|
|
The Missouri Shooter - Online Edition - July 2000A Quarterly Publication of the Missouri Sport Shooting AssociationMitchell Peters, Editor |
|
Psssst... hey, buddy... yeah, you... VOTE NOVEMBER 7!!! |
|
|
Pagemaster's Notes: This Online Edition of The Missouri Shooter is NOT identical to the printed edition, but will vary in both content and appearance. It is the policy of this WWWebsite to edit out all personal telephone numbers and street addresses (to reserve privacy), to keep email addresses, P.O. boxes and company street addresses when published (to preserve utility), and to replace (where possible) lists of printed information with links to websites which contain the same information (to conserve bandwidth). The print edition is ONLY mailed to MSSA Members and Affiliates; Join today!
|
|
|
JULY 2000 VOLUME 00 ISSUE 3 By Steve McGhee
MSSA President Steve McGhee and daughter Melissa (12) share a little quality time on Father's Day at Green Valley RPC, over lunch break at this year's NRA Training Counselor Workshop. First, the big, important news: Joshua Daniel Groharing was born at 5:17 p.m. June 6, 2000, son of Jason and Stephanie, and second grandson of yours truly. And he's doing very, very well, thank you. Just thought everyone needed to know that. (Hey, it's MY column, right?) It's been a very busy quarter, even aside from Josh's debut. As I am writing this, the annual MSSA / NRA smallbore (.22) rifle sport shooting camp is taking place at the Bucksnort Range near Marshall, and the NRA Youth Hunter Ed. Challenge Missouri Championships are being held at United Sportsmen's Club in Jefferson City, both MSSA affiliates. The previous weekend, Father's Day weekend, MSSA affiliate Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club hosted an NRA Training Counselor Workshop (see separate article in this issue), and has already scheduled another for Father's Day weekend (June 15-17 2001) of next year. And it looks like the MSSA-sponsored Burma sign project may be about to take off, with some likely sites recently suggested along Highway 50 in Jefferson City... they still need inspected and some legal issues checked out, but they're sounding pretty good! For more information on this effort, see www.safewithguns.org. For the Missouri gun owner, politics might seem to overshadow everything right now, and I'd like to say a few (a very few) words on a couple of the choices you'll face this fall, and my personal take on 'em. These are just my personal views, MSSA has not endorsed ANY parties or candidates for election, except for David Jones (for the NRA Board of Directors). For U.S. President: I'll be voting AGAINST Al Gore, though I don't see a great deal in George W. Bush to be very supportive of on gun issues. For MO Governor: I'll be voting AGAINST Bob Holden... I'll have to wait and see who the MO Republican and Libertarian Parties pick for candidates in August before I can say if I'm really FOR their choices. I think I could strongly support Elgar Macy (R) and maybe Dick Illyes (L), and I could cautiously support Jim Talent. If Talent makes it to the Governor's Mansion and lives up to my hopes for his first term, I could easily become his most vocal cheerleader for a second term... but at this point, skepticism comes a lot easier than trust for me, that's just how I am. 'Nuff said. For those with concealed carry as their top priority, it is fair to point out that Rep. Wayne Crump has publicly promised to pass a good CCW Bill through the MO House next session, Sen. Harold Caskey has made us the same promise regarding the Senate, and Jim Talent promises to sign the Bill they deliver to his desk as Governor. Now the current issue which I think will affect your future gun rights more than either of these races... and you don't get to vote on it. It's the federal case of U.S. vs Emerson. Emerson is a Texas physician arrested for possession of a firearm while under a court-issued restraining order (a standard divorce-related order mainly limiting his disposal of assets during divorce proceedings) in violation of federal law. Emerson contended that such a law violated his Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, while it is the stated position of the United States that no such individual right even exists outside of active military service while on duty. The first round went to Emerson, and you: the United State District Court of Northern Texas ruled last April that such rights WERE individual, and that such laws as Emerson was being prosecuted under were unConstitutional infringements of those rights. The United States appealed dismissal of their case against Emerson, and oral arguments were recently heard by a 3 judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans... a decision is expected this summer. A few telling quotes from oral arguments: Judge DeMoss to U.S. Attorney Meteja: "I have a 16 gauge shotgun in my closet at home. I have a 20-gauge shotgun. I also have a 30-caliber rifle at home. Are you saying these are 'in or affecting interstate commerce?'" Meteja: "Yes" Judge Garwood: "You are saying that the Second Amendment is consistent with a position that you can take guns away from the public? You can restrict ownership of rifles, pistols and shotguns from all people? Is that the position of the United States?" Meteja: "Yes" Garwood: "Is it the position of the United States that persons who are not in the National Guard are afforded no protections under the Second Amendment?" Meteja: "Exactly." DeMoss: "You shouldn't let it bother your sleep that Judge Garwood and I, between us, own enough guns to start a revolution in most South American countries." What reports I have read LOOK like the stage is set for Emerson to be upheld, but regardless of which way the ruling goes, I think this one is destined to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, perhaps next year. And THAT ruling would set the stage for either wholesale nullification of federal gun control laws now on the books, or wholesale nullification of your right to own guns of any kind. I'm very hopeful... judges at both the District and Appellate level have (so far) seemed to actually educate themselves on the issue BEFORE making their decision, and ALL the facts are on our side. If the Supreme Court justices hear this case and do their job with ANY degree of judicial competence, we win, slam dunk, and the whole landscape of gun law debate in America will change, for the better, for at least the next generation. And that matters. Big time. Ask me about my grandkids... Steve McGhee The newsletter is published quarterly and will be mailed between the 1st and 15th of the months of Jan., Apr., July, and Oct. Deadlines for articles and advertisements will be: 1) Dec. 20, 2) Mar. 25, 3) June 25, 4) Sept. 25. Letter From The Editor To The MSSA Membership This is my fifth issue of THE MISSOURI SHOOTER, and it is hard to believe that a year has gone by so fast. Since I became editor many positive things have happened to me. I have developed many new skills, met some great people, and had many new opportunities. I have also become involved in activities to protect, and promote not only my interest in firearms, but also more importantly our Constitutional rights. My ability to operate a computer, i.e. e-mail, software and Internet skills has grown by leaps and bounds. Sometimes painfully, but like the old saying, "no pain-no gain". Although my keyboard dexterity has improved, I am still laboriously slow, hunting and pecking away till the wee hours of the morning. Hopefully my writing ability has sharpened, or is at least entertaining. "My Great People I Have Met And Wish To Thank Speech", could easily rival