Phil Boakes Resigns CPSA

[wymberley]

Perhaps we ought to follow the example of other Countries, and introduce competency testing and compulsory membership of an approved organisation, i.e. CPSA or BASC..?? Catamong

 

The CPSA has worked hard to provide a better alternative to compulsory membership and competency testing.

 

The CPSA recognised some years back that if legislators made the specifications for competency it was likely they would be as bizarre as some other bureaucratic legislation that is in place. It would be far better that a good appraisal structure was already in place and could be adopted by the Fire-arms licensing requirements if needed.

 

To this end 500 instructors have been trained and the Academy started, allowing any CPSA member to acquire a competency certificate at various levels.

 

This process has been paralleled by small bore, full bore etc so the standards are similar.

 

This means that the target fire-arms associations have in place a certification system that can be recognised and adopted if legislation were to require this, and for us shooters this is likely to be far better than a Brussels or Whitehall designed system

 

Hi, I don't shoot at targets so am not aware of any of the above. However, it sounds good to me. If David BASC should see this, perhaps he could comment if they have anything similar planned or in the pipeline.

Cheers

 

Edit: spelling

Edited March 9, 2010 by wymberley

[Catamong]

Hi, I don't shoot at targets so am not aware of any of the above. However, it sounds good to me. If David BASC should see this, perhaps he could comment if they have anything similar planned or in the pipeline.

Cheers

 

Edit: spelling

 

Yes, this is all well and good, but it doesn't address my point, which is that your average "straw bale" shooter has no need to attend a competency course, because he doesn't have to as a condition precedent to obtaining a gun licence, nor does he have to obtain any insurance.

 

I've seen some pretty hairy things at the many "straw bale" shoots I've attended over the years, I've had a guy turnaround with his finger on the trigger of a loaded pump action shotgun pointing at my stomach 10 feet away shouting to his mate, "This thing won't crank!!!"

 

Believe me, it happens when numpties get hold of guns and are not properly supervised, I'm amazed there aren't more accidents in our sport.

 

Cat.

[Mungler]

Correct me if I am wrong but a straw baler can pay £50 odd to the CPSA by credit card over the telephone and then (apparently) immediately ascends to the dizzy heights of being a CPSA registered competition shooter, whereas in actual fact nothing has changed save that the bloke is £50 lighter in the pocket. He doesn't become a better shot or any safer.

 

If you are suggesting some competancy course before getting a shotgun certificate then that's beyond this thread and certainly beyond the CPSA.

 

Mind you, if you wanted to artificially boost the membership of the CPSA then pushing a law through requiring a safety certification prior to getting a shotgun certificate would be the way. Indeed, a more sneaky approach would be to suggest that all new shooters must obtain and show proof of insurance - yes that would be the way. It sounds reasonable and looks "safe" and would have the natural consequences of boosting shooting organisation memberships. Mind you, it throws another hurdle in the path of anyone looking to get into the sport - in much the same way that the full bore range certification has.

 

Whilst I am sure that the likes of the CPSA and BASC would tell their members they would resist mandatory insurance and competance training, I bet they would love it - who else would provide the bullshot courses, paper certification and insurances? You don't need to go on a course or get a piece of paper to understand that crossing the road can be dangerous or that the pointy end of a gun goes bang.

 

I just didn't realise how mad and dangerous these straw bale shoots are. People must be dropping like flies at them - unlike the CPSA grounds which are protected by magical powers purchased from the CPSA direct

Edited March 9, 2010 by Mungler

[unclestuffy]

CEO's just don't go on garden leave like that - what has he done to be "asked to leave" my opinion is that there must have been either a major fall out or major "mis-conduct" some where in the CPSA

[MC]

Yes, this is all well and good, but it doesn't address my point, which is that your average "straw bale" shooter has no need to attend a competency course, because he doesn't have to as a condition precedent to obtaining a gun licence, nor does he have to obtain any insurance.

 

I've seen some pretty hairy things at the many "straw bale" shoots I've attended over the years, I've had a guy turnaround with his finger on the trigger of a loaded pump action shotgun pointing at my stomach 10 feet away shouting to his mate, "This thing won't crank!!!"

 

Believe me, it happens when numpties get hold of guns and are not properly supervised, I'm amazed there aren't more accidents in our sport.

 

Cat.

 

 

Where was it that the guy shot a clay from the hip and was banned from the CPSA? Oh yes a registered skeet shoot organised by the CPSA. Don't preach to anyone that compulsory testing would stop anything like that as I understand it the person mentioned above was fairly high up in the CPSA hierachy.

 

As I have said before if the CPSA concentrated more on straw bale shoots then it could instill the basics from the start, as this is where everyone starts shooting. Instead they take your attitude that strawbale shoots are something you scrape off your shoe and only worthy of slagging off.

 

Considering the ammount of strawbale shoots that happen week in week out and they are as bad as you say, I am suprised that there isn't at least 10 deaths a week.

 

Maybe they aren't anywhere near as bad as you think.

 

I agree with a certain ammount of compulsory testing as it may prevent the shooting of illegal species on organised wildfowling trips.

[shaun4860]

Where was it that the guy shot a clay from the hip and was banned from the CPSA? Oh yes a registered skeet shoot organised by the CPSA. Don't preach to anyone that compulsory testing would stop anything like that as I understand it the person mentioned above was fairly high up in the CPSA hierachy.

 

As I have said before if the CPSA concentrated more on straw bale shoots then it could instill the basics from the start, as this is where everyone starts shooting. Instead they take your attitude that strawbale shoots are something you scrape off your shoe and only worthy of slagging off.

 

Considering the ammount of strawbale shoots that happen week in week out and they are as bad as you say, I am suprised that there isn't at least 10 deaths a week.

 

Maybe they aren't anywhere near as bad as you think.

 

I agree with a certain ammount of compulsory testing as it may prevent the shooting of illegal species on organised wildfowling trips.

 

 

I would like to bet that nearly all clay shooters started at some point at a "strawbale" shoot, i know i did, and whilst i am now secretary of my local club we would still be classed as a "strawbale" shoot as we dont do registered.

 

The CPSA are trying their very hardest to alienate most of the clay shooting fraternity.

 

shaun