06/06/2026
This week we remember D Day, and those who took up arms to defend our freedoms. We are a proud nation of Riflemen, no more so than at our own club here in Barnsley.
We at Phoenix Range support our Armed Forces. I personally served 13 years from logistics, Special Forces to Military Police. I employed men over the years who served, a number of them lost friends in battle, many more by su***de since returning from Afghanistan. Freedom is why we support them; freedom is why we do what we do here today. Freedom isn’t given, but fought for by the brave who are skilled in marksmanship, skill at arms, and that all started in local clubs.
After the great wars, our government realised how poor we were then, (and are now) as a nation in marksmanship. They permitted the formation of thousands of Miniature rifle clubs throughout our land to keep these skills alive in our communities. Even today our own club here is approved by the Secretary of State, and within our own approved Club's constitution... it states in our primary purpose:
"To promote and encourage Marksmanship throughout the Kings Dominions, in the interests of Defence and the Permanence of the Volunteer and Auxiliary Forces, Naval, Military and Air."
Furthermore, those are also the aims and objectives of our governing body; the National Rifle Association & Smallbore Rifle Association "to fit his Majesty's subjects for the defense of His Realm by the advancement of Skill in rifle and other shooting and the opportunity to practice for the furtherance of such objects".
In fact, those principles are the very reason the association was given the Royal Charter, the Crowns support, with the patron of the association today being our head of state. All of our men and women who serve are first and foremost; riflemen, and skilled at such. Many of them who learned the basics in local rifle clubs. Membership and rifle practice build confidence, camaraderie, self-discipline, empowerment, sense of responsibility, respect, and of individual skill achieved, for both personal benefit and that of the larger greater public good.
Freedom and weapons are inextricably linked. So yes, we remember the fallen, and we do our bit….30,000+ new customers learning rifle shooting through our doors, in just one town alone, Barnsley. The ability to own and shoot your own rifle is the pinnacle of freedom. It’s a lethal weapon and gives power over others, and of course, should not fall into the wrong hands. So, to be trusted with such a thing under good regulation, you can genuinely say you live in a free democratic and just society; for anywhere in the world where you are disarmed as a people….you will never be free, you will live in a dictatorship, disarmed for a reason. History, if anything has taught free men that.
So yes, we remember the sacrifice given to be free, and how it is kept free, by the brave keeping these skills alive serving their country. So high five for our armed forces, the very best of British.
God save the King!
There is an infamous motto forgotten about in our politically correct times, that’s printed on one of the UK’s early targets of the 1900’s, resurrected here at Phoenix Range…. “Fear God - Honour The Queen - Learn to Shoot” our target number 9.
So yes, today we remember them. Amen.
Glenn G Smith
Founder Member
Empire Shooting Sports Club.
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