National Guard Educational Foundation Raffling 'One-of-a-kind' Barrett® MRAD® Rifle

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Guard Educational Foundation is raffling a special commemorative Barrett MRAD (Multi-Role Adaptive Design) rifle to raise funds to tell the National Guard story.

The bolt-action, extended-range sniper rifle, valued at $6,000, is Shooting Illustrated magazine's 2012 Rifle of the Year. It features a user-changeable barrel system, an easily accessed trigger module and a foldable stock.

Barrett, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., produced one MRAD with special insignia to commemorate the Guard's 375th anniversary and donated it to the NGEF to help with fundraising. The foundation operates the National Guard Memorial Museum and other public education programs.

"We're excited to team with Barrett on this very special raffle," retired Maj. Gen. Gus L. Hargett Jr., the president of the NGEF and the National Guard Association of the United States. "Early interest has been very strong, which is really no surprise. Not only is this a great rifle, it's a true one-of-a-kind, collector's item."

Raffle chances are available through online donations to the NGEF at www.ngef.org/MRAD. Every dollar contributed will result in one chance at the commemorative MRAD. There is no cap on the number of chances one person or group may obtain. Every dollar raised will go to the NGEF. 

The winner, who must be 18 years of age and able to comply with all applicable firearms laws and regulations, will be selected at random Dec. 12, the eve of the Guard's 376^th birthday.

Complete rules and restrictions also are available at www.ngef.org/MRAD.

About NGAUS: The association includes nearly 45,000 current or former Guard officers. It was created in 1878 to provide unified representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by educating Congress on militia needs. Today, 134 years later, the militia is known as the National Guard, but NGAUS has the same mission.

About the NGEF: The foundation was founded in 1975 with the mission to educate the public and foster awareness of the National Guard's contributions to this country. In short, we tell the Guard's story. This mission is accomplished through a portfolio that includes the National Guard Memorial Museum and a library in Washington, D.C., the DRS Guardian Scholarship Fund for children of fallen Guardsmen, and educational programs.

About Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc.: Headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Barrett is the world leader in large-caliber rifle design and manufacturing. Its products are used by civilian sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the U.S. military and more than 73 State Department-approved nations across the world.

SOURCE National Guard Educational Foundation