PORT CLINTON, Ohio – The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) promotes marksmanship through firearms training, safety competitions and youth programs. The CMP is a federally chartered 501c-3 corporation.

“In Ohio, the CMP is based out of Camp Perry, which is an Ohio National Guard Base,” said Christine Elder, CMP communications manager. “We also have a location in Anniston, Ala., and Talladega, Ala. We have affiliated clubs all over the country where we hold sanctioned clinics and matches.”

The current CMP was created by a federal law in 1996 but it dates to 1903, Elder said. That’s when Congress and President Theodore Roosevelt created the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (NBPRP).

“They wanted to develop marksmanship skills throughout the country so they created that program to offer citizens an opportunity to participate in marksmanship events,” Elder said.

Roosevelt was an enthusiastic advocate for government action to promote marksmanship, said Gary Anderson on the CMP website. During the debates about whether to provide government support for marksmanship, Roosevelt said, “We should encourage rifle practice among schoolboys, and indeed among all classes, as well as in the military services by every means possible.” Roosevelt said practicing marksmanship was “preparation to avert war.”

Another influential lobbying force for this cause was the leadership of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), Anderson said. The NRA was formed in 1871 by New York National Guard officers who wanted to improve the poor marksmanship soldiers displayed during the Civil War. By the turn of the century, NRA leaders had decided government support was necessary in order to make real progress in achieving that objective. The NBPRP was the result.

That group’s objective was to foster national defense by promoting marksmanship training and competition among military personnel and later among civilians who could serve in the military, Anderson said. The board’s primary initial program was the National Matches.

Advocates of this legislation believed the most effective way to improve soldiers’ rifle skills was to have them use their rifles in competitions. Participation in the first National Matches was limited to active and National Guard teams, but by 1905, new legislation authorized the NBPRP to sell military rifles, ammunition and equipment to civilian rifle clubs so their members could participate in the program.

Eventually, in the 1960s, because of national gun control controversies and public questions about whether government funding of marksmanship training and competitions was justified, Congress began attempting to defund the program. Finally, in 1996, President Bill Clinton signed a federal law privatizing the CMP.

The CMP funds its programs through the sale of military surplus firearms, Elder said. Currently they offer the M1 Garand for sale.

While CMP offers a plethora of youth programs, they also have plenty of events on tap for adults. Right now, the Indoor Air Gun Range, the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center, is open on Tuesday evenings, and during the day Monday through Thursday by appointment, Elder said.

“Air rifle is open to a wide range of individuals,” Elder said. “With no recoil, air rifles are a perfect introductory firearm to new marksmen and women, a safe activity for those with disabilities and a fun way for older adults to stay active. Dedicated youth athletes are even eligible for college scholarships.

“We have several air rifles and air pistols to rent and it is a lot of fun with the electronic targets. The air guns are very quiet, and you can shoot from a bench/supported position,” she explained. “The air gun program uses pellet air gun rifles.”

However, in July and August, the big and small guns are in town for the National Matches, Elder said. There are matches for pistol, smallbore, air gun, vintage rifles, modern rifles and long-range rifles, along with clinics and schools. The National Matches have become a huge, national shooting sports festival with well over 4,500 annual participants. School students and competitors range from beginners to many of the world’s best.

“Marksmanship is a fun sport,” Elder said. “You don’t have to be athletic, you just need time and patience to come in and practice. If you have no equipment, you can come and we can get you a rental rifle to try. It is a lot of fun. Mainly you are competing against yourself so it is not like you have to be the fastest or strongest person.”

For more information visit thecmp.org or phone: (419) 635-2141.