Posted on 12/20/2001 7:03:10 PM PST by MissTargets
Airport security may cause move for trapshoots
Groups await word from aviation officials
By Jim Morris
Dayton Daily News
VANDALIA | The Grand American Trapshooting Tournament might have to be moved to a different location in 2002 because of airport security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The Grand, scheduled for Aug. 8-17, and the Ohio State Trapshooting Tournament, slated for June 18-23, would have to find alternate locations for 2002 if the Dayton International Airport and Federal Aviation Agency rule the two tournaments to be a security risk under the Airport Security Act of 2001.
The Amateur Trapshooting Association, which puts on the Grand and is host to the state shoot, has, since 1923, been on about 1.5 miles of land along National Road, now on the southern boundary of the airport. About half of the 100 trap fields are on airport property, leased to the ATA for use during its two annual events.
"We don't know what is going to happen. It's totally out of our control," said John Norris, executive director of the ATA. "They (airport personnel) have not indicated any change, but they have not given us the go-ahead either. We hope to hear something soon, because it's certainly hard to plan (for the upcoming Grand)."
According to Ken Duncan, a member of the ATA's Executive Committee, "The ATA made an official notification on Nov. 20 to the airport . . . of an airport special events for the Ohio and Grand American tournaments. At this point I am not aware of any communications from the airport concerning this matter. We all are anxiously awaiting a reply."
Norris said the airport and FAA must approve annually any events, including the Dayton Air Show, that take place on or around airport property, for reasons of security.
The extreme west end of the trap line comes very close to a taxi way, which is shut down during the Grand. That part of the trapshooting grounds is not used during the smaller state event. The rest of the ATA grounds, including the eastern end of the trap line, which is owned by the ATA, lies directly south of the main terminal building.
Shooters shoot at targets thrown north, toward the terminal, but are at least half a mile away. The range of a 12-gauge shotgun used in trapshooting is between 120 and 300 yards, so there is never a chance of hitting a plane or any airport property used in aviation or airport business.
Norris said he could envision the placement of a security fence between the ATA grounds and the rest of the airport property, although it has not been proposed at this point.
"It's one of those things you think of when you are lying awake at night trying to figure out how we can make this thing happen," Norris said.
He said the ATA would have to scramble to come up with an alternate site for the Grand. It would be up to the Ohio State Trapshooting Association to come up with its own site for the state shoot.
"Obviously, it would be a much smaller state shoot this year," said Dennis Filo of Trotwood, past president of the OSTA and currently its delegate to the ATA.
Ohio officials would have to work with a private club to stage their shoot. Jaqua's of Findlay and the Middletown Sportsmen's Club are the state's largest and have less than half the number of traps used by the OSTA at the ATA grounds.
Norris said the ATA would have to go to another state to put on the 2002 Grand, but all facilities are considerably smaller than the 100-trap Grand location. Missouri, with 60 traps, would be the largest. Following that would be the Michigan or Pennsylvania sites, which are about half the size of the Missouri site.
The ATA is scheduled to move permanently from the Vandalia location after the 2003 Grand. One of the reasons for the move is to get out from under airport security. The executive committee is working to obtain an undeveloped site near Sparta, Ill., about 70 miles southeast of St. Louis.
It has been estimated the Grand and state shoots bring approximately $10 million to the economy of the Miami Valley each year.
I don't know if a slug, would go any further,than a load of 1 1/8 oz of 8 shot.
You must purchase shells at the Grand American, but not at the Ohio State shoot.
Then, the Amateur Trapshooting Association will have to be compensated for the implementation of this regulation:
Amendment V, U.S. Constitution,
"...nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation."
ATA exert your rights.
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