We had rifle clubs in NYC highschools in the 1950's...but that was long ago...in today's atmosphere, that whould be taboo with all the anti's entrenched in NY.

Highschool ROTC 1988-1992
#3 shooter my freshman year (behind 2 seniors), team commander- Sophomore, Junior, & Senior year, top battalion shooter- Sophomore, Junior & Senior year. Best scores- 100/99, 95/93, 87/82, in each position perspectively. Expert badge in small bore shooting, sharpshooter badge in regular rifle shooting (qualified senior year at Ft.Lewis on M16). My Sophomore year the ROTC instructor (retired Sergeant Major, Special Forces, Vietnam Veteran) decided it was time for me to focus on standing position while all the second year team members were still working on thier prone shooting.

I realize you dont need ROTC to do shooting, but thats what I had available and I NEVER knew before the day I tried out for rifle team that I had the talent that I did. My instructor said that it was no coincidence that being an artist also made me a good marksman- the steady hands, and easy ability to visualize the target centered perfectly through the closed competition sight were something that came naturally for me, plus I felt shooting competitively was alot like meditation, I loved it. I was just able to relax, breath shallow, and FOCUS.

As the highschool years went by, fellow team mates and other close friends in ROTC, we would often spend weekends at someones farm, or country house, neighbors farm, etc. shooting and shooting responsibly. There was no such thing as kids shooting up schools when I was in highschool, we didnt face any kind of criticism back then like I bet they (rifle teams) do nowadays. Thanks for the pics Campy, it brought back fond memories of highschool days!

I am glad my summer camp had basic 22s and 20ga shotguns for trap. Thank the YMCA for opening my eyes in a non-gun family!

Do those HS kids have an alumni fund for the Anschutzes?

Great post Campy!

Bob; how does a person go about helping the local high school start a shooting team. Give me some references.
BTW, how,s the 'quit smoking'coming?
Gary

why are the eastern high school kids all wearing trenchcoats? ;)

try shooting 'x's on a 95°, humid and sunny day while wearing a black leather coat with a canvas lining...and a sweatshirt on under the coat. these kids have dedication to their sport!

Conversly I remember shooting outside, early morning, 38º, cold winds,  and trying to keep from shivering. Warmth relaxes you, cold makes you shake and shiver.  We couldn't do any kind of warm-ups because that would get your heart rate up and that wasn't good either.

[liberalvoice] NOOOOOOOO the children...ohhh my  the por soels.....destined to rob bank and car jack.....something needs done.....(did my new gun for my purse come in?) the children[liberalvoice]


Thanks Campy, seeing that makes me belive there is hope for this NAtion.....

WOW!  Are these schools all over the country?  I didn't know that these teams even existed.

And not only that, its not just the boys, but the girls are shooting as well.

Really makes me happy to see that.  Wasn't an option at my High School, though we did have a manditory "hunter safety" class.

obviously, in some areas of the nation shooting sports is more popular than other areas.

I can attest to that. My first two years of ROTC were in Tennessee and my last two years of ROTC were in Oregon, and the differences in opinion and attitude were different. Rifle team wasnt as highly supported in Oregon as it was in Tennessee, and the instructors in Oregon steered clear from anything percieved as "tactical" or combat oriented.

I also remember at one of my competitions during my Sophomore year in Tennessee that Marine Corps recriuters were there looking for good shooters to recruit for thier sniper school. I don't know if that was true, but after the competition was over, that was the rumor that was being bandied about. I do know there were Marines there observing. I thought that was kind of cool, but still not sure if they were in fact there recruiting for sniper school. They could have been simple recruiters looking for an opportunity to promote interest in joining the Marines. Hell, I would too if I was a recruiter.

Campy,
Thanks for posting these!  Glad to see that there are girls in there, too!  Now, if we could just get the schools to spend 1/3 of the money that they do on football and basketball on shooting sports, I think we would have a much safer and healthier America!
Marian

I wish my hs would've had a rifle club...to many damn liberals in my area.  Same with JROTC.  Then Columbine happen and that just screwed everything up.