Just Damn

How far would you go to shoot a rifle? Halfway round the world perhaps?

"So you think you traveled a long way to get to Camp Perry this year, well try traveling half way across the world. That’s exactly what the Australian High Power Team, Aussie Roos, did for a chance to experience the U.S. National Matches."

Of course some of us would love to go to Camp Perry & distance wouldn't be an issue. But let's keep something else in mind:

"All six shooters are ex-service men from Australia who were looking for the opportunity to shoot semi-automatic rifles, which have been banned in Australia since the government enforced strict gun bans in 1996."

It gets more telling:

"Because of the gun bans, the team didn’t even have rifles to bring to the National Matches. With the help of the several American contacts, the team was able to borrow rifles and acquire ammunition to shoot while at Camp Perry."

Now think about that - they traveled damn near halfway around the globe to shoot rifles that were banned at home & had to borrow such rifles cause they aren't allowed to own them at home. Think about that the next time you think that you're too tired to go to the range.

"And shoot they have, the Aussie Roos have participated in every rifle match held during high power week."

Damn right. If I only had one week to shoot semi-auto's per year I'd skip meals to get in more range time.

“You have to be careful of what happens in your country. Gun bans happened in Australia, England, and Canada but crime just went up. Now we have to travel half way around the world to have a week’s good shooting with friends, shooting the same rifles we used to own,' said George Grivas."

Damn. I can't say I'm not glad we haven't gotten that bad yet. On the other hand some states are almost that bad already. In Cali AR's are "assault weapons" & possibly M1A's (but I'm not sure on the M1A situation there) so you're left with Garands (which is a fine choice all around but I don't approve of someone having to shoot a Garand - a person should want to shoot a Garand). I don't think the situation is that much better in NY. Illinois came close to passing an "assault weapons" ban this year & there are cities scattered about which prohibit certain semi-auto's. & Boxer, Schumer et al are always going to try to work an "assault weapons" ban in whenever they think they can get away with it.

Still I drive about 45 minutes to shoot. If I wanted an AR or some other semi-auto I'd just have to come up with the cash (& receive government permission unless I bought from an individual). I wouldn't have to leave the country, cross an ocean & then borrow a rifle to shoot once I got to the range.

Just damn.

Posted by Publicola at August 16, 2005 11:10 PM | TrackBack