This is meant to be a little controversial. The reason is to get members to interact about this issue. Different people have different viewpoints on matters, but sometimes a lot of good can also come from a heated discussion. So, please take part. Not all of what I'll be saying is actually my personal viewpoint, but things that I picked up from other people. I will however present those viewpoints here, and it might sometimes sound like it is what I believe.
A lot of us has at some time or another belonged to a hunting organization, being it the NRA, SCI, PHASA, a local shooting or hunting club etc. They all start out with some very pure intentions, but somehow most of them looses the plot along the way. Then other matter become more important to some people within those organizations, and almost without exception that leads to decisions that are to the detriment of other members. They almost always also try and keep up the front that the original goal is still being followed, although that is not true anymore.
It has always been amazing to me how greed and status can sometimes turn very good people into monsters. The outcome is almost without exception not a pretty one. Another thing that always lead to problems is when money becomes a deciding factor for organizations like these. The interests of the members then become secondary to everything alse, and money becomes the main goal. How sad.
A recent decision (2008) of SCI to ban Rowland Ward from exhibiting at SCI exhibitions has gone by almost without notice. Both these organizations are of huge importance to the hunting community globally, and in-fighting amongst organizations in the global hunting fraternity can never lead to anything good. This is exactly what anti-gun lobbyists worldwide would like to see. Somehow SCI has never offered a full explanation as to their decision. However, it is almost of no importance what the reasons where. What was important was that they should have come together, sorted out any problems there might be amongst them, and take hands in order to serve the greater cause. I have personally had some communication with Rowland Ward on the matter. SCI never reacted to any correspondence I sent them on this. I must therefor at this point accept that SCI is the culprit in this matter, given the fact that they never bothered to offer an explanation. This fight happened at a time when I was on the verge of joining SCI, but, due to this, and their reluctance to communicate on the matter I felt seriously uneasy to join an organization who seems to want to split the hunting fraternity, rather than unify it.
I would love to hear the viewpoints of other members on these matters. Watch this space, as I will, at a later stage get a little bit more personal about some of these organizations. Maybe they will then once again return to their original goals, and actually serve the hunting comminty rather than trying to control it.
Shoot. I'm waiting
