Petition calls for public shooting range

by Mira Cash-Davis

Lifestyles Reporter

H. Clark Hays wants there to be a target-shooting range, and he is circulating petitions to that effect. He put them out three weeks ago. Hays aims to present the collected petition signatures to the Henry County Conservation Board, and then the Board of Supervisors.

"It's just to show, is there really a need for one or not?" Hays said. "If not, we'll forget it. But I think there is."

Hays acknowledges the controversy around a proposed range.

The residents of Henry County need a target-shooting range that is "installed safely and in a place not to bother people," Hays said. "It's been talked about ? but never been pursued." John Pullis, executive director of the Henry County Conservation Board (HCCB), echoed the idea that past efforts were mere talk.

"There is a definite need for one (a shooting range) in the county," Pullis said.

The last idea for a shooting range in the county was advanced by Richard Garrels as early as March 2006. Garrels wanted to put a trap-shooting range on his property. His neighbors brought forth a petition against the proposed range, which reversed the county supervisors' opinion on the feasibility of the range. The supervisors decided not to grant it, according to the Nov. 22, 2006, Mt. Pleasant News.

However, shotgun-only shooting ranges still need only to be located "at least 1,000 feet" from the nearest residence, said the supervisors in an ordinance reported in the Dec. 22, 2006, issue of the MP News, and not the 2,000 feet suggested earlier that year by the Board of Adjustments for shotguns only, with a maximum of 12-gauge.

Hays said the range in Henry County "should be for shotguns, rifles, pistols, and archery."

"I think there is a lot of? preliminary work (involved)," Pullis added. Pullis said he thinks the petition will show the conservation board and county supervisors that residents desire a range. That will "give the board a reason to look at it seriously," Pullis said.

If the petition were to go through, "It wouldn't be a quick fix," Pullis cautioned. "This is something that would take (not only a) petition, (but) a few years of planning ?"

Hays said that the closest shooting range to here is at Big Hollow Park in Des Moines County. He noted tests in place at the Big Hollow range are necessary before visitors are allowed to shoot, and he would like to employ that idea in the proposed range.

"It's not a fly-by-night thing," he said. "It's got to be done right, or I won't be involved. Even if the petitioners tell us they want one, there's got to be some sort of committee set up," he said.

Hays noted that the NRA will help citizens who want to establish a shooting range in designing a safe one that's less of a nuisance. They can put up trees to reduce sound emanating from the range, for example, Hays said.

Pullis said such planning would include proposing a location and size for the shooting range.

Moreover, he said, the range could be a big deal for youth. He noted that 4-Hers often go out in the country to practice shooting. A range would give them a better opportunity to practice without having to coordinate target practice times with area farmers.

Hays plans for his petition to be pursued. His proposed shooting range would be located in the countryside where there are not many people to bother. Hays has no exact location in mind yet, he said. He sees finding a location as a time-sensitive issue.

"Most of us older people can find a farm to shoot on," Hays said. "If we don't do it (establish a range) now, the way people are moving to the country, there won't be a place in five years or so."

Hays has put petitions up at area businesses including, Z's Quick Break, Casey's in Mt. Pleasant and in New London, The Pit Stop, Welcher's 66, Dickey's Prairie Home, Hy-Vee, American Outdoors and Big Creek Outdoors.

Pullis said the petition's presentation date to the conservation board is as yet unknown, but affirmed that it will be listed in the board's agenda, which is printed on the Record Page of this paper.

If the petition passed the conservation board, Pullis said, "They would have to involve everyone, if there was interest." Pullis listed planning and zoning, the conservation board and supporters on the petition as those necessary to bring the plan to life.