Discussion with Trouvé Jacques, President of the FFT
Extract of the article of Pascal Thilbert for Magazin
Gun Action
Which are the results of your petition intended to
support the course of shooting and the
sporting shooting in particular?
April 7 we counted 70.200 signed petitions. I did not expect such a mobilization. First
signatures arrived by 2500 to 3000 the first
days. Now, we are to 500 to 1000 per day. I
do not know if we will collect 142.000 signatures
(that is to say as far as the number of
bachelors), although with the train where
the things go...
I wanted to sensitize people with our difficulties. With the number of signatures reached,
that must
to challenge the authorities... This petition is directed against nobody in particular. The French federation
of shooting, which with celebrated its 100 years in
1986, is recognized of public
utility. It never failed in the
missions which have to him
summer entrusted.
It always managed with happiness 57 disciplines of sporting shooting including 17 Olympic. Gunners
intend to continue to practise their sport as they
always did, by respecting the
legislation in force, them
safety requirements and those of sporting ethics.
Or be you with Madam the Minister for the Sports since
his letter of November 13, 1998 per
which it
asked the FFT not to more organize official
competitions of course of shooting and
the clubs of more
to deliver opinions favourable to the practise of the
course?
For the moment, it is the statu quo. Madam the minister with removed the delegation with the FFT for the course
of shooting,
therefore we will not organize a competition of course
leading to the attribution of title of
national champion,
regional or departmental.
In this moment are held the selections for the
championship of France.
We will organize championship of France this year and
no competition which could allot one
departmental, regional or national title
official. There will not be either of team of France for the
championships
world 1999 in the Philippines.
What can do those which wish to take part in the
international championships?
Nothing prevents a participation on a purely
individual basis.
Do you await a gesture of the ministry?
Many gunners appeared personally by mail or on service
Internet of the federation.
The practise are really mobilized to defend their
sport and all the disciplines. For our part, us
let us please expose to Madam the minister the reasons
which make us defend this activity,
which is an activity
sporting like another, it is a discipline of sporting
shooting moving. Rules of practice of
this
discipline evolved/moved considerably under the aegis
of the FFT. The efforts related to many points, of which
there
form targets.
You were received by Marie-George Buffet to defend the
utility of the course of shooting, its
history, the prize list of
French champions?
I asked for a first interview in June 1997 but it
still did not have time to receive us. It is
the advanced argument. We hope that our petition in favour of the course will make it possible to restore the
dialogue. There
federation
had appointed a delegation made up of the president, the vice-president, the secretary-general and one
high level athlete member of the management committee,
member of the federal office. These qualified members can
to clearly explain what is the course of shooting
Had it received you before making the decision to
withdraw the delegation to the FFT for
the course of shooting?
Never. It do
not know this discipline. The question
that I am posed it is: who could well advise Madam there
minister? I
cannot answer you. Our delegation is
credible, our arguments are good to
hear. He is well
difficult to include/understand the reasons which
justified this decision. The Ministers for the sport are there to
promote
sporting disciplines and not the reverse.
Highest authorities are they alerted blocking of the
situation?
The signatures of our petition will be deposited in
the President of the republic,
transmitted to Madam there
Minister for youth and the sports under cover of the
Prime Minister and lodged with the
presidents of
two rooms.
Is the course the only one with being aimed?
Not. All the
disciplines known as large gauge are in the collimator. Among these disciplines, some are
managed by the ISSF (International Sport Shooting
Federation). The gun known as large gauge within the meaning
of the ISSF
draw with gauge 38.
Therefore all the disciplines known as large gauge are aimed. The
ministry wish that the activity
sporting is centred on weapons of reduced gauge.
Can you specify?
That not only the course is threatened but also the
metal silhouette, the bench rest and
even the 300 m, which
was Olympic discipline, as well as the old
weapons.
What do you think of the classification of the guns 22
Lr of a blow?
This classification poses problems with the young
juniors who must be international
gunners to be able to be
authorized to hold a weapon of 4th category. But to become international it is initially necessary to be involved, with
what?
by Pascal Thibert
NB of guns2000:
The capacity of perforation of fabrics is higher with one 22 Lr compared to 380 ACP STATES
or of the 38 Spécial.
Lr 60 perf, 380 ACP STATES 42 perf, 38
Spécial 55 perf, will 9Para 70 perf.
Why prohibit the shooting called
to
large gauge and to replace it by gauge 22 Lr, whereas
22 Lr remains dangerous because of its
capacity of
perforation of fabrics. It is noted well that the decision makers do not know absolutely the weapons. They
let the specialists would have make decisions on the
weapons and fight the hooligans armed
rather than them
gunners, hunters and collectors. By reading the results of investigations in the USA in the States
which had
prohibited the weapons, one notes a reversal of
situation vis-a-vis the increase in
criminality and certain states
already the step crossed by giving authorizations of
wearing of weapons to the honest
citizens.