A portion of the late Mr. Bruce Stern’s firearms collection will be included in our March 2008 auction. Mr. Stern was a passionate collector and staunch supporter of our 2nd Amendment Rights to collect, shoot and bear arms. As proof of his staunch beliefs, he was a very active member of the NRA and recently his wife and family made a significant donation to the NRA in memory of Mr. Stern. In support of Mr. Stern’s strong beliefs, James D. Julia has announced a new $5 for $5 Pledge to benefit the NRA Foundation.

In 2004, after handling the renowned Eldon Owens firearms collection, we learned of the Owens commitment to the NRA via a significant donation from his estate. At that time, moved by his conviction, we made a pledge to the NRA Foundation to donate $100,000. We are pleased and proud to announce that this pledge has been fulfilled and there is now a special fund whose proceeds will be used in perpetuity for the sole purpose of educating youth in shooting firearms skills and safety. It is the firm belief of James D. Julia Auctioneers that if we wish to continue to possess, collect, shoot and handle firearms it is going to be imperative that we continue to fight for our rights. The NRA works hard at generating monies to deal with the various anti-gun legislation that we are continually confronted with but money alone is not the answer. It is our sincere belief that we also must continually maintain and increase a constituency of interested citizens who wish to continue to collect, handle and shoot firearms. To that extent we have designated that our fund be to continually encourage youth interest in guns and shooting sports.

Starting with this auction, James D. Julia has made an additional pledge to the NRA Foundation. From this day forward each time we sell a firearm, we will make a suggestion to buyers for a donation of $5 to the NRA Foundation and for any customer who makes a donation James D. Julia Auctioneers will match up to $5 per gun to be donated to the NRA Foundation. If you wish to donate less than $5, we will match that amount. If you wish to donate more than $5 per gun, we will match up to $5.

After the auction and the donation is made from this auction, we will send a notice to everyone that has participated advising them of what the total donation was. The donation will go to the special fund mentioned above, which we have already begun in the NRA Foundation. Please consider joining us in supporting this very worthy endeavor. Thank you.
Sincerely, Jim and Sandy Julia

In the fall of 2004, James D. Julia Auctioneers, Inc. committed a pledge of $100,000 to the NRA Foundation. The proceeds from this fund will be used in perpetuity for the sole purpose of educating youth in shooting firearms skills and safety.

The basis for the pledge evolved in the spring of 2004. At that time, Jim was called in by the heirs of the late Eldon Owens to handle Mr. Owens' phenomenal lifelong collection of antique firearms. During the process of developing the terms for the auction, Jim learned from Eldon's nephew and executor, Ray Roy, that Eldon and his wife Edie had set aside a most impressive endowment for the NRA Foundation. Ray, who had been a director of the NRA Foundation for the past few years, explained the goals of the foundation and how it differed from the original NRA organization. Eldon & Edie's commitment, together with Ray's explanation of the foundation eventually stimulated the commitment for the $100,000 pledge.

"Hunting, shooting and firearms were a major part of my upbringing and now are a major part of my livelihood and as such, I am very grateful for the personal rights regarding firearms that we share in this country. Today our rights are continually being threatened and the NRA's need and use for finances to fight these opposing interest groups is only part of a means of maintaining the rights that many of us cherish. In many parts of our country, attitudes towards shooting rights and gun ownership have changed significantly from years past. I feel it is therefore very important that the youth of our country continually have the opportunity to be exposed to the joy of shooting, the education and knowledge of firearms and their history and also how to handle firearms in a safe and secure manner. Dollars alone will not protect our rights, we must continually have a development of youth programs that continue to expand interests in shooting sports and the education of the youth of this country along these lines is extremely important."

Eldon & Edie's planned gift will be utilized to permanently endow the Eldon J. & Edith W. Owens Gallery in the National Firearms Museum.