the worst of the Academy Awards. You will recall the scene where the music comes up and they drag the blubbering idiot off. Haplessly I must attempt this speech, because I am truly grateful to so many. If my feeble mind misses anyone please forgive me. First I would like to thank Steve McGhee and Harold Miederhoff. They didn�t know a thing about me, but were willing to take a big chance. We met for an hour in May of 99� at the Warrenton Hardees and they explained how the newsletter worked. After about an hour of ground school they handed me the keys and wished me good luck on my first takeoff. I now can appreciate how the kamikaze pilots must have felt. I need to thank the former editors Paul Fitzgerald and Bob Sliger. They laid the foundation on which we are building. Their success came from lots and lots of hard work. I also want to thank the Format Editor, Melissa Mata who takes all the raw copy and shapes and organizes it into a real publication. She has also provided invaluable advice at critical points. I want to thank the board members and directors that have been both supportive and have contributed materials for the newsletter, especially Harold Miederhoff, John Leinberger, and Kent Finlay. I want to thank my family and friends that have been very supportive and encouraging. Many of them are non-gun owners and/or, out of "staters", and they still joined MSSA. I especially want to thank my wife Nisa and children Tanner and Connor who have sacrificed lots of their time with me, so that I could research and write articles or attend meetings and events. Most of you will recall my appeal (July-99) for material to publish in the newsletter. " I know nearly all of you have jobs, families, homes, and a million other things to do. I also know you would like to be enjoying your interests in firearms, shooting and hunting. The last thing you would want to do is sit down and peck out an article regarding your shooting activities and interests. However I appeal to you, to do just that. Any organization is only as good as the sum of its members. This is your MSSA newsletter, not mine. You are the MSSA. As a Member, it is your responsibility to promote your interests. Please contribute regularly." Your response has been overwhelming. I think many of us including myself were shocked by the amount of excellent material that was contributed by members and interested parties. In no special order, I want to thank the following contributors: John T. Rock, Don Ball, Tammy WilI, Donald Charles, Larry Neckerman, D.L. DeLaney, Warren Lind, Steve Jones, Phil and Shiela Daniels, Terry Crihfield, Paul Fitzgerald, Dennis Quinn, David Jones, Corbett Schuch, LTC Tom Urich, Harold Ellliot, Rich Koury, Vernon Daab, George Howell, and Rod Zeller. Once again I apologize if I forgot anyone and also if your article or story was not printed. It may run in a future issue. I have had many new opportunities, I would have never dreamed of. I had the privilege to interview MDC Agents Bill Seibel, and Greg Toczylowski, and STL County Recreation Supervisor Kurt Otterstein. I talked with Congressman Jim Talent and his staff. Last July, Doug Wicklund-Curator of the NRA National Firearms Museum gave me the red carpet treatment. Look for an upcoming story but I will give you this preview. I had the fortune to handle Col. Sam Walker�s 1847 Colt-Walker pistols, yes the original pair. I had a photo opportunity and book signing with THE MAN Charlton Heston. I now know both of Missouri�s NRA Directors David Jones and Dr. David Oliver. I was elected as a director to the MSSA in November. I had hunting trips for pheasants, and quail that were partially related to my newsletter activities. Additionally I have met and made the acquaintance of many, many excellent people, I would not have otherwise met. I jumped into the newsletter with the goal of making it broad based, entertaining and plain fun to read. On the basis of the feedback I have received, I think we are succeeding. I hope the evolution of the MSSA, the newsletter and it�s editor will continue in a positive direction for some time to come. From my experience as a volunteer, I want to encourage all MSSA members to get involved in an area of the shooting sports where you can make a difference. I will guarantee that you will reap the rewards you sow. Please contribute your skills, knowledge, time and money as is appropriate for your situation. Thank you to all, Election 2000, and The Future Of The 2nd Amendment By Wayne Corley, President St. Louis Benchrest Club As we enter the final months prior to the November election, as owners of firearms we should be very concerned. Pressure is being asserted on pro-gun candidates seeking office by the anti-gun propaganda media, the Clinton-Gore Administration and their [political] campaigns. They sensationalize any crime where a firearm is involved and attempt to make law-abiding gun owners feel as though we are part of the problem. I feel the election this fall will be a critical turning point in the future of our Second Amendment rights. I recently had an individual tell me that he did not like the strong rhetoric sometimes used by the National Rifle Association in putting forth our message. I was somewhat amazed at this comment; after all, we are hearing strong anti-gun speeches almost daily, that are attempting to make owners of firearms feel like second rate citizens or even worse. The anti-gun forces are trying to blame crime on gun ownership to justify eventual gun confiscation! As gun owners we may have many organizations trying to protect our rights but none of them is as powerful and productive as the NRA on the national level. On a state level the Second Amendment Coalition (SACMO) and Missouri Sports Shooting Association are very good pro-gun organizations that always welcome your support. It is for this reason that we should now support these organizations financially, we must donate money now. We should also make efforts to know the position, with regards to firearms, of all candidates running for office. If a candidate does not have a pro-gun position I feel he should not receive consideration for our vote. Please Send In Your Stories, Experiences and Photographs As I stated elsewhere in the newsletter the quantity and quality of original articles submitted by members has greatly exceeded our expectations. Very few items submitted did not get into print. The MSSA board recently approved an eight- sheet (sixteen-page) format based on positive feedback from the January and April issues, in spite of the fact that it is more costly to print and mail. However there is only so much space available even in an expanded issue. We prioritize first the MSSA news and time sensitive material. Lastly come the feature stories. If you submitted material that was not published it may appear, when and where space is available in an upcoming issue. With those thoughts in mind, there has been a significant decline in the amount of material we have recently received. We will soon exhaust the small backlog of material. Please believe me when I tell you it is a thrill to see your story in print, and I much rather read your stories than mine. It takes me too much time and effort, to write enough stories to fill-up the newsletter. Please help me fill the TMS with your stories. Furthermore the variety of ideas and styles from multiple contributors is the virtue that makes the newsletter entertaining and fun to read. PLEASE SEND IN YOUR STORIES, EXPERIENCES AND PHOTOGRAPHS! Any original shooting, hunting or firearm-related article is welcome. MSSA has recently purchased a high quality, integrated flat bed scanner. Send in your photographs, graphic art, and