The ORA's Sharpshooter - Spring 2023

What the ORA stands for

The Oklahoma Rifle Association will support the firearms community in the state of Oklahoma by:

Defending the individual’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America.

Serving as the official NRA affiliate for the state of Oklahoma

Representing the firearms and shooting communities to our elected officials Promoting and providing for the safe enjoyment of firearms through competitions, matches, training, and other organized activities within the state.

Collaborating with and supporting firearms-related clubs, organizations, and manufacturers to benefit the state

executive committee

President

Mark Vaughan president@oklahomarifle.org

treasurer

Charles Meloy treasurer@oklahomarifle.org

vice-President

David Gaskill vicepresident@oklahomarifle.org

secretary

Position Currently Open secretary@oklahomarifle.org

contact us

Oklahoma Rifle Association

1530 N. Harrison Box 333 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-374-9262

For Sharpshooter Related Inquiries: outreach@oklahomarifle.org

For General Inquiries: hello@oklahomarifle.org

From the President

Greetings!

April 2023 was significant in the history of your ORA. Governor Stitt proclaimed April 3 as NRA and ORA day, the first state to set aside a day in recognition of the NRA and State affiliate, showing that Oklahoma once again is leading the way in supporting and preserving our second amendment

Also on that day past ORA president, WWII Marine veteran, NRA instructor, and highly decorated marksman, James White, was honored as veteran of the week by our Oklahoma state legislature You can read more about this remarkable person in this issue

Finally, the ORA board of directors hosted a NRA / ORA event for our elected officials with range time and a reception This allowed us to speak about our future vision and how elected leaders can support our thriving firearm community and continue to protect our precious second amendment

Needless to say, it has been a whirlwind since I reported to the membership in the Winter Sharpshooter- and all great things. But a great start requires a greater follow through.

Membership is growing and the core team that has worked tirelessly is needing your help! Please look at our call for volunteers and sign up. This is an exciting time to continue building the ORA into Oklahoma's recognized champion for firearms.

We've got much work to do!

Honoring Bill Brewster

Bill K. Brewster (b. November 8, 1941, d. October 3, 2022) will be remembered for his lengthy and dedicated service to our Country and State as a veteran (USAR 1966-71), an Oklahoma State Representative from the 49th district (1984-90) and a US Congressman from the 3rd District (1991-97). Bill was a strong supporter of our 2nd Amendment freedoms, serving as director for the National Rifle Association Suzie Brewster, Bill’s wife of nearly 60 years, and daughter Karel continue to carry on the fight to support our freedoms and enjoyment of the outdoors.

The ORA Needs You

Help us keep the work of the ORA going strong! The following are open volunteer positions that are available! If you have a few hours to spare, we need them! If interested please reach out to president@oklahomarifle.org.

secretary

10+ Hrs / month

The secretary serves as an officer on the board and in the executive team This position represents the ORA in an official capacity, works with and as a member of the executive team to organize leadership efforts and events

Refer to the bylaws for a complete set of duties, some of those include:

Correspondence for the ORA

Notification of Meetings to Board Members

Keep record of the Board of Directors and the Association

membership coordinators 5+ Hrs / month

Membership coordinators work with individuals and clubs They communicate with and visit clubs to increase ORA awareness and coordinate with the executive team to provide feedback on membership activities

Duties include:

Visiting clubs around the state to promote the ORA

Representing the ORA at shows (ie: Wanenmacher, NRA Annual Show in Dallas, other shows)

Representing the ORA at events

fundraising coordinator 5+ Hrs / month

The fundraising coordinator is responsible for setting up activities and events that raise awareness, support and funding for the ORA.

Duties include:

Arranging auctions, raffles, give-aways, and other fundraising activities during ORA events

Organizing fundraising activities and events

Coordinating with donors, clubs, sponsors on donations

Reporting and working with the treasurer on donations

The ORA Needs You

Event Calendar coordinator

5+ Hrs / month

The event calendar manager works with our outreach team and other board members on the events that need to be posted on our public event calendar

Duties:

Coordinate with ORA and others to put together the ORA event list

Post events on the ORA’s Google calendar

Send event list to Outreach Director for publication in the Sharpshooter or for social media or email outreach

advertising coordinators 2 Hrs / week

Advertising coordinators help the ORA find advertisers for the website and Sharpshooter

Duties:

Coordinate with ORA and others to put together the ORA event list

Post events on the ORA’s Google calendar

Send event list to Outreach Director for publication in the Sharpshooter or for social media or email outreach

sharpshooter contributors 5+ Hrs / month

Contributors for the Sharpshooter help the ORA develop content for our annual publication.

