Competitive Shooting

While I'm fully aware that enjoying firearms as a hobby is not "PC" these days, I have been fascinated with guns for my entire life. I am very much against any illegal use, sale, or possession of firearms. However, the possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens for self defense is not only a Constitutionally guaranteed right, but it also has been shown by objective studies to decrease crime. I think we would all be better off if this issue was approached scientifically, not emotionally. The anti-gun and pro-gun forces should use the large amounts of money they spend on guns as a political football to conduct well planned studies to determine how best to decrease violent crime. OK, enough of discussing the political aspects of firearms, and on to their value as a sport.

Target shooting is a demanding sport, and one that has held my attention for many years. My primary interest in shooting is in rifle shooting, in particular, Olympic style rifle shooting. As I do not have time to go to the range to practice, I limit my shooting now to air rifle, which I can practice at home.

You can learn more about Olympic shooting by visiting the USA Shooting Home Page.

My current competitive shooting activities include:

Air Rifle. This is an Olympic event in which 60 shots are fired from the standing position at a target 10 meters away, the 10 ring in the target is 1 mm in diameter (about the size of the period at the end of this sentence). Air rifle demands considerable concentration skills and physical stamina and is a most challenging sport.

My most recent shooting accomplishments include winning a bronze medal in the 1995 California State Games, a bronze medal in the first Internet International Postal Air Rifle Match, and placing 41st in the 1996 USA Shooting National Championships.

Rapid Fire Pistol  I have grown very fond of this particular event, though I'm only a novice, having started training in pistol in July of 1999.   The event has a great deal of excitement, being shot with specialized .22 caliber pistols at targets 25 meters away.  One fires 5 shots at a time, 2 series at 8 seconds, 2 at 6 seconds, and 2 at 4 seconds.  As you have to start with the pistol lowered to 45 degrees, there is not much time to raise it and shoot all 5 targets in the 4 second series.  Hence, the excitement.

Team Physician for the US Shooting Team. Providing health care for the shooting athletes which represent our country in international shooting events has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I have also been able to work with the team to conduct some shooting sports research funded by the US Olympic Committee. One of the highlights of my time with the team was serving as physician for the 1992 USA Olympic Shooting Team in Barcelona.