drawings, with a short narrative. We are also interested in publishing a calendar of upcoming events, matches, and gun shows. This newsletter is your forum to promote your shooting experiences and interests. We are seeking diversity! I know just about every member out there has at least a couple of good stories. I am looking forward to hearing from you. By Steve McGhee I had an idea recently on how MSSA might help get some Junior Smallbore Programs started at affiliated clubs... the few people I've discussed it with seemed to like it, but I need more input before going any farther. This is NOT an existing program, or a solid offer, just an idea right now. MSSA would buy match .22 rifles appropriate for smallbore competition in sets of 5, average cost $300-$400 per rifle. If an affiliated club wanted to start a program using these rifles, the club would pay MSSA half the cost of the rifles, and they would be issued to the club indefinitely. As long as the club keeps an active Junior smallbore program going, the club would keep the rifles, and be responsible for their care, maintenance and security. MSSA would inventory rifles once per year, would retain ownership of the rifles, and the rifles would have to be returned to MSSA if the club's Junior smallbore program were discontinued, with MSSA then trying to put the rifles to use in some other active Junior smallbore program. Sooooo... whatcha think? Please give me some feedback as soon as possible, as such a program MIGHT be created as soon as the next Board meeting... all it takes is a majority vote and the finances, and your Association is in pretty good financial condition lately. 2000 MSSA-NRA Annual Junior Competitive Rifle Camp By John Leinberger
Some of the more advanced junior shooters on the line at this year�s camp. The 2000 MSSA-NRA Annual Junior Competitive Rifle Camp held at the Buck Snort Range, Marshall, MO, was a great success! Thirteen junior shooters attended the camp and received four days of instruction and coaching in International Three-Position Shooting. Subjects taught included: firearms safety, range safety, range rules, aiming the rifle, breathing control, trigger control, follow through, match preparation, keeping a diary, how to set goals, and the three positions of prone, standing and kneeling. Juniors attending the camp were: Katie Carpenter, Alex Chosid, Kiki Chosid, Chauncey Crosby, Ray Finlay, Adam Hilkenkamp, Lucas Leinberger, David McGhee, Andrew Rebhan, Dan Rebhan, Kyle Schultz, Patrick Schultz, and Aaron Weeks. Camp staff was Camp Director Cheryl Teeters. Coaches: John Leinberger, Melissa Mata, Harold Miederhoff, Steve Rebhan and Paul Villmer. Parents assisting the staff were: Jeff Chosid, Susan Schultz, and Mr. and Mrs. Weeks. Kent Finlay, MSSA Executive Officer, provided MSSA smallbore rifles for junior shooters to use. The third day of the camp included a special match of one shot in each position, Ray Finlay was the winner. An International Three-Position Match was held on the last day of the camp. Results as follows: Advanced Dan Rebhan 525 Aaron Weeks 482 Lucas Leinberger 464 Kiki Chosid 430
Intermediate Kyle Schultz 358 Adam Hilkenkamp 357 Patrick Schultz 300 David McGhee 191
Beginner Chauncy Crosby 307 Katie Carpenter 212 Alex Chosid 208 Andrew Rebhan 178
Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals were awarded the top three shooters in each division. Steve McGhee, MSSA President, donated MSSA annual junior memberships to each junior shooter. Thank you Steve. As Director of Junior Activities for MSSA, I appreciate and thank everyone who helped make this camp a success. I know that the staff and myself are looking forward to next year. Dates for the 2001 camp are June 14-17, 2001. Best Wishes and Good Shooting, John Leinberger Selected Junior Camp Shooters� Views on Camp Katie Carpenter Age: 12 3 days shooting experience I enjoyed camp very much this summer. This was the first time I ever shot a rifle and so far, I am enjoying it very much. I�ve learned prone, kneeling and standing and how to keep fairly steady. I�ve also found out that if you hit the paper and have a good group, you can mover your sights so your shots are right in the middle. I�ve learned how to load, shoot, put on the sling, store the rifle, look through a scope, get in position and breath and hold control. I�ve learned to want to work hard, patience, sight alignment, sight picture, and to persevere. I have been taught by wonderful instructors and want to keep going. All in all, I loved camp this summer, want to continue and someday shoot internationally. Alex Chosid Age: 13 2 years shooting experience I learned a lot at this year�s NRA shooting sports camp. I came in shooting relatively poorly. Now, I feel like I�ve learned so much from my 4-day stay here. I think anyone with some interest in the shooting sport should definitely come next year. It was a great experience for me. Kiki Chosid Age: 16 4 years shooting experience I�m not much of a "camp girl" you know, horseback riding and beadwork, but this camp is the kind of camp that I like. Anything with the word shooting it I�m all for. Even though I am a highpower shooter, I was happy to attend the camp for the second year. Yeah, I might come into the camp with a know-it-all, you�ll never change my ways, you guys are morons attitude, but the coaches keep pestering me with advice (I only gave in because I� didn�t want to hurt them, you know?) Truthfully, no matter how much or little experience you may have, the amount of knowledge is endless. My positions were refined and my mental attitude was changed (not for them of course). In conclusion, this was a great experience to lean to shoot, get lots of practice, make good friends, and not to mention, brush up on lines from Austin Powers, The Spy Who Shagged Me. Chauncey Crosby Age: 14 1 year shooting experience I thought that the camp was fun. I learned a lot about the right positions like prone, kneeling, standing and how they are. I also learned a lot about breathing control and how it will mess you up when you breathe wrong. Now I also know what equipment you need and the kind of gun. Ray Finlay Age: 14 I have been shooting Highpower for one year, Smallbore for about 3 months, and plinking for about 6 years. I learned a lot of things at the Smallbore camp. One of the more important things was how to find my natural point of aim. Another thing that helped me a lot was when the coaches showed what I was doing wrong in the positions and how to fix the problem. One of the most important things I got from the camp was just shooting at targets. That gave me time to experiment with different positions and find out what worked best for me. Adam Hilkenkamp Age: 15 1 year of competitive shooting this being my first year of shooting smallbore competitively I think that this camp helped me to discover the little things in my positions that were wrong. The coaches at camp saw the things that were wrong with my positions and helped me correct them. I also learned the mental aspects of shooting. Camp helped me to think positively before, during, and after shooting. I was also informed that when shooting you only shoot at the center, nothing else. David McGhee Age: 13 5 years formal shooting experience At the Smallbore Shooting Camp I learned how to shoot a better group and how to manage the movements of the standing position. I also had a lot of practice and that helped me make my groups a lot smaller. I also got help on how to do positions. Andrew Rebhan Age: 12 1/2 year shooting experience At the smallbore camp I went to I had a good time and I shot very well. My elbow, ankle and hand were sore after three positions. I also liked the