NC ALERT! We have only 24 HOURS to oppose a ban on rec. shooting on game lands!

[Green Lantern]

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3411

Wednesday, January 30, 2008


Please Make Your Voice Heard Today!

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is considering prohibiting recreational shooting on the Sutton Lake, Mayo, Lee, Hyco, Harris, Chatham and Pee Dee River game lands. If approved, the new regulation will close thousands of acres of state-leased lands to target shooting that allows citizens to zero hunting rifles and hone their hunting and self-defense skills. These leases are paid for with money collected from the state's gun owners and hunters.

This prohibition of safe, responsible target shooting cannot be allowed. It will set a precedent for the closure of all other leased lands throughout the state. The landowner, Progress Energy, is requesting this change, but no specified reason is mentioned in the NCWRC Public Hearing Booklet on proposed rules changes. Similar efforts to close public lands to recreational shooting have cited public safety concerns. These claims, however, have not been supported by facts. North Carolina's gun owners have a remarkable safety record, and the Commission should not allow baseless and emotional claims to control public policy.

With formal shooting ranges under increasing attack from anti-gun extremists, it is more critical than ever to keep public lands available for safe, responsible shooting. North Carolina's firearms and hunting heritage counts on it. Please act today by going to the Wildlife Commission's website and providing comments in opposition to the prohibition of recreational shooting on these public game lands. The comments section can be found here and the item number is H31. All public comments must be received by Friday, February 1.

Looks like they darn near slipped one "under the radar" on us...!

If you can't think of any good comments, you don't HAVE to write any, just click a box that says you oppose this change.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:
http://ncpaws.org/regulationswebform/ContentPages/RegulationSelection.aspx

 

[birdbustr]

Why would you want people to be able to shoot whenever on HUNTING lands? If you want to shoot recreationally shoot somewhere like a range, or private land if done infrequently. But if you open up these lands for SHOOTING, then SHOOTING is all that they will be good for!

You should go to some of the public lands in CO and see all of the broken clays, shotgun hulls, and guess what NO ANIMALS in sight! It looks like camping and shooting all year around, and then we wonder why there are almost no big game animals seen or taken on public land unless you hike miles off of the roads.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

A lot of rec. shooting done on wildlife property is done on an established range. Not people running willy nilly shooting wherever they like.

And, pretty much everywhere in NC, you have to go in a ways to get to the good hunting areas where the lazy guys on ATVs can't go. At least in the swamps and mountains where I hunt.

I wouldn't want the gamelands littered with garbage either. At first blush, it seems like shooters have no idea of caring about the environment.
While as a group we can do better, I have to say that the majority are pretty responsible people here in NC.
I'd like to think so anyway.

 

[SamTuckerMTNMAN]

We can't ban fishing because some jerks leave their trash. We just do our part and also pick up a little of the other guys and work to educate fellow shooters and lead by example. Public shooting lands are the most fun, far superior to ranges. Many ranges where I live prohibit rifles anyway :O

I'll leave my mark . . .

thanks for the note

st

 

[birdbustr]

I think you will be best served to recreational shooting kept in established ranges. If they are trying to take away the ranges, I would raise ****.

In SC target or recreational shooting is not allowed on public lands unless it's done at a designated shooting area. That's the law there, and you can do pretty descent hunting on public lands because of it. Wildlife needs some time during the year when they can feel safe and secure on that land, or they will go somewhere they do feel safe. No way should anyone be able to shoot anywhere/anytime on public lands. Maybe if you are a shooter and not a hunter I could see that view. Hunters want things regulated to the point where there will be some game to hunt on those lands.

 

[duckslayer]

Thanks for the heads up. I left a comment.

 

[KINGMAX]

I am from NC

Anytime I am allowed to use land, whether public or private, I try to leave it better than I found it. From simple things like trash removal, to not shooting up trees for targets.

All the junk that folks illegally dump may be part of the conflict here. Old stoves, TV, refrigerators and even old PC's have been junked only to be converted into avaiable targets. That is where this issue may stem from. I have seen these areas, and have used them in the past.

This restriction is not the resolution. JMOHO

 

[Robert Hairless]

So far it seems that a couple of folks in Colorado are in favor of this proposed restrictive North Carolina regulation but the folks in North Carolina most affected by it are opposed. Nothing hurts less than when it's someone else's ox that is being gored.

 

[LAR-15]

As far as I know there are no ranges at these game lands.

NC has one game lands range and that is in Haywood County

 

[birdbustr]

I am from SC. Spartanburg, which isn't far from NC. I currently am stationed in Colorado, but I will be settling in NC after the military and would prefer to be able to hunt public property when I do so without the all the game being ran off by people shooting anywhere they want 365 days per year.

 

[Larryect]

Done. The public should be able to use public lands. I am sure they can find a way for different activities to co-exist.

 

[W.E.G.]

I hit it.

 

[langenc]

Did not find an "add new comment link??" Only the close window??

 

[ranger53]

For me, I think it's a good thing! Here in Mont. Co., ( troy and surrounding areas) these yahoos shoot anytime they want anyway. They have a range, but a year or so ago, it got shut down, simply because the idiots were shooting over the burm. Now, that's just being a moron Plus there was no one there, so it was trashed all the time. I always smelled alcohol when I was there. THAT'S REAL STUPID! I went to the ranger office, when it was closed and offered my solution to the problem. I told them that they needed to charge a small fee, so you could keep the riff-raff out. No, they didn't like that. See, that range was built with funds from the NRA, and since they didn't follow the simple guidelines, the NRA washed their hands with them. That's why I pay 175.00 dollars in the stanly Co. to shoot at Ed Efird's range. There are rules and regs you have to follow. BTW, it's a fantastic range too! Maybe , the range on the reservation at some point in time, will get the picture, but I'm not holding my breath! This might also, hopefully cut down on the poaching here, also. Fat chance of that! I constantly hear people telling their buds how they shot this deer the other day, whether it's in season or not! I'm from Tn. originally, and I've always killed 6 to 7 deer a year. Since I moved here in '99 I killed only 3 deer. And I hate it too, because you are allowed to use dogs here to hunt deer. I mean, HOW LOW CAN YOU GO!
TOMMY

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I checked the link provided but could not find a specific reference to the proposed bill. I would have asked to have it dismissed on the basis that it could lead to infringement of 'right to carry' on Wildlife land. this is very important as most of the state game land lies inside Natl Forest (restricts carry arms to a .22 rimfire no longer than 6" barrel) or adjoined to it. I'm very much against this bill, I have no way to contact my state rep. concerning.

 

[Bruce333]

done

the item number is H31.

 

[Grizfire]

I think you will be best served to recreational shooting kept in established ranges.

I don't think so. I prefer to shoot on public lands (its perfectly legal where I am). I've been to a few established ranges and I have seen some real fools. sorry but I feel a bit nervous around a bunch of strangers shooting their guns.

 

[rantingredneck]

Done.

 

[Green Lantern]

I agree that RESPONSIBILITY and COURTESY is needed when shooting on game lands.

And so is it needed for carrying and using a gun in ANY capacity, no? Who among us would say that because of some people that do NOT practice those things, we need to do away with all forms of gun ownership???

I'm lucky that I can shoot on private property. Especially because I CCW. From what I understand of "established ranges," most of them frown upon doing more "advanced" training than just punching holes in paper with your gun already drawn.

 

[JBusch]

My commentary

As a frequent out of state hunter and shooter that spends my vacation dollars in North Carolina, I would gladly spend them elsewhere if this rule is passed.

 

[benEzra]

Done.

 

[Robert Hairless]

It's been more than 24 hours. Has there been any decision?