Here is what the poor guy looks like. Col. Long was a commissioned officer of the United States Army from 1814 until his retirement in 1863. He served in the Corps of Engineers and, after the 1838 reorganization that created the Corps of Topographical Engineers, in that separate corps until its merger back into the Corps of Engineers in 1863.
Major Long meets with the Pawnees at Council Bluffs, Iowa (1819).
Much of Long’s work on internal improvements and early railroad surveys was performed on detached duty or through federally authorized engineering boards. During the American Civil War, he remained in Federal service and held the rank of colonel at the time of his retirement.
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and a lawsuit recently filed by a gun club in the Lone Star State is, indeed, a big one.
On March 10, the Temple Gun Club filed a federal lawsuit challenging the federal statute that prohibits the possession and transfer of machine guns manufactured after May 19, 1986. Temple Gun Club v. Bondi was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas on behalf of the club’s 1,000-plus members, with three individual members also listed as plaintiffs.
According to a report at Ammoland.com, the law originated as a floor amendment during the 1986 debate over the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA). Sponsored by Rep. William Hughes, D-New Jersey, the amendment was introduced with little committee review or recorded debate.
It passed by voice vote and was described by its sponsor as uncontroversial. The final law grandfathered in machine guns already registered with the ATF before the May 19, 1986, cutoff date. While it allowed continued possession by government agencies, it closed the registry to new civilian-owned machine guns.
In the complaint, Temple Gun Club is arguing that banning machine guns is outside the scope of Congress’s limited, enumerated powers, and it is an unnecessary, improper usurpation of power.
“Any ‘powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people,’” the complaint states. “There are seventeen specific powers enumerated in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, along with the power ‘[t]o make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.’
The power to prohibit possessing a firearm is neither implicitly nor explicitly among the federal government’s powers. To the contrary, the drafters of the Constitution included a direct prohibition on ‘infring[ing]’ upon ‘the right to keep and bear Arms.’”
The complaint also notes that plaintiffs aren’t seeking total deregulation of machine guns.
“Machine guns are highly regulated at the federal level,” the complaint states. “The NFA provides a comprehensive registration and licensing scheme that tightly controls who may possess and transfer a machine gun. This case does not challenge the NFA. It only challenges Congress’s extra step in § 922(o) to ban possessing machine guns manufactured after 1986.”
Ultimately, Temple Gun Club and the other plaintiffs are asking the court to strike down the law.
“Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendants and that the Court: (1) declare that 18 U.S.C. § 922(o) is unconstitutional on its face and as applied to Plaintiffs because it exceeds Congress’s enumerated powers;
(2) issue a permanent injunction against the Defendants, as well as all agents, administrators, employees, or other persons acting on behalf of the Defendants, from enforcing 18 U.S.C. 922(o) against TGC and its members, including any corporations, limited liability companies, trusts, or other entities that TCG members own, control, or serve as officers, beneficiaries, or trustees.
Army marksmanship has always played a key role in American military readiness, starting with musket drills in the Revolutionary War and continuing through today’s precision rifle competitions.
The Army’s firearms training has evolved from a basic battlefield skill into a comprehensive program that encompasses training, competition, and recognition. Understanding this history shows how Army marksmanship badges maintain strong combat skills and set a standard that also shapes civilian shooting sports.
Historical Foundations: Army Marksmanship Badges
The American military has valued marksmanship since its earliest wars. During the Revolutionary War, frontier riflemen demonstrated the importance of accurate shooting, but formal training was not always consistent.
During the Civil War, many soldiers lacked strong marksmanship skills. Studies showed that thousands of rounds were fired for each casualty. This led military leaders to recognize that winning in battle required more than just giving soldiers weapons.
The Army began to focus more on marksmanship after the Spanish-American War, when it was clear that American soldiers often did not shoot as well as their opponents. In response, the Army set higher training standards and started keeping records of who qualified. In the early 1900s, the Army introduced standardized courses in which soldiers demonstrated their skills at various distances and in different positions.
World War I accelerated these changes. The Army realized that good marksmanship required organized training, not merely prior hunting or shooting experience.
Training camps added rifle ranges, and marksmanship became an essential part of basic training. This was also when qualification badges were introduced to recognize shooting skill, a tradition that continues today.
Timeline Of Notable Developments
Developed by Eugene Stoner at Armalite in 1957, the M16 replaced heavier weapons and became the military’s standard-issue battle rifle.
World War II
This era saw large-scale mobilization, so the Army made marksmanship training uniform across all bases. The M1 Garand became the primary infantry rifle, and training courses focused on its use. Training also became more realistic, with time limits and added stress to better prepare soldiers for combat.
1956
The Army started the United States Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) at Fort Benning, Georgia. This unit was created to improve marksmanship throughout the Army and to compete in shooting competitions both in the U.S. and internationally. The USAMU has produced numerous Olympic medalists and world champions, thereby establishing a strong reputation among military shooters worldwide.
During The Vietnam War
The Army adopted the M16 rifle, which was lighter and had less recoil than the M14. This change meant soldiers had to learn new shooting techniques. Training began to focus more on combat skills, such as moving while shooting, engaging multiple targets, and practicing in realistic scenarios. The Army stopped training exclusively with stationary targets and then adopted more active methods.