Duties:

Writing articles about clubs, events, and various ORA related topics. Work with the Outreach Director on needed content

Work with editors on content edits

Some travel if desired

Some photography if desired

By Amber Parrow, Outreach for the ORA

Rarer than a Superbowl Ring

Yesterday I drove nearly two hours to have a cup of coffee with James. I would’ve driven five or more knowing what I know now of his service, achievements, and contributions. Even as I read through his memoir from the battle of Okinawa during WWII, I realize that throughout his life he found himself on the tail… that special place on the bell curve reserved for the rarities that are beyond normal occurrence He describes one of the awards he brought home from Camp Perry

as rarer than a Super Bowl Ring, a super athlete if you will in the world of competitive shooting. I’m here to tell you it is not the award that is the rarity, but rather the individual.

Always a Marine

At 16 years of age Jim graduated high school and tried his hand at college and decided it was not right for him at the time; so he

James White is a WWII veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, Four time Winner of the President's Hundred, NRA Instructor and former ORA President On April 3, 2023, he received a commendation from Governor Stitt for his outstanding achievements to the Nation, State, and the ORA.

joined the Marines. This was during the years of WWII and Jim was sent to war Before he had turned 20, Jim finished his service, was a Marine veteran and purple heart recipient

When he returned home, he spoke to the college dean to see if he could resume his education, because he was now 19 and looking to establish his career The dean’s response was, “Why? You dropped out your first year” Explaining his service as a Marine was all it took to be reinstated Jim finished his education and went to work for Haliburton as an engineer, settling down in Duncan with his wife and children

WWII

In his war memoir, Jim explains that his service as a Marine was not typical. The Sixth Marine Division was a rifle unit, deployed to the front lines. They were the 1 in 20 in war that experienced hand-to-hand combat, that heard the snap of a bullet as it flew by, and subsequently are the ones who were the tip of the spear Jim was wounded during his time in Okinawa, not once but three times He said that you could be wounded a couple times and nothing happens, but it’s the third time when they give you a Purple Heart

President's 100

Jim didn’t start competitive shooting until he went to his first regional match in 1954 Since that time he made 17 trips to Camp Perry, competing as a civilian He won the distinguished marksman award and made the President’s 100 four times. This designation is given to the top 100 shooters at the matches at Camp Perry, recognized by the President of the United States. This award is described as rarer than winning a Super Bowl Ring. Jim told me that there was a point in his years of competitive shooting

that if he could do it, he would win it, and for someone who made the President’s 100, that is not an exaggerated statement

ORA Service

Jim also had a significant part in our own Oklahoma Rifle Association history as a longstanding secretary and later president. He joined the ORA in 1959 and served as secretary from 1961-1970. In ’68, he told me that the NRA sent a letter to its members about joining the ORA The result was Jim and his wife spending every evening for the next three years working for the ORA and processing applications It grew from a few hundred to two thousand in that time

Naturally Jim needed a sabbatical from the ORA and competitive shooting, only to return in 1980 In 1988, the ORA needed rejuvenation and in his own words, “I was conned into being President” In his time as President, he and a friend wanted to improve communications to the membership and that is when the

cont from page 9

Sharpshooter, the official newsletter of the ORA, was born.

NRA Rifle Instructor

Jim told me that he was a NRA Rifle Instructor, running two courses a year with 20 students in attendance and that he did that over the course of 25 years After doing the math, that is at least 1000 individuals he trained on the range He told me most of these students were guys, but a few women would also join in on the fun. One memorable set of students he mentioned were six nuns who came from various states in the upper Midwest I think I was just a little disappointed when he told me they did not wear their habits, but rather an outfit more conducive to training Habit or not, it is a reminder that the shooting sports are for anyone, including nuns!

