Over 300 Tri-Staters took part in the first annual Safety Sunday event at Uncle Rudy’s on Evansville’s Eastside. This free event open to the public, was filled with safety demonstrations, one-on-one instruction, resources, fun challenges and more.

“I’ve never shot a handgun, and today seemed like the right time to learn how to handle and fire a gun. I learned even more than I expected. I had no idea what I was doing, but the team really kept it simple for me and taught me the basics. I had a great instructor helping me one-on-one,” said Karen Johnson.

Pulling up to the event you’d notice the Indiana National Guard and Evansville Police Department presence, with Evolve USA and other organizations providing resources inside the range.

National gun safety organization Evolve USA says Evansville’s Safety Sunday event is the first in the nation and hopes for it to be replicated across the country.
“Evolve is excited to be working with Uncle Rudy’s on the first gun Safety Sunday. We hope this will become a model for others around the country to plan family-friendly community events that put gun safety first and foremost,” said Rebecca Bond of Evolve USA.

After opening the gun range in 2015, Uncle Rudy’s owners John and Melissa Rudolph established their role in the community to educate on safe and responsible gun ownership.

“This is one of the most important programs we’ve ever offered at Uncle Rudy’s. And, it’s why we started this business – to educate others on safe and responsible gun ownership. Every person that walked through the door today was able to pick up free gun locks and chamber flags. We had a lot of families come out to Safety Sunday, which is what we really wanted to see,” said John Rudolph.

Children stood in line to try the airsoft gun challenge. But it wasn’t as easy at just aiming and firing; Rudolph’s son Allen demonstrated his advanced training by showing proper gun handling, loading and firing with kids of all ages on the airsoft guns.

Uncle Rudy’s offers a variety of safety training courses and one-on-one instructor training all year. For more information on safety training, visit unclerudys.com or call 812-962-7663.

—
Uncle Rudy’s is Evansville’s only indoor shooting range. Uncle Rudy’s goal is to provide a safe, family-friendly environment to learn gun safety, where beginners and experts can feel comfortable and enjoy shooting sports in the Evansville tri-state. Our staff is highly trained, skilled NRA instructors who want to take the time to educate each and every person who walks in our doors.

Evolve USA believes that a third voice is needed in the gun debate. Contrary to what some think, there are important common values that resonate with both gun owners and non-gun owners alike. Safety and reduction of gun violence are of paramount importance to both. We focus on voluntary actions, taken on by individuals, to avoid gun preventable firearms deaths and gun violence.

The Indiana State Police Forensic Scientist of the Year Award is presented annually to a Forensic Scientist within the Laboratory Division deemed to have consistently provided a superior quality forensic analysis service in a highly professional, proficient and unbiased manner for the Indiana Criminal Justice Community.

Forensic Scientist Melissa Oberg’s accomplishments in 2015 are worthy of such recognition and have earned her this award. The 2015 award was recently presented to Oberg and the below information outlines her outstanding work that resulted in this acknowledgement.

In 2015, Forensic Firearms Identification Unit Forensic Scientist Melissa Oberg completed 269 cases involving 1,698 laboratory examinations.  During these examinations she performed 1,160 microscopic comparisons, which exceeded the Forensic Firearms Identification Unit average of 773 comparisons.  Her case turnaround time from date of submission to completion was 82 days, which was below the Forensic Firearms Identification Unit average of 91 days.  Mrs. Oberg produced results of the highest quality and successfully completed all proficiency and competency testing.  She volunteered to work 11 rush cases and 5 police-action shootings, and she completed 129 technical and administrative reviews of other analysts’ and supervisors’ casework.

In 2015, Forensic Scientist Oberg assisted the Forensic Firearms Identification Unit to branch out into Field Support.  After completing a Shooting Scene Reconstruction School, she was instrumental in the establishment of proper field documentation protocols that changed how laboratory forensic scientists provide field services in order to better assist local and Indiana State Police Crime Scene Investigators.

In addition, Forensic Scientist Oberg was assigned as the lead trainer in educating a new employee in the field of Firearms Identification.  She coordinated the training with the National Firearm Examiners Academy, was solely responsible for this individuals training locally, and is now subsequently reviewing the analytical examinations of this new employee’s casework.  This assignment took a considerable amount of time, research, and coordination to complete in a successful manner.

Forensic Scientist Oberg is a member of the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE) Board of Directors, and she also serves as the AFTE treasurer.  AFTE is an international association with worldwide membership.  She regularly interacts with the AFTE members by handling payments, bills, and answering questions.  She handles inquiries involving the AFTE Journal and is a voting member of the Board of Directors.  In addition, she sits on the Professional Investors Committee for AFTE, which involves decisions regarding a scholarship endowment and areas in which AFTE invests its assets.  In short, Forensic Scientist Oberg is responsible for the day-to-day fiscal operation of this Association, whose assets total nearly $700,000.

Forensic Scientist Oberg has an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from St. Joseph College where she was also a collegiate athlete, playing on the tennis team.  She started employment with the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division in January 2006 at the Lowell Regional Laboratory as a member of the Drug Unit.  In November 2006, she was hired as one of the first civilian Firearms Examiners assigned to the Forensic Firearms Identification Unit in the Laboratory Division.  She is also a certified Fellow by the American Board of Criminalistics and is certified by the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners in the area of Firearms Identification.

Melissa resides with her husband Chris in Indianapolis.