The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-30
THE BIRMINGHAM AGESHERALD, SUNDAY, APRIL 90 1916

ship. He is taught to drill as a means toward discipline, and to march in order to get to the right place at the right time; but he must know how to shoot when he gets there, or he won't be of any use after he arrives. The United States government realizes the impor- tance of the man behind the gun to such an extent that it is offeroing every inducement to men who are willing to do their country the great favor of learn ing to shoot. Through the national board for the promotion of rifle practice the federal government has been reaching out trying to advance the sport and art of rifle shooting throughout the coun- try.
 As an aid between the government and the citizen the National Rifle association acts as guide, philosopher and friend to those patriotic ones who want to learn to shoot. The N. R. A. has affi- Hated with it various kinds and varieties of rifle clubs. Some are military and some civilian, but they are all working toward the same purpose-the spreading of knowledge of the Springfield rifle.
 The national board for the promotion of rifle practice is directly under the wing of the government and the N R. A. is under the care of the national board. The N. R. A. in turn sees to the welfare of the little local clubs scattered all over the country. These local clubs are all under the same regulations, use the same rifle and ammunition, shoot over the same kinds of range and at the same kind of targets and all for the same hon ors and rewards. The rifles are either the army Krag or the new Springfield, and they are sold to members by the war department at the exact cost of manufacture.
 In this way the expense to the shooter
 is relatively small He can buy new Springfield for about $17 or Krag for about $8. The Krag carbine, an excel lent little weapon, can be purchased from the government by members for about S2.50. The ammunition, at the govern ment prices, for the Springfield is 21a cents per cartridge and for the Krag 119 cent The only other expense of the sport
 is the pro rata share for running the targets at each shoot, usually about 50 cents. There is also a law under which the war department can lend rifles to members of the clubs affiliated with the N. R. A. in the proportion of one rifle to every five members and to give krag cartridges at the rate of 120 per year for each member.
 The N R. A. also provides honors and awards for it's members, which are sanc- toned and recognized by the government. It provides classification of 'natlona. marksman,'' "sharpshooter" and "expert rifleman," similar to that of the army
 
 for those who qualify.
 In the matter of ranges the government is most liberal. Wherever there is an army post or a national guard range the civilian clubs always find warm wei come, for it is the policy to give them free access. Without a range there can, of course, be no long range shooting, and this very lack of shooting room has deprived many town of rifle club.
 In order to provide for those luckless ones who have no range accessible, the N R. A. having no bread to give. pre- sents a stone in the form of small bore, indoor rifle league, which is much in vogue with the "younger set of shoot CTS and those whom fate has denied a real outdoor range. This indoor shoot ing is very popular and provides excel lent training but to one who has heard the roar and felt the kick of the mighty Springfield it holds more ennui than it does of interest. It is we'll enough in it's way, and suits those who like it. But let us not jest or make merry at the ex- pense of those less fortunate than our selves, for not every one has the luck to live in Birmingham and shoot over the range at Boyles.
 But whether one shoots indoors or out doors, with a little .22 or the army Springfield he is doing something that his neighbor is not doing. He IS fitting himself to defend his home if the need ever arises, and he has the satisfaction of knowing that he is doing something to help his country If his country ever goes to war. Furthermore. he is play ing a mans game, one that requires steady nerves and clear head and back