Train Young America to Shoot by S. B. Horton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 9, 1914

“Train Young America to Shoot”

By S. B. Horton

S. B. HORTON

DESPITE the fact that peace arbitration treaties are being encouraged with commendable zeal, and despite the fact that many are being lulled to sleep by the peace-and-safety cry of the theorist, the nations of the world are making the greatest preparation for war that was ever known.

A very significant address was recently prepared by Secretary of War Garrison, on the subject of war preparation in connection with the educational institutions. After calling attention to the matter of perfecting men in marksmanship so that they may become fairly efficient in a short space of time, the Secretary said, in part:— “France, with government aid, teaches rifle shooting in the primary schools, to boys of ten years of age and upwards. In Italy the departments of war and education cooperate in this teaching, and include secondary schools. Australia has 40,000 schoolboys organized as cadet companies that receive arms and ammunition free. Canada has a private donation of $100,000 for encouragement of military training and rifle practice.

“In the United States, exclusive of those in the military or naval service, we have 3,000 members of rifle clubs and about 8,000 students of military schools and colleges,—a total of only 11,000 who have received outdoor rifle practice, a number almost negligible. To these might be added about 25,000 boys who have had indoor gallery practice of some sort or other.

“The United States government has so far aided in remedying this condition only by the appropriation of $30,000 annually for ammunition for students of educational institutions to which officers of the regular army are detailed as instructors, and in allowing rifle clubs affiliated with the National Rifle Association to purchase arms at cost. Only a small number of rifles have been sold for this purpose. If as many as two persons used each rifle sold, the total number would not exceed 4,000.

“There is now a bill before Congress to appropriate $100,000 for the promotion of rifle practice in public schools, colleges, universities, and civilian rifle clubs. If properly applied, this will be of great help. Of the different educational institutions the public schools are the most important, not only on account of the greater number of students, but on account of the age of the students. Shooting in schools of this class should be made compulsory to the extent of at least two hundred rounds per boy, .22 caliber gallery rifle, with the necessary preliminary sighting and aiming drills, in such States as will so provide for by law. The national board for the promotion of rifle practice is recommended to have supervision of this work and superintend such competitions as may be prescribed.

“Every male citizen of the United States is, by Constitutional law, a member of the unorganized militia, and, in time of war, may be called upon to serve in the land forces of his country. It is therefore every man’s or boy’s duty as a good citizen to prepare himself to perform the service with credit to himself and the greatest amount of benefit to his country.”—National Sunday Magazine, April, 1914.

When the public schools shall be required (as is hoped for by church and state devotees) to teach Christianity as part of its curriculum, and adopt the rifle practice policy, then will the people witness a spectacle of incongruous character. This possibility should serve as a warning to parents who have children to prepare for the future. Shall they be prepared for the kingdoms of this world, or for the everlasting kingdom?