Natal Pistol Association - Notice to Clubs and Members

I would like to share this email I received today:

The Chairman, Clubs and Members

Natal Pistol Association

It is with the greatest amount of sadness, disgust, disappointment, frustration, anger and many other horrible emotions that I pass on the following message, followed by some of my comments.

"To all Provincial Chairpersons,

The Pistol shooting event which would have been presented during the 8th SA Masters Games in Pretoria from 1 to 4 May 2013, has been cancelled due to the current electricity problem at the SANDF Eeufees Range.

Kindly distribute this e-mail as widely as possible to all Clubs and members alike, to ensure that all are informed.

Your co-operation in this regard is appreciated.

Kind regards,
Mathilda"

Continued from above:

During recent years a number of squatters have set themselves up on the SANDF land adjoining the Defence Force Shooting range, Pretoria. (JUST ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE VOORTREKKER MONUMENT).

At times the squatters joined their illegal wires onto the main electricity wires leading to the Defence shooting range which caused such a problem that the SANDF have had their own electricity discontinued because of the illegal usage by the squatters.

You might ask questions like "why are they not just removed?" "Why doesn't the Army just kick them off the property" and "WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LAW?"

FORGET ABOUT WHAT YOU ALWAYS BELIEVED WAS THE LAW...... THAT WAS ACTUALLY IN YOUR DREAMS...

REALITY IS NOW.... REALITY IS THE NIGHTMARE.

THIS IS THE NEW AGE.... OUR LAWS PROTECT THESE SQUATTERS EVEN IF THEY ARE DOING A CRIMINAL ACT LIKE STEALING ELECTRICITY... BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE ARE ALL PROTECTED BY THE LAW... WE ALL HAVE RIGHTS..... HONEST PEOPLE OR DISHONEST.... CITIZENS OR NON-CITIZENS... EVEN IF THEY ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.... WE ARE ALL EQUAL IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.

But THIS IS HAPPENING ON SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY LAND AND THIS IS THE ARMY's SHOOTING RANGE......

WHAT HAS HAPPENED????? THE WHOLE BLOODY COUNTRY HAS GONE STUPID........
THIS IS THE REASON THAT SO MANY OF OUR HIGHLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE HAVE LEFT AND GIVEN UP ON OUR BELOVED COUNTRY....

The fact that this squatter/electricity problem has caused the cancellation of the Pistol Shooting Section of the SA Masters Games proves how our pathetic government's soft laws have created a wonderful haven for the unlawful misuse and abuse of everything possible.

I sincerely BELIEVE an in-depth article should go INTERNATIONAL about this disgraceful South African situation. I would love to see a report appearing in all of our national newspapers AND on television..... BUT unfortunately, without having certain proof and accurate details, it would be wrong for anyone to drop this bombshell onto some eager newspaper reporter's desk

Earlier this month (April) during our 2013 National Championships, this loss of electricity caused unbelievable difficulty for the SAPA organisers and it was only with the help of local Pretoria members that a number of generators were brought in so that the Range Officers could operate with electronic targets and the Statistics Team could log in the thousands of scores into their computers.

We can thank those hard-working people every day for their dedication and assistance and time. Some of them have given up shooting at Nationals so that they can dedicate their attention to running the ranges and events..

These are very special people and I thank them sincerely for their commitment to "keeping the show on the road".