Dennis Willing, the National Rifle Association's Director of Competitive Shooting Sports, officially opened the World Action Pistol Championships - better known as The Bianchi Cup -yesterday at the Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club near Columbia, Missouri. Shooters from around the world are competing in for the overall title along with titles in specific categories. (Caption: Colorado's Glenn Ashton takes his turn at the Falling Plates during the opening day's competition of the NRA's Bianchi Cup. The Bianchi Cup is known to be a family-friendly event. It's not unusual for more than one generation of a family to be competing -or for the family to bring along their pets. Rules being rules, ear protection is mandatory for everyone- even the proverbial sleeping dog. All photos by Jim Shepherd/OWDN.