Smith & Wesson has been committed to preserving your ability to defend yourself—regardless of your physical abilities—since the company was founded almost 170 years ago. This week, we’ve learned that S&W has just signed on as a “platinum partner” for the upcoming Adaptive Defensive Shooting Summit (ADSS). This year’s ADSS is due to take place October 23-24, 2020 at the SIG Sauer Shooting Academy in Epping, New Hampshire.
The ADSS’ goal is to give the 57 million Americans who deal with physical disabilities the skills and knowledge they need for effective armed self-defense. That’s important, because research shows that criminals love to prey on people with disabilities. Last year’s event included participants who were dealing with everything from losses of legs and arms and paraplegia to sight injuries that render them legally blind. Both ADSS and S&W are here to prove that “disabled” does not mean “defenseless.”
The Adaptive Defensive Shooting Summit event provides a day of training followed by an eight-stage defensive pistol match to exercise and demonstrate those newly learned skills. Legendary gun writer Jim Shepherd said of last year’s event, “This first Adaptive Shooting Summit made its point—adaptations can be made. And we need to all work to be making them. It might not be pretty in its first iterations, but we can make the tools necessary to allow the physically challenged to come to the line, load and make ready with the rest of us.”
Of course, physical disabilities aren’t all equal. That’s why the ADSS focuses on individual instruction tailored to your unique challenge. Attendees can expect to learn how to reload magazines and rack pistol slides using holsters, wheelchair arms or tabletops.
Smith & Wesson’s commitment to adaptive shooting goes beyond their generous sponsorship of this event. For years, they’ve been an industry leader in designing and manufacturing pistols that are easy to operate, even for people with arthritis or reduced hand strength, the M&P Shield EZ line.
If you or someone you know is dealing with a physical challenge, but would like to learn how to be an effective self-defender, the ADSS would love to hear from you. Registration for the event is only $95, and includes match fees as well as meals. Click here to learn more, or to register for this event.
