A Bureau of Land Management memo describing outdoor marksmanship on public land as "dangerous" is an apparent part of the effort to close 1.4 million acres of public land to firearms enthusiasts and others. The swath of now public land runs from the Mexican border to out past Gila Bend. The following provision is found in Section 2.3.3.5 (the BLM's "Preferred Alternative E") of a proposed Resource Management Plan for this area: "A diversity of recreational opportunities would be provided, with increased non-motorized recreation. Certain uses, such as recreational target shooting, paintball, and wood collecting for campfires likely to cause resource damage, would not be allowed."
This provision of the proposed Resource Management Plan is a clear violation of the well-established rights of citizens to exercise their Second Amendment rights and to use public land for recreational purposes. Little to no evidence of historical resource damage or incidents involving public safety have been presented, because there are none to be found. There are sufficient existing laws related to the use of firearms - both state and federal - that require personal responsibility and best safety practices to be utilized by individuals exercising their rights to a widespread and well-established practice of recreational target shooting on public lands in the State of Arizona.
This is a tyrannical, administrative end-run around both the people's Constitutional rights and long-established practice.
Robert Cooper
Gilbert
downtownresident posted at 8:07 am on Fri, Nov 25, 2011.
I used to target shoot in the Usery Pass area every weekend. That was 30 years ago, when the area was still clean and pristine.
It's not that way now and it won't ever be like that again.
Human activity, coupled with a criminal disregard with others rights have spoiled it forever.
People are pigs. Pigs don't need to shoot at targets. Most are too lazy to even pick up their spent brass. Especially if it can't be reloaded.
Get over it and pay to shoot at a range.
Cerulean posted at 8:24 am on Fri, Nov 25, 2011.
It is my experience that those who play in the wilderness with guns, tend to be destructive in habit. You always know when you come upon their telltale games; shell casings, broken bottles, beer cans, potato chip bags and other rubbish strewn about like confetti from a Macy’s day parade. This is why we have facilities known as a ‘shooting range’, where you are safe, others are safe and you are required to pick-up behind yourself after you practice your marksmanship.
hoopydreams posted at 12:27 pm on Fri, Nov 25, 2011.
@cerulean: I used to go target shooting in the wilderness with my husband all the time. We were respectful of the land we were on, picked up after ourselves, and practiced proper safety. The bigger issue here is with society in general. People are not responsible for themselves. It's everywhere. If you read the news you'd see that. That's why stupid laws that impede on our freedom are made, because of stupid people who don't take personal responsibility for their actions.
hoopydreams posted at 12:27 pm on Fri, Nov 25, 2011.
@cerulean: I used to go target shooting in the wilderness with my husband all the time. We were respectful of the land we were on, picked up after ourselves, and practiced proper safety. The bigger issue here is with society in general. People are not responsible for themselves. It's everywhere. If you read the news you'd see that. That's why stupid laws that impede on our freedom are made, because of stupid people who don't take personal responsibility for their actions.
onerebel posted at 5:01 pm on Fri, Nov 25, 2011.
One thing you can say about Government is that they are consistent. Consistent at not telling the truth and taking more and more of our rights away. When BLM started charging user fees and the state started requiring off road tags on dirt bikes, quads and other off road vehicles. They promised to use the funds for officers to stop people that were trashing the land so it would not be closed. In typical Government fashion the money goes into the bottomless pit of waste never to be seen again. So then what happens when they close more areas off to sportsmen and off road enthusiasts ? There is less money brought in from hunting, fishing, and off road tags. Less sales tax revenue from off road vehicles and equipment , ammo and shooting accessories , camping gear ,even the fuel used to get there. Then when these revenue sources are gone what will they do then ? RAISE OUR TAXES AGAIN !
Cerulean posted at 8:10 pm on Fri, Nov 25, 2011.
@hoopydreams, I agree.