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IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR TEXAS RESIDENTS!
thesupermonkey
Member Posts: 3,905 ✭✭
I copied this off from here
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64665
Posted By: TaylorB
Date: 6/9/02 20:16
Subject: Sam Houston NF range closing
The Forest Service has released a scoping letter dated 6-7-02 proposing the release of a Forest Supervisor's Order to "Open the shooting areas of the Sam Houston National Forest (NF) seasonally and close them for the remainder of the year."
Here is a quote of the pertinent section of the letter.
"(The) new order would eliminate the year-round use of the designated shooting areas on the Sam Houston NF. During discussions with interested citizens concerning designation of that WMA, it was agreed the Forest Service would designate an area where hunters could 'sight in' their rifles. Standard WMA regulations require a designated target area to practice. Over the years, the use of these areas on the Sam Houston NF has grown to the extent that some individuals frequently use them for fully automatic weapon practice. Such use is clearly beyond the intent of why these areas were designated and well beyond the safety capabilities of these areas. During that time, numerous privately-owned shooting ranges that can accomodate all types of target shooting have been developed within reasonable driving distance of the Forest."
"This new Forest Supervisor's Closure Order would: 1) seasonally close the existing Sam Houston NF shooting areas from the end of the gun deer hunting season until approximately one month prior to the opening of gun deer hunting season, 2) prohibit the use of selective fire, fully automatic, and machine guns, 3) require all ammunition cases be removed from the area following target practice, 4) set legal shooting hours one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset, and 5) limit targets to paper and clay products."
End of quote.
Public comments are being accepted on the proposed closure until 7-8-02. Comments should be addressed to:
Glenn Donnahoe
701 North First Street
Lufkin, TX 75901
The following is my personal opinion, I don't own or shoot automatic weapons and have never been to the Sam Houston shooting area. However I have had over fifteen years experience fighting the Forest Service over ORV issues.
This closure is typical of how the Forest Service in Texas operates. I doubt that any other notice will be given to the public other than to those on the mailing list. If you want this shooting area to stay open you have to generate lots of letters. The one closure order my ORV club was able to stop was done by flooding them with hundreds of letters. Form letters are less effective than individual letters and phone calls and emails are almost useless. The Forest Service fears Congress so the more pro Second Amendment Congressmen that intervene the better so write them too.
Although I don't know the specific issues of the Sam Houston range I can offer some general suggestions on what to tell the Forest Service. First I'd try to frame this as a Second Amendment versus gun control issue. Point out that what you do is a legal activity and a legitiment recreational activity. I'd also question whether the Forest Service is pandering to a nongovermental organization with a political agenda, the Forest Service does this with ORV issues. I'd also bring up the historic use of automatic weapons on the Sam Houston and the lack of private ranges open to these weapons in the Huntsville/Houston area.
These closure orders are impossible to reverse once implemented. Now is the time to fight the closure. Demand the Forest Service hold public hearings and demand to see evidence of the user conflicts that seem to be the justification for the closure.
John
I'm writing a letter today, please help us!
Adam
Don't worry about the bullet with your name on it, worry about the fragmentation grenade addressed 'To Occupant'.
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64665
Posted By: TaylorB
Date: 6/9/02 20:16
Subject: Sam Houston NF range closing
The Forest Service has released a scoping letter dated 6-7-02 proposing the release of a Forest Supervisor's Order to "Open the shooting areas of the Sam Houston National Forest (NF) seasonally and close them for the remainder of the year."
Here is a quote of the pertinent section of the letter.
"(The) new order would eliminate the year-round use of the designated shooting areas on the Sam Houston NF. During discussions with interested citizens concerning designation of that WMA, it was agreed the Forest Service would designate an area where hunters could 'sight in' their rifles. Standard WMA regulations require a designated target area to practice. Over the years, the use of these areas on the Sam Houston NF has grown to the extent that some individuals frequently use them for fully automatic weapon practice. Such use is clearly beyond the intent of why these areas were designated and well beyond the safety capabilities of these areas. During that time, numerous privately-owned shooting ranges that can accomodate all types of target shooting have been developed within reasonable driving distance of the Forest."
"This new Forest Supervisor's Closure Order would: 1) seasonally close the existing Sam Houston NF shooting areas from the end of the gun deer hunting season until approximately one month prior to the opening of gun deer hunting season, 2) prohibit the use of selective fire, fully automatic, and machine guns, 3) require all ammunition cases be removed from the area following target practice, 4) set legal shooting hours one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset, and 5) limit targets to paper and clay products."
End of quote.
Public comments are being accepted on the proposed closure until 7-8-02. Comments should be addressed to:
Glenn Donnahoe
701 North First Street
Lufkin, TX 75901
The following is my personal opinion, I don't own or shoot automatic weapons and have never been to the Sam Houston shooting area. However I have had over fifteen years experience fighting the Forest Service over ORV issues.
This closure is typical of how the Forest Service in Texas operates. I doubt that any other notice will be given to the public other than to those on the mailing list. If you want this shooting area to stay open you have to generate lots of letters. The one closure order my ORV club was able to stop was done by flooding them with hundreds of letters. Form letters are less effective than individual letters and phone calls and emails are almost useless. The Forest Service fears Congress so the more pro Second Amendment Congressmen that intervene the better so write them too.
Although I don't know the specific issues of the Sam Houston range I can offer some general suggestions on what to tell the Forest Service. First I'd try to frame this as a Second Amendment versus gun control issue. Point out that what you do is a legal activity and a legitiment recreational activity. I'd also question whether the Forest Service is pandering to a nongovermental organization with a political agenda, the Forest Service does this with ORV issues. I'd also bring up the historic use of automatic weapons on the Sam Houston and the lack of private ranges open to these weapons in the Huntsville/Houston area.
These closure orders are impossible to reverse once implemented. Now is the time to fight the closure. Demand the Forest Service hold public hearings and demand to see evidence of the user conflicts that seem to be the justification for the closure.
John
I'm writing a letter today, please help us!
Adam
Don't worry about the bullet with your name on it, worry about the fragmentation grenade addressed 'To Occupant'.
Comments
The most important things, Are not things.