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I was in the area today and decided to stop by the BSA headquarters in Irving to visit the scout shop and take a look at their museum since I've never been. Well, on the front of the door of the building housing both is what appears to be a valid 30.06 sign.

For years in Scouts (Eagle Scout here!) I was always taught to "be prepared." I guess they mean that you should be prepared for anything as long as it doesn't involve those scary firearms. I don't think I could count the number of kids (myself included) that were taught to shoot through the Boy Scouts.

To be honest, I feel a little ashamed that the BSA seems to think so little of handguns in helping one be prepared. I've never done this before, but I think I'll be writing a letter on this.

RebelKangaroo wrote:I was in the area today and decided to stop by the BSA headquarters in Irving to visit the scout shop and take a look at their museum since I've never been. Well, on the front of the door of the building housing both is what appears to be a valid 30.06 sign.

For years in Scouts (Eagle Scout here!) I was always taught to "be prepared." I guess they mean that you should be prepared for anything as long as it doesn't involve those scary firearms. I don't think I could count the number of kids (myself included) that were taught to shoot through the Boy Scouts.

To be honest, I feel a little ashamed that the BSA seems to think so little of handguns in helping one be prepared. I've never done this before, but I think I'll be writing a letter on this.

That is sad. I used to teach NRA Basic Rifle courses to Boy Scout troops. Even sadder are all the 30.06 signs that keep increasing in number.

Interesting. A couple of months ago, I posted this thread about a 30.06 sign up at Girl Scouts of America regional office in Houston.

I think I'll join you in writing a letter as well. For years I've supported the BSA teaching basic radio and Morse code. I'm going to have to think hard before I will again volunteeer to help them.

Tom

If you ask me, I think they have a double standard. I just taught the NRA Basic Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun classes to a group of Boy Scouts in Corpus. They are all for shooting guns, .22's anyway, but even when I went to my instructor class which was held on a BSA campus, I was informed verbally that I couldn't carry. When asked why that was, I was told policy. The camp leader stated he didn't like it either but that's the direction he was given from his superiors. I guess "Be prepared" has it's limits.

My son is a cub scout, and I had noticed that the rule sheet for camping at Cub World in Conroe stated that firearms were prohibited. I think there were also signs of that nature at Cub World, but I just smiled, because the notice was no where near 30.06 compliant. It is disheartening that an organization that has a range for archery and air rifles is so against being prepared to defend yourself against violent attack.

seeing stuff likes this makes me almost sick to be an eagle scout at times.... the BSA seems to be destroying its integrity little by little.

I would like to write a letter as well.

I'm lazy - what is the address?

Just so you have a different point of view on this, Boy Scouts has long had a split on firearms attitudes. They have always (and still do as far as I know) support the use of long guns, including merit badges on marksmanship and shotgunning. They have also always been anti-handgun. I learned of this in the 70's when I first volunteered as an Assistant Scoutmaster. I have seen it many times since then.

Some areas, either the troop, district, or council, will be somewhat lax on enforcing the rules, but it has long been the official BSA policy to be anti-handgun.

And thanks to those posters who mentioned it, but I never thought of the contradiction between this attitude and their motto.

Another Eagle Scout chiming in here.

When people have asked me why I think I need a gun, I have sometimes replied that the Boy Scouts taught me to Be Prepared.

Rebel - You might want to add it to the list at Texas3006.com.

Stan

Does anyone know if this sign is still present?

What are the alternatives to BSA. My wife wants to get my 5yo into it but I say no due to, well what they have become.

I disagree with their policy but the scouting program overall is good for the boys. For some boys this will be the only place they will get to shoot a rifle.

Another part of their PC program, gay scout leaders and no guns. There is another organization for boys that doesn't have the PC program. I know it has Trail in the name but can't remember the full name at the moment.