Greg Connor, the NRA and the Air Rifle Silhouette Worlds

[dustinflint]

There seems to be a lot of hostility toward Greg, and perhaps rightfully so. I've talked to him on several occasions and come away frustrated. That said, I dont necessarily believe that we need to give up on the NRA. I've been working with Dennis Willing on this air rifle match and have spoken to him on the phone and exchanged several emails. Dennis is a competitor and is committed to making sure that we have as many matches as we want and that the shooters are in control of the game. This is the email that Dennis wrote to Mary and me today:

Dustin and Mary,

I am pleased that we can work together to support an Air Gun Championship to be held in Louisiana. I look forward to a long relationship with your shooting community.

However, I have continued to monitor the Steel Chickens web site and it appears that many of the people there do not support the NRA or our involvement with assisting you in your request. That is a shame because all we want to do is help, and are not looking to take over your events.

The NRA Competitive Shooting Division is a relatively small unit with a very large task. We are approximately 20 individuals in total that have thus far in 2012 supported almost 12,000 tournaments and 51 National Championships in many different sports. We are currently down about 5 employees and that makes the rest of us have to work even harder to support our match sponsors in a manner that they should be supported.

The two previous Directors in this position were NOT competitors and had a much different viewpoint about competitive shooting. I have been, and still am a competitor, having competed in Conventional Pistol, PPC, High Power Rifle, and Action Pistol. I still compete in Action Pistol. I have been in this position since February and I’m working hard at trying to move all of our programs forward.

Because I’m a competitor I make every effort to support as many shooting events as I can. However, I do have a budget and limited personnel and a very short summer window into which most of the events fall. Staff cannot be in two places at once. As a result, I have working agreements with clubs and associations to host events that are in demand without having to send personnel.

Because of the limited budget (the NRA is not a bottomless fountain of money), I tend to look at attendance in events and sports as an indicator as to where the NRA’s money is best spent. The more competitors we have, the more resources are directed to those competitors and events. One of the people on your web forum suggests hosting “outlaw” matches and says that he does just that. When I begin to look at statistics, those attending “outlaw” matches do not show up in the numbers of those attending silhouette matches. It would then appear that fewer competitors have an interest in shooting silhouette and with the lack of interest in the shooting community for this sport, the amount of money spent in support goes down. Remember, if I see more shooters, the amount of support goes up. Hosting “outlaw” matches hurts your support from the NRA.

This office is very interested in promoting your shooting events. Please let me know what I can do to help.

Dennis L. Willing
Director, NRA
Competitive Shooting Division

11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
Office 703-267-1460
Fax 703-267-3941

[Dee]

I don't think anyone wants to give up on the NRA but what does one do when they seem to have given up on you? I hope Mr. Willing understands that the reason for all the disgust towards the NRA is due to how the shooters have been treated for so long now by Conner. You reap what you sow, so to say. People want to be on board and have active involvement so long as the NRA does. Otherwise it just comes across as the NRA wanting their way and you not getting anything out of it as a shooter IE No Nationals in Airgun for how long now?

I think it is great Mr. Willing is looking towards the future and what we can possibly get accomplished together. If only this mentality had been in place in the past perhaps it would never have gotten to the point it has now with so much conflict between the shooters and the sanctioning body.

The mission of the NRA was to get people shooting correct? It had nothing to do with gun rights etc at its conception as far as I am aware. It was all about shooting and getting people to learn to shoot and competitions. Seems that has been lost along the years in my opinion. I appreciate all the NRA does regarding gun laws etc but in the end no one is getting my guns be there an NRA or no NRA. So how about we focus on getting people shooting and having fun. If you do that it would seem you would have more people that would vote for gun enthusiast types thus doing what the NRA Now seems to be mainly directed towards, getting people to vote for pro gun politicians.

Perhaps I am over simplifying things but IMO the day the government says guns are illegal to own is the very same moment they say they are traitors and need removal. Will the NRA be there for that day? No, the people will. The people that SHOOT. Not the people that wished they could have shot a game they loved buy were rejected by the people claiming to be promoting the shooting sports and moved on to other hobbies where their interests could actually by entertained by actual events.

Anyway that is all I have to say on this. I am looking forward to a Nationals Match I will do everything I can to help make it a success and most of all fun for all that attend. No promises on attendance numbers can be made but I can assure you of one thing. We will have 1000% more shooters than last 5 years of National Air Rifle Silhouette Championships combined! ;)


Dee

[jneihouse]

Couple of comments...Dustin, you have managed to at least get someone with the authority to do something about the "state of the union" to commit in writing that he supports the air rifle National Championship...Good job. I still recall that on more than one occasion Ducky and Jerry offered to pay for trophies and run the Air Rifle Nationals (excuse was given that the reason that we could not have a national championship was that there was no money for trophies) and were met with a flat "No" How does that make sense on any level?....Dee, you hit a homerun with your comments also..It's good that Mr. Willing "continues to monitor the steel chickens website" and unfortunate that he gets the idea that a lot of folks here do not support the NRA and do not support it's involvement in the air rifle national championship. I would urge Mr. Willing to, instead of "continue to monitor" the website to make a few inquiries as to what has brought us to this point. Open a post and invite replies. All you well know that none of us got up one morning and decided "I hate the NRA and do not support them" Rather, this site is full of people that have grown matches in their respective areas and have literally connected the nation of silhouette shooters by traveling and supporting each other's matches. We all need to be on the same page, a nation divided against itself cannot stand, or so someone famous once said. We have been brought to the point of rebellion and discord by constantly running into the brick wall that Greg has built between us and him, one brick and one intereaction at a time....I'm a pretty level headed guy, I give everyone (pretty much) the benefit of the doubt, but I have run out of patience with Greg and his dictatorial leadership methods that have set us at odds with our sanctioning body. Best of luck with your dealings with these folks Dustin. At least, you being a lawyer, know to keep one hand on your wallet at all times when dealing with them.

