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Scouts' firing range irks residents
Rocky Mountain News ^ | July 7, 2007 | Ivan Moreno

Posted on 07/08/2007 11:04:40 AM PDT by DogByte6RER

Scouts' firing range irks residents

Neighbors say clay shooting events disruptive

By Ivan Moreno, Rocky Mountain News

July 7, 2007

ELBERT - Neighbors say the Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch is anything but that. The realization came after an explosion of shotgun blasts from the camp in May, when Boy Scouts held a two-day clay shooting fundraiser.

"It sounded like Hamas had a training camp next door," said Elbert County Sheriff William Frangis, who fielded numerous calls from people who live near the ranch.

The Scouts say no one complained to them.

Although the camp has had a shooting range for rifles and shotguns for years, noise has not been an issue until now.

Neighbors say part of their frustration is that the Scouts only notified them of the event with the sound of the guns, and they never applied for permit from the county.

"They didn't talk to anyone; they just did it," said 75- year-old John Dunn, a former Elbert County commissioner and 44-year county resident who lives about a quarter mile from the Scout camp.

"The noise was unbelievable," Dunn said, adding that it was enough to scare the elk, deer, and birds in the vicinity. "We haven't seen them since."

The Scouts have planned five more fundraising events from July through August, but they're waiting for a permit from the county commissioners to continue using the clay shooting range. The commissioners will hear their case Wednesday.

But while there's a cease-fire for now, residents fear more events like the one held May 19 and 20 will not only disturb their peace but will bring down the value of their properties.

(Excerpt) Read more at rockymountainnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Miscellaneous; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: banglist; boyscouts; bsa; environmentalists; firearms; molonlabe; rifles; scouting; shotguns; summercamp; treehuggers
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To: DogByte6RER
Although the camp has had a shooting range for rifles and shotguns for years, noise has not been an issue until now.

Grandfather clause!

41 posted on 07/08/2007 1:25:49 PM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: scottteng; RonF; AppauledAtAppeasementConservat; Looking for Diogenes; Congressman Billybob; ...
What really irritates the left/busy bodies about Scouts

Read the words carefully and you'll see.


42 posted on 07/08/2007 1:25:52 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: kitchen

Narrowsburg, NY


43 posted on 07/08/2007 1:32:51 PM PDT by GovernmentIsTheProblem (The GOP is "Whig"ing out.)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network
When I was a Boy Scout back in the 70’s, our troop would have a camp-out once a year at the Presidio. We din’t do any shooting there, but I have many fond memories of camping there. We would go and explore the abandoned coastal defense batteries and i recall how we were chased off the CO’s lawn by his poodle.
44 posted on 07/08/2007 1:38:24 PM PDT by fogofbobegabay
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To: MediaMole

Yep, I shoot sporting clays all the time, if nobody is at one of the stands next to the parking lot, you can’t hear anything.


45 posted on 07/08/2007 1:40:49 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: DogByte6RER
Dirk Bird, director of the J BAR CC Ranch Camp, a Jewish summer camp across the road, said he's worried that if fundraising events persist on weekends they will "adversely impact our religious services."

The Denver Area Council BSA has for many years made offers for the property
of the J BAR CC camp adjacent to Peaceful Valley ranch.

The offers were always never high enough, the offers were always above market value.


46 posted on 07/08/2007 1:46:24 PM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (you shall know that I, YHvH, your Savior, and your Redeemer, am the Elohim of Ya'aqob. Isaiah 60:16)
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To: MacDorcha
Well, in a way there is, sort of --

There is the


47 posted on 07/08/2007 1:48:15 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

http://www.denverboyscouts.org/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=10942&orgkey=1701
“Raising in excess of $200,000, this year’s Sporting Clays Invitational was an unprecedented success. Held May 19th at the Peaceful Valley Scout Ranch and sponsored by Coors Brewing Company, AMG National Bank and Wells Fargo, the event boasted 31 shooting teams. The money raised during this year’s event ensures that Scouts enjoy a quality and safe experience at Denver Boy Scout properties. For more information or to participate in the 2008 event please send inquiries to sportingclays@denverboyscouts.org.”
To all in Colorado go bust some clays next year to support your boy scouts. Please note the boy scout reservation is 3000 acres not some tiny old camp in the middle of suburbia.


48 posted on 07/08/2007 2:10:53 PM PDT by scottteng (Proud parent of a Star scout.)
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To: SandRat
Read the words carefully and you'll see.

That pretty much sums up everything the left is against.

