Lawsuit filed against Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club

Bill Starks · Sep 19, 2010

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The county’s lawsuit against a.inline_topic:hover { background-color: rgb(234, 234, 234); } Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club had been brewing for some time, prosecutors contend. But its filing less than two weeks ago was expedited by an opinion that it had become a threat to public safety, they say.
That opinion came from Gary Koon. He is a neighbor to the club, a member of CK Citizens 4 Safe and Quiet Neighborhoods and former Marine infantry officer employed at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor base as a civilian deputy operations officer for the Marine Corps Security Force Battalion.

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/...self-on-safety-but-county-says/#ixzz0zx4WJDrE

amlevin · Sep 19, 2010

The club does not have any roofs over its ranges. Nor does it have overhanging beams — known as baffles — which provide a barrier for bullets fired that could unintentionally fly over the berm downrange.

The lack of baffles and the low berms shown in the pictures will probably be their downfall. Even "education" and "emphasis on safety" won't prevent someone from sending a round off the range. Accidents do happen, even to the most cautious.

The range might have been able to get away without these basic safety features when the area was not as populated but today is another story.

The range has known about the need for baffles for some time and by their own words have put them off.

“The most basic premise of safe range operations is the containment of projectiles (bullets) fired within a safe Impact Area,”

Education and video cameras can't accomplish this basic safety requirement. With 1,000 members I'd be willing to bet that the baffles could be built with a relatively small assessment on each.

Squeak · Sep 19, 2010

Everything that the club has done, was allowed by the county. Ther is no real proof that any rounds were from the range. The range has been there since the 1920's (there about). People move in KNOWING there is a range, then complain! Knowing the people involved, IMHO there there is a personal adjenda here.

amlevin · Sep 19, 2010

Squeak said:
Everything that the club has done, was allowed by the county. Ther is no real proof that any rounds were from the range. The range has been there since the 1920's (there about). People move in KNOWING there is a range, then complain! Knowing the people involved, IMHO there there is a personal adjenda here.

Don't disagree with you however they are vulnerable in this case. Check out some design standards for ranges:

http://www.rangeinfo.org/resource_library/facility_mngmnt/design/baffles_berms.htm

#'s 3 and 4 of this article are most appropriate in the case of this range:

3. Purpose of backstops, berms and baffles. Erecting berms, backstops or baffles may be an optional construction consideration for range owners/operators who control 1.5 miles downrange for pistol or 3.5 miles downrange for highpowered rifle, with appropriate left and right ricochet safety zones. I believe all of us would readily agree, that this scenario is the exception rather than the rule. Therefore, the primary purpose for the construction of backstops, berms and baffles is to protect against the injury of people, the damage of property or both. A secondary benefit is to permit the systematic recovery of fired lead projectiles-definitely a recoverable and recyclable resource that can contribute significantly to the positive cash flow of a range facility.

4. Projectile/bullet containment. It is the ultimate responsibility of the range owners/operators to ensure that the projectiles fired on their range are contained within property boundaries. While it is entirely possible for an existing range facility to be grandfathered against noise complaints, it is unlikely any governmental body would make the same concession concerning safety. Therefore, it is paramount that shooting range owners/operators continually evaluate the shooting activities permitted and the requirements necessary to ensure those activities can be conducted with projectile/bullet containment as a primary goal. The level of requirement necessary for the projectile/bullet containment on a shooting range facility will dictate the extent of the backstops, berms and baffle construction.

Agenda's aside, are they providing these safety measures??? If not then they are vulnerable to action.

amzbrady · Sep 19, 2010

Squeak said:
Everything that the club has done, was allowed by the county. Ther is no real proof that any rounds were from the range. The range has been there since the 1920's (there about). People move in KNOWING there is a range, then complain! Knowing the people involved, IMHO there there is a personal adjenda here.

More stupid people. They are everywhere. I saw it growing up in the town I grew up in, they built a race track, at the time on the outskirts furthest away from everybody. Then subdivisions built up around it and people complained about the noise that only happened on Saturdays during the summer. Now all races have to be over by 10 pm.
People do it with animals too, they move into the forest then have bears removed because they are too close to them.

Lawsuit filed against Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club

Bill Starks

State Researcher

amlevin

Regular Member

Squeak

Regular Member

amlevin

Regular Member

amzbrady

Regular Member