International task for president of arms collectors' association

The president of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), Nick Alexakos, has appointed Stephen Petroni to the chair of the newly-set up International Legislative Committee (ILC).

According to Mr Alexakos, the ILC was set up to act as a clearing house for information to assist the 83 regional directorates with recommendations for action and strategies concerning, but not limited to, the politics of sports and governmental matters. The ILC will provide a repository of much-needed resources on sports, governmental and environmental matters plus recommended strategies and guidance.

As chairman of the ILC, Mr Petroni is also tasked to act as IPSC ambassador to sports shooting organisations such as WFSA, ESSF and GAISF, among others.

This is Mr Petroni's second international appointment. He already serves as chairman of the Foundation for European Societies of Arms Collectors (FESAC), which was recently engaged in the consultation process leading to the adoption of the amendments to the EU Arms Directive.

FESAC will be holding its annual conference in Malta next month. On June 6, the foundation will be hosting a seminar on the Malta Arms Act and the EU Arms Directive.

As president of the Association of Maltese Arms Collectors & Shooters, Mr Petroni was instrumental in the introduction of the Malta Arms Act 2005. His focus now is to exploit the new law and his international contacts to make Malta the Mediterranean centre for sports shooting. He is known to be working on the possibility of an annual event that would bring over 500 participants to Malta.

Equally important to him is the removal of artificial barriers between shooting clubs in Malta in order to ensure that sports shooters enjoy maximum access to proper national facilities.