Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 23:58:54 EDT From: freemanaz@aol.com Subject: [lpaz-discuss] Tonto and McCain Updates To: lpaz-discuss@yahoogroups.com Cc: THansen980@aol.com, Essprsogal@aol.com, wwalker@primenet.com Reply-To: lpaz-discuss@yahoogroups.com
Subj: Tonto and McCain Updates Date: 6/19/01 2:33:41 PM US Mountain Standard Time From: alan@bloomfieldpress.com (Alan Korwin) Reply-to: alan@bloomfieldpress.com To: alan@bloomfieldpress.com (Alan Korwin)
A handful of items in this update --
1. McCain Recall and Rally Info 2. Gun Safety Forum Videotape Available 3. Tonto Proposal Sent to Forest Service 4. Tonto Proposal -- Full Text 5. AZRKBA and TUG alert lists
Alan.
McCAIN RECALL AND RALLY INFO McCAIN RECALL AND RALLY INFO McCAIN RECALL AND RALLY INFO
National and local news media are all jacked up about the McCain recall effort, giving it mucho prime time coverage; the recall was innocuously started by two disgruntled citizens, and is now starting to snowball. Requests for McCain rally and recall info have been flooding into my office, and I'm not even part of the effort. To stay current, get on the AZRKBA or TUG email lists (instructions at the end of this report).
FOR THE RECALL: Jerry Clingman, kayjerry@aol.com, 602-404-0738 Jerry will be at TUG on Wed. 6/20, with petitions (see address at end)
FOR THE RALLY: Rick DeStephens, rdestep136@earthlink.net The rally is at McCain's Tempe office, 10 a.m., Sat. June 30. 4450 S. Rural Rd. #B130 (just south of US 60) in the courtyard Food and beverages afterwards in a restaurant across the street
GUN SAFETY FORUM VIDEOTAPE AVAILABLE GUN SAFETY FORUM VIDEOTAPE AVAILABLE GUN SAFETY FORUM VIDEOTAPE AVAILABLE
I've obtained a video recording of the entire Arizona Gun Safety Forum held back in April (thanks to Rev. Howard Hahn). If you missed this fabulous event, or if you went and would like the recording, I have a local dupe shop that will copy the two VHS tapes for $20 (plus $4 to pack and ship it to you). Call or email me with your mailing address and a Visa or Mastercard number and expiration date, and I'll run over and have copies made and send them. alan@gunlaws.com, 602-996-4020.
TONTO PROPOSAL SENT TO FOREST SERVICE TONTO PROPOSAL SENT TO FOREST SERVICE TONTO PROPOSAL SENT TO FOREST SERVICE
My draft of a proposal for keeping public land open to the public, and expanding the safe uses of the Tonto National Forest was hand delivered to forest supervisors on June 14, 2001. The proposal has been endorsed by the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association, and is reproduced at the end of this report (send me an email if you'd like a formatted Word copy).
The "Tonto National Forest Unified Proposal" was placed before the Forest Service to ensure that the record reflect the feelings and rights of people who have been using these lands with practically zero incidents of any kind for generations.
BACKGROUND: Federal agents in charge of Tonto National Forest are gearing up for changes to outdoor marksmanship and recreational shooting on Forest Service land (they call it "wildcat shooting," a derogatory terms you should never use). Their actions are being watched closely at the national level, and could influence policy in all national forests.
They're most concerned with the use of land at easily accessible locations near the city lines, where target practice has been taking place at well known sites for decades. The current policy is basically: "It's a free country. This is our public land. You can use it in any way you want as long as you don't harm anyone. Anything a person does out there which is reckless or criminal should be handled by the authorities under our strict existing laws."
The new policy being developed would simply close off public land. Various excuses have been offered for such possible closures --
--there are too many people
--there are differing or competing interests (horseback / mountain bike / dirt bike / ATV / hiking / marksmanship / photography / other)
--shortage of law enforcement staff
--closure is easier than management
--difficulties of law enforcement
--signs of use from land being used
--target materials and shell casings visible at shooting sites
--guns are dangerous
--people sometimes obliviously wander near the line of fire
--new homeowners near the forest complain about all forest users
--a few bad apples spoiling it for everyone
--irresponsible shooters and no controls or law enforcement
and more.
How much land, and under what conditions it might be closed is unknown to us, but clearly, the agency has considered all sorts of options. Closure of all easily accessible and popular locations is being considered. Migration of marksmanship activity to unused, pristine areas of the desert hasn't seemed to phase the authorities. "The Pit" area near Mesa has already been fenced off to vehicular access.
A series of public meetings is under way to gather input before the agents act. It wouldn't hurt anything if you contacted the bureaucrats involved and made your feelings and thoughts known to them.
Forest Supervisor Karl Siderits (pronounced SIDE-er-its) is the top local honcho. 602-225-5200, Fax 602-225-5361, ksiderits@fs.fed.us. Reports can be made in person at any Forest Service facility. Asking questions and talking politely with the staff can be a most effective option.