49 posted on 07/08/2007 2:22:59 PM PDT by Sender (Success in warfare is gained by carefully accommodating ourselves to the enemy's purpose.)
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To: Sender

It gets even worse for then when they go to the 12 Points of the Scout Law. You should enjoy this link http://usscouts.org/boyscouts/jwlaw.html


50 posted on 07/08/2007 2:29:39 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: DogByte6RER
“But while there’s a cease-fire for now, residents fear more events like the one held May 19 and 20 will not only disturb their peace but will bring down the value of their properties.”

In the circles I run in, living next to a shooting range *increases* property values. Perhaps the scouts could make arrangements with the neighbors for trading range rights with ... uh... noise easements?

51 posted on 07/08/2007 3:26:52 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: Melas
“That’s just the way it works.”

That’s just the local politicians political corruption through the zoning process. When government reduces the value of someone’s property, the government should pay the difference.

Zoning has been used as a way for local politicians to do things that would otherwise never be allowed or considered ethical.

In Yuma, Arizona, zoning was voted down repeatedly. People did not want the government telling them what they could do with their property. Finally, the state forced them into it... for matching funds. Of course the local politicians love it. It gives them tremendous, almost unaccountable, power.

52 posted on 07/08/2007 3:37:57 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

Here in Texas we have to major cities of comparable size, Houston and Dallas. The DFW metroplex has zoning throughout it’s municipalities. Houston does not. As a result, you’ll find that DFW is much more livable than Houston. I’ll take zoning please.


53 posted on 07/08/2007 3:49:31 PM PDT by Melas (Offending stupid people since 1963)
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To: marktwain
In the circles I run in, living next to a shooting range *increases* property values.

I'd love to see this substantiated. I have a strong hunch that living next door to an outdoor shooting range has never increased anyone's property value, anywhere. However, I'd love to be proven wrong. Show me.

54 posted on 07/08/2007 3:51:49 PM PDT by Melas (Offending stupid people since 1963)
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To: Melas
It is a hard thing to prove, but I personally looked for a place close to a firing range, it was a big plus for me. When I saw places with their own private range, I was more interested. When I eventually got my own acreage, I built a private range on it.

Then, there is the planned Front Sight community in Nevada, which I believe has substantially increased the property values there (it was just barren desert before).

Here is an excerpt from their web site.

“Front Sight Resort is Even Building a New Master-Planned Community for Its Students.

Yes, Front Sight Resort is building a master-planned community encompassing the resort for the exclusive use of its students. Appropriately named the township of Front Sight, and dubbed “The Safest Town In America”, this gated community, when completed, will provide 177 one-acre luxury home sites, 350 condominiums, a commercial center, a community center, a private K-12 school, all municipal services, and even a 5,000 foot air strip. Front Sight Resort definitely takes care of our student’s needs for present and future training.”

55 posted on 07/08/2007 4:19:14 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: Melas
“Here in Texas we have to major cities of comparable size, Houston and Dallas. The DFW metroplex has zoning throughout it’s municipalities. Houston does not. As a result, you’ll find that DFW is much more livable than Houston. I’ll take zoning please.”

I have not lived in either city, so I don’t have a rebuttal to your opinion. I take it that you have lived in both?

I have, however, lived in several rural areas that have had zoning before and after... and inevitably, the local busybodies just can’t keep from exercising their power. You need a permit to build a shed, even on large acreage.

Zoning should at the minimum, have an exemption for any property over 5 acres.

I have read the model zoning laws that have been used for most of the zoning across the country. They start with an assumption opposite to all American philosophy: That which is not allowed is forbidden!

56 posted on 07/08/2007 4:32:42 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

I understand your concerns. However, Houston has had some real problems with its lack of zoning. The one I remember the best was when an abandoned 7-11 was taken over by a small company that did zinc plating. That kind of industrial work doesn’t mix well with neighborhoods. The smells and frequent arrivals of well marked toxic waste trucks to haul off the byproducts drove propert values through the floor.


57 posted on 07/08/2007 5:28:23 PM PDT by Melas (Offending stupid people since 1963)
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To: Melas

My brother was building a house in Wisconsin. He bought the property and moved in a camping trailer to live in while they were doing the initial construction. A local zoning official showed up (the position had only been created the year before, and he had to show that he could earn his keep). He cited my brother for camping *on his own land* without a permit.


58 posted on 07/08/2007 5:36:09 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: Melas
To make it clear about my brother, this was 12 acres of rural property.

A similar zoning ordinance was passed in the county my parents lived in, lobbied for by the local resorts. It was eventually removed, but only after considerable efforts.

Did no one try to take the metal plating concern to court for creating a nuisance? After all, the residents were there first.

59 posted on 07/08/2007 5:40:45 PM PDT by marktwain
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To: GovernmentIsTheProblem

I went to TMR Scout camp in the 60’s. Loved it, great memories!


60 posted on 07/08/2007 5:47:05 PM PDT by JoeSixPack1 (Think not of today.)
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