I think that the political views of most members (and readers) of this forum are probably similar, particularly when it comes to this issue.  However, there is a time and place for political expression and this is not it.  This is a single shot rifle SHOOTING forum!  The NRA has been ruined in my lifetime by becoming a political organization which knows or cares little about shooting anything.  One of the joys of the ASSRA is that it is not that.  If the ASSRA becomes involved in this sort of thing, I am out.

I had initially decided not to post on this topic, but the preceding responses have stirred me to comment.  I do not believe that single shots exist in a vacuum.  As go the other types of firearms, so eventually go our beloved Winchesters, Ballards, and even Stevens.  In certain parts of the World, even .22 cal single shot "bunny rifles" are severely regulated or banned outright.

There is a well known quote from the WW II era about holding one's peace as the Nazis came for this group and that and then discovering when the Nazis came for the speaker, no one was left to protest...this strategy can be and is being used on gun owners.  This is not hysteria, it is fact.

With the above being said, I would respectfully submit that an additional page of topics, called something like "Political Discussion" or "Legislative Concerns" added to the General list should not be too terribly problematic and would give those who are interested the opportunity to post and to read about this topic.  Just like now, those not interested in these specific topics could skip this or any other page as they skim the Forum.

What say you, mssrs WebMeister, Global Moderator and Board of Directors?

Charlie Shaeff
ASSRA Life
NRA Life
OGCA
and other acronyms too numerous to list!

Like Paul and Green Frog I too feel the urge to join in, or be separated later when our beloved single shot rifles are the last thing they come for.
If we keep this in a separate heading I'm all for it. We're only kidding ourselves if we think they wont come after us eventually!

Green Frog
I'm in total agreement with you. It is only the NRA that has maintained our right to have our firearms.
Bob

I respect SPG's opinion... and do partly agree with him.

However; 
I have to point out that it's less about "what's in it for me" than SPG thinks!
Competitive shooting (and OTHER neglected NRA programs as well) brings new blood into the shooting, hunting, and collecting fields.  That is something we desperately need!
We need to keep the percentage of the American public that shoots, hunts, collects, and owns firearms constant.  Right now, that percentage is falling... and falling sharply.

Yes, the NRA MUST fight for our rights. That's an absolute and unequivocal fact of nature.

But if NRA does not ALSO support competitive shooting, hunting, collecting, and recrational shooting... then in 20-30-40 years, when there is only a small FRACTION of the number of gun owners, and hence, the number of NRA members.... where does that leave us?

I in no way wish to see NRA scale back it's political efforts....
But if we don't also get far more serious about bringing new blood into the competitive shooting world, it will not be many more decades before there IS no competitive shooting.  Like it or not, NRA is the governing body for most of the competitive events in the United States.  If they don't take the lead, there IS no other group that can.


Paul F.

Frog, "what IS the official board position?"

ASSRA By Laws, Article IV:  Purposes

Paragragh 5

The purposes for which the Association is organized are:

5.  For the united stand in opposing any legislative curtailment of the right to possess and use arms by decent and peaceful shooters, collectors, and sportsmen; to cooperate with duly established law enforcement agencies in the prevention of illegal or abusive use of arms; and to give the general public accurate information on the subject of arms and their accessories.

May, 2005

I think Marlinguy has the right idea - add another catagory!
Regards, Joe

I had determined to "waste" no more time in further participation in this discussion but I got reading and thinking and now my bloods up.
I have people say to me frequently, "tell us how you really feel!" Well, I try to do excactly that! I'm quite a bit like Mr. Borton in that respect. I'm eiather going to keep quiet or I am going to say what I believe. I may say it more diplomatically at times but I'm not going to equivocate.
So, here it is. I joined the ASSRA because I like the shooting, the rifles and most of all the people. In general, I have found the people to be the kind I want to associate with and more than that, the kind I'm proud to have my impressionable grandson rub shoulders with. Having said that, if I thought some of the things said here on this topic were the official position of the ASSRA or even of the majority of leadership I would mail my card back and ask for a refund of dues in half a heartbeat! 
In the matter of firearms ownership, genltemen, we must hang together or we most assuredly will hang separately.  I see no gray area here. You are with us or you are against us! This right is so fundamental to power resting in the people it was viewed as more important than even our precious freedom of speech. Of course each person DOES have a right to his/her own opinion. The consequences of that may not be so palatable. In a real world of having at times to compromise to get things done where sometimes the "enemy of my enemy is my friend", a friend of my enemy is my .....?
Failure to set aside minor differences and focus on the long term and the big picture will only doom us. I fear we may be too far gone already - we may have no more than 3 to 5 years left of life as we have known it. Think, think, think before you let the twist in your knickers to cause you to act on impulse and throw the bums out whether it be the NRA or the Congress! There are bigger things at stake than the state of your knickers!

