Gun club will ask to reopen shooting range

kitsapsun.com ^ | 29 February, 2012 | Christopher Dunagan

[marktwain]

BREMERTON — Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club will be in court Friday to explain why its shooting range on Seabeck Highway should be allowed to reopen pending court appeals.

The club's attorney, Brian Chenoweth, filed a motion asking Judge Susan Serko of Pierce County Superior Court to stay her order, which effectively closed the range until the club obtains land-use permits from Kitsap County.

According to the legal pleadings, the court's injunction affects a property right of the club and should not be imposed until appeals are exhausted.

"If the club's shooting ranges remain closed during the 18 to 24 months normally required to conclude the club's first stage of appeal, the club fears that membership and involvement in the club will decline precipitously," the motion states.

Already, membership has declined to an "extremely low level of only 419 members," states Chenoweth's motion, which says the decline probably resulted from the lawsuit filed by Kitsap County and the threat of closure, which has now come to pass.

Since the closure, "donations by visitors and guests, which were an important source of funds for the club's modest operating budget, have ceased," the motion states. If the closure continues, "volunteers will not devote the hundreds of hours needed to diligently monitor the shooting ranges, and the club will not have the funds to monitor them otherwise."

While the shooting range remains closed, club officials are growing more concerned about trespassers and vandalism at the club's property.

"The club is particularly concerned about unauthorized shooters at its property — both on- and off-range," the motion states, adding that without adequate resources club officials might not be able to prevent unsupervised shooting on club property.

Technically, shooting would be legal under county ordinance, since the property is larger than 5 acres and not located

[marktwain]

"Technically, shooting would be legal under county ordinance, since the property is larger than 5 acres and not located in a no-shooting zone, Chenoweth noted in the motion."

But, the judge, using the all powerful mantra of "safety", even though there has not been a single injury from a bullet that landed outside the club, closes it down? Sounds like tyranny to me.

Those with local knowledge, please enlighten us.

[Jack Hammer]

Not at all surprisingly, a quick search of the web reveals that the club has been open without any safety concerns or issues since 1926.

It seems it is only lately that someone, somewhere, filed a complaint and got the place closed down.

We’ve seen this countless times, again and again.

Some idiot moves into the neighborhood knowing full well about the noise issues involved, then decides he/she would like a quieter life, and files a “safety complaint.”

As flies follow crap, some Leftist judge is prevailed upon to shut the place, and a venue for recreation on a modest budget is bankrupted by the ensuing legal proceedings.

Modern, PC bullsh*t strikes again.

[magslinger]

Some idiot moves into the neighborhood knowing full well about the noise issues involved, then decides he/she would like a quieter life, and files a “safety complaint.”

I highly doubt that. I strongly believe the decision to make a "safety complaint" was made well before any down payment was made and probably before the idiot in question was ever shown the property.