NRA Journal - Summer 2004 - National Rifle Association

THE INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FULLBORE RIFLEASSOCIATIONS (ICFRA) - WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT INTENDS TO DOby Dick Horrocks, NRA (GB) representative and ICFRA Vice-PresidentWhile ICFRA is (or should be) a well understood bodyby NRA Council and General Council members, thereis still some general ignorance and misunderstandingamong members of the NRA and NRA affiliated clubsabout what it is and what it does. This short articlewill hopefully both educate and resolve any doubtsas to its true role in supporting and indeed drivingforward fullbore rifle shooting as a sport that merits,and now has, world stature.What is ICFRA and why do we need it?The international fullbore rifle shooting communitywas, until recently, not integrated in anycomprehensive way that would ensure its having aworld voice and presence. On the other hand, thesmall-bore and 300m rifle communities have beenrepresented for many years by the InternationalShooting Sports Federation (ISSF), the body thatoversees all international competition rules, includingthe Olympic Games, for these disciplines. Prior tothe formation of ICFRA on 1 January 2002, the onlyformal international body overseeing fullbore rifleshooting was the Commonwealth ShootingFederation or CSF, which, of course, includes onlyCommonwealth countries. It has a major function inproviding rules and match conditions forCommonwealth events, most significantly theCommonwealth Games. However, it goes withoutsaying that a number of other significant fullbore riflecountries, including the USA and certain EUcountries, are excluded from this.ISSF not only provides a set of formal rules that governall international competitions falling within its sphere,but also provides a formal world presence to whichmajor event organisers and host governments mustgive credibility. Shooting sports are increasinglycoming under political pressure and are bearing theever increasing regulatory restrictions set bypoliticians across the world who see its participantsas soft targets for satisfying electorate demands forreductions in armed crime and illegal internationalarms trading. In this climate the ISSF provides ashooting voice. No such voice has existed for fullborerifle shooting prior to the formation of ICFRA.Contrary to some beliefs in certain parts of the fullborerifle community, ICFRA has not been created toreplace or take over existing national andCommonwealth fullbore interests. Instead it has theaim of bringing them together to create not only asynergy by association but, more importantly, topresent a world voice to which its memberassociations may turn for support and advice. It isthe opinion of many within the ICFRA umbrella thatwithout this voice, the future of fullbore rifle shootingwould be more precarious even than many of itspresent participants believe it to be.As a consequence of concerns of this nature duringthe late 1990s, it was unanimously agreed byparticipants at the 1999 Long Range RifleChampionships for the Palma Trophy that a singleworld body was both desirable and essential for thefuture of the sport. As a consequence, ICFRA wasestablished on 1 January 2002. It was agreed thatPalma Council rules would then pass to ICFRAimmediate upon its formation and hopefully wellbefore the next planned championships in 2003. Also,prior to this date, NRA (GB) took the decision that itwould pass to ICFRA at that time any of its thencurrent responsibilities for providing technical rulesfor international events. Principally, this included itsresponsibility for providing technical rules forCommonwealth country competitions organised bythe Commonwealth Shooting Federation or CSF.ICFRA’s vision is that:Fullbore rifle shooting is a well-establishedinternational competitive shooting sport with worldwiderecognition.The aims of ICFRA are:1 To contribute to safe and responsible firearmsownership;2 To encourage and promote the interests of thesport worldwide;3 To standardise and formulate the arrangementsand rules for major international fullbore riflecompetitions;4 To act as the overarching controlling authorityfor designated international matches, or theadvisory (rules) authority for the fullbore rifleshooting events of multi-disciplinecompetitions;5 To act as a cohesive international body to ensurethe continuation of the sport is not adverselyaffected by firearms legislation worldwide andany form of attack on the sport; and6 To enhance the contributions this sport makesto the enjoyment and quality of life of itsparticipants.32