Tribute to Dave Baskin
The December edition of Shooting Sports USA carries a two page article paying tribute to Dave Baskin who has retired from the NRA after serving shooters with disability for more than 13 years.
Dave Baskin contributed to shooting sports for persons with disability in many ways, one being the development of adaptive equipment to aid in the participation of shooters with disability, he never did patent any of his adaptive designs, instead choosing to donate them to the public domain so they may benefit as many disabled sportsmen as possible.
What is the tie in with Ireland? if you review the attached article (page 24 bottom left column) you will see that Dave is recognised for his contribution to the development of shooting for persons with disability in Ireland, he is attributed to bringing international recognition to the NRA program by donating a air rifle, range and his coaching services to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin. This was as a result of the then NRPAI contacting him and inviting him to Ireland to extend the program outside of the USA.
The NRPAI undertook to provide ongoing support and coaching at the National Rehabilitation Hospital with a view to developing to sport to facilitate Ireland’s participation at the Paralympics, I understand that the rifle donated by the NRA and another supported by the NRPAI are still in use today at the Rehabilitation Hospital. The development of the sport to the level of Paralympics participation would certainly afford Ireland the opportunity to achieve medal status in the Paralympics.
In any case we congratulate Dave Baskin on his retirement and wish him well into the future, his contribution to the rehabilitation of individuals who have been inpatients in the National Rehabilitation Hospital continues to this day, for this we thank him.
Declan Keogh



