Weapons still going to youth programs,
newspaper says http://www.boston.com/dailynews/101/region/Weapons_still_going_to_youth_p:.shtml
By Associated Press, 4/10/2000 16:19
Since the tragedy at Columbine High School almost a year ago, the Clinton
administration has zealously pursued efforts to keep guns away from children.
But the administration has continued to support junior marksmanship
programs through the sale of surplus U.S. Army rifles, the Connecticut Post
reported Monday.
Members of affiliated gun clubs have been able to purchase surplus weapons
at discount prices through the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice
and Firearms Safety.
The money raised through the sales is used to sponsor marksmanship
programs and shooting contests around the nation.
Between 1996 and 1998, the U.S. Army turned over more than 56,000 rifles
mostly World War II-era M-1 Garands with an estimated value of $19 million to
the nonprofit organization, the Bridgeport, Conn., newspaper reported.
''This is a bad policy. It really is an insult for the government to make these
guns available,'' said Kim Harrison, coordinator for the Connecticut
Collaborative for Education Against Gun Violence.
Congress established the nonprofit corporation in 1996 to take over the
Civilian Marksmanship Program from the U.S. Army. The program started in
1903 as a way to encourage individuals to develop marksmanship skill to
prepare them in the event they were called to serve during wartime.
Although the Army no longer administers the program, it has not ended its
involvement. The Army and other defense agencies had provided more than
$19 million in support as of Sept. 30, 1998, according to a General
Accounting Office report.
At that time, the Army had transferred more than 56,000 firearms to the
corporation and was storing more than 230,000 M-1s, over 35,000 .22-caliber
rifles and more than 4,000 other firearms for potential transfer to the
corporation.
The corporation said it sold 22,584 firearms between Oct. 1, 1996, and Sept.
30, 1998. Of those, 74 percent were sold to individuals and 26 percent to
some of its 1,033 affiliated clubs.
Over 72 percent of all firearms sold were M-1s, a semiautomatic rifle. The
corporation charged between $400 and $750 for each rifle, depending on its
condition.
James Scheibeler, youth director for the Civilian Marksmanship Program in
Connecticut, said that the program promotes safety, which is at the heart of
recent calls to end gun violence.
Scheibeler said the students he coaches learn discipline and self-control, and
gain self-confidence.
''There is no doubt in my mind that it has saved lives,'' Scheibeler said.
Bob Crook, director of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen, said that when
surplus guns are sold, buyers must pass a federal background check, be U.S.
citizens and belong to an affiliated club. He also said the surplus rifles are not
the kind used in crimes.
''Criminals don't use expensive guns. They can buy semiautomatics for a
couple of hundred dollars,'' he said. ''Plus, these are 3 feet long and heavy.''
The program came under attack two years ago in the Senate, where Sen.
Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., tried to block the transfer of surplus rifles to the
program. He said the transfers went against a federal policy that states
surplus firearms may be sold only for scrap.
''The level of gun violence in America is already high enough without putting a
couple hundred thousand M-1 rifles into general circulation,'' Lautenberg said.
The Senate voted 71 to 29 against Lautenberg's proposal, which would have
repealed the federal charter for the nonprofit corporation.
Harrison said she would encourage the federal government to adopt a similar
policy as Connecticut, which does not sell state surplus weapons to private
citizens.
Harrison also rejected the argument that selling the surplus guns promotes
safety since anyone purchasing a gun in Connecticut is already required to go
through a training program.
''Promoting safety through discounts to teens is really ridiculous,'' she said.
newspaper says http://www.boston.com/dailynews/101/region/Weapons_still_going_to_youth_p:.shtml
By Associated Press, 4/10/2000 16:19
Since the tragedy at Columbine High School almost a year ago, the Clinton
administration has zealously pursued efforts to keep guns away from children.
But the administration has continued to support junior marksmanship
programs through the sale of surplus U.S. Army rifles, the Connecticut Post
reported Monday.
Members of affiliated gun clubs have been able to purchase surplus weapons
at discount prices through the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice
and Firearms Safety.
The money raised through the sales is used to sponsor marksmanship
programs and shooting contests around the nation.
Between 1996 and 1998, the U.S. Army turned over more than 56,000 rifles
mostly World War II-era M-1 Garands with an estimated value of $19 million to
the nonprofit organization, the Bridgeport, Conn., newspaper reported.
''This is a bad policy. It really is an insult for the government to make these
guns available,'' said Kim Harrison, coordinator for the Connecticut
Collaborative for Education Against Gun Violence.
Congress established the nonprofit corporation in 1996 to take over the
Civilian Marksmanship Program from the U.S. Army. The program started in
1903 as a way to encourage individuals to develop marksmanship skill to
prepare them in the event they were called to serve during wartime.
Although the Army no longer administers the program, it has not ended its
involvement. The Army and other defense agencies had provided more than
$19 million in support as of Sept. 30, 1998, according to a General
Accounting Office report.
At that time, the Army had transferred more than 56,000 firearms to the
corporation and was storing more than 230,000 M-1s, over 35,000 .22-caliber
rifles and more than 4,000 other firearms for potential transfer to the
corporation.
The corporation said it sold 22,584 firearms between Oct. 1, 1996, and Sept.
30, 1998. Of those, 74 percent were sold to individuals and 26 percent to
some of its 1,033 affiliated clubs.
Over 72 percent of all firearms sold were M-1s, a semiautomatic rifle. The
corporation charged between $400 and $750 for each rifle, depending on its
condition.
James Scheibeler, youth director for the Civilian Marksmanship Program in
Connecticut, said that the program promotes safety, which is at the heart of
recent calls to end gun violence.
Scheibeler said the students he coaches learn discipline and self-control, and
gain self-confidence.
''There is no doubt in my mind that it has saved lives,'' Scheibeler said.
Bob Crook, director of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen, said that when
surplus guns are sold, buyers must pass a federal background check, be U.S.
citizens and belong to an affiliated club. He also said the surplus rifles are not
the kind used in crimes.
''Criminals don't use expensive guns. They can buy semiautomatics for a
couple of hundred dollars,'' he said. ''Plus, these are 3 feet long and heavy.''
The program came under attack two years ago in the Senate, where Sen.
Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., tried to block the transfer of surplus rifles to the
program. He said the transfers went against a federal policy that states
surplus firearms may be sold only for scrap.
''The level of gun violence in America is already high enough without putting a
couple hundred thousand M-1 rifles into general circulation,'' Lautenberg said.
The Senate voted 71 to 29 against Lautenberg's proposal, which would have
repealed the federal charter for the nonprofit corporation.
Harrison said she would encourage the federal government to adopt a similar
policy as Connecticut, which does not sell state surplus weapons to private
citizens.
Harrison also rejected the argument that selling the surplus guns promotes
safety since anyone purchasing a gun in Connecticut is already required to go
through a training program.
''Promoting safety through discounts to teens is really ridiculous,'' she said.
