Rifle acumen yields a collegiate hotshot

Growing up in Kentfield, James Macmillan failed to take to any of the gentlemanly pursuits presented by his father, Hugh. Fencing, sailing, fly fishing all came and went.

Once he saw that World War II rifle, Macmillan wouldn't let up until he was old enough for the range. Finally, at age 12, he lifted that heavy wooden stock, bolted a round into the chamber and fired. The recoil nearly knocked him over, and by the time he got home, his shoulder was black and blue.

He had his hobby, and eight years later, Macmillan is the Collegiate Service Rifle Champion, as decreed by the National Rifle Association at a national tournament last summer. The Lee-Enfield has been exchanged for a modern AR-15, and at ranges from 200 to 600 yards, standing, sitting and prone, Macmillan is more accurate than any shooter in any college in the country.

Shooting is not entirely an old guys sport. There are tons of young folks involved in the NRA Jr. Marksmanship program. It teaches patience, cooperation, breath control and other skills that kids will require when they're old enough to start dating.

I don't know when schools became gun free zones, but it was after I attended college in the mid to late '70's. I didn't have one rifle under my bed in the dorm, but two. A number of students had deer rifles on campus and we were in compliance with school policies at the time.

Nowadays, that would give the poor Dean of Students a serious case of the vapors and the Maine State Police SWAT team would be in position outside the dorm. Fortunately the school would make counselors available to help troubled students and staff work through the trauma.

I'm an agnostic as to whether we have too many or too few firearms in this country. I've got all I'll ever need. I do wish more people were comfortable with and more accomplished at handling firearms though. The NRA has done some good work in reaching out and introducing newbies to guns, but could do a lot more.

I tell you, my son was sooo proud to qualify as a expert in USMC boot camp. A week of bad weather so training was cut short and it was windy. He did good on some positions/ranges then slipped. He was resigned to getting sharpshooter, so he just said “hell with it”, relaxed and enjoyed shooting on the last stage, 500 meters prone. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. 5 in the black at 500! Wow.

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