Celebrating a Rarity

When I told Jim of the intentions of my visit, to feature him in the Sharpshooter, he was a little bit taken aback He reached out to us so that his memories of WWII, the ORA, the President’s 100 would not be lost He was not looking for accolades or recognition, a rare quality in and of itself All he wanted was that the knowledge and history would not be forgotten

Part of our work at the ORA is to remember and preserve the legacy of our members and their contributions and achievements to the nation, state, and local communities It is an honor to feature Jim’s story and recognize the rarity of a living WWII veteran, an individual who has been on the front lines and recipient of the Purple Heart, recognize the distinguished marksman and honor of achieving the President’s 100, and an individual who has given back to the firearm community through decades of service

However it is the character, grit, and integrity that fuels these sorts of accomplishments and service, and that is the rare gift we possess with our oldest ORA member, James White

Please see Page 28 for one of many of James' written works that have been published in the Sharpshooter and other publications

veteran of the week

On behalf of his father, Douglas White accepted the special commendation for James White, veteran of the week at the state capital during the April 3rd legislative session When we shared James' story with our connections at the capitol, there was much enthusiasm to put together this special honor All of us at the ORA are thrilled to have one of our past presidents and current members duly recognized in this way

James, thank you for your service to our country, the ORA, the NRA, and to countless individuals!

State Convention

We're getting ready for the 2023 State Convention and hope to see you there! Price is $25 per person to cover the cost of a catered lunch Bring your firearm related items to sell and trade for our members swap meet Donations to participate are appreciated! This year includes:

Guest Speaker

Luncheon

Swap Meet

Live Auction Email events@oklahomarifleorg

Please RSVP by August 1 using one of the options below

Online at www.oklahomarifle.org/state-convention

Or mail a completed registration form to the following

(please include $25 / person if you are staying for the luncheon)

Oklahoma Rifle Association

1530 N. Harrison, Box 333 Shawnee, OK 74804

Are you wanting to register additional people? Yes / No

How Many?

Are you wanting to include lunch in your RSVP? Yes / No

(please include $25 per person in your RSVP)

The ORA board has some bylaw changes to present to the membership for a vote at the annual meeting on August 12, 2023 Please review these changes Additional detail on these amendment proposals can be found on our website at wwwoklahomarifleorg/2023bylawchanges

Members must be present at the meeting to vote

Reason for the Change

There is no definition, description of the association, or corporation type listed in the document.

Proposed Solution

Add paragraphs to the beginning of the document before Article I.

Define the name as Oklahoma Rifle Association, Inc per the incorporation certificate Add the Oklahoma non-profit type corporation Also add any other names that are allowed to be used in the rest of the document Propose “ORA” and “Association”

Define the principal and any other office locations as to be defined by the Board of Directors

Bylaw Change

Proposed document under title before Article I: The name of this organization is the Oklahoma Rifle Association, Inc. It may be referred to as the “ORA” or the “Association” in these bylaws. The ORA is organized as a private nonprofit Oklahoma corporation in accordance with Oklahoma law.

The principal office of the ORA shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Additional offices may also be located throughout Oklahoma as determined by the Board of Directors.

The Executive Committee is not clearly defined. Reason for the Change

Bylaw Change

Add the following to Article IV: In Article IV, clearly define the Executive Committee to be comprised of the Officers and the Executive Director, if there is one per III2B Move III3E to this new section Remove the weak existing definition from II4B The Officers in the Committee have voice and vote, but the Executive Director has voice, but no vote.

proposed bYlaw changes

Clearly state that the duties of the Executive Committee include the day-to-day operation of the Association. Move existing III.6.E to this new section. Move first sentence of II.2.G to this new section. Update II.2.G to mention that the Executive Committee reviews and recommends new fee schedules per this new section.

Current Article IV: [No paragraph C.]

