While that may prove a worthy goal for the very distant future there is a lot of foundational work that has to be, must be, done first. And, it has nothing to do with Competitions Division, NRA, et al, rather who we can trust among us because that was the previous and present, fatal flaw, problem we had to deal with. Traitors within our ranks operating in their own self interest. Is history repeating itself? Consider the following.
It seems some are forgetting the results of the 2015 & 2016 NRA position and demands on BPTR shooters articulated by Black Powder Committee and Competitions Division for the NRA leadership. Not to mention influential traitor competitors. Changes at Competitions Division is irrelevant, Black Powder Committe, is not credible and I have verified recently, continues to occupy a hostile mind set.
To Quote NRA in official Black Powder Committee meeting: "We want Black Powder Target Shooting out of the NRA and we are giving you, (Zack Taylor), a few weeks to make that happen." And suggesting we engage NRA today may either be ignorant of history or are recommending we repeat it is suspect on its face. Or maybe some folks think we are, I like the Mexican word for stupid, Pendejo!
Granted, because we pretty much knew what was coming then, somewhat of a transition acceptable to both sides may have been accomplished, however, that was never in the cards. Tyrants are always my way or the highway. Remember that when dealing with the NRA!
Pointing to the obvious, the NRA plan was for there being no Nationals in 2017 plus the 2017 awards carried the date 2016 on them. It was pretty clear NRA did not plan for 2017 to happen, much less 2018. Remember the short time frame demanded for entries, much shorter than advertised?
And, after BPTR's departure, NRA wanted the competitors to pay for NRA keeping national records and scores which they had not been doing anyway. Obvious parting shot/middle finger to NRA members.
Does anyone recall Steve Rhoades, the premier figure in BPTR at the time, being assigned to the silhouette committee rather than the Black Powder Committee where he belonged? Hmm, and just why do you think that happened? You think maybe it was already known at NRA HQ that Target going away was a foregone conclusion? Primarily people claiming to be the saviors of silhouette working against target, perhaps? Hmmm?
Anybody remember the skullduggery surrounding the move to Ridgeway and dual qualifying nationals, one east the other west, climaxing in a final, 3rd, match to decide the National Champion that never happened for silhouette? All lead by Judas Goats working in their own interests rather than what was obviously the greater good? How soon we forget. Pendejo again? No, probably not. Judas was one of the twelve, so, why should we assume we are exempt from traitors?
Consider this: NRA is/was solely responsible for the death of BPTR and BPCR competition at Raton, and only now, looking away from their failure nationwide back to the successes at Raton of the .22 matches and their success with big bore silhouette attached has hastened to enlist someone from their cadre to represent NRA's interests at Raton should raise a huge question mark. WHY, did NRA do this?
This is history that should be impossible to forget and information markers should clearly resonate with all shooters. So why is it being promoted at this point in time? Does not pass the smell test.
Let's wait and see the concrete being poured for footers during the current resurrection of the Byers matches before blindly rushing into another NRA sponsored ambush.
While we all desire a positive outcome, as Kenny might say, "Something does not jive."