The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-07
Ponder Smoke
By
Edmund McLaurin

vour expressed approval of last
.t,s resume of the shooting high
,-s+s If 1889, as reviewed in this
'e,,,nn prompts me to pigeon-hole
w. technical material l had origi-
1aI,, scheduled for this week, and,
ins-ead dwell on certain cherished
bones which l would like to see
reach a material form during the
year 1910.
During the past several years,
wilmington marksmen have made
outstanding progress and individual
rscords in the promotion of the tru-
" American sport of rifle and pistol
sbooting, locally and in other Sec
tions of the state. Of that progress,
for one, am justly proud, bur in
the very same breath / would has
Ten 10 add that ! am still of the
oninion that much is yet to be done
and can be done with the co-ope-
ration Of those seriously interested
in the promotion of civilian marks
manship for the mutual enjoyment
of the sport to be derived from par
ticipstion. It is for thi reason that
offer the following list of things
would like to see come to pass
during the year 1910, all, in my
/ opinion, being sound, practical sug-
%gestions, which, with the proper CO.
/ operation and the necessary expen-
/ diture Of time and energy, can be
4 made to materialiZe:
/. Development of the local Sun
set Park Range into a municipal
rifle and pistol range, same to be
/ maintained jointly by the city-coun-
ty governments, for the benefit and
use of ali branches of the city and
county law enforcement bodies,
military units, ROTC riflemen,
members Of the Wilmington Rifle
and Pistol Club, Inc, and interested
unattached individuals, the latter
on payment of a reasonable range
fee.
:. Provision in the city budget for
the supplying of a generous quaint
tlty OF ammunition for practice pur-
poses to members of the city's police
force, who at present must develop
INDIVIDUAL skill with the service re-
volVer at their own expense.
), Arrangements for re-loading of
all ammunition used by the city DO
ice officers, which re-loading could
De done at low cost, thereby enabl-
ing the guardians of the law to
practice more frequently than would
otherwise be possible.
T. Sponsorship locally of a junior
lnIe club unit, preferably by the
american Legion, for the training
Of Young Americans in the princi-
pies OF rifle craftsmanship and the
observance of safety in the handling
Of firearms.
.. promotion by the Wilmington
mile and Pistol Club, Inc, of an
optA' carefully-planned tournament
lF all rifle clubs and interested in
o'ioQals in the state.
D. Further Improvement of the 100
anu 200 yard firing points at the
sunset Park range.
" Establishment of an indoor
Tile range of 50 feet in some con-
.eHleht' downtown location so that
suoSe marksmen who cannot partici-
p0le on Saturday afternoons can
nave d chance to shoot on week
nights.
o. Term competition on the part
various civic organizations. to be
-4eu IN connection with a we'll
'ouhded social program.
.s -" organization of an all-woman
.I,e and pistol team, which might
well be the first Of it's kind in the
state.
~ promotion of a public turkey
sI0ot on the basis used in the days
va muzzle-loading rifles.
W. AN attendance of at least %
H'ngtonians, along with teams
FUN the city and county law en-
ohS "ient groups, in t h e state
%-ainplonship matches scheduled for
ut Bragg during the month of
=. - Revival of the star-News Emp.
sucking Fund benefit shoe. be-
,ei teams from the local ROTC
to nN me Wilmington Rifle and Pts
r,, N"o' this event to become a re-
Ai annual feature of the program
VI both units.
a ohllhg that you are in favor
ole or more of the above sug-
is 'ls for progress during 1910, it
uba, d simple matter of deciding
d. ''lef We want them enough to
tue necessary work. If sports
III other communities can en-.
90. certain advantages, then we
Tow. 'oo' provided, Il. course, all in
tbns listed individuals and groups will
~" tneir support to the cause.
rana lie matter of a municipal rifle
dave, Tor instance, the expense of
he Opldeht and maintenance could
In =. fueo among the organizations
COM, 'ehe1lted, with the city and
nal 10 furnish the labor, or else
tn ~ nominal annual contribution
oni,a ne general fund naturally re.
wbioI richmond, Va, has a range
.D4ch it regards as an asset - +be