Since The 1980s
The army’s marksmanship programs have continued to improve. New equipment, such as better rifle optics, night vision, and laser sights, led to changes in training.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan made combat marksmanship even more important, as soldiers had to hit targets at different distances in both cities and rural areas. Today’s training includes practicing under stress, making quick decisions, and combining shooting with other combat skills.
The USAMU remains a leader in American competitive shooting. Its Service Rifle, Action Shooting, and International Rifle and Pistol Teams have won many national championships and Olympic medals. In addition to competing, the USAMU is the Army’s primary center for marksmanship, developing training methods and equipment that support soldiers across the Army.
Civilian Marksmanship Program Connection
Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Green, Bogalusa, with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Service Rifle Team. (Credit: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
The Army’s link to civilian shooting sports is managed through the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). Congress started the CMP’s earlier version in 1903, believing that citizens who could shoot well would help national defense. The Army initially operated the program but transferred it to a federally chartered nonprofit organization in 1996.
The CMP’s mission remains closely linked to military readiness. It provides firearms safety training and rifle practice for citizens, especially young people. Through the CMP, civilians can purchase surplus military rifles, participate in shooting competitions, and receive marksmanship training. Many CMP matches use courses similar to those in the Army, directly linking civilian practice to military skills.
Army marksmanship teams often compete with civilian shooters at CMP events. The National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, bring both groups together in what some call the “World Series of Shooting.” These events allow Army shooters to compete with top civilians and help spread marksmanship culture across the country. Many soldiers continue to compete in civilian matches after leaving the Army, so skills and experience are shared both ways.
The CMP also runs programs in schools and shooting clubs across the country, often with help from Army marksmanship experts. Because of this community approach, many recruits already possess basic shooting skills when they begin basic training, so qualification takes less time and effort.
Marksmanship Qualification Badges
The Army displays shooting skill with qualification badges worn on uniforms. These badges recognize individual achievement, encourage soldiers to improve their performance, and set clear standards for marksmanship.
Marksman Badge
The basic qualification level is awarded to soldiers who meet the minimum standards on the Army’s weapons course. It still requires safe handling and the ability to hit targets at different distances. This badge’s design is a squared-off cross.
Sharpshooter Badge
This award is the middle level and requires better performance on the qualification course. Soldiers who earn it demonstrate consistent accuracy and strong foundational skills. The badge resembles the Marksman badge but adds a set of target rings to the center. Many soldiers see the Sharpshooter badge as a true mark of skill, not just the minimum standard.
Expert Badge
The highest regular level, indicating exceptional marksmanship. To earn it, soldiers must hit targets at long range, do well under time limits, and show strong shooting skills. The Expert badge is a source of pride, and many units hold friendly competitions to see who can earn and keep it. This badge takes the sharpshooter design and adds a laurel wreath around it to indicate its highest status.
Each badge can be awarded for different types of weapons. The Army gives badges for rifles, pistols, machine guns, and more. Bars hanging below the badge show which weapon the soldier qualified with. For example, a soldier might wear an Expert Rifle badge with several bars for different rifle types.
Distinguished Badges
These are above the regular qualification levels and honor outstanding marksmanship. The Distinguished Rifleman and Distinguished Pistol Shot badges are the highest awards outside of competition teams. To earn one, a soldier must collect points by placing high in several matches over time. These badges are rare and highly respected in the Army.
Soldiers who earn Distinguished badges often become marksmanship instructors for their units and share their skills with others. The selection process ensures that only those who demonstrate consistent excellence, not merely a single exceptional performance, receive this honor.
Army Marksmanship Badges: Heritage & Prospects
Army Marksmanship Badges: Soldiers earn marksmanship badges to recognize achievement and encourage excellence.
The program continues to change to meet new challenges. Today’s training draws on lessons from recent wars and focuses on integrating shooting with movement, communication, and decision-making. Advanced simulators enable soldiers to practice scenarios that are difficult or impossible to reproduce on conventional ranges.
The connection between military marksmanship and civilian shooting sports remains strong. The CMP continues to help Americans improve their shooting skills. Army shooters who compete internationally continue a tradition of excellence that is over a hundred years old, representing both their service and the wider American shooting community.
The badge system is updated periodically to reflect new weapons and training, but its primary goal remains the same: to recognize achievement and encourage excellence. Whether a soldier earns a Marksman badge through hard work or a Distinguished badge after years of competition, these awards show the Army’s ongoing commitment to marksmanship as a key military skill.
Even as technology and warfare change, the basics of Army marksmanship remain the same: disciplined training, standard testing, and recognizing achievement. These principles help American soldiers keep the shooting skills they need to succeed and set a high standard that extends across the Army and into civilian life.
When Gun Owners of America took to social media to warn Texans about James Talarico, they did not mince words. “James Talarico has opposed constitutional carry, while supporting ‘universal background checks’ & red flag laws,” the organization posted. “Now he wants to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. Talarico will find out at the polls this November that Texans will never accept tyranny.”
