CPSA contradicting themselves

[pin]

Not sure if this is the right place, it's not about clay shooting 100%, it's not about country sports 100% - it's about insurance and some other stuff - move if reqd!

 

Recently the CPSA tried, at most reasonable shooters disdain, to distance themselves from their heritage - not only proposing to change their name to distance themselves from shooters of real pigeons but also to try and move out of the whole "live quarry" fraternity.

 

Most people believed that this was wrong and even though they made it difficult it was voted off the books. They have then done as much as they can to form various international relations with organisations who also distance themselves from live quarry shooting.

 

The management board of the CPSA, to a man, were behind this move.

 

YET!

 

In the latest Pull magazine (mag that comes with the CPSA membership) they have an inside front cover full colour spread which clearly shows driven pheasant shooting alongside stalking. They make a massive deal about the insurance offering they proffer as justification for their membership charge as covering you if you engage in these activities.

 

On the membership renewal form they make a big reference to this insurance, it being a key element in their justification for providing a score service @ nearly £60 a year.

 

Does anyone else find this really contradictory? On one hand they would love to dump live shooting completely and distance themselves from it, but then happily use it in justification of their ludicrous charges.

[MC]

Whilst I personally couldn't care less about the CPSA I do agree that it is hypocracy at its highest level.

 

I would love to know what help you would get from the CPSA if you were insured with them and had an accident whilst out game shooting.

 

NOT MUCH I BET!

 

I have now been clay shooting on average twice a week for the last year with no dealings with the CPSA and their bunch of overpriced hypocritical policies on ruling a sport that they don't want anything to do with really.

[lurcherboy]

Don't hold back MC

 

Just awaiting Catamongs response now.

 

 

 

LB

[webber]

I agree with Martins comments wholeheartedly.

 

webber

[Catamong]

Don't hold back MC

 

Just awaiting Catamongs response now.

 

 

 

LB

 

Oh dear, LB's provoked me into replying on this one, this subject is getting a bit like the "Do I need snapcaps??" question that comes up on a weekly basis.

 

Here are a few facts about CPSA, (or even BASC) membership.

 

1. Dunblane was a PR disaster for both the CPSA & BASC who jointly agreed to maintain a "dignified silence", (yes, those exact words), about the whole affair. They agreed to keep quiet and say absolutely nothing when the popular press launched a campaign to ban ALL legally held firearms. They knew they wouldn't achieve that, but the net result of the "head in the sand" attitude of our beloved shooting organisations was a ban on handgun ownership, which, as we all know, has done nothing to reduce the use of handguns by criminals, it has in fact increased due to our lax border controls with other European Countries, with handguns flooding in by the car boot load from Eastern Europe. At that time, it was generally agreed that, in future, gun owners would need to show "good reason" for wanting to own a shotgun, the net result being that both CPSA & BASC gained a bonanza of "new members" seeking to prove they had "good reason" before the new law came in. It didn't turn out that way, but many of these "ghost members" still remain as passive members of both CPSA & BASC. I believe that both of these organisations still benefit significantly from these "ghost members".

 

2. Newbies get far too hung about this insurance thingy. If you are a CPSA or BASC member, yes, you are covered whilst engaging in a variety of Field Sports. What many of the Newbies don't realise is that if they are house owners and have household insurance they are probably already covered by Public Liablity insurance ranging from £2m to £5m, and as any insurance guru will tell you, "you can't insure the same risk twice", i.e. if you need to make a claim, you can't claim under both policies, so why bother paying for two in the first place..??

 

3. The name change debate was an interesting one, it turned into a complete fiasco when only about 350 members voted out of a total membership of over 20,000, quite incredible considering the furore that was kicked up prior to the vote..!! I had visions of the the CPSA Board being publicly hanged by outraged members at the AGM, but it didn't happen that way, apathy ruled the day, with the CPSA Board being humiliated by the vote to retain the word "Pigeon" in the title.

 

4. It's easy to see why Guys like MC have no interest in joining the CPSA. He's the typical "Club Shooter", who puts a lot of effort into picking up the prizes at the local YFC straw bale charity shoot, but for whatever reason doesn't want to move up the ladder to shoot for his County, Area or Country at the sport we all love. There's nothing wrong with that, but for anybody that is serious about real achievement in Clay Shooting, you've got to be a CPSA member to compete in Area and National championships, there's no way around that at present.

 

5. Very many people like knocking the CPSA from the comfort of their armchair, and I'm the first to agree that things are far from perfect, but.......in my experience if you put forward a logical and reasoned argument for change, they will listen, and react accordingly. Individuals need to get involved on local committees to force change through, if you stick at it, it may well happen..!!

