May be legit, but sure sounds a bit fishy when you do some research…..

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