He's right down the street from me!
Here is a link to the apparently original story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1183538047129510.xml&coll=2
"Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Molly Kavanaugh
Plain Dealer Reporter
Elyria Township - At 84, Ted Dowdell has fond memories of shooting at tin cans with a BB gun, which he kept behind the kitchen door in his Elyria home.
That's why Dowdell decided to turn the pole barn next to his Griswold Road house into a free shooting range for children.
"The kids don't get a chance to shoot a BB these days," Dowdell said Tuesday. "I'm just a host inviting my guests to come and shoot."
The range, open by appointment only, is equipped with eight Daisy Red Ryder BB guns mounted on a pole so that they can only be cocked by pointing into the barn. Empty soda cans, cottage cheese containers and pieces of plastic foam serve as targets.
For a backdrop, he used old carpeting he collected from curbsides.
Each station has eye-protection glasses. Anyone under the age of 21 must be accompanied by a parent, who is required to sign a waiver.
"I will always be out here," he said.
Dowdell is not a gun collector or shooter, and only hunts occasionally, he said. But he strongly believes in the right of citizens to own a gun. One of his sons once ran a gun show at the Medina County Fairgrounds.
Dowdell said he has tested his range at family reunions and considers it to be safe. He did purchase a $600 insurance policy through the National Rifle Association for added protection.
A deputy with the Lorain County Sheriff's Department inspected the range and did not see anything unsafe, Sgt. Don Barker said.
Gun-control advocate Gerald Nunziato, a former agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said he would not oppose a shooting range that is safe and teaches gun safety. "It is a legitimate sport for kids," he said.
But Dowdell suspects his operation will not be popular with everyone.
"I expect a big outcry. I do. So what? Our founding fathers went against the grain. I can take the heat," he said.
This isn't the first time that Dowdell has taken a risk. Four years ago he and another man paddled 2,003 miles down the Mississippi River to New Orleans to raise money to fight Lou Gehrig's disease, which took his beloved wife, Bonnie Jean. He has raised about $8,000 and continues to speak to civic groups about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
People who call to make an appointment will have to mail Dowdell a $10 check, payable to the ALS Association of Northeast Ohio. If the shooter shows up, he gets his donation back. If not, Dowdell will send the check to the association.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 440-324-3788"
This guy is pretty spry for his age. In 2003 he and a friend paddled 2000 miles down the Mississippi to raise money for ALS, which his wife died from. I've heard or read some things about him, all positive.
Its interesting that the Elyria Chronicle Telegram, the newspaper in this guy's own town, didn't have a word about it. I searched their sight (
www.chroniclet.com) and couldn't come up with anything. I'm going to send an email Andy Young, the editor, and ask if he knows anything, or plans to reprint the story.
Dowdell is asking for a $10 donation check to be mailed when you call for an appointment. If you show up, he'll give your $10 back. For the good cause, he can keep the $10, IMO.
I'm going to look up his number tonight and call him. I'll post what he has to say. He's only about 5 miles from my house.
I originally saw this article on an airgun website. Here is the link:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/message/1183701735/84+year+old+opens+BB+gun+range
