Scouts' firing range irks residents

Rocky Mountain News ^ | July 7, 2007 | Ivan Moreno

[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.

[meyer]

"It sounded like Hamas had a training camp next door," said Elbert County Sheriff William Frangis...

the fact that Boy Scouts are shooting there is a sign that there are some Americans that would resist a Hamas training camp. These liberals are truly idiots.

[meyer]

If our youth is cheated out of the chance to learn how shoot; who will be able to defend these pisssheaded freeks from the many enemies of this nation?

The p-headed freaks still believe that if you surrender and reason with your enemy, he will become your friend. You know, like the Polish did with Hitler.

[neverdem]

bump & a BANG! This William Frangis idiot merits some attention after comparing the Boy Scouts to Hamas. This is a new way for the watermelon neoCOMs to attack liberty.

[PsyOp]

lefties that hate both scouting and the Second Amendment.

The Second Amendment - Commentaries

[LIConFem]

When I lived in rural upstate CT, I would hear gunshots at all hours (range < 0.5mi away), even in the wee hours if my neighbor's livestock were being threatened by coyotes. No one ever complained, or even mentioned it. And no one was ever hurt by it, either. Folks need to mind their own frikkin' business.

"These whiners should have considered living close to a gun range before they purchased their homes."

Reminds me of my moronic neighbors when I lived in Howard Beach, Queens (right near JFK airport), who were constantly protesting the noise from the airport. Forget the fact that the airport has been there longer than most of their houses. Some people just live to bitch and moan!

[Albion Wilde]

Reminds me of my moronic neighbors when I lived in Howard Beach, Queens (right near JFK airport), who were constantly protesting the noise from the airport. Forget the fact that the airport has been there longer than most of their houses. Some people just live to bitch and moan!

During the 90s, the (non-Christian) proprietor of the Philadelphia entertainment-district condom store moved into an Italian Catholic South Philly neighborhood directly in front of the Catholic church, and then began complaining about the noise of the church bells. Needless to say, the neighbor boys took care of him "South Philly style" -- starting with deep key scratches into the side of his expensive car....

[Alex Murphy]

"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."

Next thing you know, the EPA will be advocating group therapy for these poor, frightened animals.

"Bummer of a birthmark, Hal!"

[SFC Chromey]

And for the record, there is a shotgunning merit badge offered by the BSA

---

Back in the day it was the Rifle and Shotgun Merit Badge! I got one by learning how to shoot in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

[RightWingConspirator]

You are right on that. I grew up in Elbert County, CO, and left to go to college in 1959. At that time Elbert, CO, was a quiet little one-horse town way out in the boonies. A huge influx of Californians into the Denver area over the past several decades has made what was boonies to a continuous urban area. Unfortunately the Californians also brought their execrable leftie ideologies and voting habits with them.

[RightWingConspirator]

I’d be willing to bet that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the Columbine shooters, were not Boy Scouts.

[live+let_live]

Zoning is popular for the same reason fascism is popular.

I get to tell my neighbor what he can do with his stuff.

WooHoo!!

[VxH]

>>Who was there first?

Peaceful Valley has been in operation since at least the 70s. It used to be WAY out in the middle of nowhere. Scared all the deer away? Give me an effin' break.

[monkeycard]

[American in Israel]

As a logging, mining and all around hunting kind of Californian, just wanted to let you know that once long ago California was free of the leftists. They moved here liking the relaxed attitude, then voted it out of existence. They all live in the cities. While it is popular to blame leftism on California, keep in mind where ever they came from, they are not to popular in California either once you get out of Lost Angels or Sodom Francisco.

[Daveinyork]

Drug gangs are turning neighborhoods near mine into shooting ranges. I’d rather have the Boy Scouts.

[ozzymandus]

A better headline might be: “Bitchy Neighbors Irk Scouts”.

[colorado tanker]

I just spent some time at Camp Magness, the Cubbie camp across the road from the Scout range. I heard some gunfire from over there after around 9:00, but nothing annoying. It wasn’t very loud, even as close as we were.