A sensationalized front-page story in the Sunday Arizona Republic (6/17/01) confirmed that the Forest Service is well aware of unscrupulous and even illegal activities routinely taking place in the forest, and that repercussions for the perpetrators are basically non-existent. Instead of enforcing the law, the federal agents seek to close off the lands, a sadly typical bureaucratic-style response. By failing to enforce the law, it is easier to justify closures. This is a terrible way to run things. Isn't failure to discharge duties and to enforce the law its own violation?
It should also be pointed out that last year, 54 dead bodies (not related to shooting sports) were removed from Tonto, a fairly typical year. Yes, that's correct, a fairly typical year. Although news reports for the rest of your life will repeatedly mention a single event in which 12 schoolkids were tragically murdered, the fact that Tonto is four times more dangerous in terms of mortality, EVERY YEAR, goes unmentioned and totally distorts the public's perception of risks. Tragically, this also prompts wholly inappropriate responses from your elected "representatives."
TONTO NATIONAL FOREST UNIFIED PROPOSAL TONTO NATIONAL FOREST UNIFIED PROPOSAL TONTO NATIONAL FOREST UNIFIED PROPOSAL
Regarding: Free-Range Marksmanship, Outdoor Target Practice and Recreational Shooting Sports on the Tonto and Other Arizona National Forest Public Lans
This proposal reflects a general consensus of hundreds of concerned Arizonans who have reviewed its contents. Arizonans statewide look forward to working with National Forests in the state, in a cooperative effort, to promote firearms safety, to encourage firearms education, to ensure the continuation of noble and important traditions with long historical roots, and to provide for continued and long-term enjoyment by the public, of the National Forests of this great state.
PART AMaintaining Appropriate Land Use
1. Multiple use of public lands is the routine, current and proper policy for Tonto National Forest, other National Forests, and other public lands in the state of Arizona. Multiple use is widely recognized and endorsed by stewards of public lands.
2. On Nov. 16, 2000, in testimony before the Arizona State Legislature Special Hearing on Shooting Sports on Public Lands, Tonto Forest Supervisor Karl Siderits testified, Safe, responsible, recreational shooting is a valid use of Naional Forest Service public lands.
3. Free-range marksmanship, outdoor target practice and recreational shooting sports in the National Forests are valid and proper uses of these public lands, enjoy a long and unbroken tradition, history, culture and current use, and should be maintained. One popular location near Bartlett Lake Road is known to have been in continuous use since before World War II, and numerous other long-term sites are common.
4. No discrimination against users of such sites is known, nor would any discrimination against such users be appropriate policy or behavior.
5. A natural, predictable and normative result of population increases in the United States is increases in the use of public lands by the people. The fact that the U.S. population continues to rise is a wholly unacceptable grounds for closing public lands. The suggestion that public lands be closed to the public because people increasingly use them, if such a suggestion were made, would reflect the worst aspects of bureaucratic excess, would be an affront to the people, opposes the will of the Congress, and should be rejected categorically.
6. Forced changes to the completely natural patterns of use, or any actions which would cause migration away from the numerous traditional and safe sites appear inadvisable and should be avoided. Any Forest Service actions which would subject relatively pristine areas of the forest to intensified use appear inadvisable and should be avoided. Any Forest Service actions which would tend to force the public away from preferred sites with easy proximity appear inadvisable and should be avoided.
PART BEnforcement Against Abuse
7. The Forest Service has announced its awareness of certain reckless, negligent, abusive and criminal conduct at some well-known locations. The Forest Service should post warnings and take other steps to give notice against such illegal conduct, implement regular patrols of these areas to deter such behavior by showing a Forest Service presence, use appropriate surveillance techniques to identify such abuse, and enforce the law through warnings, citations, fines, and when appropriate, arrests and prosecutions, when such illegal conduct is encountered and is severe.
8. The existence of reckless, negligent or criminal misuse of public lands, or the Forest Services failure or inability to enforce laws against reckless, negligent or criminal misuse of public lands, is not a valid or acceptable cause for closing public lands to any lawful use by the law-abiding public. Failure to enforce laws against known reckless, negligent or criminal misuse of public lands may constitute a violation or may create legal exposure for those responsible for failing to enforce the applicable laws, and merits close attention.
9. Closure of any National Forest public lands to free-range marksmanship, outdoor target practice and recreational shooting sports, due to the number of existing federal law enforcement employees, or the number of any other type of federal or other employees, is arbitrary and capricious, and is not a valid or acceptable grounds for closure. While the Forest Service may seek to adjust its staffing levels upwards or downwards for numerous reasons, claims of employee shortages or excesses are not sufficient or valid grounds for closing our public lands to lawful use.
PART CSuggestions For Needed Improvements
10. In addition to traditional and completely unfettered access for free-range marksmanship, outdoor target practice and recreational shooting sports in the National Forests, the Forest Service has an obvious and immediate need to establish a number of designated unsupervised marksmanship areas, with certain minimal facilities provided. This will help concentrate such activity and tend to reduce interactions with other forest users. These use-at-your-own-risk facilities should be located at areas with good backstops, and include, at a minimum, reasonable accessibility by motor vehicle, posted gun safety rules and basic range rules, frames and supports for suspending targets, concrete or similarly durable outdoor benches, shade ramadas and trash receptacles.
