CMP Supports 4-H Shooting Sports. The CMP annually supports 4-H Shooting Sports. Below are Thank Yous from State 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinators. 

Thank you very much for the $200 donation to the Tennessee 4-H Shooting Sports Program. The funds were used to help operate the Tennessee 4-H Target Smart Camp on July 1-4, 2013 at Ridley 4-H Center in Columbia, TN. A group of 59 youth selected a discipline of study and learned that discipline for the duration of camp. Pictured is part of the shotgun instruction group at the Maury County Gun Club. Attached is a picture and flyer from the event. 4-H Target Smart Camp is:

* a 4-H activity that develops firearms safety, responsibility and life skills.

* an opportunity to participate in skill competition in specific disciplines.

* a camping adventure located in the natural environment of a modern 4-H Center.

* an opportunity to make new friends, experience adventure and accept responsibility for group living in a camp setting.

Talladega Marksmanship Park construction progressing; the Civilian Marksmanship Program project will open Spring of 2015 - By Joe Songer, AL.com - TALLADEGA, Alabama -- Construction is progressing on the Talladega Marksmanship Park, a project of the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). The $20 million state of the art shooting range is to open March or April of 2015. Construction Crews are using heavy equipment to move 600,000 cubic yards of dirt to create the state of the art shooting facility on 500 acres not far for the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega County. Read the complete article.

Local teen focuses aim on marksmanship title, Alec Patajo makes transition from martial arts to marksmanship - By Shaun Scott, Staff Writer, Puyallup Herald - For the past four years, 14-year-old Alec Patajo has been a fixture at the Paul Bunyan Rifle Club in Puyallup. That attention to detail perfecting his craft with his .22-caliber rifle has paid off. Patajo is competing in the Junior Olympic Air Rifle National Championships, which runs through June 28, in Camp Perry, Ohio. Patajo, who also is a member of the West Seattle Totems rifle team, began taking part in shooting lessons in 2010 as a 10-year-old.  Read the complete article. 

New Distinguished Shooters. The CMP extends its congratulations to the following competitors for achieving this prestigious status! The most recent shooters to earn Distinguished Badges are listed below. To view the official list of all Distinguished shooters,
visit http://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=reportDistinguishedShootersByCriteria.

Distinguished Rifleman Badge  
#2185   Harold Pate, Fort Worth, TX
#2186   Roger Lankford, Nevada, TX
#2187   Alexander Thomas, Greensburg, PA
#2188   Michael VanBelle, Mt. Joy, PA
#2189   George Cwach, Yankton, SD
#2190   Mitchell Hogg, Kennard, TX
#2191   Richard Nowicke, Beverly Hills, MI

Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge
#1563   David Gruver, Daniels, WV
#1564   John Dervis, Sheridan, IL
#1565   Roy Swearingen III, Houston, TX

PROPOSED CHANGES IN CMP PISTOL PROGRAM. The CMP Pistol Program promotes and governs U. S. bulls-eye target pistol shooting with "service pistols." This program includes the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badges, National Trophy Pistol Matches, Pistol EIC Matches, the Pistol Small Arms Firing School and CMP Games Pistol Matches. This program is revered for its time-honored traditions and it enjoys the esteem of countless pistol shooters. Nevertheless, two critical concerns have caused the CMP to consider changes in this program. First, overall program participation has declined over a period of many years. Second, many shooters and match sponsors are calling for changes to increase participation and offer more competition opportunities. In response to these concerns, the CMP Rules Committee convened a "blue ribbon" panel of pistol experts to evaluate the CMP Pistol Program and recommend possible changes. The CMP Pistol Program Review Panel includes experts who represent all aspects of competitive pistol shooting, including experienced competitors, match officials and advanced pistol armorers. The Panel has produced a comprehensive document titled CMP Pistol Program Changes that is now posted on the CMP website. This document describes the changes to the CMP Pistol Program that are being considered. The CMP invites pistol shooters, match officials and other concerned persons to study this document and forward their comments to competitions@thecmp.org. Comments should be received not later than 7 July 2014. 

The 2014 Daisy Outdoor Products Open Junior Three-Position Precision and Sporter Air Rifle Championships will be held July 7-9, at the John Q. Hammonds Convention Center in Rogers, Arkansas. This event is open to all individuals through August 31 of the year in which he or she graduates from high school or the equivalent. USA Shooting or NRA membership is not required. The fee to register is $20. To view the Match Program or to register, visit http://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=match&task=edit&match=11221. For more information, contact Denise Johnson at 800-643-3458, ext. 4317 or email djohnso@daisy.com. 

  The NRA is looking for 2014 National Matches Target Pullers Wanted (Aug 4-10) Camp Perry, OH. No Experience Necessary, Housing Provided, Must be 18 or older to apply. Visit http://competitions.nra.org/documents/pdf/compete/vol-pdf/2014TargetPullers1.pdf to apply. For more information, email  assistnra@nrahq.org or call (703) 267-1485.

ADDITIONAL SPOTS AVAILABLE - 2014 CMP Junior Rifle Camps have additional spots available!  As the result of hiring a record number of counselors this year, CMP is now able to open more camp slots for several of the 2014 camps.  All camps are one week long, three-position air rifle camps, with the exception of the Outreach Clinics and the Advanced Standing Camp. Visit the CMP website at http://thecmp.org/3p/camp.htm for more information.  

There will be an NRA/USAS/CMP Level I Air Rifle/Smallbore Rifle Coach School held in Camden, SC, August 2-3. For more information, please contact Paul L Davis at paulLdavis@charter.net.

2014 Interservice Rifle Championship Matches - The 53nd Interservice Rifle Championship offers service rifle competitions for teams and individuals representing the Armed Services, Active, Reserve and National Guard, to include ROTC and Service Academies of the United States. This event will take place 5-13 July and is hosted by the Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico, VA. Visit http://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=match&task=edit&match=11105 to register online or download the match program.