Proposed Article IV: [Add new paragraph C:]

C The Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Officers and the Executive Director, if there is one per III2B The voting members of the Executive Committee shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer The Executive Director is a non‐voting member of the Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall conduct day-to-day operations of the Association The Executive Committee shall have the power to meet and conduct Association and Board of Directors’ business in cases of special problems, emergencies, or when timeliness does not permit the full Board of Directors to meet The Executive Committee shall annually review and propose all fee schedules and make recommendations to the Board of Directors [Note: The numbering of this paragraph may change if Bylaw Amendment Proposal 7 and/or 8 are approved]

Current III3E:

E. The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall constitute the voting members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Director would be a non‐voting member of the Executive Committee.

Proposed III.3.E: Delete E in its entirety.

Current II.4.B:

B. All members in good standing shall have the privilege of participating in the State Convention, including voting for the President, Vice‐President, Secretary, and Treasurer who shall comprise the Executive Committee

Proposed II4B:

B All members in good standing shall have the privilege of participating in the State Convention, including voting for the President, Vice‐President, Secretary, and Treasurer

executive committee definition update (cont.)

Current III6E:

E The Executive Committee shall have the power to meet and conduct Association and Board of Directors’ business in cases of special problems, emergencies, or when timeliness does not permit the full Board of Directors to meet

Proposed III6E: [Delete E in its entirety]

Current II.2.G:

G. The Executive Committee shall annually review all fee schedules and make recommendations to the ORA Board of Directors. Upon approval of the Executive Committee’s recommendation, by a two‐ thirds majority of the ORA Board of Directors, the fee schedule will be submitted to the general membership for final approval.

Proposed II.2.G: G. The Board of Directors shall review the annual fee schedule recommendation for the upcoming year prepared by the Executive Committee, and, by a two‐thirds majority of the Board of Directors, will present the fee schedule to the general membership for final approval

Reason for the Change

Regarding III.1.A - last sentence: "The Treasurer must be a CPA or there must be an annual audit."

It is not always possible to have a Treasurer who is a CPA, and formal audits can be quite expensive. We can delete this requirement, but we need to have oversight of the finances in order to ensure compliance with these bylaws, state and federal law, and good practices Also, the financial books should be reviewed independently, whether the Treasurer is a CPA or not

Delete the last sentence of III1A

Add a section to Article IV entitled Financial Review Committee

The purpose of the committee is to conduct a review of the annual financial statement This committee is to be composed of three ORA Members appointed by the President and approved by the Board The current Treasurer is not allowed to be a member of this committee. This committee will prepare and maintain a list of review topics to be used during the annual review.

Bylaw Change

Financial Review committee

Bylaw Change

proposed bYlaw changes

financial review committee (cont.)

Bylaw Change

This list of review topics, and any changes thereto, will be presented to and approved by the Board before the review is conducted Annually, this committee will conduct and complete a financial review by the first quarter of the following year. The results of the review are to be presented to the Board for review and approval.

Current III.1.A:

The officers of this Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The officers shall be elected by the voting members as specified in Article II. Officers will be elected for two year terms. The President and Secretary to be elected in even numbered years and serve consecutive terms. The Vice President and Treasurer to be elected in odd numbered years and serve consecutive terms Officers shall take office upon adjournment of the State Convention and shall hold such office until his or her successor is properly elected, or appointed and qualified The Treasurer must be a CPA or there must be an annual audit

Proposed III1A:

The officers of this Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer The officers shall be elected by the voting members as specified in Article II Officers will be elected for two year terms The President and Secretary to be elected in even numbered years and serve consecutive terms The Vice President and Treasurer to be elected in odd numbered years and serve consecutive terms Officers shall take office upon adjournment of the State Convention and shall hold such office until his or her successor is properly elected, or appointed and qualified.

Current Article IV: [No paragraph C.]

Proposed Article IV: [Add new paragraph C.]

C. Financial Review Committee. The purpose of the committee is to conduct a review of the annual financial statement. This committee is to be composed of three ORA Members appointed by the President and approved by the Board. Neither the current Treasurer nor the Treasurer of the fiscal year being reviewed is allowed to be a member of this committee This committee shall prepare and maintain a list of review topics to be used during the annual review This list of review topics, and any chages thereto, shall be presented to and approved by the Board before the review is conducted Annually, this committee shall conduct and complete a financial review by the end of the first quarter of the following year The results of the review shall be presented to the Board for review and approval [Note: The numbering of this paragraph may change if Bylaw Amendment Proposal 4 and/or 8 is approved]

standing committee

Reason for the Change

Regarding Article IV, Standing Committees

The only such committee defined is a Long Range Planning Committee This is really the job of the Board and should come and go as needed to perform long term planning When membership is low, it is extremely difficult to populate and conduct such a standing committee

Proposed Solution

Delete the Long Range Planning Committee, IV.A.

