U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- Jared Gould is a man who enjoys shattering expectations. Where others see an obstacle, Gould sees opportunity. That’s a bold statement for the competitive shooter who is also legally blind.

Gould, and about 30 other competitive shooters, gathered at SIG Academy’s facility in Epping, N.H., for a two-day Adaptive Defensive Shooting Summit. The ADSS is an accessible shooting event for people with disabilities of all skill levels and knowledge of firearms. Participants take part in a full day of training with world-class instructors followed by a day of IDPA-style pistol competition.

“I love to shoot. I’ve always loved it, but I think the big thing is coming out with other individuals that have some disability, whether it’s vision – like I’m vision-impaired – or mobility or whatever, and everyone’s rockin’,” Gould explained. “It doesn’t matter. Their disability doesn’t stop them. Coming out here motivates me.”

The event is part instruction, part competition, part defensive shooting techniques, and all confidence building. Each competitor learns to shoot within their capabilities, finding workaround solutions so they can shoot effectively and accurately.

“This is unlike anything else we do,” explained Aaron Williamson of SIG Academy, which hosted the event. “So to have the opportunity for these athletes to come in regardless of whether they are a veteran or somebody who got hurt doing something else, to get them in here, give them an opportunity to give them some training and actually run them through a match, for me, it’s probably the best match we do at the academy on an annual basis.”

The Same, Just Different

ADSS participants arrived at the event with their own spectrum of capabilities and experience levels. Some were shooting from wheelchairs. Others

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