Points of Impact: July 2, 2022

In honor of the July 4^th holiday, our weekly wrap up focuses on our uniquely American freedoms:

To start, we check in with sister publication America’s 1^st Freedom, where columnist John White asks, “What is Freedom?” and provides an answer that is both simple and complex. 

Firearms have been a part of this nation since long before it was a nation. The right to bear them was endowed by the Creator; they secured our Freedom as Americans, they helped expand the Nation, and then they became the basis of the manufacturing ascendancy of the United States for more than a century. NRA Publications Editorial Director Mark Keefe shares with readers the history behind 10 Guns That Shaped America.

If you want to delve further into the guns that helped win our independence, check out American Rifleman Managing Editor Evan Brune’s Arms of Independence: the Guns of the American Revolution.

And as we know, the firearm and Second Amendment community is seeing its largest growth and most active support from NRA women. There was no better proof of this than at the 151^st NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston over Memorial Day weekend, when hundreds of women gathered for the 16^th annual NRA Women’s Leadership Forum Luncheon & Auction, and seventh annual New Energy Breakfast. See the highlights here. 

But we can’t rest on our laurels. We need to continue to grow the women’s 2A community. NRA Women contributor Heidi Rao has some ideas, and shares them with us in Growing the NRA Women Community—One Member at a Time.

If you’re a Second Amendment supporter who likes to wear her patriotism on her sleeve, check out these 7 Guns That Feature Old Glory.

And finally, beyond the Second Amendment, the long holiday weekend is the perfect time to feel free. Get outside and experience the beauty and magnitude of our natural environment! If your weekend plans include the exhilarating activity of whitewater rafting, it’s imperative you know how to remain safe—and afloat. Before venturing into the rapids, review these Whitewater Rafting Safety Essentials.

Stay safe and have a happy Fourth of July holiday! God Bless America!