News and Views for Shooters and Coaches, Volume 6, April-June 1997 Page: 6
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Travis County 4-H Shotgun Club Hosts Invitational
David Lackey advises us that the Travis County 4-H
Shotgun Club will be hosting a Trap, Skeet &
Sporting Clays Invitational at the Capital City Trap &
Skeet Club in Austin on Saturday, July 12, just in time
to get ready for the State Shoot. If you have any
questions, call David Lackey at (512) 559-2421.
District 7 Hosting Fun Shoot Extravaganza
Bob Robinson reports that the 2nd annual District 7
Fun Shoot Extravaganza is planned at Callahan
County 4-H Shooting Range on May 17. The shoot's
emphasis is on fun and the promotion of 4-H Shooting
Sports. Thirteen different events will be offered. Pre-
registration (due to Bob & Cookie Robinson by May
5) is required. Contact Bob or Cookie at (915) 893-
5625 for more information.
Parting Shots
Shooting Sports and Citizenship Education
Kids identified citizenship education as a significant
part of their learning when we looked at the impacts
of 4-H Shooting Sports on youth, parents and
volunteers. Even so, we may not think of this
program as citizenship education. In spite of that, it
is. A democratic republic like our own demands
much of its citizens. We must be involved in the
political process. We must strive to keep informed
on the issues before us. We must exercise personal
responsibility for our actions and for the shaping of
our government. We must recognize that
"government" is not an authority over us, but an
extension of us -- that it derives its powers from the
consent of the people being governed. It demands
that we make choices, exercise responsibility and
uphold a constitutional standard that places the
burdens of society on our shoulders. That is a major
set of demands, a requirement for advanced
citizenship.
What are the possibilities for citizenship education
in this curriculum? How about understanding,
analyzing and acting on public policy issues,
including informed and serious comment to
legislators at all levels? Perhaps youth could address
a current societal issue that involves firearms and
propose alternatives that make sense to them.
Perhaps they could study the history of gun control
or the second amendment or related issues. They
may want to make a personal study of the various
points of view expressed in the media and their
sources about issues related to firearms. Perhaps
they would like to sponsor a forum or debate on
issues related to shooting, firearms control, or otherareas of their choosing. Perhaps they would like to
review sources of statistical information with an eye
toward detecting bias or selection of data to make a
point. There are many issues and points of view to
be considered, weighed and acted upon for every
citizen. This is real practice.
On the other side of the citizenship coin is active
involvement at the local level. Here, too, the
program offers a multitude of possibilities. Young
people can sponsor and instruct in firearms safety
awareness meetings for other youth or adults. They
could plan and execute a shooting event where the
proceeds are used to support a local charity. They
could get involved in many areas that are outside the
shooting and firearms area as well, like roadside
cleanups, storm drain stenciling, recycling or reuse
campaigns, hazardous waste amnesty days, food
drives for local food pantries, home improvement or
building projects(e.g Habitat for Humanity), and
much more. The key is getting out into the
community and doing something substantive as a
citizen for the community in which they live.
In a time when many have all fallen victim to the
notion that nothing can be done without a
"government grant," personal responsibility and
action seem a bit out of place. But, that is exactly
what is expected of citizens in a democratic republic.
One must be responsible, informed, discriminating
(note that this is quite different from discriminatory),
and actively involved to claim the title "citizen."
Along the way, the citizen must learn how to think
and draw conclusions rather than being told what to
think and which conclusions to draw.
This is an outstanding program to develop those
elements of mature citizenship. Are you including
them either in passing or by design? If not, you
should be. It is the only way to maintain the society
so many have sacrificed to create. Thomas Jefferson
phrased the role of citizenship education like this:
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate
powers of society but the people themselves;
and if we think them not enlightened enough
to exercise their control with wholesome
discretion, the remedy is not to take it from
them but to inform their discretion."
Are we doing our part to "inform their discretion?"
My sincere hope is that we are!
Keep your powder dry!
Ron6
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Texas Agricultural Extension Service. News and Views for Shooters and Coaches, Volume 6, April-June 1997, periodical, April 1997; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1623949/m1/6/?rotate=270: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.