Disappointing/NRA

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:38 am

I think it is kind of disappointing the amount promotion that the NRA gives our sport. Some of you know better than me, but coming from other disciplines that were organized and effective, it is really sad that it seems like the NRA does not promote the sports more than they do. We get a book for $12.00 and join the NRA and there is almost no mention or promotion of our sport. I know that 12 bucks is very little and we should not expect more for 12 bucks. I for one would rather pay more money with more benefit in the promotion of sport. I have a feeling however that we would not gain much benefit from the additional money due to the size of the organization and all the different directions the money could be scooped up.

Maybe it is time for a private organization like the ATA, NSCA, USPSA, etc. Just wanted all your thoughts.

Kevin

Jerry G · Post by **Jerry G** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:33 am

It would be nice if they gave us some more "ink" in their publications. Most of the NRA $s go to fight gun legslation around the USA and I think that is the right place for the money. With restrictive gun laws, we wouldn't be able to travle arount the country and shoot in all these great matches.

We have spent many hours talking about why there arn't many silhouette shooters but to the NRA, that doesn't matter. What does matter is that only about 100 shooters showed up at Phoenix a couple years ago and that's not a very big crowd. We are a very small group in the shooting world but we are the best of the bunch.

genphideaux · Post by **genphideaux** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:42 am

Gentelmen,

Subscribe to USA Shooting Sports, call the NRA publications number on your NRA member card and sign up, they list where and when matches are and print all the match results that are submitted to them including pics.
Great rag and it is geared toward competion shooters.

Bob259 · Post by **Bob259** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:03 pm

Jerry G wrote:........ What does matter is that only about 100 shooters showed up at Phoenix a couple years ago and that's not a very big crowd. We are a very small group in the shooting world but we are the best of the bunch.

Jerry, I think we are bigger then you think we are. The problem is you can't go by the numbers at the National's. Like every group/activitiy there are the travel costs and time away from the job most of us are dealing with and then add to that the hassle of traveling with firearms now. I'll only go if I can drive there and that's why I missed Phx. I would have had it made seeing my niece lives right off Carefree Highway not man miles from the range

... I was looking forward to going, but with no other travelers the cost and driving time would have been to much by myself.

Like genphideaux said subscribe to Shooting Times, it's a great magazine and I like it better then the others.

steel_ram · Post by **steel_ram** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:10 pm

At least you have a active entity in the US. Here in Canada we have the SRAC (silhouette rifle assoc. of Canada). Granted it is run by volunteers, however at $25 a year it would be nice to have an active website or perhaps a once a year mailout to touch base. Not everyone wants to, or can attend the annual National match but would like to feel part of something.

Ironically this association was created due to Silhouette shooters being ignored by previous organization.

We have to be a member to attend the nationals or be eligible for Grandslams.

duckgumbo · Post by **duckgumbo** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 3:04 pm

If you want my thoughts on the NRA and Smallbore silhouette, please PM or email me.

ppkny · Post by **ppkny** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:15 pm

Kevinp,
I guess I'm a little confused. What is it you want the NRA to do for Silhouette ?
All the shooting sports get coverage in both the magazines, have their matches listed, have official rule books maintained and updated by the NRA and have a national match.
What is it they are not doing?
If you read the NRA Rifleman and SSUSA both have had articles about the sport and both report on matches. What do they do more for the other shooters.

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:26 pm

OK, I AM NOT BASHING THE NRA HERE!!. I am fully supportive of the funds that are being spent on the second amendment protections. I am a member and always will be a member. I am getting the shooting sports magazine and it is fine but very little coverage of the sport in general. It was difficult for me to even find information about the sport when I started. I was seeking out a smallbore rifle sport to get my family involved, I did not just come across it somewhere on the NRA website. I DID NOT EVEN KNOW THE SPORT EXISTED UNTIL APRIL 2006! THAT IS SAD!! I guess what I am trying to say is that with some effort which may include increasing membership funds or an annual fee, there can be a better job done to promote the sport to the rest of the shooting community. I do not have the answers, I just brought the subject up remembering how long it took me to find the sport. The Whittington Center does not even have monthly smallbore matches anymore.

orangeblaster · Post by **orangeblaster** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:59 pm

Kevinp,
I fully support you frustration with the NRA. Maybe I should put on the fire suit for what I'm about to write, but I need to add to your thoughts so far....
Why is everyone so afraid to say the king has no clothes? Every year there are fewer shooters competing, fewer hunters, fewer clubs/ranges and more gun control laws. So why not fire the jokers at the NRA who claim to be representing us? This one site does more to promote silhouette shooting in a month than everything the NRA will do this year. Anyone up for starting a non-profit to organize, officiate and expand silhouette shooting??? We need you. If your one of those who disagree with me. Go to SASS "End of Trail" and the silhouette nationals. I then dare you to tell me the NRA is the only/best way to organize the shooting sports.

Seamus O'Grady · Post by **Seamus O'Grady** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:12 pm

Their magazines also SUCK!

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:08 am

Seems like i started somthing here!!

slowstdy · Post by **slowstdy** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:33 am

Ok Guys, what you have to do is offer the shilouetter's a better deal, and a better organization. That will take a lot of $ and a lot of time. Do not go off half cocked & do a half ass job and mess up a system that works, it may not work very well but it does work.
Cowboy shooting started with a clean slate, and don't ask about the $
How about putting all that effort into the NRA and getting them to improve there efforts.
If the NRA has taught us anything its that "Lobbing works"
Call your local NRA reps.
Call Mike Krei at the NRA hq, he is the Director of competitive Shooting.
Call Conners at the NRA he is the Silhouette Manager.
Also mention the lack of a National Air Rifle match.
send email to all of them from members of your club.
We all get the please donate calls, mention the lack of competitive silhouette shooting support to them, They get a little confused but will put you through to a supervisor who will take your details and pass them on.
Just my 2c

kevinpagano · Post by **kevinpagano** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:08 am

Limey what a fantastic response. I do not think that we should reinvent the wheel if we do not have to. I think that being a part of the NRA competitive program brings the sport some clout. I will be contacting them with some ideas and suggest that everyone do the same. I just emailed a previous SB sil shooter that I have not seen at a match but he is active in other venues. He wanted a schedule and I sent him one, so maybe he will come and shoot some with us.

Jerry G · Post by **Jerry G** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:22 am

The NRA may not be real good at promoting our sport but it is the only game in town. I don't think we could branch off and do as good on our own. I do wish they would put a few more articles in the rifleman and I also think Shooting Sports would serve us better in newspaper format and not take so long for things to be published in it.

If you think it's hard to get info on programs here in the states, try to find out what's going on in Canada.

The matches at Raton are put on by the local club and it is a very small town. It is a shame that so many ranges there get so little use. It is also too bad that it is so hard to get to. Flying into Denver and then renting a car to drive down is a long and expensive trip.

morerams · Post by **morerams** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:58 am

Hi kevinp, don't know how old you are but over here on the far side of the Pacific I knew about silhouette before anyone was shooting it, first matches in Australia were around 1979 or 1980 and New Zealand about the 80/81 damn near before I knew what a computer was let alone the WWW, did read a fair bit though, mostly American mags and the Gun Digest books, just loved the idea of it and been hooked ever since.

For my two bob's worth never rely on any national organisation for promotion, it is the shooters job to carry the sport forward, the national organisation should back you, hopefully, but ultimately it comes down to active shooters and clubs, that is what really makes this a fantastic shooting discipline, whether you shoot at your local club or go all the way to the World Champs you will find great people and mostly experiencing the similar dramas with national adminstrations.

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