January 2013

January’s Round-Up

This will be a January we’ll reflect on in our dotage — those of us who have not yet reached it.

We’ve had a couple of remarkably warm spells with temperatures reaching into the low sixties. Wednesday and Thursday of this last week of the month promise to show us temperatures in the fifties.

The warm spells have been balanced by some stretches of very cold weather, possibly some of the coldest temperatures we’ll see this winter.

Another reason to remember the start of this year is all the noise being generated about “gun control” following the tragedy in Sandy Hook.

Make no mistake, there are forces out to disarm America. Write to your legislators, both national and local — make a noise, be heard. There’s a wealth of information out there that can be used such as: www.assaultweapon.info

As for the baying media, just remember, as goes the Second, so goes the First.

Trap & Skeet Shooting
Trap shooting at SRGC continues to grow in popularity, witness the turn-out on January 12 — 10 rounds!

The weather was great, lots of sun and mild temperatures for mid-January. There’s a video of some of the trap action at: http://tinyurl.com/bfjb2po

Some of our members are getting quite good at trap and are busting a lot of clays.

Skeet continues to plod along at a steady pace. We held our annual Maggies Drawers lucky target shoot on Dec. 23. Seventeen shooters tried not to win but John Black prevailed and took home Maggies unmentionables.

On The Legal Front
Our trial on the zoning issue has been put back until May 2nd in Plymouth Superior Court. This is the second action brought by Heritage Trail residents and hinges on whether or not we are zoned for our activities.

A Don Quixote Moment
There is a distinct possibility that the wind turbine located off the Driftway will be shutdown if abutters prevail in court.

As we all know, our property is one of the windiest places in Scituate. Just as you get setup to shoot, the wind goes from gentle zephyrs to blowing half a gale in a matter of moments.

Given that, if the wind turbine is shutdown, we have a great spot for it’s relocation on high ground south of the ranges.

Odds & Sods
The potholes in our driveway have returned. They are currently frozen, but once the weather turns warm, Fred will dig them up and dispose of them.

Our monthly Safety Course continues to attract a healthy number of citizens who need this course as part of their requirements for obtaining a firearms license.

It’s a way off yet, but Turkey Season opens the last week of April and runs for a month. Plenty of time to get your permits to go after the turkeys in the West End.

The cowboy shooters have bedded down for the winter, although some are headed off to warmer climes to shoot Winter Range, Cowtown an other western shoots.

We expect a full report when you guys and gals get back bedecked with ribbons and medals.

Chuck & Quail Shoot

We held another Chuck & Quail Shoot on Saturday January 19th. Weather-wise it was a moderately temperate day with gusting winds which occasionally blew soda spray back at the shooters as they busted a flying soda can. The nine contestants competed in four categories.


The results of the shoot are as follows:

Our Chuck & Quail shoots look simple and easy, but require the shooters to make some lightning fast decisions, as Jack Creighton found out when shooting at a popper that tossed a soda can into the air. Jack’s first shot at the popper resulted in a loud click – a misfire. Jack then proceeded to unload his second barrel at the popper again which he hit with authority and the soda can flew into the air. Unfortunately Jack had an empty gun in his hands at this point so all he could do was watch the soda can fall back to earth.

The click of the misfire can be clearly heard at the 0:31 second mark on the YouTube video at: http://tinyurl.com/by7glo3

Peter Belsan, General Manager
www.belsanbait.com
belsanbait@comcast.net

DU Game Feed

Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 2 when the Club hosts the annual Game Feed put on by Minot’s Ledge, the local Ducks Unlimited chapter. Most of the members of the chapter are Club members. As always, this event happens on Super Bowl Saturday; the day before the Super Bowl.

There will be many different types of game, fish and fowl dishes to sample. If you would like to bring your favorite dish to cook and share, the kitchen and gas grills are available.

We are told that this year there will be enough spit-roasted and pit-roasted wild hog to make Anothony Bourdain blush!

Apart from being an opportunity to taste exotic dishes, there will be raffles and auctions — all to benefit the ducks.

The food tent opens at 11:00 AM with a $10, all-you-can-eat cover charge.

So swing by the Club, enjoy some great food and help the wildlife conservation efforts of Ducks Unlimited. There’s a video of the 2012 Game Feed at: https://vimeo.com/36617404

More information can be found on the Minot’s Ledge website.

Quote Of The Month

“If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no resource left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government, and which against the usurpations of the national rulers, may be exerted with infinitely better prospect of success than against those of the rulers of an individual state. In a single state, if the persons intrusted with supreme power become usurpers, the different parcels, subdivisions, or districts of which it consists, having no distinct government in each, can take no regular measures for defense. The citizens must rush tumultuously to arms, without concert, without system, without resource; except in their courage and despair.”
    – [Federalist No. 20 excerpt (Hamilton)]

A Wish To Live Forever

I met a fairy who said she would grant me one wish.
Immediately I said, “I want to live forever.”
“Sorry,” said the fairy, “I’m not allowed to grant eternal life.”
“OK,” I said, “Then, I want to die after Congress gets its head out of its ass!”
“You crafty bastard,” said the fairy.

Quote Of The Month #2

If the 2nd Amendment only applies to muskets, then the 1st Amendment only applies to Town Criers.
    – Dave Burge — @iowahawkblog

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