Your punctuation is good too.

40_Rod wrote on Mar 25^th, 2007 at 9:01am:


If it wasn't for the Lawyers and Lobbyists, competitive shooting would have long since become an afterthought for all of us. Think about it, please!
Regards, Joe

I am a new member but an old shooter who remembers the old NRA, it has changed but then so has our political sceanery in this country. I live in california, we jokingly call it the Peoples Socialist Republic of Californiia for a reason, the Dems run thsi with all the Libersl in charge. They want to protect us from ourselfs and each other. I went to purchase lead the other day and was told no, we pulled it off the shelfs years ago- this was a major hardware store. I ended up getting some at a scrap yard for $0.45LBS. This is the attitude here. Even if it is not the law, once it is spoken of it must be the truth and they all bend to it.
Last week I took a trip up to where I had prospected for gold for years only to find out that the Burae of Land Mismanagement had used a foam substance to block the old tunnels to keep us out. I pulled out over five ounces three years ago from this site.
Do us all a favour and check things out or the rest of out USA will end up going our states route. And you do not want that.
Mike W

I don`t thank you guys understand what Bret has here!  Our forum does not have to be a member! It up each of us to decide if we want to be a member of Bret site! You can go on his site and become a member if you wish! If you don`t want to be a member so be it!
But our forum does not become a member! And with Brets forum we DO NOT need a Politial Column!  go there and have at it!!!

I may have this all backwards but one of the things I think Bret was looking for was...To somehow get the word out over the forums that there was a particular issue at hand some where that needed to be responded too enmass ???I think Borton is right there are plenty of places to vent ideas and opinions.Most of us don't need preaching to on this score, but few of us are plugged in to what is happening in our state and nation as to what is being snuck in,in various bills,and a swift 
method of notification to the shooters at large is a good idea...Maybe a link like the bullet lube thing or on interesting links,go there if you want or don't....B.A.

The best way to guarantee the loss of any right is to ignore the civic responsibility to be involved in the process to protect that right.  There exists in this nation a deplorable lack of interest in presenting our views to those duly elected to represent us.  That is why a VERY vocal minority can acheive extension of rights and entitlements far beyond what is constitutional.  It is far past time for those of us who are weary of ALL of our rights getting trampled and ignored to STAND UP AND BE COUNTED.  I do not shoot cowboy action, trap, skeet, IPSC, IDPA, BPCS, Silhouette; nor do I hunt.  HOWEVER, I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO DO SO.  It is imperative to realize that those who push further firearm restrictions have but one goal: the complete disarmament of this nations people.  In this age of rapid transfer of information it is disheartening to relaize how few are really informed of proposed legislation at all levels of government.   

I feel strongly that it is IMMATERIAL whether we have current alerts on this forum.  It is VITAL that those who receive such alerts take the time to ACT ON THE INFORMATION.   

As to falling numbers in competitive shooting, it is incumbent on those who are experienced to ACTIVELY recruit new and YOUNGER beginners.  Failure to do so will absolutely guarantee the death of competitive shooting in all forms.  Instead of saying "Someone ought to DO something!" each of  us MUST do whatever we can.   Having spent 16 seasons running a local club highpower program, 25 years heavily involved in another club's NRA bullseye pistol program and smallbore program, and 27 years as a firearm instructor teaching youth and adults, I MUST ASK: "What are YOU doing?" and challenge all to DO SOMETHING!