Columbia Cascade Section

                                                 of Area 1 of the United States Practical Shooting Association

 

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Newsletter for April 2009

 

What’s New: 

 Other News: 

Training:

 Note any of the classes below may be cancelled if a conflict with a major event occurs.  

 CCS Board Info: 

 Upcoming events:

Any cancellations will be in an email bulletin.

Apr 4 DRRC USPSA training match

Apr 4 Bend USPSA steel match

Apr 5 Tri-County Speed Steel

Apr 11 Albany USPSA Points match

Apr 18  Bend winter USPSA match

Apr 18 Albany ICORE match

Apr 19 TCGC regular USPSA match

Apr 25 Dundee USPSA Special Classifier Match

Other Items: 

If you have an item for the newsletter email it to me by the 20th of the month for next month’s newsletter.  No sales items.

Mark O’Shea

Columbia-Cascade Section Information Officer.

 

USPSA Board of Directors

Statement of Direction for the Production Division Equipment Rules (Appendix D4)

March 7, 2009

Overview:

In 2000, the Production Division was created to be a division for stock pistols with very limited modifications allowed.  The first iteration of the rules attempted to lay out the boundaries of permitted modifications:

n       External modifications or replacement of factory components specifically not allowed.

n       Internal replacement of factory components not allowed.   

n       Internal modifications such as polishing or detailing of factory components are allowed.

Since the 2000 rulebook the Production Division rules have evolved, but they have always strictly limited the type and extent of modifications allowed.  Some members have incorrectly assumed that the rules meant something other than the plain-language statements in the equipment-rules appendix.  For example, members have assumed that “no external modifications” can be interpreted as “any modification is allowed as long as it can’t be seen outside the gun” and have made sweeping internal modifications to their guns when, in fact, the plain language in the rules has always sought to constrain internal modifications.  The assumptions have led to a class of modifications currently in use which are not in keeping with the original intent of the division. 

At this time the USPSA Board of Directors finds that four observations are necessary:

1)      Some members’ current beliefs regarding internal modifications are not consistent with the original “stock gun” intent of the division.

2)      There is no way to restore the “stock gun” boundaries without retroactively declaring current member guns and modifications invalid for the division; the Board is reluctant to invalidate member-owned equipment. 

3)      There is no viable way to enforce restrictions on internal modifications without implementing an inspection process, a minimum trigger pull, or both; the Board does not wish to impose either approach at this time.

4)      Manufacturer innovation in the Production Division is desirable; the Board does not wish to enact rules which constrain the evolution of the “stock gun”.

Therefore, the USPSA Board has decided to support NROI in issuing an all-up interpretation of the Production Division rules, seeking to clarify both the intent of the division and the current boundaries of allowed and prohibited modifications.

PLEASE NOTE that the Production Division is different from other Divisions, in that its equipment rules are strictly constrained by the language of the rules.  In Production Division, unless the rules (and, by extension, official NROI interpretations) specifically state, in plain language, without assumptions or interpolations, that a modification is allowed, THAT MODIFICATION IS PROHIBITED. 

When reading the Production Division equipment rules,

n       DO NOT assume something is ALLOWED, unless the rules/interpretations plainly and explicitly state that it is.

n       DO NOT look for loopholes to exploit – the intent of the Board is to “limit modifications” with “no loopholes”

n       DO NOT combine disparate clauses and/or interpretations and decide that together they “mean” something different from what they individually state.

n       It is the responsibility of the shooter to ensure that his/her equipment is compliant with the Division rules.  If a question arises, the ONLY official source for interpretations is NROI. If in doubt, ASK NROI.

n       Modifications which come to the attention of match officials during a match, and which cannot be supported by the strict language of the Division equipment rules during a match will result in a move to Open Division per 6.2.5.1 


 

Summary:

The broad intent of the Production Division remains intact; to provide an equipment category where stock or nearly-stock guns can compete on a relatively level playing field.  Due to unsupported member assumptions, a wide variety of internal and external modifications have been seen in competition.  USPSA’s intent, with this ruling, is to re-level the playing field, respectful of both members existing investments in guns and current modifications, and the desire to have the Division remain viable for typical carry-suitable guns.

Members should take two very clear messages away from this interpretation:

·         The Board DOES intend to defend the definition of a “Production gun” with specific rules and constraints.  Those rules and constraints may not give every shooter the green light to make every modification they want.  This is by design.  We want to enable and encourage innovation from manufacturers, while intentionally keeping the Production division from becoming another “anything goes” division. 

 

·         USPSA has a responsibility to serve the interests of its members.  In return, members have a responsibility to respect the rules of the game, and the principles of good sportsmanship.  The Board is gravely concerned that members have independently “interpreted” Production rules and made it necessary to issue this sweeping clarification.  If you have a question about whether or not a modification is ALLOWED or PROHIBITED for use in Production division, the correct thing to do is make a request of NROI for an official answer, and then wait for publication for that answer to officially take effect.  Without an official, published NROI ruling that specifically authorizes a modification, that modification should be considered PROHIBITED for competition in the Production division. 

Supported/endorsed unanimously by the USPSA Board of Directors, March 7, 2009.