Posted on 06/30/2009 4:48:38 AM PDT by marktwain
The Caseyville Rifle and Pistol and Pistol Club has weathered the storm of efforts by St. Clair County to close it, and the costly effort is far from over.
The Caseyville Rifle and Pistol Club has spent the past four years battling for its survival in a legal war of attrition with St. Clair County.
So far the gun club -- the owner of the metro-east's only outdoor rifle range -- has won every round in court. The most recent victory occurred June 5, when a St. Clair County Circuit judge dismissed the county lawsuit aiming to shut down the 32-acre shooting range on the grounds it's a public danger.
That, of course, is encouraging. The problem is that the St. Clair County Board is implacable in its efforts to shut the club down, and the legal expenses, which have already totaled at least $200,000, continue to mount.
So what is this "public danger"?
"We have expert testimony that shows that aircraft are endangered overhead," Kern said.
As a result of the hazard posed by the gun club, the future of Scott Air Force Base -- by far St. Clair County's largest employer -- could be jeopardized when the federal government determines the next round of military base closings, Kern said.
Ah, yes--the old "airplanes shot down by stray gunfire from the local shooting range" scenario. No wonder they're concerned--that sort of thing has happened, well . . . never, anywhere in the world, so clearly we're about due.
One of the current legal battles is the appeal filed by the county of a court finding that there is no such danger.
The legal expenses are, of course, taking quite a toll on the range.
As a result, the club is nearly broke, forcing it to borrow money from members while doubling the amount it charges them for dues and fees -- a vicious cycle that has hurt membership, Seper said.
"We've lost all kinds of members," Seper said. "We've had to increase our dues because we've lost members. And every time I increase dues I lose members."
St. Clair County, on the other hand, can simply tap a nearly endless well--the taxpayers--for its legal expenses. Those expenses, by the way, are high enough that even county residents with no interest in guns might have an issue here.
Between June 1, 2005, and March 31, 2007, the law firm of Gundlach, Lee, Eggmann, Boyle and Roessler, of Belleville -- which is representing the county -- had invoiced the county nearly $105,000 in legal, photocopy and consultant costs, according to the most recent records the News-Democrat obtained through the state Freedom of Information Act.
This is in addition to the more than $80,000 the county has been ordered to pay the club to reimburse its legal fees.
Caseyville RIfle and Pistol Club is one of very few outdoor rifle ranges in the area (the Belleville News-Democrat claims it's the only one, but I don't think that's quite true), and if the county succeeds in shutting it down, the gun culture in the area will take a serious hit.
That, I believe, is a significant part of the motivation for this kind of harassment. Resistance to legislative attacks on gun rights is still such that such attacks have a long road to hoe. The gun haters can be patient, though, and plan for years in the future. Shut down enough gun ranges, and there will eventually be fewer and fewer peaceable practicioners of responsible gun ownership. Eventually, the numbers will be so few that the gun banning legislative agenda will meet no effective resistance.
That's the goal.
The Government can afford to outspend the gun club. They may as well close up now.
Legal fees are one of the government's most potent weapons in its war against ordinary citizens.
Why can’t the range sue for legal costs?
This is in addition to the more than $80,000 the county has been ordered to pay the club to reimburse its legal fees.
Well, I only have 2 hands to fire with but, IMO, if someone hasn’t purchased a gun in the last year or so, chances are they don’t want one.
Getum while they’re hot.
Something is not adding up then.
$80,000 < $200,000
....good point ArrogantBustard, and that’s the gun club’s best chance IMHO...next election cycle gun owners have got to start raising hell about all the money the county is spending on this...and gun owner lawyers need to start representing the club pro bono.
Aren’t there any lawyers out there who are pro-gun, who may take this pro-bono?
If a private entity were behind this attack by abuse of the legal system, we would call it "barratry", or "frivolous lawsuits".
Since it's a government ... we can just call it TYRANNY.
Gun club $80,000 and 4 wins
County$200,000 and 4 loses.
Still want to know why the $80,000 hasn't covered their expenses. Don't think the reporter was smart enough to ask that.
....the law firm of Gundlach, Lee, Eggmann, Boyle and Roessler, of Belleville — which is representing the county —invoiced the county nearly $105,000 in legal, photocopy and consultant costs.....
For anyone NOT familiar with this area,St Clair County with it’s hell hole E.St. Louis and Belleville are nothing more than Cook County and Chicago wannabes .......loaded with lawyers,lawsuit happy ,totally corrupt and absolutely RULED by the Democrat Party...
I could not wait to leave that place...
1) The Gun Club has incurred > $200,000 in expenses, of which they have been reimbursed $80,000. That leaves it with $120,000 it has to cover on its own. Or sue the county for it.
2) The County has incurred ~ $105,000 in its own expenses. Additionally, it has been ordered to pay the Gun Club $80,000 for reimbursement of part of its expenses.
So, the taxpayers are on the hook for approximately $185,000 (and counting: The county is still committing barratry, and the Club may sue for additional reimbursement). The taxpayers have good and substantial reason to tar and feather every single stinking County official, and ride them out of town on a rail.
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