Post by Danny Creasy on Feb 8, 2012 20:49:25 GMT -6
Sheffield Shooting
by Danny Creasy
February 8, 2012
The Range
On January the 23rd, the Sheffield City Council was going to vote on a proposal to have the North Alabama Shooting Association, Inc. terminate its shooting activities at the Sheffield Range. Three club officers got wind of this the week before when they were delivering the Sheffield Chief of Police the department's new range keys. Five club representatives attended the Council's work session on the 23rd and fortunately the proposal was tabled until the February 6th meeting.
The proposal is being pushed by residents of a subdivision located near the Sheffield Industrial Park. They state that the noise from the range is intolerable. The club is located on a landfill that is owned by the City of Sheffield. The City has never granted the club a written lease to to occupy our present site. The petitioners argue that the City should simply order the club to abandon the range.
The club's leaders have gone to the media (newspaper and tv stations) to present our case to keep the range. The club has made an excellent case in the media to remain in Sheffield due to our sound values, safety record, and extensive competitive shooting schedule. The club also contacted the NRA and they recommended a lawyer to represent us. We have engaged the attorney to represent the club in this matter.
The mayor met with club leaders on the afternoon of the 6th and the vote was tabled again. The Council has asked the club to make a proposal prior to their next council meeting on February 20th. They are looking for a list of concessions that the club is wiling to make to induce the city to allow us to remain at the Sheffield range.
The officers and directors want to thank the members that attended the emergency range meeting on Saturday, January the 28th and the February 6th council meeting. About 80 members showed up at city hall on the 6th.
A dual front action plan was voted on and passed on the 28th. First, negotiate the best position we can with the city and second, begin operations to eventually relocate.
The club's officers and directors are meeting with our attorney to work on this proposal. This newsletter will be edited as new information becomes available.
Membership Renewals and New Members
Due to the range crisis, the following procedural changes have been made.
The renewal deadline has been suspended. We will accept all renewal payments from current members until further notice. These renewal payments must be made by mail (NASA Inc., P. O. Box 3565, Florence, AL 35630) with a copy of the 2011 member's NASA card enclosed. A key and card will be mailed out ASAP due to the commitment and hard work of our new club secretary, Ulus Farris. He processes mailed renewals almost daily.
A motion was made and carried at the January 28th meeting to take the cap off the club membership number and induct all qualified applicants on February the 25th. Five club leaders each have 25 applications and they will be calling those individuals in the next few days and inviting them to attend the induction day on February 25th. If you want in, here is your chance. Clear your schedule and commit two to three hours on Saturday, February 25th. Induction processing slots are 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, lunch break, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.
Competition
All competitive shooting events will continue on schedule until further notice.
Effective immediately, the Cowboy Action and Defensive Pistol Matches have been moved to the 100 yard rifle range. This move is to help with the noise issues that the city has brought up.
Calendar
February 11th - 25/25 Pistol and RFRF
February 12th - Cowboy Action Match
February 18th - USBR
February 19th - Defensive Pistol Match
February 25th - Range closed to shooting due to new member induction activities.
March 3rd - 50/25 Sporter Match
March 10th - 25/25 Pistol and RFRF
March 11th - Cowboy Action Match
March 17th - USBR
March 18th - Defensive Pistol Match
March 24th - First CMP Sporter Match of the Season - Registration at 8:00 AM
March 27th (Tuesday) - Mini Sporter Master - Registration at 8 AM.
March 31st - Raptor Match - Let's start setting up at 7:30 AM
Several folks have been putting in a lot of time, gas, and energy representing the club in this recent crisis. I will not try to name them all but I want of especially thank Dwight Pilkilton and James Day for their tireless efforts.
Added by edit on February 23rd:
The Sheffield City Council passed their range resolution on February 23, 2012. We can continue shooting operations at the range for one year (February 23, 2013 end date). The resolution states that "Only rimfire rifles and pistols may fe fired on the range." When pressed for clarification, the Council did say that centerfire handguns are allowed but not centerfire rifles. So, for at least the time being, no centerfire rifle, shotgun, or muzzle loader fire is allowed on the range after February 23, 2012.
Updates will follow.
Added by edit on February 25th:
106 new members were inducted into the club on February 25, 2012.
A club officer will be on duty at the range every day to insure that we comply with the city's resolution.
Added by edit on March 9th:
Dwight and Reece met with the Mayor yesterday. They had a meaningful discussion about the range and the resolution. Some clarification reveals that the council wants us to have an enjoyable and safe last year in Sheffield and as to restrictions for this final year, they simply wanted us to cease the shooting of "centerfire deer rifles and military rifles" and that they have no intention for us to discontinue using our former rules as to guests at the range. So:
1. We can add back shotguns, pistol caliber rifles (like a Marlin .357 cowboy lever action), and muzzleloaders to the list of acceptable firearms.
2. As before, it is fine for a member to bring as many family members as they can control and up to two non-family members as guests. Remember, the guests are the member's responsibility and the member must accompany the guests the entire time while at the range.
