Friday, June 17, 2005

NEWS! Forest Service Conspiracy to Shut Down Shooting Ranges Across Colorado Uncovered!

I originally thought my range problems were the result of a single anti-gun forest ranger acting on her own.

What is becoming clearer is that there is a U.S. Forest Service conspiracy to shut down any and all shooting areas on Forest Service land in the Front Range and deprive everyone of their gun rights. I would not be surprised if this was happening across the state as well, and I wouldn't bet against this being a trial run for the rest of the country!

Welcome to the new battlefield!

The Colorado State Shooting Association is now actively involved. Senator Wayne Allard's office has been notified, as well as the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation in D.C., the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation. This is really ugly...the USFS essentially planned and executed a massive shut-down of shooting areas across the Front Range in the last 30 days. The goal is apparently to end shooting on USFS land — in DIRECT violation of USFS policies and a direct attack on Coloradians' gun rights — in the Front Range. There is some question as to whether the USFS includes "hunting" with "shooting."

I'll have more details Monday.

In the meantime — FOREST RANGERS ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS! THEY ARE THE WORST SORT OF GUN GRABBERS! REMEMBER, THEY ACTUALLY SUCCEEDED IN KEEPING THEIR ATTACK ON YOUR GUN RIGHTS SECRET. DO NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION, OTHER THAN THAT REQUIRED BY LAW, ON SHOOTING AND/OR HUNTING AREAS TO AGENTS OF THE FOREST SERVICE. IF YOU ARE DETAINED BY THE FOREST SERVICE, YOUR FIRST WORDS ARE, "I WANT AN ATTORNEY RIGHT NOW!" IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH THE USFS ON ANY PROJECT OR IN ANY VOLUNTEER CAPACITY, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU STOP IMMEDIATELY UNTIL THIS SITUATION IS RESOLVED. IMMEDIATELY CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES AND DEMAND AN END TO USFS ANTIGUN ATTACKS!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Forest Service Region R2 (Rocky Mountain):

740 Simms St
Golden, CO 80401
303-275-5350

Other Contacts for USFS in Colorado

Anonymous said...

Was this Lefthand Canyon?

I was up there (for the first time) doing a cleanup a month or 2 ago and the ranger/USFS guy there said they were likely to shut it down. Then again, it was such a dump I didn't blame them.

I just hope the area at the top of St. Vrain Canyon is safe.


here
's pics from the lefthand cleanup we did, for whatever good it did.

Publicola said...

MB,
Just got off the phone w/ the USFS office in Boulder. They said there has been no closures of land for shooting. Any idea what's going on?

Anon,
I appreciate the clean up you did. I'd have tried to make it if I'd have known. Next time let me know & I'll post it on my blog (might get a few more volunteers that way). Besides I'd love to discuss something with you - namely your comment about since you don't shoot in LHC its closing wouldn't bug ya. That's an attitude that generally plagues the world of gun owners (if it doesn't effect e then i don't care). Course you did show up to clean up a range you don't use & for that again I thank ya.

Michael Bane said...

Dude;

If there's no closures of shooting areas, I'd appreciate an explanation of the signs closing down the one by my house. Perhaps "NO SHOOTING!" doesn't mean no shooting in FS-speak. Or the report from CSSA that FS officials have met with Douglas County commissioners as a prelude to shutting down shooting areas in Douglas. Or the local cops saying they've been notified by the FS of the shutdowns.

The heat's on from Big D.C., and the weasels may be running for cover!

Michael B

Anonymous said...

I just spoke to 303-275-5610 about the Pike Natl Forest. They said that there were currently 'no ranges setup specifically for shooting'. So, I guess, in their mind, the are just shutting down illegitimate shooting areas.

She also said that there were new rules coming down but she had no further information.

Michael Bane said...

Shooting is an accepted "mixed-use" of the forest resource. There are *never* "designated shooting areas."

That is a "nice" way of lying through her teeth!

I believe Brother Swearengen on DEADWOOD has a word for these bastards!

Michael B

Anonymous said...

You know, I was just up there on Saturday, and there was absolutely nothing posted, and folks were shooting, as normal. I think people are referring to different places when they say "Lefthand Canyon". The place I know as Lefthand Canyon is down the road from the 4-wheelers, at roughly 40.109, -105.336 (Google maps link)

Is there another place?

Unknown said...

I was in pike national Forrest and there was signs everywhere about no shooting. I think it's only until the tree cutters 5 miles away are done. So it might be temporary.