Concerns with outdoor shooting facilities ordinance

To the editor:

I’m writing in regards to the Outdoor Shooting Facilities Ordinance. I have deep concerns with the ordinance when it comes to the noise levels being set at 75db. OSHA standards is set at 90db and the ordinance that you’re trying to pass goes above and beyond OSHA regulation. The Outdoor Shooting Facilities Ordinance will be the end of future outdoor ranges because you have set noise standards that goes beyond dog teams, construction sights, air ports, and fireworks. This ordinance will do more harm to our community vs. good. If people don’t have a place to shoot outdoors, then we’ll have another Jim Creek situation. People will just go and shoot at any location because you will have stopped future ranges to exist. Instead of having a controlled shooting environment, people will be shooting at random places, shells left on the ground and it will re-create a Jim Creek scenario. Ranges helped clean up the Mat-Su Borough by giving people a safe place to shoot in one location.

Alaska is unique by having opportunities to hunt, fish and enjoy outdoor recreation. We have great shooting sports for the youth levels to adults. Gun safety training is provided at a low cost through nonprofit shooting ranges. The Outdoor Shooting Facilities Ordinance will put a financial burden on nonprofit shooting ranges and I feel that nonprofit shooting ranges are extremely important for our community. Please reconsider your ordinance by allowing the Mat-Su Borough community to embrace our outdoor traditions.

John Suter, Chugiak