Izzak Walton?

[Matt1911]

There is a walton chapter that just opened 2 blocks from my house,and a buddy who just joined gave me the tour yesterday,nice range, club house,property,ect. Week days there is never anyone there,kinda "mine all mine",ya know what i mean.
Any one have any clues what there political slant is?I'd hate to join and find out.....?
Matt

 

[FPrice]

Izzak Walton League...

http://www.iwla.org/

This is all I could find with a web search. Seems to be conservation-oriented. However, does not tell you much about any political leanings. However, if they have a gun-range, I would think they would have to be somewhat friendly. I'd be interested in hearing more from someone who knows them better.

 

[Matt1911]

Thats all i found also,thats why i was asking,it's almost a "to good to be true"deal for me.
Matt

 

[Khornet]

It's "Izaak"-- two As

I used to shoot at the local IW range in Virginia. Nice folks, good range. Fire the M1 for the first time there. They can't be all bad.

Walton was author of "The Compleat Angler", part of the foundation literature on trout fishing.

 

[Greg L]

There is a new range TWO BLOCKS from your house and you are wondering if you should join? Load up the kids little red wagon with ammo and walk on over there. That would almost be worth joining the Sierra Club if they had a mostly deserted range that close to home (not that they would ever have a range but ... ).

Greg

 

[gun-fucious]

There was a letter in the Walton Magazine last year from a member that took an MMM approach to gun issues

following it, there was a firm 2nd amendment response from the National director and many RKBA letters were published in the following months

In order to protect their non profit status, IWLA does not lobby like the NRA's ILA

They are a bunch of good ole boys hunting & fishin and hanging out in the woods

They try to cruise low below the RADAR and not upset the neighbors

Many chapters sponsor Boy Scout Troops and host Youth Air Rifle competition

 

[moa]

I belong to a Chapter in the heart of one of the most liberal counties in the country in Montgomery County, MD. Excellent facility and it promotes all kinds of firearms related ativities. Range has a lot of rules, mostly for insurance reasons.

I think about the only firearm they do not allow is any firearm that fires 50 cal. BMG round. Many times I go the range and there no one, or practically no one, there during the week.

In order to use the range, new members had a long orientation session, followed by a check-out for different kinds of firearms as well as a written test. When I joined years ago, all range users were classified as Range Officers.

Other Chapters may different.

Of course, the IWLA is one of the oldest conservation organizations in the USA. My membership costs about $100.00 a year. Hard to beat that.

My Chapter also has all kinds of oher activities to raise money and get members together with dinners, bull roasts and other kinds of stuff.

My chapter has a large 100 yard covered rifle range with bench rests, large covered and uncovered 50 yard pistol range, big sheet range, and I think bow and arror range. Covers about 100 acres. Also has a very large Chapter house.

 

[Matt1911]

Thanks guys,
This org. just seems to get better and better.The faciltys are much as MOA describes,plus it is SOOO close!
Think i'll go buy a lottery ticket, i'm feeling lucky.....
Matt

 

[Gunfyter]

Usually, "if it sounds too good to be true, it is" does not apply here. I too am a resident of the PRMD and belong to an IWLA chapter in Western MAryland. We have two rifle ranges, pistol range, archery ranges, trap range, etc. While not as political as the NRA, they really keeps tabs on what's going on and are not afraid to state their case. Good folks, join up.

 

[Cliff]

Moa,
Sounds like we are both members of the Wildlife Acheivement Chapter. I live in Lanham,MD which is a drive for me going to Damascus,but ever since I joined I Love it. My kind of folks,meaning conservative,pro-gun,strong on RKBA issues,etc. Two blocks from your house? You are truly blessed.Lots of activities for the entire family.Go ahead,join up, you will not regret it at all.

 

[moa]

Right Cliff, I belong to the Damascus Chapter too. Joined around 1987. I am about a 40 minute drive from the Chapter house. I do not go too often. Usually too busy at work, or too lazy.

It really is a nice facility. I checked the Potomac and Rockville (actually Gaithersburg) Chapters before I joined Damascus, and those Chapters were not anywhere near as nice as Damacus back in '87.

When did you join and what, if any, range orientation, test, etc., did you get in order to have range privileges?

By the way, I have to agree with you that most people I have met there seem like pretty cool folks. However, on two occasions I have seen or had incidents with guests, or another member at the range. Graduates of Jerk School. But, jerks exist everywhere. Very large alumni.

 

[Cliff]

I consider myself still somewhat of a new member, (about a year and a half since I joined.) Had to go through range orientation,small test during orientation also,and I'm on the list of chapter range safety officers,since I'm a NRA RSO also. What I really enjoy about the league is the sense of comradrie that is shared among all members. I've had to engage just one idiot on the pistol range because of pisspoor firearm handling. He was a guest of a member,and the member was very cool about the whole thing,and agreed that his guest was in the wrong. That just confirms that joing the league was one of the best decisions I've made. General honesty and no BS outstanding values among the membership.