Here is something paraphrased from a CMP/NRA Distinguished Rifleman, and a man who knows exactly what he is about.
I've shot with Greg Ficklin before, and he is one man that will go out of his way to assist anyone. It is that important to him.
Consider what he has to say about Rifle Marksmanship, I think it is phenomenal:
People are afraid to perform poorly at something they already feel they could already do well. It's as if being an American, growing up in a culture of almost unlimited freedom to own and use firearms, makes them innately knowledgeable in fundamental marksmanship. No one thinks they need any training in fundamental use of a rifle. The very lowest of the Marksman shooters in High Power Rifle Competition are better riflemen than 99% of all Americans that have ever owned a gun. In a time where the most popular rifle in America and the most suitable rifle for competition are one and the same tells us that the waning of High Power is a cultural phenomenon. In a bad economy more money has been spent on guns and ammo in the last five years than the last twenty combined. The pro-gun culture in this country doesn't respect the discipline of basic marksmanship. Our culture places value on respect from fear. Our culture likens scary guns as the firearm equivalent of the spider web elbow tats to display an image one hopes to impart a sense of..."Don't mess with me". This image is directed at anyone that can see, and especially those they hope to offend of an opposing political view. This is easy, it's just money and an attitude, but a discipline, any discipline is so much more, and by definition a discipline is hard to master. Most people have no interest in the discipline of marksmanship because they would have to humble themselves, and realize that they know almost nothing to begin the journey. If you can convince someone to take up High Power Rifle Competition, you give them a lifelong goal and an opportunity to discipline their mind and body through marksmanship. Greg Ficklin USMC (Ret)