Shielding Gun Ranges From Pollution Laws

[MrBenchley]

Once again, Republicans try to put their loudest and most extreme lobbying group beyond the reach of laws. More disgraceful crap from Jebbo's banana republic.

"Two Senate Democrats, including Sen. Rod Smith, D-Alachua, joined Republicans in voting for a measure that would shield more than 400 gun ranges across Florida from pollution laws.
Despite opposition from state environmental regulators and environmental groups, the measure is speeding closer to law.
The legislation is being pushed by the National Rifle Association, which continues to accuse the Department of Environmental Protection of “back-door gun control” for its recent efforts to get some gun range owners to clean up lead-based ammunition left from years of shooting activity.
The bill was sparked by a court case involving a Pinellas County gun range.
If the measure becomes law, the DEP and other state and local governments would be blocked from taking any criminal or civil action against gun range owners for polluting the ground or water with lead-based ammunition.
It initially appeared that support for the NRA-backed bill in the Florida Legislature would split along party lines. But while House Democrats have been unified in their opposition to the legislation, two Democrats joined with Senate Republicans on Tuesday to pass the bill through the Senate Judiciary Committee."

http://gainesvillesun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040108/LOCAL/40107024/1007

[alwynsw]

1. I've been wondering when this would happen

Groundwater pollution lies within my field of expertise, having spent most of my adult life in the environmental affairs arena as a professional before my first early retirement at 40.

That being said; the cleanup of past residuw does need to happen. Can we prevent it without closing ranges? Certainly. It's almost easy.

All it takes is liners below the berms at ranges. The missed shots that bury in the ground ahead of or behind the berm will be inconsequential. Problem solved. The liners are relatively cheap as is the earthmoving for the berms.

As I read it, past buildup cleanups should fall under the Superfund law - unless, of course, the tree huggers want to call it non point source pollution.

[Jeep29]

2. Its happening here.

One of the new ranges near Nashville has liners in the berms. When you sign out you tell them approximately how many rounds you shot. I guess when they hit the magic number they dig it up and do whatever need to be done.

[CO Liberal]

3. That Sounds Like a Very Workable Solution

And it doesn't seem to be something that places an extreme financial burden on range operators.

I would think that the lawmakers in Florida would be very concerned with keeping the ground water safe, considering how high the water table is in many areas.

[MrBenchley]

4. Instead they seem much more concerned

with preserving gun industry profits at the expense of public health...

It's why the GOP is synonymous with bad government.

[DonP]

6. Our local trap club is doing the same thing

We switched to soy based "clays" a few years back. They disolve in the rain and even have fertilizer and grass seed mixed in to renew the range. They cost a bot more but it saves paying someone to shovel up the old broken clays a few times every year. The price for a round of 25 went up a buck to offset the expense.

Of course everyone has been using steel shot for years.

This liner idea seems like a reaosnable way to control a potential source of pollution.

OTOH, if the goal is to really close down shooting ranges and gun clubs, then a simple, cost effective solutions is irrrelevant. See if they accept the common sense liner and clean up idea, or if they still demand closure of the range and you'll know what their real agenda is, pollution control or gun control.

[Superfly]

7. Vegan trap shooting? I love it.

Nt

[MrBenchley]

5. From the St. Petersburg Times:

"How could such irresponsible bills get so far? Three letters explain it: NRA.
With the National Rifle Association pushing the legislation, even many of its critics have knuckled under. One is politically ambitious Sen. Rod Smith, D-Alachua, who admits that the bill is flawed but fears being labeled antigun. Feeding such paranoia is NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer, whose bombastic rhetoric labels regulations that hold gun ranges responsible for pollution "back door gun control" and calls the mild-mannered DEP a "bully" that is "drunk with power."
That's nonsense, of course. There are plenty of things gun ranges can do to eliminate the environmental threat from lead. In fact, some range owners follow responsible management practices, such as removing lead projectiles from the soil periodically, controlling runoff and using pellets made of metals other than lead.
This legislation isn't about gun control. It's about giving a few irresponsible range owners a free pass as they foul the environment and threaten public health. The only citizen right in jeopardy is that of Florida residents to protect themselves from harm."

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/11/Opinion/Free_ranges.shtml

[DonP]

8. Typical Democrat bashing from the anti side ntxt