people there. Dan Rebhan Age: 15 4 years shooting experience My name is Dan Rebhan. I am 15 years old. I have been shooting for 4 years competitively. I am getting a lot of practice in all 3 positions. I am also getting more experience with the wind. Patrick Schultz Age: 11 1 year shooting experience I�ve been at this camp for 2 years and every year I learn something different. Like, how to move your sights up, down, left, and right and how to hold your position longer. I found some easier ways to shoot my rifle. Kyle Schultz Age: 13 3 years shooting experience I really liked this camp because it is really educational and it helps you work at a sport that�s enjoyable. I have learned how to shoot correctly in prone, kneeling, and standing. At the camp I had time to practice while someone knowledgeable to correct the mistakes that I make. We also got to participate in a 3p match. This was my third year to participate in this camp. Aaron Weeks Age: 16 2 years shooting experience I�ve had a really great time at camp this year. I�ve learned much more about how I should shoot. I�ve made improvements to all of my positions. I have had the coaches check my positions several times. I learned how to evenly balance my weight in standing (which should really help my scores), and my kneeling and prone positions were also adjusted. I went to camp last year as well, and I plan to come back again next year. Aussy Gun Ban Results: INCREASED CRIME! It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in "successfully ridding Australian society of guns." Furthermore you won't see this data on the American evening news or hear your governor or members of the State Assembly disseminating this information. The first year results are now in: Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent. Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent. Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent!) In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. (Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned their legally owned guns in, the criminals did not, and the criminals still posses their guns!) Figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this crime has increased drastically in the past 12 months, since the criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed. There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins, and assaults of the elderly. The Australian experience proves it. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens. An armed society is a safer society. Editors note: The previous information was taken from the Internet. The accuracy of the figures presented cannot be guaranteed. However the fact is that the Australian Government spent a huge amount of tax money to confiscate long-time, and legally owned guns, and now crime has significantly increased. A disarmed citizenry is at the mercy of its government, more vulnerable to criminals and dependent on law enforcement for personal safety and protection. As an American, I would prefer to be self-reliant. The Sandbar Fight, Origin of the Bowie Knife Legend Almost 175 years ago a duel was arranged on a sandbar several miles north of Natchez, Mississippi. The participants spent several days preparing for the fateful moment. It was a deadly serious affair. However it is doubtful that any of them could foresee that this event would have the historic significance to be incorporated into American culture. At high noon on Wednesday September 19, 1827, Samuel Levi Wells stood in a classic dueling pose. His target was almost a mirror image of himself. Standing approximately 50 feet apart, in profile and facing him was Dr. Thomas H. Maddox. At a signal they exchanged lead balls from single shot flintlock dueling pistols. Both missed. However honor had not been satisfied. Their seconds either reloaded their weapons for them, or produced another matched set of the single shot pistols. The tension was enormous; the stakes were life or death. Each man might be maimed or dead in the impending exchange of fire. Time was in slow motion. Both men were sweating in the ninety-degree heat and humidity. They stood in the small clearing with the midday sun beating down. The stress and anxiety was suffocating. Their hearts pounded in their chests. The signal came. Click-clink, sizzle, KABOOM! The thick off-white smoke faded. Each man as they stared at each other, realized that he had not been hit, nor had either hit his mark. They lowered their discharged pistols and walked towards the center. Still trembling, they shook hands, agreeing that honor had been restored. As fear became relief they agreed to toast each other over a bottle of wine, in the shade of some willow trees near the bank. Neither Mr. Wells nor Dr. Maddox would have believed the events that would occur in the next few minutes. Each duelist had brought several friends to witness the contest. They each also had their designated "second" and surgeon for obvious reasons. Mr. Wells had Major George C. McWhorter (sometimes spelled McWherter) as his "second and Dr. Richard Cuny as his surgeon. Dr. Maddox had his friend and ally Colonel Robert A. Crain as "second and Dr. Denny as his surgeon. The problem was that several of members of each party had numerous, long standing, and bitter grievances toward each other. There was much distrust and plain hatred of the strongest degree. The heat, humidity and the fact that blood had not been shed exacerbated the situation. Someone would have to die to relieve the tremendous pressure. All hell was about to break loose. As Mr. Wells and Dr. Maddox with their "seconds" and surgeons approached the shade, they were met by other members of the Wells party: Jefferson Wells (brother), James Bowie (friend) and Gen. Cuny (friend and brother to Dr. Cuny. Gen. Cuny and Col. Crain were still extremely agitated and are reported to have exchanged insults and challenges. Upon seeing Bowie at close range, Col. Crain assumed he was under attack or about to be attacked, Crain was keenly aware of Bowie�s well-justified reputation Therefore without hesitation he immediately shot at Bowie. [James Bowie was well known not as an instigator of fights but never to back down from one either. He was a large man, strong and absolutely fearless. By all accounts he was considered an accomplished knife fighter and a dangerous man not to be trifled with.] At point blank range the ball hit Bowie in the chest, and probably passed completely through his body. The enraged Bowie struggled to draw, cock and aim his own pistol. He shot and missed the retreating Crain, then discarded the pistol. Bowie unsheathed the large knife given to him by his brother Rezin. At the time witnesses described it as a large butcher knife. As Bowie went for Crain the rest of Dr. Maddox�s party appeared. They included Major Norris Wright, brothers Alfred and Carey Blanchard and several witnesses: Dr.