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Forest Service might close shooting ranges
The State ^ | May. 08, 2004 | AP

Posted on 05/08/2004 10:46:29 AM PDT by aomagrat

AWENDAW S.C. — Gunshot holes have been found in everything from picnic tables and signs to pine trees, and foresters warn a free public shooting range in the Francis Marion National Forest will be closed unless the vandalism stops.

“The range gets horrible abuse. It’s not a public dumping ground,” said Anne Kiser of the U.S. Forest Service. “We’re trying to demonstrate to people that this is a facility for the public, but they’re responsible whether it stays open or we shut it down.”

Workers are making repairs at the Twin Ponds rifle range. They are also putting a concrete slab under the shooting tables and building a shelter overhead.

The range is expected to reopen by the end of the month.

But the Forest Service says vandalism isn’t confined to the shooting range.

About 70 tons of trash was collected from the 270,000-acre forest last year, including signs and posts that had been riddled with gun shots.

And it’s not just in the forest and not just confined to shooting, said state Department of Natural Resources Sgt. Chuck Dial.

He has seen evidence of revelers tying ropes to structures and trying to pull them down with trucks.

“The vast majority of hunters are good, ethical people,” Dial said. “It’s a small minority who do the bad things.”

At the Twin Ponds range, the vandalism has worsened through the years.

“I’ve seen shot-up bowling balls, washing machines, computers, refrigerators, televisions, a box full of records — you name it, it’s been shot up down there,” said Vernon Parker of Georgetown, a regular at the range and a member of the Palmetto Gun Club.

“It’s a small percentage of people who use the range,” he said. “There are people who get their kicks out of shooting things up. You have some people who tear stuff up, who aren’t even interested in (target) shooting.”

The range is one of two in the national forest. The other, at Boggy Head, is more than 20 miles away near Moncks Corner.

About 15 people were cited last year for vandalism at the two ranges, Dial said. The maximum penalty is a $465 fine plus restitution.

Kiser said that during an era of tight budgets the Forest Service can’t afford to make constant repairs to the shooting ranges, let alone hire guards.

The Forest Service plans to install a box for donations and hopes to recruit shooting clubs and others to help police the sites.

Parker is optimistic those who use the range will be able to do what it takes to keep it open. “I think most of us realize they could close it permanently. I realize it could be closed tomorrow,” he said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: bang; forestservice; guns; nationalforests; shootingranges; slobs
People who know nothing of guns playing rambo.
1 posted on 05/08/2004 10:46:30 AM PDT by aomagrat
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To: aomagrat
The vandal shooting is Sierra Club members who don't want to be caught at the range - since ONLY they know what is good, they can shoot at anything and everything.

2 posted on 05/08/2004 10:52:55 AM PDT by steplock (http://www.gohotsprings.com)
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To: aomagrat
"The maximum penalty is a $465 fine plus restitution."

The fine should be at least $5,000; and ninety days in jail.

3 posted on 05/08/2004 11:00:43 AM PDT by Cobra64 (Babes should wear Bullet Bras - www.BulletBras.net)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: aomagrat
And will they close all the state parks because people leave garbage behind after they visit? There's always somebody who is ready to spoil things for others. Why pick on the gun owners? Or the snowmobile drivers? Somehow the focus is always on politically incorrect groups.
5 posted on 05/08/2004 11:04:41 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Cicero
good points all.


the public gun ranges here are decent enough but I prefer private when possible.
6 posted on 05/08/2004 11:06:35 AM PDT by wardaddy (This is it. We either win and prevail or we lose and get tossed into that dustbin W mentioned!)
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To: aomagrat
When I moved to LA more than 20 years ago, there were 16 public shooting ranges in the county, in the Angeles National Forest. They are all closed now - most were shut down during the Clinton Administration. The Forest Service made the same argument: dumping, road signs shot up, also (this being LA) wildfires started by tracers. While the anti-gun agenda of the administration influenced some of the closings, it is also true that shooters abused their rights by making the ranges into squalid refuse heaps. I tried to organize volunteers to clean up the ranges, etc. Very few people turned out. Shooters wanted to exercise their rights, but not live up to their responsibilities. End result: no more "free" (meaning strictly taxpayer supported) public shooting areas in LA County.
7 posted on 05/08/2004 11:46:09 AM PDT by karnage
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To: wardaddy
"good points all. the public gun ranges here are decent enough but I prefer private when possible."

I agree. I prefer and use a private range. Couldn't tell you if we do have a public range in MS. IMHO private means more responsibiltiy by the individuals. Just my 2¢

8 posted on 05/08/2004 12:03:20 PM PDT by LuigiBasco
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To: LuigiBasco
I was raised in jackson.

We would just go and shoot at any red clay pit we felt like unless told to leave.

Here in TN which is much more densely populated it's more of a hassle.
9 posted on 05/08/2004 1:19:32 PM PDT by wardaddy (This is it. We either win and prevail or we lose and get tossed into that dustbin W mentioned!)
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To: Cobra64
Naw, $500 sounds right to me - per shot.
10 posted on 05/08/2004 1:46:58 PM PDT by taxcontrol (People are entitled to their opinion - no matter how wrong it is.)
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To: Cicero
Gun-control totlitarians and pro-crime groups must have gotten together and drilled some holes in the tables and f***ed everything up so it would look like decent people with rifle and guns teaching their kids the fun of marksmanship, self-protection, and with the boys how to be a man---were going crazy shooting up the place.

Those types do crap like that you know.


11 posted on 05/08/2004 2:33:16 PM PDT by Anti-Bush Hater (Assembling a bunch of hippies and paid liars to regurgitate commie lies is not an "Investigation")
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To: 2A Patriot; 2nd amendment mama; 4everontheRight; 77Jimmy; AJ Insider; AlligatorEyes; Amanda King; ..

SC Ping

FReepmail me if you want on or off this list.

12 posted on 05/08/2004 2:39:35 PM PDT by SC Swamp Fox (Aim small, miss small.)
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To: aomagrat
I will say this, I assume the area is also allowed to be hunted. If that is the case, there is always the chance that signs, etc. will get hit by a bullet that misses the intended target. The crap about shooting up computers, etc. should not be tolerated.
13 posted on 05/09/2004 7:02:38 PM PDT by looscnnn ("Live free or die; death is not the worst of evils" Gen. John Stark 1809)
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