Sorry, but I gotta vent. I started trying to get information and register for the Nationals some three months ago. Today I phoned the NRA Competition Dept. rather than send emails or waste a postage stamp. And after getting the runaround, finally talked to a person who was useless.

I've been to the NRA headquarters (nice facility which we paid for) and those people are employees. They get a paycheck - which we also pay for. I expect better service.

So here is the NRA's sad story....... They've been hit with lots of cyber attacks, the competition web site is being built, the IT guys are trying, yada yada yada. I pointed out that our competitions start in about two months.

All registration must be done online. No entry cards. Online registration has not been built for Metallic Silhouette, but she is hoping IT will have it finished in time for the Nationals. Huh?

On a bright note, it appears all other shooting disciplines have on-line registration for their National Championships. Why am I feeling like Metallic Silhouette has been thrown under the bus?

If we did get thrown under the bus, or more accurately left behind, it's our own fault. You can read this whole 10-page thread for more context. The summary is that the NRA wanted to modernize silhouette along with the other shooting sports but the complainers, the same ones who complained about the NRA doing nothing, then complained about the NRA proposing to make changes to modernize the signups and fees.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9980

Here's a copy/paste of my opinion from that thread a few years ago, and it hasn't changed since then.

I just don't understand why there is so much angst about the NRA finally paying attention to silhouette. I swear that some of the people who write on here would complain about getting $20 bills instead of $100 bills if someone just walked up and gave them $1000.

Jason - Thanks for enlightening me. I often go months without getting on Steelchickens and had missed that discussion.

Personally, I like the proposals. Having competed in several disciplines, the "Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert, Master, High Master" classification system is easy to understand - especially for shooters from other disciplines who are a great source of potential new silhouette shooters. I don't care whether I'm a mediocre AAA shooter, or a shit hot Expert. The goal is to hit as many targets as you can.

And I like the idea of getting rid of the $13 books which I think turns new shooters off. I like the idea of having a yearly affordable, and easy to understand card which has your name, discipline, and classification. Just like the NRA's other shooting disciplines.

Having been a match director, I like the idea of anything which simplifies my paperwork. And something which I did not see mentioned in those 10 pages of comments was dealing with one's gun club leadership - I don't think I ever convinced them why silhouette was so overly complicated compared to our other shooting disciplines.

Finally, as a technology dinosaur, I especially like the idea of a simple to use electronic program which eliminates my poor math skills.

Change can be uncomfortable. But I've also noticed that people are attracted to whatever is new.