Joined
·
5,371 Posts
I was fortunate enough to be involved with the DCM before it became the CMP. The DCM sold 1903 rifles in 1960 for $34 in new condition, M1 NM Rifles $115, .45 1911 for $15.00 .30 M1 rifle and carbine ammo for $.03 per round. and 1903-M1 parts for scrap metal prices. I will tell you why the subsidy was discontinued.
The primary piurpose of the DCM ewas to train young people (those under draft age) in shooting rifled arms. They were a part of the US Army iuntil the DCM was privatized in the 1980's and became the CMP. THe DCM got it's budget money directly from the US Army.
In the 1970's the DCM started paying State Adult Senior Teams expense money to attend the National Matches at Camp Perry. I attended the Match at Camp Perry in 1983 as a Mississippi State Highpower Rifle Team Member. I received $240 in travel money. I saw this practice as a potential danger to the program's appropriation. In 1984, I was at Camp Perry and had a meeting with the Director of Civilian Marksmanship. I told him, if the money allotted to the Senior Teams was not redirected to Junior Teams, there was apsossibility that the DCM could lose it's funding. What I actually said was; "If a Liberal member of Congress finds out the DCM is spending $1,500,000 on State Senior Teams, they will probably try to cut your funding." I met Col. Gilcrist in 2004 at the NRA Headquarters Building. I was taking a Piistol Class and had the opportunity to meet all the program directors in the NRA. He said, he was aware of the problem but was powerless to do anything about it in 1984.
Enter US Rep. Pete Stark of California. He attacked the DCM's use of funds and the DCM lost their funding. If the DCM changed it's policy on subsidizing teams, they would have probably not lost the funding. We would still be buying surplus firearms and ammunition from the CMP for a lot less than we are right now.
Doug
The primary piurpose of the DCM ewas to train young people (those under draft age) in shooting rifled arms. They were a part of the US Army iuntil the DCM was privatized in the 1980's and became the CMP. THe DCM got it's budget money directly from the US Army.
In the 1970's the DCM started paying State Adult Senior Teams expense money to attend the National Matches at Camp Perry. I attended the Match at Camp Perry in 1983 as a Mississippi State Highpower Rifle Team Member. I received $240 in travel money. I saw this practice as a potential danger to the program's appropriation. In 1984, I was at Camp Perry and had a meeting with the Director of Civilian Marksmanship. I told him, if the money allotted to the Senior Teams was not redirected to Junior Teams, there was apsossibility that the DCM could lose it's funding. What I actually said was; "If a Liberal member of Congress finds out the DCM is spending $1,500,000 on State Senior Teams, they will probably try to cut your funding." I met Col. Gilcrist in 2004 at the NRA Headquarters Building. I was taking a Piistol Class and had the opportunity to meet all the program directors in the NRA. He said, he was aware of the problem but was powerless to do anything about it in 1984.
Enter US Rep. Pete Stark of California. He attacked the DCM's use of funds and the DCM lost their funding. If the DCM changed it's policy on subsidizing teams, they would have probably not lost the funding. We would still be buying surplus firearms and ammunition from the CMP for a lot less than we are right now.
Doug
