*Glad you said yur peace<G> Pay yur dues to the NRA but render unto Royal Ranger's that which *blesses and does not *curse the future, or hobble a boy. Introduceing "marksmanship" as a sport, is something I have allready done. However- to introduce "Guns as the mark of freedom" drws us into areas outside the boundries of good taste, before the boys.. Recently I "broched the subject" that a traditional view of Christians- would have us as objectors to the use of force, for reasons of "conscience" *This may be strange to this US Generation, but it was common to our Christian forefathers in all corners of the same country.. First and formost the Love of GOD and Gospel of peace would have us rely on the unseen hands of the Lord to fight our battles, even in the flesh! US involvement in WW1 and further involvement in WW2 being called a "just war" eroded the pacifistic elements in our fellowship, but the reasoning is still valid! *This morning.. I watched NRA President Charlton Heston "explain" how President Clinton is unaware of the 2nd amendment, and on and on.... *I myself have a NRA membership, and it *bothers me to have patriotisum mixed with gun ownership and political debate. These things I can only hope are discussed calmly with reason and not forced upon the boys of your Outpost. Recently a Sectinal Commander was dismissed from Royal Rangers up here for his membership in a conservitive "freeman's" group... and his strongly held *beliefs were found to be not in the intrest of Royal Rangers... Think about what you say before you speek to the boys about guns...My OP22 had a NRA shooting class and it was GREAT! *However that was also 1964! *You can teach responsibility with ropes and trust games, team building exercises... -=A=- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > In a message dated Thu, 18 May 2000 12:12:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Duane Wheeler ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > > << > << Howdy! > > <<First- Do not have the boys remember foremost the time > <<as a Royal Ranger > > <<*thier Commander brought Guns to the meeting, told war > <<stories, or went off an a tangent about personal > <<freedom and the right to arm bears! If you read some > <<trash about "gold braid" on the US Flag or that you > <<don't need to pay taxes, because you are a > <<sovern"..... *Don't do it! > > <<*At least clear it with the PARENTS FIRST! ...I also > <<suggest clearing it with Sr.Commander and *Pastor! > <<THINK! > > ******* I agree with Duane here - at least partially. We don't want to be teaching >our boy far-fetched ideas about weapons so that we sound like those militias that are >way off base (there are some that are not). However, we also don't need our boys >(I'm referring to the USA only) beleving every piece of garbage that comes out of the >media about weapons and how horrible they are. > > The truth is, ALMOST anything in the wrong hands can be used for a wrong purpose >from weapons to pencils to car keys. What we need to teach them is safety! - AND >with the parents permission - excuse the boy from that lesson if his parents don't >agree. But in that safety lesson - teach them about responsibility - and turning the >other cheek. Using a weapon should only be done in about 3 situations" > > 1. Controlled, safe, sport, i.e. target shooting. > 2. Controlled, safe, hunting - but only if you plan to use what you kill. > 3. Self defense - but ONLY as a last resort - after you've turned every cheek you >can!!!! :>) > > <<Second- *American "History" is on-going and we have > <<no high handed right to criticize another culture that > <<desires safety and security as Australia and Britain > <<does. The USA gun-owner looks a little "foolish" from > <<outside the bright bubble of American NRA influence... > > Then I guess I look foolish. I've seen news reports and newspapers from countries >outside the USA with very strict weapons control laws - and overall their crime rate >isn't any better. No criticism of their country - just facts. On the flip side, the >criticism of our country and laws needs to come from here and stay here also. As for >the NRA - they have an incredible safety program called "Eddie Eagle" that teaches >kids about safety - and responsibility - and it works. But if I'm foolish, I guess >I'll die with my Taurus 92S 9mm in one hand and my NRA Life Member card in the other >- but then, and only then, will "they" get it. > > <<Third- *Don't forget to to keep centered on the "Main > <<thing" as our mission is to make the main thing-the > <<main thing and when we get carried away to get back to > <<makeing the main thing the main thing as fast as > <<possible. > > <<We work with "Kids"--- and among all the emerging > <<minds are those that can latch onto some item or thing > <<as a *facination.. We MUST be mindful to feed GOOD > <<NEWS and the GOSPEL OF PEACE ..and not sew seeds > <<of "Combat preparedness, extremism and paramilitary > <<technology" Boys may take your "words" serious or use > <<you to fuel a secret life.. *It much better to be SAFE > <<than sorry... Use your resources and the LTC to > <<guide you in what topics to share with the group. > > I plan to. We're going to sign our boys up for a hunter safety course. When they >finish it - provided they pass - we're taking them hunting. We'll eat what we shoot >(if we get anything) and we'll have a great devotion and council fire while we chew!!! > > <<*You may think it far-fetched, what I say- > <<But to the "world" we may be seen as a Conservative > <<Christian uniformed youth group, that teaches outdoor > <<"camping" skills... and that is very close to what > <<makes the news today. On the tv show 20-20 was a > <<feature that made my mouth drop as they interviewed a > <<Youth pastor of a baptist church who led a Jewish boy > <<*volentarily in the salvation prayer.. As you watched > <<the feature- the 'slant seemed that somehow this > <<"conservative religious group" had tricked a youth > <<into renouncing his cultural heritage, his families > <<desires for him and his ethnicity... > <<-=A=- > > And that is where the real problem lies. At least with this overall message. >Christians are considered intolerant and fanatics if we try to propogate what we >believe - yet the "other side" can say anything, anytime, anywhere - and they are >still considered mainstream and tolerant. True tolerance allows all sides to have >their opinion and to voice it. When someone says I'm just an intolerant Christian, I >have to agree - like Christ, I don't tolerate the sin - however I love the sinner - >and THAT is the main thing - bringing the sinner to know Christ! > > Michael > _______ > To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC! > http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- ��ࡱ�
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