Add to III.6: The Board of Directors shall be responsible for long range planning in order to enhance and develop the ORA and its goals. If the Board feels it needs to stand up a committee to assist with that task, it may do so.

Bylaw Changes

Current section IV:

A. Long Range Planning Committee. Upon assuming office, the President shall name a chairman and such number of committee members as he/she deems necessary to the Long Range Planning Committee This committee will be charged with developing a long range, 5‐year plan for enhancement and development of the state association and its goals Such plan is to be submitted annually to the President who may present it to the general membership B The President is empowered to create such other committees as he/she believes necessary for the betterment of the Association

Proposed IV: [Delete current A Renumber remaining paragraph]

A The President is empowered to create such other committees as he/she believes necessary for the betterment of the Association [Note: The numbering of this paragraph may change if Bylaw Amendment Proposal 4 and/or 7 is approved]

Current III.6:

Duties of the Board of Directors: [No current paragraph F.]

Proposed III.6:

Duties of the Board of Directors: [Add new paragraph F.]

F. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for long range planning in order to enhance and develop the ORA and its goals. If the Board feels it needs to stand up a committee to assist with that task, it may do so. [Note: The numbering of this paragraph may change if Bylaw Amendment Proposal 4 is approved]

Reason for the Change

Bi-Law Changes

There are several grammar and/or punctuation errors throughout the document

Article I, section 2, I - “individual” should be “individuals”

Article II, section 2, F - “in incurred” should be “be incurred”

Article III, section 2, B - Poorly worded paragraph Reword, with no change in meaning

Article III, section 3, C - “all meeting” should be “all meetings.”

Article V, section 4 - “Roberts” should be “Robert’s.”

Article VI - The sections should not be indented. Remove the indent.

Article VI, section 1 - “an approved” should be “approval.”

Article I, section 2, I - Change “individual” to “individuals.”

Article II, section 2, F - Change “in incurred” to “be incurred.”

Current III.2.B:

B. The President may at his or her discretion nominate an Executive Director. The nomination to be confirmed by a majority of the ORA Board of Directors present at a regular or special meeting The Executive Director to perform duties as specified by the Board of Directors The position of Executive Director to be an “at will” position The Executive Director to serve as a non‐voting member of both the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors

Proposed III.2.B:

B The President may at his or her discretion nominate an Executive Director The nomination shall be confirmed by a majority of the ORA Board of Directors present at a regular or special meeting The Executive Director performs duties as specified by the Board of Directors The position of Executive Director is an “at will” position The Executive Director serves as a non‐voting member of both the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors

Article III, section 2, B - Change “to serve” to “serves.”

Article III, section 3, C - “all meeting” should be “all meetings.”

Article IV, A - “Such plan” should be “This plan.”

Article V, section 4 - “Roberts” should be “Robert’s.”

Article VI - The sections should not be indented. Remove the indent.

The ORA is Making History

We did not know one meeting with Oklahoma legislators would lead to such a historic day. That's exactly how it happened. Thanks to the work of NRA State Rep Travis Couture Lovelady and Karel Brewster, we were connected to lawmakers that were ready and willing to support the rejuvenated efforts and leadership of the ORA

ORA President, Mark Vaughan, went to the capitol to accept the Governor's newly minted proclamation that April 3 was now NRA and ORA day in Oklahoma

After the day's legislative session, lawmakers were invited to a meet and greet hosted by the ORA board to get to know our organization better Wayne LaPierre even recorded a special message commemorating the day for the NRA and ORA

However, a day such as this cannot be celebrated without a little bit of fun, and so the training division at the Oklahoma City Gun Club brought out a team of Range Safety Officers and opened multiple ranges