�s. Cox and Provan, Captain John B. Nevitt, Colonel Barnard, Mr. David Wood and an unnamed servant. Next Maj. Wright shot and probably hit Bowie in the body as the latter was trying to get to Crain. Gen. Cuny now shot at Crain and slightly wounded him in the arm. Crain turned and rushed towards Gen. Cuny. Crain drew another pistol and shot Cuny in the lower body or leg, and the ball cut a major artery. Gen. Cuny collapsed, quickly went into shock, and died from blood loss. The wounded Bowie with knife in hand had now caught up to Crain. As they faced off Crain was about to receive the cold steel of Bowie�s knife. Crain either swung or threw his empty pistol at Bowie and hit him squarely on the side of the head, causing him to drop to his knees. As Crain retreated, Wright and the Blanchard�s attacked Bowie. Bowie was able to get to his feet and make his way behind a snag. He was met by Maj. McWhorter (Well�s "second") who handed Bowie a loaded pistol. Several shots were fired at Bowie and McWhorter. Bowie was probably hit in the arm but the wound was not severe. Bowie aimed at the closest target-Wright and shot him. By this time two or more minutes had passed, Bowie�s three wounds were having an effect on him. However, he stumbled from behind the snag and immediately attacked Wright with the large knife. Wright and Alfred Blanchard drew sword canes. Bowie parried Wright�s short sword with his bare arm and seriously stabbed Wright through the arm. Bowie turned on Alfred Blanchard and in a similar exchange sliced Blanchard�s arm several times removing a slab of flesh. Bowie turned to finish off Wright. But before he reached him he was shot at several times by the slightly wounded Alfred Blanchard and his bother Carey. Bowie was hit in the upper leg knocking him off his feet. Wright who was also seriously wounded sensed his chance and lunged toward Bowie with his short sword. Bowie flat on his back attempted to parry Wright's thrust with his bare hand. Wright�s sword completely pierced Bowie�s hand and plunged into his body. Bowie however was able to deflect the wound to his side, and away from his vital organs. Wright attempted to withdraw his sword from Bowie�s body while Bowie bent the blade trying to free his skewered hand. The blade snapped off short while still in Bowie�s body. As Wright bent over Bowie to stab him again, Bowie with his wounded hand now free, grabbed Wright�s coat sleeve. The shocked Wright drew back and Bowie was pulled to his feet .In the same movement Bowie plunged the knife fully to the hilt into Wright�s heart. As the critically wounded Bowie withdrew the knife he twisted it side to side. The dead Wright fell face forward on top of Bowie, and again Bowie was on his back on the ground. Alfred Blanchard again attacked Bowie, who was able to get out from beneath the body of Wright. He parried Blanchard�s sword with his wounded arm but was kicked and stabbed several times. Bowie near passing out from blood loss, continued fighting for his life, and managed to slash Blanchard across the abdomen. (Some accounts incorrectly state that Blanchard was disemboweled.) Jeff Wells now came to Bowie�s aid, shooting Alfred Blanchard through the arm with his derringer. The exchange ended when Maj. McWhorter fired his pistol at Carey Blanchard and wounded him. Both parties disengaged to treat the wounded and attend to the dead. Not counting the exchange by Wells and Maddox, as many as twenty shots were fired by the participants from their single shot flintlock pistols. Stray balls had wounded several of the spectators. Gen. Cuny and Major Norris Wright were dead. Col. Crain and Carey Blanchard were slightly wounded. Alfred Blanchard was seriously wounded and. Jim Bowie was critically wounded and semi-conscious. Dr. Cuny immediately removed the sword blade and several pistol balls from Bowie. Even though Dr. Cuny was able to stop most of the bleeding Bowie was expected to die. Although it took him several months to recover, he had become a living legend and forever would lend his name to the large frontier style knives of the day. The bowie knife still bares his name some 175 years later, however the "B" is no longer capitalized. What became of Bowie�s large butcher knife is not known. At the end of the fight, Bowie near death was probably unable to retrieve it. The bloody sand would have been littered with as many as twenty pistols, several sword canes and Bowie�s knife. The knife could have been picked up by one of the participants or left on the sandbar. The primary concern would have been to evacuate the dead and wounded as quickly as possible. In that moments after the fight the historical significance of the weapons used was not understood by those present. Editor�s Notes: The preceding narrative is as accurate as any, and based on the most credible accounts of the "Sandbar Fight". There are numerous fictitious accounts of the "Sandbar Fight". Many were written third or fourth hand, some are complete lies, and others were written so many years after the event as to be clouded by age. Furthermore some accounts are strongly biased to one side or the other. Truth be told as follows. Duels were fought to the rules of a strict and formal code. However the practice was illegal and when arranged was usually carried out covertly beyond the reach of the law. On September 19, 1827, two opposing gangs faced each other on a sandbar to settle their grudges and trespasses. This duel was an excuse for a lawless brawl. Those present intended to kill or maim one another. Most were skilled and experienced in the use of the weapons of their era, single shot flintlocks, swords and knives. These were mortal men of virtues and vices. None were without sin. All were bigger than life. There is an abundance of knowledge (both fact and fiction), Regarding Jim Bowie and bowie knives, (the capital "B" is no longer used when describing the knife) available on the Internet. I also highly recommend the following books. James Bowie and the Sandbar Fight by James L. Batson and James Bowie and His Knife by Raymond Thorpe. Both books are currently in print. Gateway Friends of the NRA Annual Dinner-St. Louis Please join The Gateway Friends of the NRA, Saturday evening, August 26, 2000, for our annual Friends of NRA auction and dinner fund raising event to be held at the Henry VIII Hotel & Conference Center located at 4690 North Lindbergh Blvd. (just North of I-70 and West of Lambert Field). The silent auction & social hour will begin at 6:00 p.m. with dinner to be served around 7:00 p.m. Tickets will cost $34.00 per person or $285.00 for a table of eight, which also includes $50.00 worth of raffle tickets. Keep in mind that all proceeds from the event are used to fund youth education programs as well as range development. For tickets or additional information contact: Kirkwood Outfitters at (314) 821-3999 or Dave Mills at (314) 839-1455. Green Valley Rifle & Pistol Club, Columbia, Mo. 2000 Match Schedule Correction Dan Nelson, Discipline Director for Action Pistol reports that the September 24, 2000 NRA Action Pistol match is no longer a Region X Championship. For more information call him at 573-445-3633. Match Results - Wildwood Backyard BB Gun Invitational
Strother Wilson takes careful aim at the bullseye, while Connor Peters spots the results. The competition was fierce between Connor Peters and Strother Wilson at the First Annual Wildwood Backyard BB Gun Invitational Shooting Match, held April 29, 2000. Weather conditions were sunny and clear with an intermittent breeze. The 5-mph crosswind had little effect on the results. The impromptu range was set up east of the patio/deck at the Peters home. The distance from the firing line to the target was slightly less than ten meters. The target was a standard 25-meter pistol target; the bullseye printed red on white. The targets were taped to a piece of white poster board attached to a wire "U" pressed into the lawn. The impact area consisted of a line of white pine trees screening 300 yards of rolling pasture. Mitch Peters acted as both range/safety officer and match judge. Basic safety included such topics as: always keep the muzzle in a safe direction, mandatory use of eye protection, spectators behind the firing line, and keep your finger off the trigger until just prior to taking the shot. There was also a two-minute class on the proper sight picture, breathing and trigger control. Both competitors would take five shots per round. Any safe shooting position