2rivcapt

   If we proceed to over regulate and instill unwarrented fears in each other. This tends to make us afraid of things that we normally would not be. We become nervious and make mistakes. This is when accidents happen, not when we are calm and thinking clear. Yes oversafe can hurt you.

   The next question at what age are we safe? As soon as we can understand right from wrong we can be safe. There seems to be a thought, that at  16 years of age is when we suddenly become safe. That is nonsense. At 13, I hunted with my father with rifle, shotgun and pistol. If I had lived in the south I most likely would of started much earlier.There are many people who had firearms training at a young age. They are very responsable and as safe as anyone. Because of a few carless people the rest of the world should not be punished. We are not idiots and in our unit alone I have met people with so much knowage of firearms they are walking manuals. I spent 2 years as an armorer. The U.S. goverment thought that I was qualified to teach the use of firearms. I was not much older the the 16 year old members of our unit.

 Until you have field stripped a M14 and repaired it in the jungle. Change and head spaced the barrel of a ma duce  while under incomming. Then you may be qualitifed to tell me that I'm unsafe.  I guss I'm just a old hard head if you want me to buy something especially your expertize. You better prove you know what you doing and have lots of expereince.

                                                                                 capt. Jinks

     As a young child I remember my parents saying that too much of any thing is bad for you. Its quite funny, as I get older they seem so much smarter. It seems this is true about safety also. There is also a saying "you can never be too safe" this one does not seem as true in all cases. Sometimes being too safe, we miss oppertunities to try new things. If some risks were never taken we would still live in caves and civilation would not have evolved.

    There never seems to be a shortage of safety experts. Our goverment thinks it can legislate enough laws to keep us safe that there will be no need for common sense. I think they would prefer that we don't think at all. Insurance companys have made a fortune and have unbelievable political power by making us think we are unsafe with out them. The list of entities who profit from our fears is unlimited.

     The reenacting world is no different than the rest of the world. We also have no shortage of experts on everything, including safety. Of course safety should be everyones concern. But as for myself I find it difficult to take critizism from people who are self appointed experts. Opinions are not facts or statistics that prove anything is true. They are just opinions.

    When you are a guest of some one, it is quite proper to obide by thiers rules even if you feel that they are a bit excessive. It make them comfortable and they did all the work to see you have a nice time. Remember they invited you.

   Black  powder guns do have its risk, as do bayonets and swords. But be realistic its not the same as the risks invoved with modern weapons,  in a lot of states its not even thought of  as being in the same league. We all know the gun laws are more about politics than safety. If you want to be safe get rid of the criminals. That won't happen because there too much money to be made on both sides of the crime problems.

 to be continued

  Mr. Ed Davenport is doing a wonderful job of rebuilding our company web site, while I lumber along on this one.One change I made was in the links. The U.S.V.( one of the finest) was listed as our parent organzation. This would lead to the assumption that we grew out of them. When in fact the U.S.V. was founded quite a few years afer Company B. Our unit was one of the founders of the U.O. the group that the U.S.V.grew out of. So I thought the edit change was proper.

  This give me an opportunity for a little unit history and a stroll down memory lane for a old timer like me. Around the time the U.S.V. was formed  Company B  at a general meeting, decided to withdraw from the U.O. and remain independent. We felt the large organations were becoming too political. the very same reason the U. O. was formed. Politics in a Hobby? who would think!  For many years this worked well we were a large unit with our members from Rhode Island to Virginia we always fielded 20 to 30 at a event. These were the infamous day of Captains  Bader and .Parasi the ones we still talk about around the campfire. Oh what fun we had!  Then the winds of change. Like many other units ours splintered the New Englanders drifted away and the Virginia group started thier own unit Company D. We would fall in with them at large events, then slowly drifed apart.  The hobby grew, women and familys became more active in the hobby. Then the couple of accidents and law suits frightened everyone.  Safety rules and  regulation and safety officer became the most important. which is good, gone are the day of self regulation.Unfortunately every one thinks they are a safety expert in every field.Some times this get a bit too much.  Thank god and good training our unit has never had as much as split fingernail in twenty five years. Today  most large events require you to be a member or one of the larger groups to particapate.Well it is full circle we are back in the U.S.V. They also changed alot since the old days  Alot of the fears we had about belonging to a large group and losing your independence never came to pass. I personly know some of these people twenty years. They make a real effort to accomadate everyone. If you have to belong to a large organation The U.S.V. is not bad one. If that ever changes I'll be the first to Tell you guys.                                                           2rivcapt    

   Our group the Second Rhode Island Infantry Company B. was founded in 1984. There has been over one hundred members who have passed through our ranks.We are based in New Jersey and Rhode Island. We do Living Histories, School Programs, Parades and other Civic functions and of  course reenactments. Our members are as deversefied as you can get, from hardcore who sleep on the ground with no shealter whats so ever to familys who bring all the reasonable comforts. If  you are wondering how organazation like ours is run? They are all different I'm sure, but ours run this way   In January we have a general election any member can run for officer,sgt. or corporal. These positions are really just safety officers. we are using real weapons even though out dated, there are rules and safety issued required by our insurance and event organizers. What events we do, how are funds are spent and all other issues are voted on. Every member has equal say. This works well, some of our members have been with us twenty years. The average being ten years.  We are a legal 501C not profit organazion with a Charter and Constitution on file with the IRS. Other than that we are just a bunch of people having a lot of fun. In the future I will be posting infomation on the original 2nd Rhode Island Regiment as well as what is going on in our unit.  Enjoy this site and visit our unit website freewebs.com/2rivb/  I hope this website is a place where not only reenactors, but anyone interested in the American Civil War can enjoy.

                                                                                Sincerly Yours, 2rivcapt.