Golf or ?

[Red Logan #12252]

Our forefathers knew that it is not enough to just have a weapon, it is

also

vital to be trained in the proper use of that weapon. In 1349, King

Edward

III of England told the citizens of London that their "skill of shooting"

was being neglected, and he proclaimed that "every one of the said city,

strong in body, at leisure times on holidays, use in their recreation bow

and arrows, or pellets or bolts, and learn and exercise the art of

shooting

... that they do not, after any manner apply themselves to the throwing of

... handball, football, cambuck, or cockfighting, nor suchlike vain plays

which have nor profit in them."

 

-John Farnam

 

****

 

In 1457, King James II of Scotland banned the game of golf from the hills

on

which it was created. He argued that golf was a danger to national

security

as it distracted his soldiers from practicing their archery.

 

His grandson, James IV, a keen golfer, lifted the ban in 1502. Eleven

years

later, in the battle of Flodden against the English, Scotland suffered its

worst ever military defeat.

 

-Wall Street Journal, 18 Aug '09

 

*****

 

In 1636 a frustrated General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony

unanimously passed an ordinance that said: "Whereas many complaints have

been made to this Court, of the greatest neglect of all sorts of people of

using the lawful and necessary means for their safety, especially in this

time of so great danger from Indians, it is therefore ordered that no

person

shall travel above one mile from his dwelling without arms; upon pain of

twelvepence for every default."

 

Being unarmed was considered negligent! Self protection was not just a

personal responsibility, it was a duty to the community! And for over a

century after the danger from hostile Indians was eliminated, there was no

suggestion that this ordinance be repealed. A century and a half later,

those people were the leaders of the armed rebellion that created the

United

States!

-John Farnam

 

****

 

A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise, I

advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives

boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind.

 

Games played with the ball and others of that nature are too violent for

the

body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the

constant companion of your walks.

 

-Thomas Jefferson to his nephew Peter Carr, August 19, 1785

 

"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not."

~Thomas Jefferson

 

****

 

Teddy Roosevelt said, while he was President, that: "We should establish

shooting galleries in all the large public and military schools, should

maintain national target ranges in different parts of the country, and

should in every way encourage the formation of [shooting] clubs throughout

all parts of the land... It is unfortunately true that the great body of

our

citizens shoot less and less as time goes on. To meet this [challenge] we

should encourage ... practice ... by every means in our power. Thus, and

not otherwise, may we be able to assist in preserving the peace of the

world. Fit to hold our own against the strong nations of the earth, our

voice for peace will carry to the ends of the earth. Unprepared and

therefore unfit, we must sit dumb and helpless to defend ourselves,

protect

others, or preserve peace. The first step -- ... to avert war if

possible,

and to be fit for war if it should come -- is to teach our men to shoot."

 

****

 

To a warrior, the golf course is a willful and deliberate misuse of a

perfectly good rifle range!

 

-Jeff Cooper

 

****

 

Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared

to

take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a

basic

purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and

sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of American,

cannot succeed with any lesser effort

 

-John Fitzgerald Kennedy

 

****

 

Piss on golf! Real Americans go to the range!