Neighbors recoil at more gun club hours
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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"To allow an early shooting time, as early as 8 a.m. is simply not acceptable," said Edel Bahr, who lives about a half-mile from the shooting range on 60 acres owned by Jefferson County at 112 Gun Club Road.
She added that the additional shooting would have an adverse effect on her property value.
The shooting facility is operated by special license with Jefferson County.
Following a public comment period Monday, Jefferson County commissioners, meeting at the courthouse, directed county Department of Community Development staff to review the club's lease and licensing with the county.
As proposed, the club would start shooting up to two hours earlier on Saturdays.
Shooting hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays.
Neighbors testify
Bahr was one of several neighbors who stood up at Monday's county commissioners hearing in opposition of the gun club's proposal.
Tom Thiersch, who lives about a mile and a half away from the shooting ranges, said "10 o'clock in the morning is plenty early to start."
Several Hidden Trails Road residents also voiced opposition to the proposal.
David Whipple, who has lived about 2,000 feet from the range, said during shooting his family could not have a normal conversation.
He said earplugs had to be worn during shooting hours.
In defense of the range
Others defended the gun club's shooting range.
Not surprisingly, one of them was Joe D'Amico, president of Security Service Northwest, who has long fought the county in court to extend use of his shooting ranges near Gardiner to police and military gun training.
"I think the Sportsmen's Club should be commended for coming to the [county commissioners]," D'Amico said, adding that the commissioners appeared to be micro-managing a business.
"And I look at the gun club as a business."
D'Amico said by state law, the club could start shooting at 7 a.m.
"Many who are objecting to this bought their property knowing this," said D'Amico.
Jim Hagen, a frequent county critic, said he wondered of the gun club was a nonconforming land use.
The tree-lined facility has been licensed with the county as a recreational area since 1972.
'Traditional rural values'
Hagen said to limit the shooting range was "a threat to rural character" and an affront to "traditional rural values."
The club, with 363 active members, not only has trap-shooting shotgun ranges, but is also used for training law enforcement officers in pistol and rifle shooting. That brings active users to about 480.
About 171 families are among the members, said John Ebner, club secretary.
The facility has three shooting ranges for shotguns, rifles and pistols. It also includes an archery range in the woods.
Also included are a clubhouse, an NRA gun-safety training classroom and a trailer residence for rangemaster Lee Young, who oversees all safety and grounds upkeep at the club site and ranges.
Rifles used at the range include AK-47s, M-16s and .50-caliber handguns. The rifle range can be extended to 300 yards for big-game hunters.
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Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: July 07. 2008 9:00PM