Another sponsor of the exhibit - Midway USA - maker of combat ammunition
"Jakes Take Aim" is underwritten by philanthropists whose funding puts this traveling gun range in each of the 48 states in order to introduce the youth of America to shooting.
Letter to the Editor
August 17, 2014
Free Firing Range for Young People at Illinois State Fair
“Jakes Takes Aim”
While attending the Illinois State Fair last week in Springfield, I went into the “Conservation World” area expecting, as an environmentalist with the Chicago Greens, to learn about natural resources and parks across the state. Instead, I came upon an exhibit entitled “Jakes Takes Aim,” in which a portable firing range had been set up offering young people, 17 and under, the opportunity, without charge, to shoot a few rounds.
It turns out "Jakes Take Aim" is underwritten by philanthropists whose funding puts this traveling gun range in each of the 48 states in order to introduce the youth of America to shooting. This is a serious effort aimed clearly towards indoctrination, and exceeds mere free expression or education.
According to their website, every kid who gets to spend some time shooting at these events is one step closer to becoming a lifelong shooter, and “that’s good for all of us.” I feel a little differently about this. It also asserts, for parents who might be concerned, that: “Did you know that (according to the National Safety Council Injury Facts) you are 100 times more likely to be injured in a swimming pool than by a gun?” Is their message then that guns are not dangerous? This is a peculiar thing to say if their intent is to teach the safe use of firearms.
Another sponsor is Midway U.S.A., a distributor for “custom combat ammunition.” At their website one can watch a video on how ammunition is made, and rapid-fire tested for handguns. One can find information on both of these sponsors on "AmmoLand" on the internet.
While at the fair I expected the usual stuffed animal exhibits, and information on hunting licenses in Illinois, and maybe a pond for kids to catch a fish, but I did not anticipate a traveling operation with no other apparent purpose than to inculcate children on how to use guns.
I have contacted the Illinois State Fair and Illinois Department of Natural Resources questioning inclusion of this exhibitor. While the debate about gun control is obviously in the courts, legislatures and councils, I do not think that it is appropriate to try to persuade young people that guns are not inherently dangerous, and pretend that a firing range is an amusement as one might find in a carnival.
There is a vast multitude of things we can teach children about regarding nature, from butterflies to birds, and it disturbs me that we afford instead an opportunity for commercial concerns to corrupt a public event.
Charles Paidock
3211 S. Union Ave
Chicago, IL 60616-5251
(312) 842-5036, (312) 714-7790 cell
