Quick, what's the one thing America loves more than anything else? Okay, sure, freedom. Eagles, too. Apple pie, baseball, maybe the lyrical stylings of Stephen Foster. So, not the top thing America loves, but certainly in the top ten has to be rifles. And why not? This country was carved out of the frontier, and it's not like you can politely request a bear stop eating the soft parts of your face.

And this is where the saying "the Right to Bear Arms" comes from.

Like any weapon, the rifle has turned into a sport. It's not too unusual. Javelins used to be used on the battlefield, wrestling used to be way more hardcore, and we're pretty sure someone's been bludgeoned with skis at some point in history.

Besides, there's a great deal of skill involved in hitting what you're aiming at. For the athlete, there's the Zen calm of reducing their world to nothing but the gun and the target. For the audience, there's the undeniable thrill of hearing the crack of a rifle shot, then seeing the center of a target torn up. It's something pretty much everyone can enjoy. All skill, no death. Right?

Well, here in the USA, we have a lot of really good shots. From kids who grew up hunting for food or sport to others who just like blazing away at paper targets, it's part of the culture. That's great for the status of the sport. Not so great for you, though.

Despite the popularity of shooting as an activity, it hasn't translated to popularity as a spectator sport. On Superbowl Sunday, if anyone uses a rifle, chances are they're going to get slapped with a pretty serious unnecessary roughness penalty. The World Series is all about baseball, and the NBA has some strict rules about rifles on the court.

Rifle doesn't pull in football or basketball levels of money for the schools, so it's not going to be as well-funded. Scholarships are much harder to come by because there are only a few of them but there's a wealth of applicants. Rifle is also an equivalency sport, meaning you can get some money toward your education, but are unlikely to get a full ride (source).

Here's the thing, though. You're not listening to us. Who has the rifle here? That would be you, sir, madam, or honorific of your choice. So you're going for NCAA Division I because you're an eagle-eyed shot who will set the rifle world ablaze. But not literally. Ammunition should always be handled with the utmost care.

When loading your weapon, always wear your safety mustache.

Let's talk about what you need to even be there. You'd better pull a C average at least, and you're going to have to have more on your high school resume than P.E. and Home Ec (source). It's not much better for the others, either. Also, remember: any scholarship money you get is going to come with strings attached. Strings in the form of "good grades" and "hitting the targets."

If you're going to win anything, you're going to need aggregate scores (based off smallbore rifle and air rifle) in the high eleven hundreds. To hang onto your money and spot on the team, you'll need scores not too far below that. (source)

Sure, you might be thinking, but at least it's not like one of those other sports. You know, the ones where you have to stay in incredible shape, and someone is always yelling at you. While it's true that NCAA Rifle has fewer obvious dangers than, say, football, it can be hazardous.

Not even in the way you're thinking, either. Rifle athletes face repetitive stress injuries all the time. Guns are heavy, and you're going to be using them a whole lot. The act of bringing them up to the shoulder over time can hurt that whole area. The kickback, which is negligible in the small calibre weapons you use, does add up. You can get yourself a nasty bruise on your shoulder (source).

While your equipment isn't dangerous if you handle it with care, it's not the kind of thing you want to fall into the wrong hands. We're not naming names, but those bears from earlier should not get guns. Unlike a basketball player, who really just has to keep an eye on his shoes in case someone takes them to go shin-kicking, you're in charge of a bonafide weapon. It's a lot of responsibility, and not one you should take lightly.

Still, it can be a good sport for certain students. If you're attending school on a military scholarship and you don't want those skills going away. If you're at a military academy, you probably have the kind of resources present to really make a go of it. We're not sure if you put this together, but as it turns out, our military is quite good at shooting rifles. Might be a good spot if you're really into the sport.

While rifle is not the best destination for someone whose only dream is to be a pro athlete, it can be good for others. We're having trouble imagining anyone reading this and thinking to themselves, "I'm the next rifle star," but we suppose it's possible.

If you're passionate about the sport, if you're responsible enough to care for your equipment, and you're just crazy enough to make your grades and the shot, go for it. The rewards are minimal, and the time cost is high, but hey, you're young.