Mikee Loxxer
Member
Saugus rifle event shot down by legal fears
DAVE STREGE
Register columnist
OUTDOORS
[email protected]
Project Appleseed is about planting the seeds of marksmanship and the spirit of the rifleman across the country.
President Theodore Roosevelt, a major proponent of marksmanship training, would be proud.
The nonprofit project was started by the Revolutionary War Veterans Association, a gun club in North Carolina.
The nationwide project began a year ago with the prospects of "preserving and passing on the heritage of rifle marksmanship that is the birthright of all Americans."
"Appleseed is about American as apple pie," said Fred Dailey, one of the founders. "All we want to do is teach marksmanship, teach about the Revolutionary War and leave behind better shooters."
The first event in California was scheduled this weekend at A Place to Shoot, a firing range in Saugus. Until it was abruptly canceled.
A message in the forum at www.rwva.org said "you're going to have a lot of company when you get here," said Art Rosbury-Yoder of RWVA.
The implication was that if the event went on, expect to have a problem, Rosbury-Yoder explained.
The ominous message prompted RWVA to pursue legal counsel. An attorney who is a firearms owner advised it "that certain California laws in conjunction with a potential strong anti-gun bias of some local prosecutors could create problems for the program and those who attend it."
The primary concern was the state militia law and the teaching of military-style marksmanship, which is found in the Olympics and is promoted nationwide (California included) in the Civilian Marksmanship Program.
Dailey said Appleseed is a "shoestring operation" and cannot afford legal action.
"We need to investigate and contact more gun groups to see how they're handling this so when we do come in (to California), we handle it the right way," Dailey said. "The last thing we want is to come in and get embroiled in some controversy.
"I'm sure sooner or later we'll have to get counsel in all the states, which is a grim prospect."
Mike Raahauge of Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises in Corona responded to the issue by saying, "Only in California."
The California Rifle and Pistol Association in Fullerton defends Second Amendment rights. CRPA executive director James Erdman was unavailable for comment.
Robert LaPointe, a board member of the CRPA, said its organization put on the Civilian Marksmanship Program until December when members got burned out. He said he hopes another group will get it going again.
Of the cancellation of the Appleseed event, LaPointe said, "It's a tough thing in California. L.A. was not a place to start. Almost any other county but L.A. Or San Francisco."
Rosbury-Yoder agreed, saying it was "like going into the lion's den right out" the gate.
The RWVA might eventually try California again but in a different county.
"The country is not exactly gun friendly anymore," Dailey added.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7809 or [email protected]
DAVE STREGE
Register columnist
OUTDOORS
[email protected]
Project Appleseed is about planting the seeds of marksmanship and the spirit of the rifleman across the country.
President Theodore Roosevelt, a major proponent of marksmanship training, would be proud.
The nonprofit project was started by the Revolutionary War Veterans Association, a gun club in North Carolina.
The nationwide project began a year ago with the prospects of "preserving and passing on the heritage of rifle marksmanship that is the birthright of all Americans."
"Appleseed is about American as apple pie," said Fred Dailey, one of the founders. "All we want to do is teach marksmanship, teach about the Revolutionary War and leave behind better shooters."
The first event in California was scheduled this weekend at A Place to Shoot, a firing range in Saugus. Until it was abruptly canceled.
A message in the forum at www.rwva.org said "you're going to have a lot of company when you get here," said Art Rosbury-Yoder of RWVA.
The implication was that if the event went on, expect to have a problem, Rosbury-Yoder explained.
The ominous message prompted RWVA to pursue legal counsel. An attorney who is a firearms owner advised it "that certain California laws in conjunction with a potential strong anti-gun bias of some local prosecutors could create problems for the program and those who attend it."
The primary concern was the state militia law and the teaching of military-style marksmanship, which is found in the Olympics and is promoted nationwide (California included) in the Civilian Marksmanship Program.
Dailey said Appleseed is a "shoestring operation" and cannot afford legal action.
"We need to investigate and contact more gun groups to see how they're handling this so when we do come in (to California), we handle it the right way," Dailey said. "The last thing we want is to come in and get embroiled in some controversy.
"I'm sure sooner or later we'll have to get counsel in all the states, which is a grim prospect."
Mike Raahauge of Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises in Corona responded to the issue by saying, "Only in California."
The California Rifle and Pistol Association in Fullerton defends Second Amendment rights. CRPA executive director James Erdman was unavailable for comment.
Robert LaPointe, a board member of the CRPA, said its organization put on the Civilian Marksmanship Program until December when members got burned out. He said he hopes another group will get it going again.
Of the cancellation of the Appleseed event, LaPointe said, "It's a tough thing in California. L.A. was not a place to start. Almost any other county but L.A. Or San Francisco."
Rosbury-Yoder agreed, saying it was "like going into the lion's den right out" the gate.
The RWVA might eventually try California again but in a different county.
"The country is not exactly gun friendly anymore," Dailey added.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7809 or [email protected]
