Show l for Civilians AU All during their campaign for federal firearms control the tho gun anti gang has consistently pooh pooh- the values of rifle training for civilians Their reasoning faulty at best is that as long as wo we have a stuck stack of bombs II-bombs and sonic some bombers or mis- mis missiles missiles siles to deliver them theres there's little to be gained by teaching a young man how to handle handlo a gun in ad- ad advance vance of such time timo as ho might be drafted into mil mil mil- military i ary service Vl While le this notion may be comforting to som some its it's not particularly soothing to the young soldier dodging bullets in Vietnam who must depend upon his own und and his comrades skill with witha a rifle for sur- sur survival survival vival According c to a 0 special study prepared for the tho Army by the Arthur D 1 Little research resen firm finn the soldier who stands the test hest chance chanco of sUf surviving ving that s shooting war in Vietnam is the one who learned to shoot a rifle when he be was a youngster The Tho draftee who has 11 never o e l handled a gun before does get rifle instruction in basic training but says the tho report this bri brief f course courso leaves something to be desired in equipping him for combat particularly in time timo of rapid mobilization Under a program conducted by the tho Director of Civilian Marksmanship which h som soma gunners anti would like liko to get rid of some civilian gun clubs are assisted by the tho government to promote civilian marksmanship About Americans a year receive this training through DOM affiliated clubs The rhe Arthur Little study gave total support to the program and recommended it expansion expansion sion Tho DOM graduate is not only a better shot says says the report but he be also makes a better soldier Rather than waiting to be drafted hos ho's more apt to enlist Once he gob gets in hos ho's more likely to choose n a combat comb t tunit unit which which is just where hos ho's needed Bo- Bo cause causo of his previous training tho Army's rifle in- in instructors instructors can spen spend less tine with him and moro more on recruits who have havo hUll had no previous instruction Many MauJ of the tho graduates themselves become Army Army- rifle instructors The Little report seems proof enough mi ugh that instead in- in stead of trying to discourage marksmanship by un- un unduly duly severo firearms laws wo we should bo be doing more to s see o to it that every boy learns hoW to handle a rifle properly before he reaches draft age |