After reading the post about pin color designations I wanted to let you all know about this situation. If you noted in Mary's reply to the pin post there is no pin designated for Semi-Auto Military rifle. This is because the Silhouette Dept. has decided not to recognize national records for this discipline. There has been for many years a place in our classification books for recording scores, and several ranges here in Pa. have monthly matches for these rifles. Here is the real problem; Pa has had a Registered State match at Ridgway the last two years. There have been national records set at these matches and Greg Connors refuses to recognize them. He claims that he does not have the staff to do the paper work. However he will register the match and collect the fees per shooter from the host club. This is just not right. I wasn't there but Randy Ent the match director for these matches brought this up at the competitors meeting at Ridgway. It was quite a lengthy discussion, and some of the Silhouette Committee members present were not aware of the situation. This is where you all come into play. If you feel that this is an injustice that needs corrected; please write a letter to the committee. Letters from shooters go a long way in influencing the committee. If you need more detailed info email Randy Ent [email protected]. He is on a mission to get this corrected, and needs all the help he can get. Randy has been a real champion to get these matches off the ground and we all here in Pa. have benifited from it. Our club here at CSLC has gotten several new shooters just through adding Semi Auto to our monthly match schedule. Thanks, Al Foust

Al,
I was not around for the whole converstation between Randy and Greg, but I was in the stat house for a large part of it. Greg's response was disappointing to say the least. Randy presented a strong and valid argument for recognition of the records and I will be happy to write to the committee in support of this branch of the discipline. I do not shoot it currently and really have no strong interest in it, but I do acknowledge the efforts being forth by some that feel strongly about shooting this version. Are there any specific points that you feel that we need to push.

Mary Watkins

Mary, The main point of contention I feel is that Greg did grant the matches registered status, and since national records can only be set in registered matches they should be recoginzed. Also they want the per shooter fees to be collected without really doing anything for the shooters or the club. I also put in a dig about the reluctance of the silhouette dept. to update their computer skills. The joke at Raton this year was that Greg does have a computer; but it is still in the box it came in. Thanks, Al

Ps. Randy Ent does not post on here but he really deserves al lot of credit for getting this state program going and for persuing this issue. Most people would have just let it go not wanting to fight city hall. I hope a lot of you will take the time to write, as this really does affect us all if only indirectly.

Al, A number of us were at the meeting and all will be writing to the committee, another fine example of mismanagement. They registered the match, they should honor the commitment.

Al, I too was at the meeting and Randy did have many valid points. I will also be mailing a letter to the committie. I mean how difficult is it to get pins made in a different color???!!

Greg's lame argument was that there wasn't enough participation to warrent the NRA to do the paprework required for the Semi-Auto matches. I asked him where in the rule book did it state that there was a minimum number requirement for any of the listed catagories. No response.
My take was...Semi-Auto is listed in the book therefore it's a recognized event.... period.
ppkny

So you are saying that they should either remove it from the book or do all of the paperwork necessary to track records? Are you really sure you want to give the options that way?

That's not exactly what I meant but now you're thinking like the NRA. Let's hope that doesn't happen.
ppkny

Shooters, The word I got from the committe meeting is the same old story; budgets, lack of personel, bla, bla, bla. So they will not recognize nationals records for a registered NRA sanctioned State semi-military silhouette match. I talked to Randy about this today, and this will likely be the end of the semi military matches at Ridgway. Too bad. I want to thank everyone who took the time to write a leter to the committe. Al Foust

cslcAl wrote:Shooters, The word I got from the committe meeting is the same old story; budgets, lack of personel, bla, bla, bla. So they will not recognize nationals records for a registered NRA sanctioned State semi-military silhouette match. I talked to Randy about this today, and this will likely be the end of the semi military matches at Ridgway. Too bad. I want to thank everyone who took the time to write a leter to the committe. Al Foust

They had their minds made up before we wrote.

I also thought they would not rule in favor of this. I was at the meeting at Ridgway as well as wrote my comments to them. I will continue to support Randy if he decides to go further with this. I hope everyone else will do the same.
ppkny

ppkny wrote:I also thought they would not rule in favor of this. I was at the meeting at Ridgway as well as wrote my comments to them. I will continue to support Randy if he decides to go further with this. I hope everyone else will do the same.
ppkny

I would suggest that if you guys have a good size group of shooters interested in the discipline to not give up just because the NRA will not recognize your records. In the long run you guys are better off because you will have more control of the sport and you will not be surprised with rule changes by people that know nothing about it. Keep your own records and recognize those that set them, you can go as far as putting them on a board at the club house for everybody to see.

Tony,
I see your point and would tend to agree with you, but the sad fact is we are expected to pay a per shooter fee for a registered match and are getting nothing in return. Al

Tony,
I see your point and would tend to agree with you, but the sad fact is we are expected to pay a per shooter fee for a registered match and are getting nothing in return. Al

cslcAl wrote:Tony,
I see your point and would tend to agree with you, but the sad fact is we are expected to pay a per shooter fee for a registered match and are getting nothing in return. Al

Al, I suggest you do not have any more registered matches until the sport is treated the same as the other silhouette disciplines, in the mean time spend the money you would have payed to the NRA to register the match in merchandize or trophies.