Would Team USA Win Gold If Kids Learned Shooting In Schools?

The internet is abuzz with memes at the moment over the US losing the shooting competitions in the Paris Olympics. At the current moment, Team USA hasn't earned a medal in any of the shooting disciplines, and the jokes should seem self-explanatory.

While I get that the headline is a little salacious and scandalous, it's a legitimate question.

@mrwilliamsprek How’d the US not even place? #olympics #teamusa #shooting ♬ original sound - Mr Williams

The NRA used to be educational, not political.

Believe it or not, the NRA (National Rifle Association) used to be known as an educational organization. This was long before they became the self-described "Tip of the spear in Washington to ensure the safety and security of the 2nd Amendment."

Believe me, lots of gun owners and NRA members loathe the NRA just as much as your most liberal family members, but they used to do a lot more than lobby in DC. They used to sponsor programs to train kids responsible firearm safety. This was long before having a gun safe was common, and kids were suffering tragedies after finding guns in mom and dad's top drawers.

They taught these classes in schools. Not only how to responsibly handle and respect a firearm, but how to shoot them too. It was super common to see gun racks in the back windows of the trucks in my own high school parking lot, and that wasn't as long ago as you'd probably assume. It was this century.

@kyle.baxter1997 Follow me ( its worth a shot). #olympics #school #america #shooting #sport ♬ You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi

Used to be, other countries were scared beyond belief to invade the USA. The Japanese famously believed there would be a rifle behind every blade of grass... but while there are more firearms in American hands than ever before, they're in the smallest percentage of owners than (probably) ever. If someone did decide to Red Dawn us, the 32 percent of American gun owners would be tasked with protecting the 68 percent who vilify them.

It's a weird world at the moment.

Thanks to the craziest and most troubled souls, guns are now beyond taboo in our schools, but our youths are still inquisitive by nature... perhaps an old respect could be found again if we brought back wholesome non-political programs like this. Well, that and maybe let the Back-to-back World War Champs dominate the shooting sports again.

@devin_poop #greenscreen #teamusa #america #olympics #shooting #goldmedal #flopera ♬ sad SpongeBob music - michael