11. In addition to traditional and completely unfettered access for free-range marksmanship, outdoor target practice, recreational shooting sports, and a number of designated unsupervised marksmanship areas in the National Forests, the Forest Service should create a list of feasible sites, obtain funding through Byrne Grants, or cooperative agreements with the Arizona Game and Fish Dept., The Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association, or other private or public sources, and commence development of at least one official and supervised range on each Forest Service property in accordance with existing guidelines under FSM 2335.4-Target Ranges, et. seq.; FSH 2709.11 Chapter 40 - Special Uses Administration-On Target Ranges; and under the Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR 251.54.
12. As part of its educational and stewardship missions, the Forest Service should, at the earliest possible date, and in cooperation with recognized marksmanship training experts, begin providing educational opportunities, and educational literature, for people interested in free-range marksmanship, outdoor target practice and recreational shooting sports in the National Forests. A certificate for successful completion of such educational opportunities, suitable for framing, should be made available to people who participate in such programs, but such certificate shall have no function other than its suitability for framing.
13. As part of its educational and stewardship missions, the Forest Service should, at the earliest possible date, and in cooperation with recognized marksmanship training experts, approach the Arizona public and private school systems, and offer to provide educational opportunities, and educational literature, along with marksmanship opportunities on Forest Service public lands. In light of widespread ignorance among school children and their teachers, of the proper role and safe use of firearms, and in consideration of tragic accidents involving children of school age, this proposal is considered of paramount importance. A certificate for successful completion of such educational opportunities, suitable for framing, should be made available to people who participate in such programs, but such certificate shall have no function other than its suitability for framing.
14. It is widely recognized that any use of land creates plainly obvious signs of that use, and this is normative. People within Arizona, eager to enjoy a safe and wholesome outdoor shooting experience, call on the Forest Service to announce, promote and organize voluntary cleanup days of traditional shooting areas. Reusable target materials found at such areas should not be removed during such periodic cleanups. A certificate for participation in such efforts, suitable for framing, should be made available to those who volunteer their time and energy, but such certificate shall have no function other than its suitability for framing.
Respectfully submitted,
Alan Korwin, Author The Arizona Gun Owners Guide Gun Laws of America
This proposal is endorsed by: The Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association Terry Allison, President
HOW TO GET ON THE ARIZONA ALERT LISTS HOW TO GET ON THE ARIZONA ALERT LISTS HOW TO GET ON THE ARIZONA ALERT LISTS
To get connected and involved in firearms issues in Arizona, a good place to start is the Arizona Right to Keep and Bear Arms List Server, AZRKBA@ASU.EDU.
This open-ended list has discussions and news of upcoming events. To subscribe to the List, send this email message:
"subscribe azrkba yourfirstname yourlastname" (without the quote marks)
to:
(note "listserv" does not terminate with an "e").
You will receive a "Please confirm" email from the automated listserver. The confirmation helps prevent people from signing up strangers against their wishes.
After returning the confirmation note you will receive a second automated note from the listserver with some information related to your subscription such as how to "unsubscribe" (it's as easy as subscribing) and how to limit your mail to one daily note (called "digest" form).
Highly recommend you use the digest format -- each day's notes come as a single bundle, instead of numerous individual messages that can clutter your mailbox. Some other options will be described as well. You should print and otherwise save this note for future reference.
Join the statewide dialog, get info you'll see nowhere else, learn, contribute when you have something to say, make new friends, and get active in defense of your precious rights. Easy.
STEP TWO -- GO TO "TUG" Join the monthly meeting of gun-rights advocates for a great meal and shoeleather activism.
To get on the TUG announcement list, and receive important gun-rights information, send an email message from your computer to:
tugannounce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
When you send it, the system subscribes the email address from which it was sent. Each announcement includes details on what TUG is, and what events are planned next.
To get off the list, send:
tugannounce-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Really easy.
[The upcoming TUG meeting is Wednesday, June 20, 2001, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. dinner; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. meeting
Location: COUNTRY HARVEST BUFFET RESTAURANT 7720 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, AZ SW corner of Elliot and Priest, just east of I-10 Main meeting room on North side of restaurant
Unlimited buffet, under $10 incl. tax and tip Separate checks.]
This report is produced by:
Alan Korwin, Author The Arizona Gun Owner's Guide
Bloomfield Press 4718 E. Cactus #440 Phoenix, AZ 85032 602-996-4020 602-494-0679 fax alan@gunlaws.com
Check out our books --
If you knew all your rights you might demand them. If you knew all your rights you might demand them. If you knew all your rights you might demand them.
See "Licensed to Carry" -- the guide to permits in the 31 "shall issue" states.
Also, The Traveler's Guide to the Gun Laws of the 50 States.
And, "In The Gravest Extreme" The classic and great read on armed self defense.
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