On April 3, 2023, Governor Kevin Stitt proclamed it NRA / ORA day This is the first time a state has shown this type of support for the Second Amendment and Second Amendment civil rights advocacy groups such as the NRA and ORA

The ORA is Making History

There are many to thank, including Suzi Rouse and the numerous volunteers at the Oklahoma City Gun Club, the Oklahoma Rifle Association board, as well as all the state, county, and local elected officials who came out

The ORA is Making History

Whereas, the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) was originally founded in 1871 for the purpose of serving as America's national organization dedicated to the patriotic endeavor of training civilians in the use of military arms so as to enable patriotic citizens to be fully prepared to come to the defense of their country in times of war and national crisis; and

Whereas, the NRA is America's longest standing civil rights organization; together with more than five million members, the NRA are pro-defenders of history's patriots and are diligent protectors of the second amendment; and

Whereas, the Oklahoma Rifle Association (ORA), with eight hundred members and growing, is the official NRA Oklahoma-affiliate for the State of Oklahoma; and

Whereas, the NRA and ORA, representing the firearms and shooting community in Oklahoma, promotes and provides for the safe enjoyment of firearms through competitions, matches, training, and other organized activities within the state; and

Whereas, the NRA and ORA collaborates with and supports firearm-related cubs, organizations, and manufacturers to benefit the state; and

Whereas, in recognition of its significant contributions to the state;

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the state of Oklahoma to be affixed. Done at the Capitol, in the City of Oklahoma City, this thirty-first day of March, in the Year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty-three and of the State of Oklahoma in the one-hundred and fifteenth year

Now Therefore I, Governor J. Kevin Stitt, do hereby proclaim April 3, 2023 as National Rifle Association and Oklahoma Rifle Association Day in the State of Oklahoma.

By Jim Supica, wwwgunheritageorg

Gun Auction Buying Tips (Part 2)

Read and Understand the Terms

Auctions that have a flyer or a catalog will usually have a list of the Terms of Sale Read them, understand them, believe them, and bid accordingly In addition to showing whether the sale is absolute, there are a number of specific things you should heed:

Guarantee of description (if any)

This applies primarily to the written descriptions in catalog sales, but also usually applies to anything the auctioneer may say about an item being sold The terms will tell you to what extent the auction house will stand behind their description of the guns

Jim Supica is well known for his expertise of firearms as the editor of the Standard Catalogue of Firearms and having served as the Director of Museums for the NRA until he retired in 2020 Jim has graciously provided the ORA access to his archives The following is the second in a 3 part series on his Gun Auction Buying Tips You can learn more of Jim and read more of his work at wwwgunheritagecom

Supica Writes

being sold. A common provision among cataloged firearms descriptions is to guarantee the portion of the description in bold face only For example, a gun might be listed as follows:

Colt Single Action Army - Cavalry model with "US" markings intact Excellent condition with 98% original finish

In that case, if after you bought the gun it turned out to be a Uberti copy, the auction house would generally allow a return for refund However, if you decide the US markings are phony, and the gun is refinished, the auction house is not obligated to make any adjustment, and you're stuck with it

While some of the better auction houses will accommodate a good customer who finds an obvious problem with the non-guaranteed part of the description after the sale, none of them want to argue the difference between 90% vs. 95% finish, and will hold you to the exact terms of the sale.

"As

is Where is"

This means that there is no guarantee of the item's description or authenticity whatsoever You buy it exactly as you find it, the sale is final when the hammer falls and you are contractually bound to pay your bid price

Buyer's Premium

The high bidder pays this additional percentage added on to the gavel price after the high bidder pays this additional percentage added on to the gavel price after

the sale. Fifteen percent is common at the high end, color catalog, gun auction houses. This means if you are the winning bidder at $1,000, your actual purchase price will be $1,150 Also, the terms will generally disclose how much sales tax will be charged You need to keep these add-ons in mind when deciding the maximum you are willing to bid for an item

Removal of Items

The terms will sometimes have a provision for when the item must be removed For most items at a gun auction, this isn't much of a problem, but if you're bidding on an oversized gun safe located in the basement of a gun shop that's being liquidated on site, it can be a serious concern. Also, if you are having a gun shipped by the auctioneer, understand the procedure and charge for the shipping. While it's less common than it used to be, some of the high end auction houses used to contract out the shipping to firms that charged very steep prices.