 

So, the message is, "don't snipe from the sidelines, if you're not even a member you shouldn't have a voice at the table, so join up, like Pin, Mungler, tosspot, Garyb & others, get involved locally to change things", and don't forget, at the end of the day, it's only a game, so don't take it too seriously...I don't anymore..

 

Cat.

Edited January 26, 2008 by Catamong

[lurcherboy]

Damn you Cat, I was enjoying some quality gals wrestling in baked beans when your reply came in.

 

I was only looking forward to a response, not your life story

 

 

 

 

LB

[Catamong]

Damn you Cat, I was enjoying some quality gals wrestling in baked beans when your reply came in.

 

I was only looking forward to a response, not your life story

 

 

 

 

LB

 

Life story.........???

 

Hold on, how long have you got........those girls will be eating those beans by the time I'm finished, watch this space......!!!!!!!

 

Cat.

[MC]

4. It's easy to see why Guys like MC have no interest in joining the CPSA. He's the typical "Club Shooter", who puts a lot of effort into picking up the prizes at the local YFC straw bale charity shoot, but for whatever reason doesn't want to move up the ladder to shoot for his County, Area or Country at the sport we all love. There's nothing wrong with that, but for anybody that is serious about real achievement in Clay Shooting, you've got to be a CPSA member to compete in Area and National championships, there's no way around that at present.

 

 

And there lies the biggest issue I have with the CPSA, If I want to shoot the british open or a registered shoot I have to line their pockets.

 

I am already a member of the NRA and NSRA through my rifle shooting and to be honest all the times I have been to Bisley the CPSA building has never been open. I do not know how they help shooters.

 

In the NRA I can buy ammo or other gun related parts as you can in the NSRA and the two seem comitted to shooting. The CPSA only seem interested in making money.

 

When we shot the Essex Masters last year those who were CPSA memebers paid more than I did, that doesn't happen in any other form of the sport. You can shoot at Bisley whether you are a NRA member or not it still costs the same.

 

I would dearly love to start moving up the ladder Cat, but I am afraid that until the NATSS is formed the CPSA won't get any more money from me.

[webber]

5. Very many people like knocking the CPSA from the comfort of their armchair, and I'm the first to agree that things are far from perfect, but.......in my experience if you put forward a logical and reasoned argument for change, they will listen, and react accordingly. Individuals need to get involved on local committees to force change through, if you stick at it, it may well happen..!!

 

So, the message is, "don't snipe from the sidelines, if you're not even a member you shouldn't have a voice at the table, so join up, like Pin, Mungler, tosspot, Marykay & others, get involved locally to change things", and don't forget, at the end of the day, it's only a game, so don't take it too seriously...I don't anymore..

 

Cat

 

I'm not sure if you are having a pop at me or not?

 

But for the record my primary reason for drawing PW members attention the the possible inadequacies of CPSA is simple. They seek to increase their revenue by attracting shooters who are seeking insurance for live quarry shooting, yet they do nothing to support or preserve live quarry shooting interests. Organisations such as BASC, and others are therefore denied a degree of funding, yet they are the organisations who are dedicated to promote and preserve the shooting pastimes that myself and many thousands of others appreciate as a great privilege.

 

Therefore if I can persuade the odd member or two to join BASC, or failing that NGO etc. then so much the better.

 

I do trust that you will not take offense at any of my comments, as none is intended. For the record I agree with the bulk of your comment, but alas have no intention of joining CPSA. I feel that they are doing a pretty good job of self destruction without any internal guidance from me.

 

webber

[Dunkield]

I wonder how many people join the CPSA as they have no alternative?

[Cranfield]

Knowing nothing about the CPSA structure at all, it still seems to me that the frustration with this Organisation is similar to lots of other like Organisations.

The individual member has very little chance of influencing anything unless they commit the time to join local/regional committees and work their way up to the really influential national structure.

Very few people have the time or inclination to do this.

 

With the increase in the professionalisation of these Organisations (most morphing into companys), with top positions becoming salaried , the opportunity for the individual member to influence decisions will become even more remote.

 

 

The comment regarding Public Liability Insurance is well made, most of us don't need CPSA/BASC/CA/NGO insurance.

When anyone questions the high level of membership fees to any of these Organisations (with the exception of NGO), you are told its to cover the insurance cover costs.

This is rubbish, any Broker will tell you that group PL cover is very cheap, which is why it gets included in House Insurance at no extra premium.

Why don't they offer membership without Insurance as an option ?