Grateful for the support of a process that would permit input from residents regarding outdoor shooting ranges

To the editor:

This past Tuesday, February 18, at the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting, the Planning Department submitted draft safety measures for outdoor commercial gun ranges to be sent to the Planning Commission for its review and for further input from residents. These safety measures were developed using NRA, EPA, and OSHA documents. They include common-sense provisions such as minimum distances from firing position to inhabitable buildings on adjacent property, no inhabitable buildings in the line of fire, construction of backstops and side berms, hours of operation (8 am–9 pm), lead abatement, and limits on noise levels (90 db, which even the NRA defines as too permissive). These proposed measures do not regulate shot gun ranges, discharge of firearms on private property “not open to the public on a commercial, non-profit, education, or membership basis”, or existing commercial gun ranges. The safety measures were submitted to the Borough Assembly on Tuesday after the Planning Department incorporated revisions based on extensive input from the public on an earlier draft of them.

Prior to the Assembly meeting, there had been no open meetings to give residents the opportunity to comment on the revised safety measures. Assembly Members Jesse Sumner, Ted Leonard, and George McKee tried to prevent a thorough review by the Planning Commission and residents of the Mat-Su by voting against forwarding it to the Planning Commission. They attempted to presuppose what Borough residents think and feel about the draft safety measures, a distinctly undemocratic move.

Some members of the audience who were against the safety measures were overtly disruptive throughout the meeting, even shouting down testimony from those who supported the safety measures. The deputy mayor and the clerk had to ask them to restrain themselves numerous times. These are the same people who argued that safety measures are not needed because they could operate neighborly, self-regulating gun ranges in the MatSu. By their own actions, they have proved the exact opposite.

Fortunately, Assembly Members Tamara Boeve, Tim Hale, Dan Mayfield, and Stephanie Nowers, some of whom expressed concerns about the draft safety measures, nonetheless were supportive of a process that would permit input from residents of the Mat-Su Borough.

I am grateful for their upholding the duty of government to provide a rational process for consideration of the safety measures.

Dave Musgrave,

Palmer