Wyoming Friends of NRA Helps a Friend

Letter from Grizzly Country Outdoors - written by Radonna Paul

Pictured from left to right: Donny House, Mark Paul- Ownder of Grizzly Country Outdoors, and Carl House

A few months back, Bobby Luffman came into Grizzly Country Outdoors with a handgun in pretty poor shape. It was rusted, pitted and had no grips. He told me that approximately five years ago a friend of his, Carl House, went fishing by horseback in the back country outside of Cody, Wyo. Carl's horse tripped and fell down a canyon hundreds of feet and was killed. Carl also fell a great distance and was severely injured. Subsequently, he was removed and air lifted out suffering spinal injuries, leaving him a quadriplegic with limited use of his right hand.

His favorite handgun, a Ruger 357 magnum speed six, was lost in the fall. A year or so later, friends went back and finally found the gun in terrible condition. Bobby tried to work on it to no avail. Bobby said he also took it to several other gun shops around locally where he was told it was not repairable. When he brought it to Grizzly Country Outdoors, Bobby was told by the owner/gunsmith Mark A. Paul that he would fix it one way or another. Bobby requested the cost be kept below $200.00.

Mark worked on the gun and contacted friends at Sturm Ruger. He advised them of the story and he also advised Ruger that he was not going to charge anything for his work or shipping. Due to Carl’s tragic accident and condition, Mark requested Sturm Ruger should do the same. With the combined efforts of Grizzly Country Outdoors and Sturm Ruger the work was completed. This resulted in Carl's handgun being repaired to three grades higher than original purchase condition with a very high polish blue, new grips, totally new internal parts, red ramp front sights and gold inlayed lettering. Bobby was advised of the firearms return and observed the gun at Grizzly Country Outdoors. He was amazed to say the least.

Grizzly Country Outdoors and his friends wanted to make the presentation a special event for Carl so it was suggested that they could present it to him at the Friends of NRA banquet in Cody, Wyo. on March 18, 2010. Carl's wife, Marguerite, Bobby Luffman and other friends surprised Carl by taking him to the banquet. Carl was unaware they were going to the banquet; he thought they were just going to dinner. At the banquet, Friends of NRA Chairman Chad Binkley gave a brief introduction and called Carl, Bobby, Mark and Donny (Mark’s 12 year old son) to center stage. Mark gave a detailed account of the whole ordeal while Carl was standing next to him totally surprised. Donny and Mark removed the gun and presented it to Carl with applause and cheers that could only be given to that degree by fellow outdoorsmen and NRA members. It was quite a moment.

Carl was asked what he thought and if he recognized the gun. He said he knew it was his gun, but was in disbelief of the new condition. It was a moment shared by all for a permanently injured fellow sportsman. When asked if Carl had any further comments, while holding the gun in his hand, he said he wished he could fire five shots in the air.

It needs to be noted that this banquet, that was expressed by most to be the most enjoyable, smoothest ran event of its kind. Everyone's hats off to Chad Binkley, his committee crew and our greatest organization the NRA.