Massad Ayoob - A MOST RESTORATIVE APPLESEED

I hit Backwoods Home’s turf – Gold Beach, Oregon – feeling like I had one foot on bronchial pneumonia and the other on a banana peel. Thanks to some powerful antibiotics, Lenie Duffy’s incomparable Jewish Mother’s Chicken Soup, and a bunch of good people, I left feeling a whole lot better.

The weekend saw Backwoods Home host what I’m told is the largest Appleseed event in the history of Oregon, and one of the largest ever on the west coast. Many thanks to Ted Fitzgerald, who graciously donated the use of the range where it took place. In between shooting relays and Revolutionary War history lessons, shooters could just face away from the firing line and enjoy the awesome view from about 1500 feet.

Attendees ranged in age from seven to seventy-seven. It was pleasing to see many women, and many youngsters, on the line. Appleseed had sent a strong contingent of instructors, many of whom drove hundreds of miles to get there. Shoot Boss Carol Wylie flew in from Illinois to ramrod the long firing line, with the usual Appleseed emphasis on safety. Her husband Philip, a longtime Appleseed stalwart, reminded attendees of the statement attributed to Yamamoto during World War II: that it would have been insane to invade the mainland United States because there would be a rifleman behind every blade of grass. Appleseed is dedicated to restoring America’s status as A Nation of Riflemen.

Dave Duffy shot the event, along with all his kids. Son Robbie was one of nine who shot well enough to win the coveted Rifleman’s Patch. Good show, kid!

For many, it was their first Appleseed. They appreciated being with like-minded people from across our nation’s generations, expressing a core element of American freedom. Rifles ranged from a bolt-action Mossberg .22 match gun from yesteryear, in the hands of a determined eighteen year old, to a 7.62mm NATO HK 91 or clone thereof. The predominant rifle at the event was the .22 autoloader, with the Ruger 10/22 by far the most popular, but with Marlins and Remingtons also in evidence, along with some AR15 platforms in .22 LR. The single top score was shot by a young man who had bought his AR15 format Smith & Wesson M&P15 .22 just a few weeks before. He nailed a fine tally of 244 out of 250 possible points.

Seeing this sort of thing refreshes the soul of any member of the gun culture. Heck, for me, it was almost as restorative as Lenie’s chicken soup! For more information on Appleseed, go to: http://appleseedinfo.org/

Massad Ayoob

Massad F. Ayoob is an internationally known firearms and self-defense instructor.

Massad Ayoob has authored several books and more than 1,000 articles on firearms, combat techniques, self-defense, and legal issues, and has served in an editorial capacity for Guns Magazine, American Handgunner, Gun Week, and Combat Handguns.

Massad Ayoob was former Vice Chairman of the Forensic Evidence Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), and is believed to be the only non-attorney ever to hold this position.

http://massadayoobgroup.com/

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