Kitty

[Innocent]

Commander Kitty, You bring excellent points. None of us have set out to dislike or 'hate' the NRA. Each has come to these conclusions pretty much one interaction at a time. My discontent (not dislike, but discontent) of Greg Conner is not as a person but as a shooting sports director in a position that requires he promote the silhouette discipline. I personally have been the brunt of several of his ill fated attempts to "preserve" the sport by ruling in the manner in which has at the time. I have seen many others receive the same or similar treatment in other situations, and opt to leave a sport they enjoy rather than put up with his dictatorial way.

I may or may not actually attend an air rifle national personally, as I am already involved heavily in smallbore, high power, and CLA so to add three air rifles as well will be tight. That being said, Dustin, you need to set match dates that suit your schedule and range commitments. Those that can make it will, trying to pick the best dates for the most shooters that respond on SC will end up being a major mess. Take into account the previously mentioned thoughts, school, holidays and other major matches. Yes, it is hot in the summer, everywhere! Montana included, so deal with the weather, more importantly look into the weather pattern for the place and time you intend to host your event. Storms and high winds cancel/delay more than simply hot or cold. Hunting seasons loose a lot of silhouette shooters after the real animals.
On the subject of schools, I know the 4H is big in LA/TX, look into when those youngsters could best be served by a major match nearby. Lets focus on getting more juniors into air rifle at least!
As for a batch of rebels, Dennis, we are somewhat, only when we get repeats of no response, lied to or negative feedback. For the most part we are here shooting because we love our sport, our dysfunctional family and we enjoy competing. Would love to see you at any of the nationals for a day, just to meet some of us.

Mary

[jneihouse]

Mary,
Great points. Short answer to "how do we fix it". Promote Greg to asst Competitions director, give him something meaningless to do that will not suffer when he screws it up, and promote Jonathan into his spot. Give Jonathan a good assistant, a meaningful budget and watch our numbers grow.
Kitty

[Dee]

I think the 4H idea is a great one for this area as well and could draw a lot of young shooters to a match at a National Championship Level so close to home. One thing is for sure we need to set a date so we can begin to promote the match and get the word out.

Dee

[Innocent]

Commander Kitty, if I didn't know you better I would say you have worked for the government toooooooooo long. Peter principle showing up, but by the same token it would allow Jon a chance to show his abilities, build the sport and still have Greg around for history/knowledge.
On topic of an air rifle nationals, pick a date that suits the team you are pulling together Dustin, and remember you can not pull off a large match that way being a single person...a team is required to do it well. GO with what suits your team and start promoting.


Mary

[dustinflint]

We are having a meeting in Zwolle this weekend and will decide on a date.

Dustin

[Jerry G]

Every couple years someone comes up with the idea of dumping the NRA and they have all fizzled out. Unless you can come up with some big backing you might as well forget the idea. Canada did split off of the Shooting Federation but they are still on the coat tails of the NRA. I think they are just stumbling along.

[atomicbrh]

Mary and Dustin, Mr. Willing misquoted me from my reply to this thread! I have never hosted a non-sanctioned "Outlaw" match of any kind!
This is an outright LIE!
This WIlling needs to get his facts straight and actually read.
I have never hosted anything but Approved NRA SIlhouette matches.
I have competed in several all steel club run pistol matches with actually no sanctioning from any governing body but had more competitors than any other monthly events held at our local clubs except USPSA.
I have RSO'd single stages for these steel matches and help set up courses of fire but have NEVER hosted a non-sanctioned match of any kind.

Aside: Our club event called "Clash of Metal" for USPA type handguns is one of our most popular events. Two boxes, two shooters shooting pepper poppers(left shooter goes left to right, right shooter goes right to left)at the same time, racing to a crossed mini-pepper popper in the middle. First one to put their poppers down wins. Drag-racing with a handgun. Gridded like a big baseball tournament. After the "Are you ready?" command a car horn goes off to start your draw. I cannot describe it. It is the most adrenalin packed competition I have participated in so far. As my son says it is the most "in your face" competitive shooting that is currently available. And yes, I do not know of a single person that is competing in our local "Clash of Metal" that is not a NRA member. The host of the Match has a personalized state liscence plate on his truck that says "NRA" and he is a full time for a living handgun instructor. The only full time guy in our area.

Bobby

[dustinflint]

Bobby,

Don't get too upset about it. It's not a big deal.

Dustin

[Innocent]

Bobby,
There are multiple matches that are being held that are not NRA sanctioned, and some sanctioned matches where other side matches outside the rules are run. The fact remains that any time we can get people out shooting it supports the NRA in some fashion. So as Dustin says, don't worry about it.

Mary