could be used, however both shooters preferred the sitting and kneeling positions. The first shooter to exceed 100 in a complete round would win. Both the shooter and non-shooter marked and scored the target after each turn. The match judge kept score, settled disputes and assessed penalties for safety violations. After the initial safety and competition rules briefing both shooters proceeded to the firing line. The "match rifle" was a well-used Daisy Pal .177 caliber BB gun. The no-frills gun functioned fairly well but shot approximately 3" to the right of the point of aim. The easy to see sights are not adjustable. The rifle was outfitted with camouflage tape for its usual use as a field gun on father/son hunting trips. The single stroke, cocking lever was a challenge for the eight year-old shooters. The action of this BB gun is a spring-piston type mechanism. The magazine holds about 200 BB�s via a loading gate near the muzzle. If the trigger pull of the Colt Python is described as breaking a glass rod; the trigger on the Pal is like dragging a stick along the bottom of a creek. Strother Wilson being our guest, shot first. After the first round Connor Peters held the lead 22-0. However Strother took the lead at the top of the fourth round 39-34, after figuring out the Kentucky windage. Connor was also penalized two shots due to a safety violation...always keep the muzzle in a safe direction. The lead went back and forth several times. Both shooters became increasingly excited as the score increased. Strother finally pulled ahead 77-50, as the pressure appeared to effect Connor�s concentration. In the tenth round, Strother�s lead was cut to just 8 points by the trailing Connor, who shot a turn high 28 points! The score stood at 94-86. Now the pressure seemed to get to Strother who was unable to score any points in the eleventh round. However Connor managed to tie the score at 94-94. In the twelfth and final round Strother felt guardedly optimistic with a final score of 117. Connor�s turn was next, his first and second shots scored 7 and 9 points respectfully for 117-110. As the tension increased he pulled his third shot, and completely missed the target. The pressure reached a climax, when Connor scored 7 points on his fourth shot and tied the score 117-117. The stakes were low but it was still very exciting because the fifth and final shot of the match would determine a winner or a "shoot off tie breaker round. Connor aimed and sort of squeezed off his last shot for a score of 8 points. The final score was 124-117, Connor Peters had won a come from behind victory at, the First Annual Wildwood Backyard BB Gun Invitational Shooting Match. The moral of this story follows. Our kids are the future of the shooting sports. Teach a kid to enjoy shooting safely. It is fun, exciting and rewarding to shoot informal target matches with BB guns in the back yard. The whole match was set-up, shot and taken down in just over an hour. I didn�t spend a dollar on gas, ammo, or range fees. The best part of all was the kids were well behaved and totally into the experience. Near the end of the match, they were running to the target to carefully study the results! I enjoyed watching them immensely; this was real quality time. Nominations are open for MSSA special awards to be presented at the MSSA annual meeting and awards dinner in December. Nominations are needed for several special awards: 1). The "Hall of Fame" award. This is for the person who has, over the years, made contributions to the organization that are really outstanding. This very special award has only been presented twice since its inception about 10 years ago. 2). The "Sportsman of The Year" award. This is an annual award given to someone who has been of service to MSSA, in the past year, to advance the programs and ideals of the organization. Last years recipient was Kent Finlay, our Executive Officer. He was instrumental in helping many individuals gain membership in MSSA for the purpose of purchasing a CMP M-1 rifle. 3). The "Special Service" award. This is given to someone who has done things, in the past year, that enhance the image of MSSA. Last years recipient was Melissa Mata for all the effort that she has put into the newsletter to make it a more presentable publication. 4). The "Club of the Year" award. This is for a club that has distinguished itself by all that it has done for the shooting sports. There was no recipient last year. Nominations for any of the above awards can be made by sending a name of an individual or club along with a written description of why they should be deserving of a MSSA Special Award. Nominations can be sent to either Steve McGhee (MSSA President) or Harold Miederhoff (MSSA Secretary). MSSA Board Meeting Minutes, June 3, 2000 Meeting called to order by president McGhee at 9:57 am at MDCHQ auditorium. Present were members Dave Jones, Bob Baumer, Mitch Peters, John Leinberger, Roscoe Morris, Steve McGhee, Harold Miederhoff, and Marvin Behnke. Miederhoff reported that memberships have been increasing. Minutes of previous meeting approved. XO report from Kent Finlay delivered by Miederhoff. Treasurer�s report from Lee Koester delivered by Miederhoff. Report approved. McGhee reported that the Training Counselor workshop has 16 participants and will provide the state with several more training counselors. McGhee is volunteering to go to any MSSA affiliated club in the state to conduct a workshop. The website "safewithguns.org" is paid up till December 2001. McGhee will look into an imbedded store selling shooting related equipment for the website. Meeting recess at 11:02, back to order at 11:17. Mailing by an insurance company to holders of hunting and fishing licenses will also include information about MSSA at no cost to the organization. Jones reported on the NRA annual convention. The 2001 NRA convention will be in Kansas City, May 18-22. MSSA will provide volunteer workers. Peters reported on the newsletter, plans to improve it, and recruit new members. Jones presented some discussion regarding the use of a NRA mailing to members in Missouri. Leinberger reports that the junior camp should have 12-14 participants. He is working with Missouri High School Activities Association regarding track athletes� participation in biathlon competitions. Morris reported that CFM annual meeting had lots of discussion regarding river otters and the proposed introduction of elk. McGhee appointed Marvin Behnke to fill a vacant position on the board with term expiring in 2002. Appointment approved by the board. McGhee reported that the "Burma Shave" sign project is in need of locations for placement. Several sets of signs are ready to go. Motion made, seconded and passed to allow Peters to spend up to $200.00 developing and producing materials for member recruitment. Motion made and seconded to allocate $2595.00 for the purchase of 3 AR-15 rifles from the CMP. Motion failed. Meeting adjourned 1:40 p.m. Submitted by Harold Miederhoff, Secretary
