If lower levels of government can essentially renege on such decisions without public input or consideration, what must that say about what higher levels of government could impose? And with the sheriff's plan to reserve the center exclusively for law enforcement, what must that say about “Only Ones” elitism? [More]
Because nothing says "gun safety" like discouraging practice and training...
I belonged to a DCM rifle club back in the 1960's. I asked why we were able to use all of the police ranges around, and they explained that there was a federal law stating that if the police (and military)took federal money to make or maintain the facility, they had to allow civilian use of the facility as long as it didn't interfere with training. We were also going to places like Fort Dix, Camp Perry, etc. I was never told exactly which law, but I think it might have been the Dick Act of 1902. They told me that if we were prohibited from using the facility, the police department would have to give all of the money back and not take any more.
ReplyDeleteThat may be relevant to this and may indeed be a club to keep the county honest. In looking around to learn more about this I found the FY 2008 Adopted Budget that listed $273,200 for "Federal Funds to be used for targeting systems in Firearms Education Training Center" (bottom of pg. 221). I would absolutely not be surprised to find more such instances in other years.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, a Merry Christmas to you and yours, David, and to your family including your feral sons. And another one to all the folks who lurk hereabouts.
ReplyDeleteA few years back, the anti-gun Democrat mayor of Miami-Dade County wanted to shut down Trail Glades Range, a county park that had a 50 yard rimfire and pistol range, a 100 yard hi power range, trap and skeet ranges, and a tactical range reserved for LEO use. One interesting thing about his plan was that at the time it was the only Miami-Dade county park that consistently turned a profit.
His plans came to a screeching halt when it turned out that the range, which had started out as a DoD training facility tied to the training of pilots in South Florida in WWII, had a restriction on the deed that transferred the property to the county, which stipulated that it be used as a public shooting range. If the range closed, the property reverted to DoD ownership.
That mayor is gone and Trail Glades Range is still going strong.
David- Can you pass that along to somebody in the NC state association? I don't know anyone down here. If I remember the story correctly, they would have to give back all the money they ever received, and get no more. We just moved to NC early last year, and are only here part of the year.
ReplyDeleteContacted the commissioners, they have taken control back from the sheriff and are working on deciding what they are going to do to run the range better. Hopefully they will make it better and not have the current sheriff involved with it again.
ReplyDelete