JRW, Pope and Young drew that line nearly 20 years ago with their equipment restrictions. Show me more than a handfull of compound shooters today that think those rules, especially the 65% letoff rule, are fair. P&Y makes no bones about the point of their equipment restrictions being to maintain a demonstrable difference between bows and crossbows. You see most people spitting in P&Y's face over it.

No sir. It's not about whether or not crossbows get in. Unless there are drastic changes, it is going to happen eventually because the compound community has rolled out the red carpet for them. The question is, can we delay inclusion of crossbows until we've had a chance to clean up our side of the fence.

I am perfectly willing to fight the crossbow as hard as I ever have over the past 25 years for the benefit of traditional archery, but I refuse to stand firm against one kind of arrow flinging device for the benefit of folks who take advantage of that defense to develop arrow flinging contraptions that are just as bad, or worse, behind my back.

mhogan's assertion that 'most' compounders are willing to accept equipment restrictions carries about as much weight as a dessicated ant. If they were willing, then they'd already be voluntarily complying with the equipment restrictions we've already got under P&Y's rules of fair chase.

mhogan's statement that there are people that would throw away our season in disgust is closer to the mark. I AM disgusted, with things going on both in the compound community as well as what is happening in the trad community. I detest the speed and technology stampede and I can't stand the people on the trad side that start in with their big tent crap when anyone dares to stand firm and speak out against it.

What I'm saying is that I can't, in good faith, oppose the crossbow without also opposing compounds that do not comply with Pope and Young equipment guidelines. To do otherwise is to be a hypocrite. But to do so is to be called elitist and divisive. So be it!

As I've said before, I am honored to be called an elitist. And as an elitist, I believe it's far past time for crossbow opponents to stand up and fight the 'anything goes' attitude behind our backs before we can be successful in defeating the threat in front of us. It's erosion from within that is making the crossbow loom large before us, not any change in the crossbow itself or in it's marketing or lobbying.