Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-13
LEARN TO SHOOT.
Government VIII Issue Rifles and Ann
munition to Organized Rifle Clubs.

From national defense standpoint the
training in rifle practice of the unor-
ganizcd militia is of as vital Importance
to our country as the training of the
regular establishment and the organic
cd militia. The volunteer who can hit
what he shoots at is eighty per cent.
, efficient as a soldier.
The United States government has
stored away in its arsenals approximate
ly 10000 Uirap l.. S. magazine rifles,
model 1905 and 3o,Ooo,0o bail cartridges
for same. Uncle sam will issue these
rifles and the ammunition free to or
ganlzcd rifle clubs affiliated with the
national rifle association of America for
use of members at small arms practice.
! During the first quarter of 1916 just
| the ordnance department issued to clubs
SIG rifles and 1.i3Sa74 bail cartridges.
| President Woodrow Wilson must have
had in mind the rifle club movement
when he wrote his message to Congress,
I in which he said: I'VE must DEPEND in
every time Of national peril in the future
as in the past. not upon a standing
army, nor vet upon reserve army, but
upon ctiaenry trained and accustomed
to arms. 1t will be right enough, right
American policy. based upon our accus-
TONED principles and practices. to pro-
vide a system by which every citizen
who will volunteer for the training, may
be made familiar with the use of modern
arms"
To teach the ctizenry the use Of the
modern arm requires organization OF
rifle clubs and small arms practice
under capable instructors Ten or more
citizens of the United states in any
town or county near which or In which
a rifle range could be constructed. are
eligible to organize a civilian rifle CLUB
and affiliate with the national rifle as
sociation of America. Blank forms and
copy Of bylaws prescribed by the nationa
board for promotion of rifle practice ir
the United States and instructions tc
form a rifle club may be secured from
Major Fred II. Phillips, Jr., assistant
recorder national hoard for promotion
of rifle practice and secretary, nationa
rifle association of America
The object of the national rifle as
socation is to encourage Workmanship
throughout the United States, particular
~ in the direction Of qualifying "a
finished marksmen those individuals wh'
may be called upon to serve in time o
war; to encourage competition in marks
manship between teams and individuals
to encourage legislation for the cstab
| lshment and maintenance of ranges; t.
, secure the issue OF military rifles ant
;, ammunition to those practiCing on thes
= ranges and to create "A public sentmen
f in respect to the necessity of riff!
. practice as a means of national defence
The association membership on De
Cember 81, 1915. reported by tn
4 secretary. was: % state rifle associa
: tons. IS regiments; a separate militar
organizations; go civilian rifle clubs
, college and university rifle clubs; l.
school rifle clubs: boys rifle clubs
=, $40 life members 9i3 annual members.
- During the past three months Oanuar
o LIST to March 3lst, 1916, dnciusiveI til
national rifle association has gained
, membership as follows | state associf
~, ton; / regiment; 10 civilian rifle clubs
-, college and university rifle clubs;
school rifle clubs, boys rifle clubs;
life members; 49, annual members.
The national rifle association was II
curporated in 1871 and since that tin
has been the one active agent in pr
I noting rifle practice in the Unite
Stateo.