MSSA will conduct a CMP M-1 rifle raffle again this year. The proceeds are to be used in enhancing junior shooting programs. Tickets can be purchased by sending $5.00 for each ticket desired along with your name address and phone number. The available tickets will be limited to 250. Address your purchase to MSSA raffle, P.O. Box 10170, Columbia, MO 65205. Last years M-1 winner was Tom King of Hallsville. Proper Gun Storage Ain�t Trigger Locks By Richard J. Koury After the last hunt of the season the guns were unloaded and cased. As sure as fall hunting season rolls around, the cry "Oh, NO!" will be heard, as the guns are uncased: "Oh, NO! There�s rust on my hunting rifle!" The unfortunate fellow simply cannot believe that his gun storage was a failure. Pay heed to someone who has been there. Sin #I: Storing, or even transporting a firearm in an "El cheepo" plastic (or contains plastic) gun case is no-no number one. Ever hear of Saran Wrap? Same results: that plastic gun case won�t let moisture out. And mixing a warm plastic case with a cold gun will guarantee you "sweat on the iron". Can you picture a glass of iced tea in the summer? I refuse to use any gun case except one made of canvas or leather. Neither of these are allowed to be lined with "man made fluff. These fluffs are derived of plastic. Sin #2: Using convenient "do-all" gun cleaners who also lay claim to "preserving and protecting". Oil is for engines and squeaks. Solvents are for flushing. G-R-E-A-S-E is for storage. Why? �Cause grease doesn�t evaporate like solvent and sweet smelling thin oil mixes. The most expensive hi-dollar "gun lube" is just lube. Mix lube, solvent and base agent "fillers" and you get the same no-no as do-all car cleaner-polish-and protector (whatever that means). Each one dilutes the other ingredient�s effectiveness. I grease my guns for storage. That�s it; plain and simple ... GREASE! Sin #3: Depending upon the heat of a measly 25 watt light bulb to dehydrate cubic feet of storage space is foolish at best. Same goes for those "moisture absorbing" pellets. Once a sponge is saturated, it will not absorb any more water. Store firearms in an area NOT subject to rapid temperature changes. Select an area that is warm in winter and cool in summer. And by all means! LEAVE EACH GUN EXPOSED, (not wrapped or boxed) so as to allow air movement that naturally dehydrates. Sin #4: DO NOT store pistols in holsters! [Animal skin is cured into leather by a process known as "tanning". Therefore leather holsters are "tanned" animal skin. Leather is "tanned" with tannic acid which is corrosive to metal. Leather may also contain other corrosive salts. Do not let any leather touch any metal surface during storage. Besides holsters, remember to remove and store separately leather slings, ammo pouches, and belts. What about holsters made from synthetic materials? They are plastic in one form or another. Please review Sin #1.] With no intent to boast, I believe I possess somewhat more than the average number of guns-per-collector. (I hope Helen isn't gonna read that!). I do everything that I recommend in the above article to my firearms, plus one more. I don't worry about my gun finish when hunting, I use paste wax to protect it and concentrate on hunting. Every rifle or shotgun I take out into the field is coated with plain old Johnson's paste wax. That's what you're reading ... P-A-S-T-E W-A-X. Notice I did NOT write "liquid" wax. Coat all metal surfaces: barrel, floor plate, action, screw slots and scope rings/bases (not the scope proper). Apply liberally. Press paste wax into all openings between stock and metal. CAUTION! Do NOT apply around the safety, trigger or bolt mechanism. This stuff will dry yucky looking, that's for sure however, two great qualities are: 1. Paste wax when dried does not attract moisture it repels water. 2. Foreign matter, dust, dirt, grit and vegetation will not stick to the wax. Finally paste wax can be readily removed with Hoppe's #9. Old Rich will be glad to show you his 28-year-old Sako .375 H &H that he has hunted with throughout the world�s unfriendly climates. I'm referring to Alaska's slop, equatorial heat and humidity, and dry 115-degree Kalahari sunshine. Throw in the cold and wet snowfields of the Cook Glacier and sand combined with bone dry air in the Gobi Desert. You'll not believe how perfect the blue finish is beneath the paste wax. Sure, there's scabbard rub here and there, but overall the finish is exceptional. Need more proof? One of my most favorite hunting photos is of me standing [with my rifle in hand] in 40" of snow, at 14 degrees BELOW zero with a Wyoming Shirras moose. (There was no charge for the sleet coming down). Paste wax at work, I guarantee you. As the man says: "Try it, you'll like it!" Now one last bit of personal trivia: On an elk hunt in Oregon [a few years ago], I was most fortunate to be teamed with Finn Aagard (noted hunting and gun writer). He was probably one of the most interesting men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. After three days of looking at my Sako, he had to ask, "Rrichadd, just what in the billy-hell is the matter with the finish on that rifle?" I explained the virtues of paste wax...and he believed. Several months later he wrote in one of his articles "How, for years, he has used paste wax on his field guns." I let him know he owes me several "sundowners" for that. [EDITORS NOTE: I am also a believer in paste wax. The NRA, National Firearms Museum uses a coating of a microcrystalline wax, to protect every firearm in the collection. However be extremely careful not to get paste wax built up on, in, or around small moving parts like safeties, triggers, bolt and magazine release buttons etc. It may prevent them from operating properly. After you apply the wax and it has dried, test the function off all the controls and moving parts. Also keep the wax off your optics, It will make the lenses cloudy and it is a pain to remove without scratching or destroying the coating. And on this last point, yes I�m talking from personal experience and sad personal experience at that. ] MSSA / NRA Training Counselor Workshop By Steve McGhee
Class Picture of the June 16-18 2000 MSSA / NRA Training Counselor Workshop at Green Valley RPC near Columbia It all started with a few local NRA Certified Firearm Instructors with an interest in becoming Training Counselors, folks appointed by NRA to train other Firearm Instructors for NRA Certification. To do that, they would have to attend a TC Workshop... and that was proving to be a problem. There were no Training Counselor Trainers in Missouri, or any active ones in nearby states, so attending a Workshop was going to require a pretty major investment of time and money... four days in a distant state, travel, lodging, meals, plus actual Workshop expenses... it just didn't look very feasible to the local Instructors, who all teach at MSSA-affiliated Green Valley RPC as unpaid volunteers. And that's when their affiliation with MSSA proved helpful, in a very big way. Simply put, MSSA and Green Valley decided to MAKE a TC Workshop happen locally, whatever it took. Green Valley agreed to host the course, the local Instructors agreed to take on a variety of Workshop related responsibilities, MSSA accepted financial management responsibilities for the course, and it all started coming together. We contracted with a TCT from Stafford VA to conduct the Workshop and began advertising through a variety of free mediums including the NRA website... while NRA Staff had originally advised me I'd be lucky to get 8 signups in Missouri, I had to cut off registrations when we reached our class limit of 16! We had TC Candidates from FL, IA, IN, IL, KS, LA, MO, NE, OK... before long the NRA Staffer in charge of ALL TC Workshops nationwide took notice, decided we must have something pretty good going on in Missouri, and decided to come out personally and observe the Workshop first hand! When it was all over, there were 16 more NRA Training Counselors than before, about half of them Missourians. We also got 4 new TCTs trained and appointed for our region (2 from IL, 1 from MO and 1 from KS), so TC Workshops in this area should be a LOT easier to find in the coming years. And both the TCT from VA and the NRA Staffer said that the Green Valley TC Workshop was, without a doubt, the best one they had ever been involved