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Military, law enforcement teams met challenge at the American Heroes Challenge live fire tactical and firearms competition to benefit charity
Approximately 8,000 people attend, raise money for Las Vegas Veterans Memorial

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 16, 2010 - Military, law enforcement and first responder teams rose to the challenge in competing to be the "best of the best" in the second American Heroes Challenge at the Clark County Shooting Park in Las Vegas. Approximately 8,000 people attended the unique two-day multi-stage live fire firearms and tactics competition, making it the largest event of its kind in addition to being the only one to benefit charity.

American Heroes Challenge is designed to test and highlight participants' special technical, tactical and physical skills, and honor those who keep the country and communities safe. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the construction of a world-class veterans memorial in Las Vegas, the only major metropolitan city without such a memorial.

Twelve teams of five and one alternate from Las Vegas and other states competed in seven stages including live fire skills test, live fire stress course, post raid search, sniper challenge, tactical shooting team relay, informant contingency rescue, and active attacker response and trauma care.

The King County Sheriff's Dept SRT Tac 30 team from Seattle, Wash., repeated as overall champion, dedicating their win and participation to six fallen comrades including four Lakewood County Police Department officers who were killed in a coffee shop last year. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department SWAT Blue Team came in second, and the United States Air Force 58th Rescue Squadron Team 1 from Las Vegas placed third.

The complete list of overall and stage winners and the Top Shooter winners are listed below:

Overall Winners
First Place - King County Sheriff's Dept SRT Tac 30 (Seattle, Wash.)
Second Place - Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department SWAT Blue Team
Third Place - United States Air Force 58th Rescue Squadron Team 1 (Las Vegas)

Competitive Stage Winners
Stage 1 - Post Raid Search - Tie
King County Sheriff's Dept SRT Tac 30 (Seattle, Wash.)
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department SWAT Blue Team

Stage 2 - Sniper Triple Challenge - King County Sheriff's Dept SRT Tac 30 (Seattle, Wash.)

Stage 3 - Tactical Shooting Team Relay - King County Sheriff's Dept SRT Tac 30 (Seattle, Wash.)

Stage 4 - Live Fire Stress Course - United States Air Force 58th Rescue Squadron Team 1 (Las Vegas)

Stage 5 - Informant Contingency Rescue - U.S. Dept. of Energy SRT (Las Vegas)

Stage 6 - Live Fire Skills Test - Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department SWAT Blue Team

Stage 7 - Active Attacker Response/Trauma Care - North Las Vegas SWAT

Top Shooter
First Place - King County Sheriff's Dept SRT Tac 30 (Seattle, Wash.)
Second Place - King County Sheriff's Dept. SWAT Tac 30 (Seattle, Wash.)
Third Place - United States Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team (San Diego)

Other participating teams included: Air Force Security Forces, Las Vegas; Armed Forces Foundation, Las Vegas; Henderson SWAT, Henderson, Nev.; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department SWAT Red Team; US Air Force 58th Rescue Squadron Team 2, Las Vegas; and United States Army 1/221 Cavalry, Las Vegas.

In addition to the competition, there was a Charity Shoot where attendees could shoot various military firearms for a donation to the Las Vegas Veterans Memorial Foundation. Available weapons were a Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle, M2 .50 caliber machine gun, Colt M16, MGI full auto .45 caliber submachine gun, FN FNC 5.56 full auto assault rifle, Swedish K 9mm submachine gun, Remington 700 .308 sniper rifle, and US Ordnance M60 E4 machine gun. There also were booths and displays, silent auction and children's activity area, including various military and law enforcement vehicles to explore and the K9 units from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and North Las Vegas Police Department.

All proceeds from American Heroes Challenge go toward the goal of raising at least $1 million for the construction of the world-class Las Vegas Veterans Memorial which is designed to honor past, present and future veterans and their families. Douwe Blumberg, a semi-finalist for the Ground Zero Memorial in New York City and sought-after sculptor of military-themed projects, recently was selected to design the memorial located at Huntridge Circle Park on Maryland Parkway, south of Charleston Boulevard. Design review and details are being finalized so construction timelines and budget can be established. For information, donations, sponsorship, or memorial opportunities, visit www.lasvegasveteransmemorial.com

The American Heroes Challenge is a charitable organization created to pay tribute to members of the military, law enforcement and first responder communities and provide an ongoing, long-term charitable vehicle to fund projects benefitting and honoring those who give selflessly to make the country and communities a safe place. The Las Vegas Veterans Memorial is the American Heroes Challenge debut project. For information, visit www.americanheroeschallenge.com.

American Heroes Challenge and the Las Vegas Veterans Memorial were founded and are currently operated by American Shooters, Nevada's largest, state-of-the-art firearms store and shooting range. American Shooters is a veteran-operated business, serving the law enforcement, first responder and civilian and military communities. Since taking its helm in 2008, company president Michael Millett has dedicated $2 million to renovate and upgrade the company's two stores: 3440 S. Arville St. in Las Vegas and 1212 N. Boulder Highway in Henderson, Nev. Features include an advanced ventilation system to reduce the lead intake, low angle steel traps, programmable action targets and the interactive live fire PRISim system. For information, visit www.americanshooters.com.

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