Boycott Basalt

[spencerhenry]

the town of basalt is still at it trying to close the lake christine shooting range. they may say they only want to compromise, but their latest panel has recommended closing the range on sundays. sunday is probably the second busiest day second only to saturday. they have already been successful in restricting hours on the weekends from closing at dusk to closing at 7:00pm, to closing at 5:00 pm. you can not negotiate with these people, they are the same as gun control advocates, they will ask for a little, when the get it they will ask for more. their ultimate goal is to close the range.
i suggest that all of us shooters that use the basalt shooting range make it known that we will not support a town that wants to take away our only shooting range in the valley. do not buy anything in basalt, dont buy gas, dont go to 7-11, dont go to the bars and restaurants. the town of basalt is hurting for money right now, hit them where it hurts.

[OgenRwot]

I've been there quite a few times, great range. However, they wont notice 30 or so people boycotting their town. In fact, I've never purchased anything in that town other than Wendy's once or twice. Who else can we contact to voice a positive position on the issue?

[spencerhenry]

20 or 30 people, yes i agree it is not a large amount. but it is the idea, telling them that we dont like what they are doing. but in reality there are 30 or 40 people that use that range on any given weekend day, and even during the week there are alot of visitors. i try not to patronize any business that is anti-gun. like the ups stores, the owners profess anti gun and anti hunting sentiments. i wont use them. on a small scale is is meaningless, but if all shooters and hunters patronized only businesses that support our rights, it will make a difference.

if every person that uses the basalt range stopped buying in basalt, it would be noticeable to the town, it is unrealistic, to hope that no one would but it is the thought that counts. wendy's by the way isnt in basalt.

[oinco]

let us know who to write to/where if you can. I have not been there yet but am looking to move near the area and would like as many places as possible available for all.

I'll let them know my thousand(s?[Shock]) that I spend in the immediate area on fly fishing/dinners/groceries will go elsewhere....and my fishing partners as well.

[Irving]

Just drive an armored up Bulldozer through town. That'll get your point across.

[Ah Pook]

Why don't those 30-40 people show up at the next planning meeting and submit a viable plan. Seems a little more productive than boycotting businesses that have nothing to do with your problem.

[spencerhenry]

the people that want to close the range dont give a shit about what the users of the range think. it is NOT up for a vote, nor would 1000 people showing up change anything. the range is on state wildlife area land just outside of the city limits. basalt residents are screaming to have the range closed because they dont like the noise. i am sure some just dont like guns either. right now all businesses in the area are hurting, even bars and restaurants. fighting back with something other than words will have far more of an effect. a few years back the DOW district manager conceded to the town of basalt that 50's and full autos would no longer be allowed at the range. she said that we have to compromise, bullshit! you cant compromise with these people, in addition to making 50's and full autos not legal, the hours have been cut back. it used to be open dawn till dusk, then it got changed to 7 to 7, now it is 7 to 7 but closed at 5 on sundays. the people that want to close the range will not be satisfied until it is CLOSED. give them an inch and they will take a mile. right now they want the range closed on sundays and hours restricted on saturdays. with it closed at 7 pm during the week, it doesnt leave a working man anytime to shoot. which is probably their objective, make it harder and harder to use until people no longer do, then they can say that no one uses the range so it should just be closed.
this is the only PUBLIC range that i know of from aspen to junction. if it closes, every pull out on public land will become a "shooting range" complete with trash and unsafe shooting. then the blm will post signs saying no shooting all over the place. in the end the only shooting will be done on private land or way out in the boonies.

[The Extractor]

Just drive an armored up Bulldozer through town. That'll get your point across.

WTF over ?

[Irving]

http://www.equipmentworld.com/man-in-armored-bulldozer-razes-town/
http://amazingdata.com/man-drives-bulldozer-and-destroys-entire-city/ (<- pictures)

[Zundfolge]

The problem with Basalt is the same problem as everywhere else in this state; to may f-ing Californians fleeing their sinking state and then instituting the policies that sunk her here.

Eventually they will get their way and close the range, its just a matter of time.

[The Extractor]

I know what you are talking about.

What was your intent ?



http://www.equipmentworld.com/man-in-armored-bulldozer-razes-town/
http://amazingdata.com/man-drives-bulldozer-and-destroys-entire-city/ (<- pictures)

[Irving]

Comedy.

[OgenRwot]

It's Basalt, it doesn't really surprise me. The range is also near residential areas so that's one more thing against us. It is strange that they would dump all that time and money into the place over the last few years only to shut it down. It is a very nice facility.

[SNAFU]

Staurt he was a copy Cat. Ever here of Como?

The rsesidents around the range have been trying for years to shut it down.