with. My sincere thanks and congratulations to the Green Valley Team that, through an effective partnership with their State Association, helped make it all happen so well: Jim Hill, Lee Koester, John Leveron and Ron Moser, four of Missouri's newest NRA Training Counselors! By the way, we had so much fun, next year we're doing it all over again: MSSA / NRA TC Workshop June 15-17 2001 at Green Valley RPC near Columbia! For more information, contact Steve McGhee. Ten Good Reasons To Join The MSSA The MSSA is the Missouri State organization affiliated with the, Civilian Marksmanship Program, National Rifle Association, USA Shooting and the Conservation Federation of Missouri. The MSSA is the only statewide promoter of shooting sports and competitions; MSSA is the NRA recognized governing body of state championship matches. The MSSA sponsors shooting camps, training and seminars in pistol, rifle and shotgun. Membership is a prerequisite requirement to obtain your CMP M-1 Garand or .22 cal match rifle. If you want your children to have access to firearms and hunting you must support the state organization that is trying to advocate and defend your Second Amendment rights at the state level. There are no employees, only dedicated volunteers. MSSA supports the free exchange of ideas and information related to shooting, firearms, hunting and related topics. There is a website at: http://www.safewithguns.org/mssa You will receive the MSSA quarterly newsletter: "The Missouri Shooter". Members may place free ads, which alone is worth the price of membership. At $15.00 a year annual dues are inexpensive. Junior dues (under 18) are only $5.00 which is really inexpensive. Free Insurance Or The 11th Good Reason To Join The MSSA One of the little-known benefits of Membership in MSSA is our insurance package, which covers every MSSA member automatically, at no additional cost and with no additional action on your part. If you're a Member, you've got coverage, period. The big policy is for liability while involved in any MSSA activity, with a $1 million dollar limit, through Clarendon Insurance. If someone sues you for damages caused while you were participating in ANY official MSSA activity (State Championship Match, Smallbore Camp, NRA class, Annual Banquet, Board meeting, etc.) and you are an MSSA Member, you're covered, and it includes legal representation. Instructors, Coaches, Match Directors, competitive shooters, affiliated clubs... this policy should be of special interest to you! The key, of course, is that it needs to be an official MSSA activity... make sure advertisements / fliers for the event designate it as an MSSA event, that you send our newsletter editor Mitch Peters an announcement early enough for him to get it in at least one newsletter prior to the event, and that whoever is "in charge" is properly qualified as appropriate... for example, if you're doing an NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course, it MUST have an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor in charge. The other policy is a small accidental death / dismemberment policy: $1,000 coverage for any MSSA Member and $10,000 for any Member of the Board of Directors. It's not much, but it'll help in times of unexpected loss. The carrier (American Income Life) will occasionally (no more than once per year) do a mailing to Members (we mail it; we do NOT share Membership lists!), which will give YOU the opportunity to designate a specific beneficiary. This is NOT a requirement of coverage. If you do choose to send American Income Life your beneficiary card, it's then an opportunity for THEM to contact you in order to try and sell you more coverage... which is, after all, what they're in business for. For further information on these or other benefits of MSSA Membership, feel free to contact Steve McGhee, MSSA President. MSSA Affiliated Clubs and Organizations (as of 7-1-00) Arnold Rifle & Pistol Club 8343 Metropolitan BIvd. Barnhart, MO 63012-2304 Bench Rest Rifle Club 2045 Kohn Rd, Wright City, MO 63390 Big Game Hunters, Inc. c/o Mr. James Ernst Jr., Corresponding Secretary, 3466 White oak School Rd., Eureka, MO 63025-2816. Big Piney Sportsmen's Club 16866 Hwy B, c/o Don Collins, Houston, MO 65483 Boeing Employee's Rifle & Pistol Club-STL 4 Aken Ct. St. Peters, MO 63376-4534 Bucksnort Shooting Club 1206 Main, Boonville, MO 65233-1746 Bullseye Rod and Gun Club 1945 San Miguel Ct. Fenton, MO 63026 Central Ozark Practical Shooters 19075 Rosefinch Rd. Richland, MO 65556 Columbia-Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club 4350 Academy Rd. Hallsville, MO 65255 Deer Creek Sportsman�s Association P.O. Box 621, Belton, MO 64012-0621 Joplin Rifle & Pistol Club P.O. Box 3734, Joplin, MO 64803-3734 Midwest Firearms Association 2124 North Wilmar Dr. Quincy, IL 62301-6907 Mississippi Valley Duck Hunters P.O. Box 270112, St. Louis, MO 63127-1401 Missouri Valley Arms Collectors P.O. Box 33033, Kansas City, MO 64114 Pioneer Gun Club P.O. Box 18546, Raytown, MO 64133-8546 Pony Express Pistol League Eastside Station Box 8652, St. Joseph, MO 64508 Potosi Gun Club Box 187, Potosi, MO 63664 St. Joseph Rifle and Pistol Club 3410 Duncan St. St. Joseph, MO 64507-1927 67 Gun Club P.O. Box 255, Farmington, MO 63640 "Southside Shooting Stars" 4027 Healey Ct. St. Louis, MO 63123 United Sportsmen's Club P.O. Box 781, Jefferson City, MO 65102
Provided by Frank W. Meyers, Secretary Mr. Meyers reports that they are a small club with minimal range facilities, however they recently resumed their junior program, the start of their 34th year! Two of their junior shooters Phillip A. Koch of Potosi and Aaron S. Weeks of Caledonia achieved the NRA Expert rifle shooting classification, in the last year. This is no small or easy task. In the last eleven years only ten other club shooters have achieved this award. Koch has over 5 years of formal shooting experience and Weeks has almost 3 years. The classification requires minimum scores set by the NRA during a seven hundred round course, that includes prone, sitting, kneeling, and standing positions Additionally, Miss Lisa Koch was awarded the NRA Distinguished Expert Medal by Congresswoman JoAnn Emerson on February 23rd at Emerson�s Congressional Office in Farmington. Miss Koch has been shooting at the club for about nine years, and regularly shoots smallbore and highpower rifle. She is the clubs first young lady and only their second shooter to earn the medal. The award has several difficult requirements, and targets must score at least 98% in the prone position and 96% in the kneeling and standing positions. Mr. Meyers would like to point out that Congresswoman JoAnn Emerson herself holds the NRA Distinguished Expert Medal in smallbore rifle, and it was especially appropriate for her to conduct the award presentation. The Potosi Gun Club is also politically active, eight members attended the March 15, 2000 Gun Rights Rally in Jefferson City
Our newest affiliated club is the Big Game Hunters, Inc. of St. Louis. They are a group of hunters, dedicated to worldwide big game hunting. They host many events, programs and fundraisers throughout the year to support the NRA, hunting and the shooting sports. More on their upcoming events will be posted when available. For more information contact: Big Game Hunters, Inc., c/o Mr. James Ernst Jr., Corresponding Secretary, 3466 White oak School Rd., Eureka, MO 63025-2816. Welcome Big Game Hunters, Inc!
Pioneer Gun Club Match Schedule Provided by J. K. Chester, President April through October, 2000
For more information, contact: J. K. Chester, 1252 SW 800th Rd., Holden, MO 64040-9248 or call 816-743-9218. BACK TO THE MISSOURI SHOOTER INDEX
|
|
