Greetings Mr. Rawles,
In the spirit of, “Physician heal thyself” I offer up for consideration the following: Our country was once considered a country of Riflemen with a rich history of standing up for Liberty. After all, where would we be without those who made a stand for Liberty at Lexington and Concord? Over time we citizens have let slip those past treasures. I have often heard at gun shows, gun shops, and conversations between hunters that they are ‘rifle shooters’. The term Rifleman has managed to slip away from our Lexicon. I too am guilty of such laziness, hence I am healing myself. The basic and advanced training at such facilities as Front Sight is invaluable and well done from all I have read. And attending such sites is well worth the money. However, budgets being as they are, not everyone can afford to go to such facilities. And if one does manage to budget for such training you will spend more time on very basic instruction as opposed to fully utilizing the resources of the facility to raise your abilities far beyond what you think you are capable of. So where is a common man or woman to get even the basic training in marksmanship? We can go to a local range and burn as much ammo as we can carry and still not correct mistakes or improve above a basic level of safe and competent shooting skills. Being able to hit a FBI target or tin cans at relatively short range is one thing. Being able to make head shots at 250 yards and body shots at 500 yards with iron sights is an altogether different matter. That ability is the difference from one who shoots a rifle and a Rifleman. Enter, stage right, Project Appleseed. Project Appleseed is a grass roots movement to train Riflemen. It is a program to train people in solid basic rifle marksmanship using standard rack grade rifles and surplus ammunition. This year kicks off the first of the Appleseed tour. Shooting clinics are to be held at the following locations: Ramseur, North Carolina on February 25/26, Morehead, Kentucky on Feb 18/19 and March 25/26, and Evansville, Indiana on April 29/30. [More shoots will soon be added to the schedule.]
The course is set up in such a way that you can learn with a .22 caliber rifle if that is all you have. Just bring a rifle, ammunition, and a willingness to learn. There are some additional accoutrements that will enrich your experience at the class, which are listed on the site of the Revolutionary War Veterans Association [1]. This organization is taking on the task of helping to plant the seeds of the tradition of The American Rifleman, and return us to that tradition. I was lucky enough to talk with one of the organizers a short while back. And after my talk with him I left totally charged and ready to participate. Now my entire family will be at one of the shooting classes. I hope to take away not only better skills, but the knowledge and ability to teach. That ability is an important part of the program. If just one member of each family or group attended one of the Appleseed clinics, and then taught their friends and family, we could restore not only a fine tradition but provide an invaluable service to the cause of Liberty and self sufficiency. I am bringing this up not as a member of the organization, but as a future participant. I do not derive anything from brining this project to the blog, other than spreading the word and doing something to further and American tradition. The entry fees are very reasonable at $45 for one day or $70 for both days per adult. Anyone under 20 shoots free, as does military – active, Guard, and Reserve. Also you can be assigned to a squad with your friends and family and any Internet group such as the FALFiles, NoR, etc. For more information on the Revolutionary War Veterans Association see:
http://www.rwva.org/ [2]
There are links on the left side of the page that will lead you to all you need to know about Project Appleseed. For a printable entry form and a basic rundown of the clinic see:
http://www.fredsm14stocks.com/article.asp?ITEM=39 [3]
One additional bonus to this project is that this shoot does qualify as a marksmanship activity to obtain a Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP [4]) M1 Garand or an M1903A3 rifle. And if you don’t belong to a CMP qualifying club an associate membership at the cost of $20 to the Revolutionary War Veterans Association will meet the CMP club requirement. Now for those who do not know what the Civilian Marksmanship Program is and what it offers, see:
http://www.odcmp.com/ [5]
Now there is a political side to this activity. The way I see it is that the more ‘peasants’ that have pitchforks, the more that the rulers will need to pay attention. I figure, as far as I am concerned, that ‘list’ that most are so afraid of being on is one I am already on. So what the heck, I may as well make a stand and say to ‘the powers that be’, “Sure, I own a firearm. I am another person you will have to ‘deal with’. I will remain within the bounds of the law. But I will not surrender my Liberty or that of my children willingly. You will have to work a bit harder to steal that away.” Each CCW [4] permit issued in this country represents another person who makes a stand and says, “No. I will not be a victim.” With each person who teaches another proper marksmanship skills, that is someone to close the ranks when that teacher is no longer able to teach. The spread of knowledge and skills can not be stopped if enough people are willing to learn and teach. If you know of a rifle range that could host an Appleseed Project shoot, contact them and make it happen in your area. And being able to stand toe to toe and tell those who want to further enslave us, they will not have an easy time of it, makes us mighty. So brothers, and sisters, get thy self to a good marksmanship clinic. No matter if it is The Appleseed Project or one offered by the NRA [4] or other organizations. Become a Rifleman, become another monkey wrench, become mighty. – The Rabid One