The format of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation dinner seems a little abbreviated this year. Usually I get a little more of a chance to schmooze with pro-2A legislators, but this year it didn't seem to work that way. Maybe it was just me, and I was glad to have a few words with Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar...I expect we'll be talking again as the U.S. Forest Service reignites its war on sport shooting on public lands in the West. New signs have gone up that intentionally misrepresent the current laws on shooting on public lands, and the Rampart Range outside of Colorado Springs — probably the largest and most active shooting area in Colorado, remains closed, despite queries from Colorado Senator Mark Udall on reopening the range.
USFS is insisting on a totally unrealistic set of prerequisite for reopening the range, which was closed after a death from a negligent discharge that had nothing to do with the range itself. USFS's contention is that, "The closure of the SRSR does not impede the ability of sportsmen and women to prepare for hunting season." Apparent head USFS exec Rick Cables has a limited understanding of the Constitution.
A couple of years ago USFS execs stood up in a public forum and gave their word that they would abide by the existing laws on shooting...over the next few months we'll be seeing how good their word actually is.
As a former Rampart Range shooter, I've not been able to find an alternative...the private clubs are out east and only admit members once a year, or are prohibitively expensive.
ReplyDeleteDragonman's commercial range out towards Schriever is okay, but far out east and not convenient, especially in bad weather.
The fatal accident at the Rampart Range was due entirely to human error on the part of one ignorant user...most interesting hobbies/sports have some risk involved...and gunnies are usually more careful, understanding the potential consequences.
-skiers hit trees or each other.
-climbers, hikers, and bikers fall or run into a bear or a lion or a cliff.
-ultralight pilots like John Denver forget to turn the fuel tank on.
What's the best way to put pressure on the Forest service and the Sheriff's office to reopen the range?
Nobel Big AL GORE consider the source.Think they will compare size?
ReplyDeleteSame prize Arafat won. Good company.
ReplyDelete"....the Rampart Range outside of Colorado Springs — probably the largest and most active shooting area in Colorado..."
ReplyDeleteReally needs to be qualified as perhaps largest "free and always open to the public"
As noted however there is no realistic alternative for a range function as opposed perhaps to a site to function as a clearing barrel and function testing site and to show somebody how much or how little a .22 recoils.
Someplace that's a pretty drive, always open and allows shooting from a rested position over chronograph screens into known range paper targets is hard to find - I don't know of another within an easy drive of Boulder/Denver/Colorado Springs - rumor puts some places to shoot on the grasslands and maybe the western slope.
Maybe on the silver lining side more folks will join and support clubs and state associations.
Any suggestions gratefully appreciated.
I think the Nobel Peace Prize should be relegated to the Cracker Jack box
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the Nobel Prize;
ReplyDeleteTo quote Red Fox, "did he give you the Cracker Jack too?".
In regards to public ranges, the only one I know of in my area (USFS) was closed because of an abusive public. The rangers decided it wasn't their job to pick up shot up hot water heaters, refridgerators, and beer cans. Some A hole shooting tracers started a forest fire. I don't know anything about the range in question. It was probably a great place to go shoot, but the simple fact of the mater is that a "public range" REQUIRES PUBLIC RESPONCIBILITY. All you have to do is look at the government we chose for ourselves (as a group) to see that AIN'T GONA HAPPEN. As my grandpa used to tell me, "Just because you're on the other side of the room doesn't mean no one over here is going to smell it when you fart."
So, when do they close all of the mountain ranges in the federal park system, due to the numerous fatalities that occur there? Many climbers get into trouble and sustain injuries and even death. I'll pass no judgement here, as to why that happens. Some of the fatalities and injuries are also experienced by those rescuing injured climbers. If fatalities are the "trigger", then why not close the mountains too?
ReplyDeleteLife Member
P. S.: I AM being facetious here. Having accidents is not a reason to close anything. If it was, we'd all be walkin' because they closed the national highway system. Sounds like we need to start a letter writing campaign to the National Parks Service.
As for cleaning up public shooting spots - when the authorities wanted to I've known them to find folks assigned to do public service in connection with related misbehavior and clean things up nicely - but mostly the authorities don't want to and slobs do spoil it for us all.
ReplyDeleteWe don't stop having public lands because of arsonists though.
Some of the "intentionally misleading" signage is going on in Idaho, too.
ReplyDelete