. . . only knaves will have bows and arrows. In a letter dated June 12, 1349, England’s King Edward III wrote how the people of his realm, 
both rich and poor, had in previous times exercised their skill at shooting arrows and how that practice had brought honor and profit to the kingdom. But, he continued, that skill had been laid aside in favor of other pursuits. Therefore he commanded sheriffs throughout the realm to proclaim that every able citizen in their leisure time use their bows and arrows, and learn and exercise the art of archery. And furthermore, they should not in “any manner apply themselves to the throwing of stones, wood, or iron, handball, football, bandyball, cambuck, or cockfighting” or any other such trivial pursuits (that includes golf).
A hundred years later, Edward IV continued the tradition, decreeing that all Englishmen, other than clergymen or judges, should own bows their own height, keeping them always ready for use and providing practice for sons age seven or older. Fines were levied for failing to shoot every Sunday.
Sir Wayne of LaPierre complained that the law did not go far enough, that it lacked a provision that citizens should carry concealed bows and arrows and quivers with more than a ten-arrow capacity. And a ban on background checks for potential archers, of course.
Wretched Richard's Almanac 