[spencerhenry]

i just read in the paper this morning that the mayor and a cohort were going to travel to gunnison to the wildlife commission meeting to push for the closure of the basalt range. they decided NOT to attend because they heard that there would be a large contigency of sportsmen opposed to the closing of the range. this shows that we can fight these people, they are afraid to ask for what they want when they know we will fight back. i also read that there was a petition at the new cabelas for people to sign asking for the range not to be closed. i ask everyone who uses this range, or for that matter anyone who uses any public range, to get involved. i finally looked up the mayor's email address. please send him a polite and professional email explaining your views. i for one will inform the mayor that i will avoid spending ANY money in the city limits of basalt. the town has been hit hard with the recession, and i believe the pocket book is the best way to get out point across that we are NOT happy with their desire to close the only public range in the area.
the mayors name is Leroy Duroux, his email is ljduroux@comcast.net

tell the mayor whatever you like, but please be polite, professional, and respectful. but be specific about what you want, and what you will do if the range is closed.

[spencerhenry]

this is the letter i sent to the mayor. compose your own, but let him know what you think. but be polite and professional.


Mr. Mayor,
I read recently that you canceled an opportunity to plead your cause to close the shooting range due to informed citizens being present. I also read that you stated that you would have needed protection for the drive home. Presumably you think that you need protection from people who disagree with you? It is greatly ignorant of you to imply that people that use the shooting range would somehow be out to harm you because of your desire to close the range. While there are bad apples in every barrel, it is highly offensive for you to suggest that shooters and gun owners as a whole are people that will resort to violence to solve issues. I used to be a volunter for the DOW as the range "patrol", i spent a considerable amount of time doing maintenance and clean up. The vast majority of the people that I saw using the range are considerate, polite and safe shooters.
The shooting range at Lake Christine is a valuable asset to the valley. I have been told my many people using the range that it is a very nice facility compared to other public ranges. I don't know when the range was opened but I do know that it was a very long time ago. It is not like the range was placed in a residential setting, the residential setting developed around the range. Buyers of neighboring properties were made aware of the range prior to purchase. To close the only public shooting range in the area would only be a detriment to the valley. Target shooting would move to areas that are not as well suited to the activity, conflicts between target shooters and others could very well become commonplace. A shooting range with properly located targets and backstops and benches is infinitely valuable for promoting safe shooting. It is highly unethical NOT to practice prior to hunting, but not having a shooting range will certainly put many people in that position. Shooters spend a considerable amount of money on their sport, from targets and ammunition to firearms and optics, think about the loss of income to local sporting goods stores if there is not a range for people to use their purchases.
In this currently poor economy, which i do not believe will improve anytime soon, businesses need all the customers they can get. A town such as Basalt also relies greatly on sales tax revenue. I have encouraged others to do as i have. I no longer will purchase any item within the Basalt tax district. I will not have a burger and a beer at the Bistro after shooting, i will not buy a coke and an ice cream sandwich at 7-11 on my way to the range. I will not give the town of Basalt one penny in tax revenue as long as the city is actively trying to close the only public range in the area. Many of the patrons of the range are builders, if only a few of them buy their lumber and building supplies somewhere other than Basalt, the results will be felt. I estimate that on any given weekend there may be 100 or more individuals using the range, we will do what we can to make our voices heard. Both with our voices, and our wallets.
Respectfully,
Sam Chambers

[spittoon]

the same thing happed to us a few years back in golden . they move next to a range and they want to close it down it is not our fault. good luck and i will boycott

[cms81586]

Just drive an armored up Bulldozer through town. That'll get your point across.


[LOL] This site needs an bulldozer smashing a building avatar. Guess we all can't get the joke though...

[Ranger]

I really do see the validity of the complaint in that I wouldn't want to hear shooting all day long either. I think about when I go camping in the national forest and hear shots ringing out pretty late into the night - it doesn't bother me but I can see where the residents probably get tired of it.

That being said, I also think that people have a choice of where to live and if they decided to live next to a shooting range then that's the bed that they have to sleep in - but if it's changed over the years since they bought their home and it's gotten a lot noisier or whatever then again they have a legitimate complaint.

I think petitions and showing up to meetings or picketing outside the mayors office would be far more effective than a boycott and it is also quite tangible, whereas a boycott isn't unless not a single person was doing business in Basalt. It's a tough battle though, the city council has to weigh the needs of X locals against the wants of Y visiting shooters. Its all just poliTRICKS.

[sandman76]

Th OP last posted in this thread July 2010.

Is the range still open?

[spencerhenry]

range is open. this summer they are to be building shooting sheds to help with noise abatement. the sheds will be only for the pistol and rifle areas. the private shotgun range that faces town will NOT get sheds. i really doubt that the sheds will have the desired effect as the hillside will still reflect the sound towards town. the state is putting up a bunch of money, and the town has raised about $50k. i wonder when the sheds will be built, will they build them right before the hunting seasons, when the range would normally get its highest usage? i hope they dont close the range for an extended period during construction. if people want to see what happens when there is not a public range nearby, go over to the red hill / cottonwood pass road area near gypsum, there are targets, plywood, bottles, cans, lawnmowers, and just about anything else you can aim a firearm at scattered all across the blm.
the town of basalt is hurting financially right now, maybe i will call the town manager again and tell him that some of us shooters refuse to spend money in their town.