The Importance of Range Protection Laws

Bitter writes on the topic at Shall Not Be Questioned.  We've seen similar situations in Virginia and have written about them here, and here .  Virginia continues to see a migration of people from more populated areas into our rural localities.  Many times, these people complain about shooting ranges near the areas they live, or about neighbors shooting on their own property.  in 2004 former Delegate Bill Janis, at VSSA's request, introduced and worked for passage of a bill that prohibits localities from changing noise ordinances after a range has been approved or a prospective range submits an application.  Unfortunately, many localities try to make prospective ranges go through expensive and onerous processes to open their doors.  When people can't force a range to close it's doors through legislative processes, they will try to bankrupt them in court.  VSSA watches this very closely but it's important that our members let us know when they hear of a local governing board considering shooting restrictions.

Opposition to Orapax Sporting Clays Range Went Well Beyond That Application

On Wednesday, January 2, after a marathon Goochland Board of Supervisors public hearing, the Board approved at around 2:00 AM, a two-year Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Orapax Hunting Preserve to operate a sporting clays range.  This was a multiple year battle that does not bode well for other areas of Virginia because this was not just opposition to the Orapax application, as evidenced from this web site set up for opponents of the range, it was opposition to any commercial shooting range in Goochland.

Please encourage anyone opposed to commercial gun ranges in Goochland to come. It is important that we expand our campaign by inviting people from other districts. If the Board of Supervisors were to approve a sporting clays range at Orapax, a precedent would be set. The problem could quickly spread to other Goochland neighborhoods.

The group even hired an attorney to represent them before the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.  A wealthy resident who had long opposed the range made this a well financed effort.  Had they been successful, this model would have spread to other areas, and still may be used to oppose new shooting ranges.