JeanC
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http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=071703&ID=s1382680
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Spokane
Gun range has some up in arms
Steve Thompson
Gun range owner Joel Carr, who lives on the site, has repeatedly battled back to keep his 20-year-old range open to the public.
Tom Lutey - Staff Writer
One man's black powder playground is another's backyard Beirut. That was the case Wednesday as gun enthusiasts debated Mica neighbors over expanding the local gun range.
"This range. I have heard people shooting things up at 10 o'clock at night," said Larry Beck, an exasperated neighbor. "Fifty-caliber weapons, automatic weapons. Immediately south of this property is a county-approved subdivision that I own. This firing range has been detrimental to lot sales."
Neighbors have complained to Spokane County for years about the shots from Mica Gun Range that echo through the valley. More than a dozen showed up Wednesday at the Public Works Building to discourage the county from approving an expansion.
Gun range owner Joel Carr who lives on the site, has repeatedly battled back to keep his 20-year-old range open to the public. The range on Carr's 320-acre property has prevailed, though government officials have shortened the leash on its allowed uses.
Wednesday, the Spokane Falls Muzzle Loaders, one of the larger groups using the range, approached Spokane County about opening the upper reaches of Carr's land for black powder rifle competitions and mountain men rendezvous. The muzzleloaders use the type of lead-ball and gunpowder weapons trappers and soldiers relied on in the first half of the 19th century, back when ammunition was loaded by pushing it down the end of the barrel.
"I don't think it would be adding any significant use to the area, as we're using the range on a monthly basis as it is," said Sal Fusari, a muzzleloader.
There are two muzzle-loading groups who use the site. Together their members number more than 80. Neighbors told Spokane County hearing examiner Mike Dempsey that the black powder gatherings are often kicked off with a thunderous group rifle fire.
People living around the range objected to the expansion based on noise, fire danger and the risk of lead contamination from discarded shot. Some likened living next door to Carr to living beside a war zone.
Gun proponents pointed out that lead balls, like those shot from muzzle-loaded rifles, doesn't spark and are easily cleaned up. The group clung to its proposal because it is running out of places to go.
Society isn't making more gun ranges, Fusari said after the hearing. The amount of paperwork required to use U.S. Forest Service and state lands has made impromptu outings impossible, he said. Consequently, Fusari said, shooting clubs of all types have come to rely on private ranges, which are giving way to housing developments and new neighbors who like things quiet.
Clubs aren't the only parties shooting at Mica Gun Range. The Spokane County SWAT team has used the upper portion of Carr's 320 acres for tactical maneuvers. The SWAT team was days from returning to the range last fall when county officials confirmed the range's right to exist, but declared the upper reaches of Carr's property off limits. City and state police have used the site, also.
Carr used to open the shooting range at dawn and close it at dusk. Demand for the range is still strong, but the hours are now 2 p.m. to nightfall.
Tuesday, Carr refuted allegations by neighbors that night SWAT team maneuvers had lead to trespassing and confrontations with startled neighbors.
•Tom Lutey can be reached at 927-2179 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Thursday, July 17, 2003
Spokane
Gun range has some up in arms
Steve Thompson
Gun range owner Joel Carr, who lives on the site, has repeatedly battled back to keep his 20-year-old range open to the public.
Tom Lutey - Staff Writer
One man's black powder playground is another's backyard Beirut. That was the case Wednesday as gun enthusiasts debated Mica neighbors over expanding the local gun range.
"This range. I have heard people shooting things up at 10 o'clock at night," said Larry Beck, an exasperated neighbor. "Fifty-caliber weapons, automatic weapons. Immediately south of this property is a county-approved subdivision that I own. This firing range has been detrimental to lot sales."
Neighbors have complained to Spokane County for years about the shots from Mica Gun Range that echo through the valley. More than a dozen showed up Wednesday at the Public Works Building to discourage the county from approving an expansion.
Gun range owner Joel Carr who lives on the site, has repeatedly battled back to keep his 20-year-old range open to the public. The range on Carr's 320-acre property has prevailed, though government officials have shortened the leash on its allowed uses.
Wednesday, the Spokane Falls Muzzle Loaders, one of the larger groups using the range, approached Spokane County about opening the upper reaches of Carr's land for black powder rifle competitions and mountain men rendezvous. The muzzleloaders use the type of lead-ball and gunpowder weapons trappers and soldiers relied on in the first half of the 19th century, back when ammunition was loaded by pushing it down the end of the barrel.
"I don't think it would be adding any significant use to the area, as we're using the range on a monthly basis as it is," said Sal Fusari, a muzzleloader.
There are two muzzle-loading groups who use the site. Together their members number more than 80. Neighbors told Spokane County hearing examiner Mike Dempsey that the black powder gatherings are often kicked off with a thunderous group rifle fire.
People living around the range objected to the expansion based on noise, fire danger and the risk of lead contamination from discarded shot. Some likened living next door to Carr to living beside a war zone.
Gun proponents pointed out that lead balls, like those shot from muzzle-loaded rifles, doesn't spark and are easily cleaned up. The group clung to its proposal because it is running out of places to go.
Society isn't making more gun ranges, Fusari said after the hearing. The amount of paperwork required to use U.S. Forest Service and state lands has made impromptu outings impossible, he said. Consequently, Fusari said, shooting clubs of all types have come to rely on private ranges, which are giving way to housing developments and new neighbors who like things quiet.
Clubs aren't the only parties shooting at Mica Gun Range. The Spokane County SWAT team has used the upper portion of Carr's 320 acres for tactical maneuvers. The SWAT team was days from returning to the range last fall when county officials confirmed the range's right to exist, but declared the upper reaches of Carr's property off limits. City and state police have used the site, also.
Carr used to open the shooting range at dawn and close it at dusk. Demand for the range is still strong, but the hours are now 2 p.m. to nightfall.
Tuesday, Carr refuted allegations by neighbors that night SWAT team maneuvers had lead to trespassing and confrontations with startled neighbors.
•Tom Lutey can be reached at 927-2179 or by e-mail at [email protected].