kev74
20×102mm Vulcan
The DEC / Environmental Conservation Police are proposing the construction of a 300 yard rifle range in the Stewart State Forest. The proposed range is located off of Barron Road, adjacent to two other shooting ranges - one run by the Town of New Windsor Police, the other by the State Police. They have included their proposal in the new Draft West of Hudson Unit Management Plan (UMP). https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/wohump.pdf (see pages 51 & 127)
There will be a public meeting regarding the UMP on Wednesday October 17, 2018 at 7:00pm at he DEC Region 3 offices in New Paltz, with an opportunity ask DEC staff questions about the UMP at 6:00pm. Public comments will be accepted until November 16, 2018. West of Hudson Unit - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
I would like to encourage anyone who has even the slightest interest in shooting to advocate for public use of this range - by submitting a public comment and/or attending the meeting on October 17.
There are no public shooting ranges in Orange County or the surrounding area, and there are no 300 yard shooting ranges at all in this area that I know of. This is probably the only opportunity to get public access to a shooting range in the Hudson Valley, and I'm trying my best not to let it pass without trying to get a foot in the door. I have personally spoken to some ENCON higher-ups about some kind of public access to the range, and they don't want any part of it. Getting public use of the range addressed in the UMP is likely the only way to get something done.
If anyone would like to take a few minutes to make a public comment, or would like to attend the meeting, I would appreciate it. Snail mail and email addresses are in the second link, above.
Below is a draft of the letter I'm going to send. Feel free to copy it, borrow from it, or otherwise use it. Please spread this around. Thanks!
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In the Draft West of Hudson Unit Management Plan, I read with great interest about the proposal to construct a rifle range on 21 acres of Stewart State Forrest lands (Information on the West of Hudson Unit, Non-Recreational Uses, page 51).
As there are currently 2 law enforcement only shooting ranges immediately adjacent to the parcel in question, I am unsure why the construction of a third shooting range for the exclusive use of law enforcement is necessary. As someone who enjoys frequent use of the Stewart State Forest, I have observed that the two existing shooting ranges are unused and sit idle most days. It would seem that there is already significant capacity for law enforcement training on the existing ranges.
There are however a severe shortage of public shooting facilities in Orange County and New York State. To the best of my knowledge, there are NONE! Despite New York State receiving between $10 million and $20 Million dollars per year in Pittman-Robertson funds, generated by an 11% excise tax on firearms and related equipment, New Yorkers are not provided with safe places to shoot.
According to the New York Hunting & Trapping 2018-2019 Official Guide to Laws & Regulations, there are approximately 35 Environmental Conservation Officers serving Region 3. Even if they were to all qualify twice a year on separate days, there would still be nearly 300 days of range availability. It would seem there is ample capacity to allow for some public use of the facility.
I hope the following will be considered and included in the final draft of the West of Hudson Union Management plan in regard to Stewart State Forest:
- I do not support the exclusion of public use from any part of the Stewart State Forest for the purpose of creating a Law Enforcement Only area.
- The creation of any new shooting range MUST include a public use component.
- Any use of Pittman-Robertson funds for the construction of a shooting range MUST include a public use component.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
There will be a public meeting regarding the UMP on Wednesday October 17, 2018 at 7:00pm at he DEC Region 3 offices in New Paltz, with an opportunity ask DEC staff questions about the UMP at 6:00pm. Public comments will be accepted until November 16, 2018. West of Hudson Unit - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
I would like to encourage anyone who has even the slightest interest in shooting to advocate for public use of this range - by submitting a public comment and/or attending the meeting on October 17.
There are no public shooting ranges in Orange County or the surrounding area, and there are no 300 yard shooting ranges at all in this area that I know of. This is probably the only opportunity to get public access to a shooting range in the Hudson Valley, and I'm trying my best not to let it pass without trying to get a foot in the door. I have personally spoken to some ENCON higher-ups about some kind of public access to the range, and they don't want any part of it. Getting public use of the range addressed in the UMP is likely the only way to get something done.
If anyone would like to take a few minutes to make a public comment, or would like to attend the meeting, I would appreciate it. Snail mail and email addresses are in the second link, above.
Below is a draft of the letter I'm going to send. Feel free to copy it, borrow from it, or otherwise use it. Please spread this around. Thanks!
-------
In the Draft West of Hudson Unit Management Plan, I read with great interest about the proposal to construct a rifle range on 21 acres of Stewart State Forrest lands (Information on the West of Hudson Unit, Non-Recreational Uses, page 51).
As there are currently 2 law enforcement only shooting ranges immediately adjacent to the parcel in question, I am unsure why the construction of a third shooting range for the exclusive use of law enforcement is necessary. As someone who enjoys frequent use of the Stewart State Forest, I have observed that the two existing shooting ranges are unused and sit idle most days. It would seem that there is already significant capacity for law enforcement training on the existing ranges.
There are however a severe shortage of public shooting facilities in Orange County and New York State. To the best of my knowledge, there are NONE! Despite New York State receiving between $10 million and $20 Million dollars per year in Pittman-Robertson funds, generated by an 11% excise tax on firearms and related equipment, New Yorkers are not provided with safe places to shoot.
According to the New York Hunting & Trapping 2018-2019 Official Guide to Laws & Regulations, there are approximately 35 Environmental Conservation Officers serving Region 3. Even if they were to all qualify twice a year on separate days, there would still be nearly 300 days of range availability. It would seem there is ample capacity to allow for some public use of the facility.
I hope the following will be considered and included in the final draft of the West of Hudson Union Management plan in regard to Stewart State Forest:
- I do not support the exclusion of public use from any part of the Stewart State Forest for the purpose of creating a Law Enforcement Only area.
- The creation of any new shooting range MUST include a public use component.
- Any use of Pittman-Robertson funds for the construction of a shooting range MUST include a public use component.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
