Boycott Basalt

[The Extractor]

I know what you are talking about.

What was your intent ?

http://www.equipmentworld.com/man-in...er-razes-town/
http://amazingdata.com/man-drives-bu...s-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.

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?