Method of payment

The terms will specify how you can pay Cash is nearly always accepted Credit cards may or may not be, and sometimes will have a service charge added (prohibited by the credit card company, but done by some auctioneers nonetheless) If you are planning to pay by check, it's always a good idea to contact the auctioneer well in advance to determine what their policy is on accepting checks as some will require pre-approval

continued from page 19

The Auctioneer is Working for the Seller

His job is to get the most for the seller Nearly all auctioneers get paid a percentage of the gavel price, so the more an item brings, the more he makes Many auctioneers buy items themselves for resale at their auctions A smart auctioneer will understand that bidders will be more enthusiastic, and bid more in the end, he's fair to them as well, but understand where his interests lie. If you must have a particular item, you might not want to let the auctioneer know the level of your enthusiasm ahead of time A less-than-scrupulous auctioneer may drain your wallet in such circumstances

Inspect the Gun Ahead of Time

This is essential There is nearly always a preview period before the sale Show up then and do a detailed inspection of not only the specific guns you're interested in, but also any guns that you might buy if they sell for bargain prices Bring a strong flashlight, bore-light, magnifying glass, and any other tools you'd use to inspect a gun at a gun show Ask permission before removing grips or any other disassembly or manipulation of a firearm (including dry-firing or working the mechanism)

Do Your Homework Before the Sale

Research the market value of the guns you're interested in before the sale. Compare prices at gun shops, online, and in publications like Gun List It's not at all uncommon to see a used gun sell at auction for significantly more than the bidder could have bought it for new at the local gun shop. Use your copy of the Standard Catalog of Firearms and other reference books, and don't be shy about

bringing them to auction with you, in case a potential bargain comes up

PIck Up the Crumbs & Watch for the Plums

I've had good success buying common lower value guns at fancy high-dollar auctions In this situation, the auctioneer is not going to linger trying to get an extra $10 out of a $300 shotgun that's selling for $150 while the big fish are waiting to bid on the five or six figure Henry rifle or Paterson Colt or whatever I've also had luck picking up unusual high-dollar collector guns at small non-catalogued local auctions. At those, the $300 shotgun may go for $350 or $400 (especially if hunting season's just around the corner), but no one wants the old wall-hanger that you can't get ammunition for anymore The more obscure the gun, the more likely this is to be the case

Be An Early Bird & The Last Man Standing

Bidding can start slow at an auction, and the auctioneer usually wants the first several items to sell fast to get the crowd in the mood to bid aggressively. If you're ready to bid, you can be the beneficiary Likewise, there are often bargains at the tale-end of the sale, as bidders start to drift off to get in line to pay

Learn more about Jim and his work at wwwgunheritagecom

All ORA members have the opportunity to place a classified for firearm related items. This is for personal use only! Please check our website for publication deadlines for placement in the next Sharpshooter.

For sale

LC Smith Field Grade 12 ga. side by side shotgun. 28” barrels, IC/Mod. Hunter One Trigger. 90% plus condition. $950 Please contact Mark for more information. (405) 833-7894

S&W Model 25-2 45 ACP 6 shot revolver, 6” ribbed barrel, walnut and Hogue grips; misc moon clip loading tools; shop-made moon clip rack; 44 moon clips; $2,300; location Noble, OK Call or text Charles 405-834-3020

Ruger Mark III, .22, 6” heavy barrel, iron sights, target pistol, original hard shell case; $350, location Noble, OK. Call or text Charles 405-834-3020.

Tanfiglio Witness, Elite .45, less than 100 rnds,, $1,200 location Noble, OK. Call or text Charles 405-834-3020.