3. The Sheffield Police will resume coordinating range use with the club.
LOST AND FOUND
A VERY NICE SMALL AX WITH SCABBARD
A STAINLESS STEEL CYLINDER FOR A .22 MAGNUM REVOLVER COMPLETE WITH FIVE ROUNDS INSERTED IN THE CHAMBERS
by Danny Creasy
February 8, 2012
The Range
On January the 23rd, the Sheffield City Council was going to vote on a proposal to have the North Alabama Shooting Association, Inc. terminate its shooting activities at the Sheffield Range. Three club officers got wind of this the week before when they were delivering the Sheffield Chief of Police the department's new range keys. Five club representatives attended the Council's work session on the 23rd and fortunately the proposal was tabled until the February 6th meeting.
The proposal is being pushed by residents of a subdivision located near the Sheffield Industrial Park. They state that the noise from the range is intolerable. The club is located on a landfill that is owned by the City of Sheffield. The City has never granted the club a written lease to to occupy our present site. The petitioners argue that the City should simply order the club to abandon the range.
The club's leaders have gone to the media (newspaper and tv stations) to present our case to keep the range. The club has made an excellent case in the media to remain in Sheffield due to our sound values, safety record, and extensive competitive shooting schedule. The club also contacted the NRA and they recommended a lawyer to represent us. We have engaged the attorney to represent the club in this matter.
The mayor met with club leaders on the afternoon of the 6th and the vote was tabled again. The Council has asked the club to make a proposal prior to their next council meeting on February 20th. They are looking for a list of concessions that the club is wiling to make to induce the city to allow us to remain at the Sheffield range.
The officers and directors want to thank the members that attended the emergency range meeting on Saturday, January the 28th and the February 6th council meeting. About 80 members showed up at city hall on the 6th.
A dual front action plan was voted on and passed on the 28th. First, negotiate the best position we can with the city and second, begin operations to eventually relocate.
The club's officers and directors are meeting with our attorney to work on this proposal. This newsletter will be edited as new information becomes available.
Membership Renewals and New Members
Due to the range crisis, the following procedural changes have been made.
The renewal deadline has been suspended. We will accept all renewal payments from current members until further notice. These renewal payments must be made by mail (NASA Inc., P. O. Box 3565, Florence, AL 35630) with a copy of the 2011 member's NASA card enclosed. A key and card will be mailed out ASAP due to the commitment and hard work of our new club secretary, Ulus Farris. He processes mailed renewals almost daily.
A motion was made and carried at the January 28th meeting to take the cap off the club membership number and induct all qualified applicants on February the 25th. Five club leaders each have 25 applications and they will be calling those individuals in the next few days and inviting them to attend the induction day on February 25th. If you want in, here is your chance. Clear your schedule and commit two to three hours on Saturday, February 25th. Induction processing slots are 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, lunch break, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM.
Competition
All competitive shooting events will continue on schedule until further notice.
Effective immediately, the Cowboy Action and Defensive Pistol Matches have been moved to the 100 yard rifle range. This move is to help with the noise issues that the city has brought up.
Calendar
February 11th - 25/25 Pistol and RFRF
February 12th - Cowboy Action Match
February 18th - USBR
February 19th - Defensive Pistol Match
February 25th - Range closed to shooting due to new member induction activities.
March 3rd - 50/25 Sporter Match
March 10th - 25/25 Pistol and RFRF
March 11th - Cowboy Action Match
March 17th - USBR
March 18th - Defensive Pistol Match
March 24th - First CMP Sporter Match of the Season - Registration at 8:00 AM
March 27th (Tuesday) - Mini Sporter Master - Registration at 8 AM.
March 31st - Raptor Match - Let's start setting up at 7:30 AM
Several folks have been putting in a lot of time, gas, and energy representing the club in this recent crisis. I will not try to name them all but I want of especially thank Dwight Pilkilton and James Day for their tireless efforts.
Added by edit on February 23rd:
The Sheffield City Council passed their range resolution on February 23, 2012. We can continue shooting operations at the range for one year (February 23, 2013 end date). The resolution states that "Only rimfire rifles and pistols may fe fired on the range." When pressed for clarification, the Council did say that centerfire handguns are allowed but not centerfire rifles. So, for at least the time being, no centerfire rifle, shotgun, or muzzle loader fire is allowed on the range after February 23, 2012.
Updates will follow.
Added by edit on February 25th:
106 new members were inducted into the club on February 25, 2012.
A club officer will be on duty at the range every day to insure that we comply with the city's resolution.
Added by edit on March 9th:
Dwight and Reece met with the Mayor yesterday. They had a meaningful discussion about the range and the resolution. Some clarification reveals that the council wants us to have an enjoyable and safe last year in Sheffield and as to restrictions for this final year, they simply wanted us to cease the shooting of "centerfire deer rifles and military rifles" and that they have no intention for us to discontinue using our former rules as to guests at the range. So:
1. We can add back shotguns, pistol caliber rifles (like a Marlin .357 cowboy lever action), and muzzleloaders to the list of acceptable firearms.
2. As before, it is fine for a member to bring as many family members as they can control and up to two non-family members as guests. Remember, the guests are the member's responsibility and the member must accompany the guests the entire time while at the range.
3. The Sheffield Police will resume coordinating range use with the club.
LOST AND FOUND
A VERY NICE SMALL AX WITH SCABBARD
A STAINLESS STEEL CYLINDER FOR A .22 MAGNUM REVOLVER COMPLETE WITH FIVE ROUNDS INSERTED IN THE CHAMBERS