The 10th U.S.Int'l Shooting Championships wind up today at Black Canyon Shooting Range...between 309 of the nation's top shooters, plus some 15 from Canada and Mexico. ...etc. 85 Phoenix Indian School Students-91 volunteers (members of the NRA) from all parts of the country to operate the ranges, handle the jobs of range officers, range officials, scorers, etc. At least 10 NRA staff members, came to direct the operations. This is the second year the NRA held its U.S.Int'l Championships here. And the NRA Board of Directors voted to hold them in Phoenix for at least 5 more years as an inducement for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to appropriate funds to convert Black Canyon Range to ISU (Int'l Shooting Union) equipment so the 40th World Shooting Championships could be held here. At the time, the U.S. was bidding against Thailand and Mexico for the world matches. The U.S. Championships had been held on military bases each of the 8 years they had been in existence, w/the military providing facilities and personnel to operate matches. However, marksmanship already was virtually doomed in the military and the Air Force has dropped it as a training exercise entirely. Marksmanship now is classed along w/ bowling, baseball, gym and other sports in the Air Force program, etc.... U.S. Championships were improved greatly over last year...there were some shortcomings that will be corrected before world matches in October. And hopefully 1971 U.S.matches will find even more improvements in range facilities because they'll also be the tryouts for U.S.Pan American Games team. The $100,000 the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors provided last year to fix ranges; some $15,000 additional provided since, all of which was matched by the U.S. Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, already has been returned to the economic stream of the community by this range facility. The world matches this fall are expected to bring from $3 to $5 million to the community. The community owes wholehearted support to the NRA and its staff to make the matches the best held anywhere. Etc. Bringing these matches here has meant sacrifice to Arizona shooters and hunters preparing for this fall's hunting seasons, because the temporary range facility had to be built for them. However, firing points on this facility are now being covered and it's hoped their discomfort will be minimized. Etc.