Tanfiglio Witness, Elite 9mm, less than 100 rnds,, $1,200 location Noble, OK Call or text Charles 405-834-3020

Tanfiglio Elite 9mm, $1,000 location Noble, OK Call or text Charles 405-8343020

By James White,

The President's Hundred

In April of 1955, A National Rifle Association High Power Rifle Regional Match was held at Fort Sill, Oklahoma The range officer for the match was a soldier, First Sergeant James Outlaw. Sergeant Outlaw wore the old Army utility uniform. A tab sewed just below the left shoulder seam contrasted nicely with the gray green cloth of his utility jacket. The tab was a

curved piece of yellow material, about four inches long and half an inch wide On to that strip of yellow cloth were embroidered, in bold green letters, the words "PRESIDENT'S HUNDRED" Those words identified Sergeant Outlaw as a rifleman of distinction

That was my first exposure to the President’s Hundred.

former ORA President

James White is a WWII Marine Veteran, NRA Instructor, Former ORA President, and Distinguished Marksman He served the ORA for many years and began the Sharpshooter This is from his personal archives as writer for the Sharpshooter and various other publications

The President's Hundred

The President's Match is held annually at the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio Separate matches are held in the service pistol and service rifle phases of the "board matches" The top competitors in these matches become one of the rare members of an elite group, the President's Hundred

The winner of a President's Match receives the President's Trophy plaque and (at least in past years) a congratulatory letter from the president of the United States. The high scoring 15% of the competitors in the match, not to exceed 100, each receive a President's Hundred metallic brassard. Most usually, the 100 top competitors in the Rifle President's Match make up no more than about 7% of the total number of competitors.

The metallic brassard is about three inches long and an inch wide, cast in 1/16 inch thick bronze It is decorated with the words "PRESIDENT'S HUNDRED" and other insignia, including an enameled representation of the presidential seal It is curved to fit a shoulder or a hat and has two pin clasp fasteners

A member of the United States Army who has won the award is authorized to wear the yellow and green President's Hundred Tab on the left shoulder of a Class A uniform The Naval Services (Navy and Marine Corps) do not allow wearing of this device on their uniforms The Tab is the same size and shape as another Army award, the "RANGER"; Tab. The President's Hundred award is much rarer.

The President's Match is not limited to military shooters. Some civilians are winners each year. Many of these civilians are former members of military shooting teams who have not lost any of their shooting skills simply because they no longer wear the uniform

No classification system in this match allows a shooter to compete within his own skill level A beginning shooter is possibly competing against former winners of the President's Match The only winners are the competitors who shoot the hundred best scores with a service rifle or service pistol This makes the award difficult to win Much prestige and satisfaction go along with the metallic brassard awarded for achieving this status

The course of fire for the Pistol President's match is:

20 shots slow fire at 50 yards

10 shots time fire at 25 yards

10 shots rapid fire at 25 yards. The service pistol must be used.

The course of fire for the Rifle President's match is:

10 shots, 200 yards, slow fire, standing position

10 shots, 300 yards, rapid fire, prone from standing

10 shots, 600 yards, slow fire, prone

The service rifle must be used

No sighting or practice shots are allowed in the President’s Match Competitors begin firing on their feet in the standing position, cold turkey

How many people have become members of the President's Hundred?

The National Matches have been held since about 1903, but were not held during wartime periods and some occasional isolated years. The National Matches have been conducted about 95 times.

If different people became members of the President's Hundred in each of the matches

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fired with a rifle, simple arithmetic would arrive at a count of a little over 11,000 people But it's possible to win the award multiple times At least half of the rifle winners each year have been members of the President's Hundred before The author of this article has made it in 1977, 1978, 1982 and 1985 If twice was the maximum number that the award was won, that would reduce the number to about 5,500.

Many present and former members of military rifle teams have won numerous times My estimate of the total number of people who have made the rifle version of the President's Hundred roster at least one time is somewhere between 2,500 and 4,500.

President’s Hundred rifle awards are probably as rare as an NFL Super Bowl ring

Legislation Signed into Law

HB 3070

This bill cleans up language regarding the transporting of a firearm. The measure deletes language relating to the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act due to the enactment of constitutional carry in Oklahoma HB 3070 passed House 97-0 and the Senate 41-2 It was signed by Governor Stitt on April 25th

HB 3074

Amends the statute relating to the transportation of firearms. The measure clarifies that discharging a firearm from a vessel (boat) is lawful if done for self-defense. HB 3074 passed the House 76-12 and has been referred to the Senate Public Safety Committee. No action was taken in committee