The warning reflects growing alarm among Second Amendment advocates as Talarico, a Democratic state representative from Round Rock, advances toward the November 2026 general election against Republican incumbent John Cornyn. A former teacher who frequently invokes his Christian faith when discussing policy, Talarico won the March 2026 Democratic primary and now stands as his party’s standard-bearer in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.
Talarico’s legislative record on firearms leaves little doubt about where he stands. In 2021, he voted against HB 1927, the landmark constitutional carry bill that eliminated the requirement for a License to Carry for adults 21 and older to carry handguns openly or concealed.
On his Vote Smart political courage test, he answered Yes to both “Should a license be required for gun ownership?” and “Do you generally support gun-control legislation?”
In that same questionnaire, Talarico explained his philosophy. “I respect the Second Amendment rights of our constituents and believe that Texas should lead the way in promoting safe firearm regulations,” he wrote. “The uptick of violence — from deadly domestic abuse to suicide and school shootings — our state and nation have experienced is simply due to the fact it is too easy for the wrong people to gain access to guns.
Texans agree we need to make our communities safer through common-sense gun safety measures and greater mental health resources. This means ensuring universal background checks and restricting gun purchases for people convicted of felonies or violent misdemeanors.”
The Freedom Index, which measures legislative fidelity to constitutional and limited government principles, gave Talarico a cumulative score of just 9 percent across his four legislative sessions. In 2023, Talarico voted No on HB 2837, a bill prohibiting credit card companies from surveilling, reporting, or tracking the purchase of firearms, ammunition, and accessories through merchant category codes
Talarico’s most viral moment on gun policy came in May 2023, days after the Allen outlet mall shooting that killed eight people. Texas Republicans brought HB 2960 to the House floor, a bill to loosen gun regulations. Talarico delivered an impassioned floor speech against it.
“We’re the only country in the world that allows this to happen,” he declared. “Globally, we are not an outlier in mental health. We’re not an outlier in school security. We’re an outlier in the number of readily accessible weapons of war in our community.”
He continued, “You can’t offer thoughts and prayers on Monday and then debate a bill to loosen gun regulations on Tuesday.”
After the March 2026 Austin mass shooting on West Sixth Street, Talarico again called for gun restrictions. “We prayed, and God sent lawmakers with common-sense gun safety proposals like universal background checks, red flag laws and closing the gun show loophole,” he stated.
His Senate campaign platform makes his priorities explicit. According to his official website, Talarico supports universal background checks for all gun sales, prosecuting firearms traffickers, safe storage requirements for firearms around children in the home, and raising the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles with military-style features like high-capacity magazines.
Texas Gun Rights described him as “the more dangerous” of the two Democratic Senate candidates in the primary, describing him as someone who “plays the ‘reasonable’ gun control advocate — the type who thinks disarming you is an act of Christian charity.”
TXGR President Chris McNutt’s assessment was blunt, stating, “Anyone — Democrat or Republican — who thinks they can run for office in Texas while supporting a gun confiscation agenda is about to get the political fight of their life.”
Texans who value their Second Amendment rights should take Talarico at his word. His legislative record tells a consistent story.
He opposed constitutional carry and voted against protecting gun owners from financial surveillance.
He supports universal background checks, red flag laws, safe storage mandates, and age restrictions on rifle purchases. Pro-gun organizations such as Texas Gun Rights and Gun Owners of America have all sounded the alarm.
Talarico dresses his gun control agenda in the language of faith and reasonableness, but the policies he advocates would infringe on the rights of law-abiding Texans while doing nothing to stop criminals who already ignore the law.
In a state that enshrined Constitutional Carry into law, Talarico represents the opposite vision, one where the government decides who may exercise their natural right to self-defense and under what conditions. For gun rights to continue to prosper in the Lone Star State, candidates like Talarico must be defeated at the polls
About José Niño
José Niño is a freelance writer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can contact him via Facebook and X/Twitter. Subscribe to his Substack newsletter by visiting “Jose Nino Unfiltered” on Substack.com.
Try again! Back in 1984, Astronaut Bruce McCandless II became the first human being to do a spacewalk without a safety tether linked to a spacecraft.
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The week’s dominant story began on the night of March 1, when Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old Senegalese immigrant, opened fire with an AR-pattern rifle at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden near the University of Texas-Austin campus.
He killed two people and wounded more before Austin police engaged and neutralized him in under a minute. The attack immediately sparked two parallel debates: whether it should be classified as terrorism, and whether Texas’s “51% rule”—which prohibits concealed carry in establishments that derive more than half their revenue from alcohol sales—left patrons defenseless in a predictable target.
The FBI acknowledged “indicators” of a potential terrorism nexus but stopped short of labeling it an act of terrorism outright—a response that drew criticism from gun-rights commentators.
TTAG’s Scott Witner argued that Diagne almost certainly chose the location deliberately, knowing lawful carry would be prohibited inside. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), pivoted immediately to calls for stricter gun control laws rather than addressing the attack’s possible terror dimension—drawing sharp rebukes from the gun-rights community.