SULTAN — A controversial shooting range might wind up in the line of fire on Wednesday.
The Snohomish County Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing to discuss turning an east county gravel pit into a no-shooting area at the request of neighbors.
If the pit is closed, the council may solve one problem as it creates another.
“When we try to shut everything down, folks just move to another location,” County Councilman Dave Somers said. “The ultimate answer is to have a facility that’s safe and open to the public.”
A new shooting area may not open soon, however, leaving shooters wondering where they should go.
What we're talking about, I suppose, are rural settings on the outskirts of small towns. Shooters naturally look for places where they can practice and have fun. But it creates problems. Contrary to the claims of many who comment on gun blogs, not everyone who goes out shooting knows how to behave themselves in a responsible manner. Let me clarify that, I say that a too high percentage of them are bad apples.
Word spread, and a steady flow of gun owners began coming to the pit. Many behaved themselves, peppering paper targets with holes before carrying out garbage.
Some didn’t, leaving behind empty beer cans and spent shells.
No one can recall an injury at the pit, but residents living within a mile complain of constant noise. They hear gunfire after nightfall, when it’s illegal to shoot. Occasionally, they hear explosions.
“It has been completely out of control,” Chuck Miller, 82, said.
Residents living near the pit gathered 32 signatures on a petition last fall, causing the county to consider closing the spot. They want their quiet mountain setting back.
Drinking beer while shooting, leaving trash behind, shooting after dark, blowing stuff up, now that sounds like the gun owners I know. How about you? Are these the characteristics of an inconsequential minority, just a few bad apples, or is this par for the course for many?
In my Famous 10% post, I assigned an extremely tiny percentage to gun owners who have problems with alcohol and drugs and those who are just plain reckless. I attempted to highlight only the worst of the worst. But what does this story sound like to you? I'd say it's more like 20% or 30% who are acting up.
Once I asked about shot-up road signs. In response I got everything from silence and avoidance to "Never seen one m'self." But I'll bet some of the patrons of the Sultan gravel pit have shot some road signs in their day.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
"Drinking beer while shooting, leaving trash behind, shooting after dark, blowing stuff up, now that sounds like the gun owners I know."
ReplyDeleteFunny, the article didn't say anything about drinking beer. And how many gun owners do you? Two? Three at the most?
"Let me clarify that, I say that a too high percentage of them are bad apples."
What percentage is too high?
I wonder if this is a growing problem with the pit or with the residents. While I can certainly see how some shooters could abuse it, we have also seen people move into a rural area from cities or suburbs and start complaining about the noise. Sort of like the people that build homes next to an airport and then complain about the aircraft.
ReplyDeleteI remember an incident in Ohio a couple of years ago where some liberals from Cleveland moved onto a house near a Boy Scout camp then started complaining about the noise from the rifle range. That range had been there since 1925.
But what does this story sound like to you? I'd say it's more like 20% or 30% who are acting up.
ReplyDeleteAnd what are these percentages based on? Is it the narrative of this article? If so, you really need to work on your critical thinking skills.
What percentage is too high?
ReplyDeleteIn MikeB's world anything above 0.00% is unacceptable and must result in further restrictions of our rights.
In some countries (some of which have gun laws even more insanely draconian than those in the U.S., but are more reasonable in this area), sound suppressors ("silencers" in popular, although less than accurate, parlance) are easily bought, with no hassle, and using them when shooting is considered the neighborly thing to do.
ReplyDeleteMuch of the trouble in this case would be alleviated if U.S. law were more sensible.
Whaddya' say, Mikeb? Care to help right the hideous wrong of ridiculous restrictions on basic safety gear like suppressors?
"I wonder if this is a growing problem with the pit or with the residents. While I can certainly see how some shooters could abuse it, we have also seen people move into a rural area from cities or suburbs and start complaining about the noise. Sort of like the people that build homes next to an airport and then complain about the aircraft.
ReplyDeleteI remember an incident in Ohio a couple of years ago where some liberals from Cleveland moved onto a house near a Boy Scout camp then started complaining about the noise from the rifle range. That range had been there since 1925."
And you know this is actually the situation with this case. No, of course you don't, you're just guessing.
I do get a kick out of the way gunnutz bend over backwards to accomodate their fellows who do something a bit outre with their toys and while simultaneously erecting strawmen.
Zorro, I agree, give 'em all silencers. That's a stupid restriction anyway.
ReplyDeletedemo,
ReplyDeleteI wasn't even guessing. Just throwing that out as a possibility. It has happened quite a bit you know.
democommie, I have to agree with FatWhiteMan on this one. Reading into the story is the name of the game around here. I do it all the time.
ReplyDeletemikeb30200 and FatWhiteMan:
ReplyDeleteI am well aware of the distinction. I am also well aware of a tendency for the very people who complain about others not having the "facts" being perfectly okay with doing similar things themselves.
And you know this is actually the situation with this case. No, of course you don't, you're just guessing.
ReplyDeleteYup guessing, which is what you and MikeB do with alarming regularity.
Yes my friend after reading your blog I think controversy between gun owners and local residents of a gravel pit used for shooting.gravel pit
ReplyDelete