U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- “The Wake County Range (the Firearms Education and Training Center), built for use by Wake County citizens is now being closed to the public, effective January 15, 2020,” Grassroots North Carolina alerted its members Friday. “This comes as a huge surprise as Sheriff Baker, who manages the range through contractors he hires, gave no advanced warning of this decision. There was no public discussion, no prior announcement—not a thing.”
Per The News & Observer, “The Wake County Sheriff’s Office ended its contract with Range Safety Management (RSM) LLC.” The sheriff’s state reasoning, a “lack of profitability and a review that fees and funds collected … were not accounted for accurately,” speaks more to mismanagement than anything else. If there are issues, why is it not in the public interest to openly discuss them and to consider temporary and long-term solutions?
The county commission’s response was initially tepid and noncommittal, even though GRNC asserted a letter it issued “makes it clear that they were not involved in the Sheriff’s decision, and suggested his decision may have been rash.” WRAL.com now reports “County Manager David Ellis informed the sheriff that the county would take over control of the facility.” What Ellis means by “find[ing] a balance between public and law enforcement use” remains to be defined.
In any case, the sheriff’s initial decision to close off to the public a range that “was originally chartered for public use,” and to exclude that public without adequate notice and discussion before the deal was decided done, speaks not only of arrogance and a lack of transparency but demands being analyzed carefully against North Carolina Open Government laws. That’s especially true because, again, according to the News & Observer:
“The center was opened to the public from the beginning as part of a compromise over the county’s gun ordinance and was never meant to be profitable… The county prohibits people shooting a gun within 100 yards of a home without permission of the homeowner and within 100 yards of a ‘public building’ likely to be occupied. Giving the public access to the then-new firearms center gave people a chance to practice their shooting.”
If lower levels of government can essentially renege on such decisions without public input or consideration, what must that say about what higher levels of government could impose? And with the sheriff’s plan to reserve the center exclusively for law enforcement, what must that say about “Only Ones” elitism?“
The Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center was built by Wake County for citizens to provide a safe place for target shooting,” the county website asserts. “This facility allows local law enforcement personnel to maintain their skills. Additionally, marksmanship and hunting are increasingly popular sports in Wake County, and citizens now have a safe and enjoyable place in which to practice.”Did the need for that suddenly disappear? “Gun safety,” after all, is what’s being touted by all, including gun owner rights advocacy groups that teach it, and gun-grabber groups that use the term as a euphemism to mask their true intent of citizen disarmament.
How would closing “a safe place” specifically established for firearms education, training and practice do anything but make Wake County less safe? And if the mantra is “if it saves one life it’s worth it,” how would Sheriff Baker’s unilateral decision emphasizing profitability and accounting, and then shutting the door on further discussion, allow for a true and open cost/benefit analysis?
The commission will be meeting on Jan. 6, GRNC informs us, soliciting area gun owners to attend and make their voices heard. In the meantime, and to perhaps light a fire among commission members and the sheriff, and to remind them who they work for, contact information, including telephone numbers and email addresses, and suggested talking points, are included at the end of the alert.
Additionally, a petition has been posted to Change.org by local advocate Mark Valletta asking to “stop the closing of the Wake County NC Firearms Education Training Center to the public.”
The County Manager assuming control means officials have heard the voices of gun owners. Now is not the time to let up – it’s the time to secure commitments.
It also sounds like it might be time to get a new sheriff.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
Me and a friend sent our sheriff, expenses paid to a Constitutional Sheriff’s and Peace officers seminar BEFORE he was elected! He told me he learned more in those three days then he did in his whole life about the Constitution. SEND YOUR SHERIFF TO ONE!!! If he/she won’t go…GET THEM OUT OF OFFICE! https://cspoa.org/
Would the Sheriffs dept be closed if it were disclosed that it wasn’t making a profit? Would the dept. shut down if fraud or corruption were discovered? As Codrea stated, time for a new sheriff!
Keep kicking the fence sheriff, eventually the old barking dog decides to jump it and takes a bite out cher COMMUNIST ASS, hope you enjoyed your stay in office don’t get to comfortable have a feeling you won’t be in the running next local election.
I say we all go shoot on the powerline easment near the sherriff’s house.
Jus’ sayin’, but I looked up who the Sheriff is for Wake County and guess what? No surprise, a Black Democrat.
“Harrison, a Republican who was seeking his fifth term in office, lost to Democrat Gerald Baker by a 55 to 45 percent margin, according to unofficial results.” 2018 election.
Guaranteed he is anti-gun.
Unless the Sheriff was the owner HE cannot shut down a damned thing, the moron.
A Public range?.(Good for the County), and LE should not get preferential treatment over the public except after reg public hours or a set day to shoot.
He should have nothing to do with it’s operation.
Stock photo, our range has no automated targets system, old school.
Range was open to LEO depts. for training during the days and to matches and public at nights and weekends.
County Commissioners were not consulted before the Sheriff made his decision,
to close ‘his’ range to the public. Fact is the range belongs to the County not Sheriff Dept.
It will reopen in the future to the public without the Sheriff.
What did we expect from a new Sheriff who is pro Sanctuary City and Pro Illegal Alien Invaders?
He refuses to work with ICE. Catch and release felons.
seems like the range failed because of mismanagement by the sheriff and no other reason. this is called crony capitalism. should be a through investigation into the operation of the range from an independent organization. the answer would be to remove the sheriff and keep the range open. this is what leftists do, make unilateral decisions they want, because they want. local ranges provide a opportunity for law-abiding citizens to learn to shoot and maintain their proficiency with firearms.
There is nothing that private citizens can’t do better than the government, except maybe raise an army.
that last sentence gets to the root of the whole debacle. SOunds like he’s got the same attitude that some legendary “Old West” sheriffs took upon themselves.. I AM the law, and what I say WILL happen. Cuz I am de sheriff.
He needs to be reminded that he SERVES at the pleasure of the people who elected him to do so.
Remember, OF, BY, FOR the….. people?
Looks like Wake County voters voted in a communist democrat for a Sheriff.
Maybe Sheriff Baker knows Sheriff Israel from Parkland.
Cowardly scum.