New gun range in Alabama needs your help!!

There is a new shooting range in North Alabama called Alabama Tactical Shooters. It is near Guntersville and Albertville.

http://alabamatacticalshooters.com/

It was started by a group of enthusiasts and is designed to be an all-gun range and the first truly long distance range in the state (1,000+ yards). They are planing ISPC, IDPA and long range shoots. I was one of the first members.

The business went through every step to ensure the range was legal and NRA compliant. Now, a small handful of neighbors are protesting and pushing any government official they can to shut it down due to "safety concerns" and noise.

This is terrible precedent to send the shooting community or anyone that belongs to a range.

The ironic thing is the guy that is complaining the most lives 1 1/2 miles away and is a former BATF agent. He said he is on "disability from PTSD" yet apparently has a gun range in his back yard!!!

http://www.waff.com/Category/195953/video-landing-page?clipId=6868056&autostart=true

http://www.waff.com/story/17585501/ordinance-may-shut-down-marshall-county-shooting-range

http://www.waaytv.com/news/local/story/Guntersville-Shooting-Range-Controversy/13VaE2Xxs0KZEAAt8Zh-aw.cspx

http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/news/local/article_ad4f92a0-7ab8-11e1-b041-0019bb2963f4.html

Please help and email your thoughts to the mayor and city counsel members below!

mayor.lyons@cityofalbertville.com
fdouglas.wood@gmail.com
Altpr1066@gmail.com
nathan@yourfarmersagent.net
johnamos@bellsouth.net
mcclendon@charter.net

You are screwed.

That being said, do you have any women shooters?

The ATF agent is going to try to make you guys look like a bunch of crazy Black Rifle toting militia types. If you have an articulate female shooter, make her your spokeswoman. Have her attend city council meetings, etc.

Have a public awareness day inviting neighbors to the range letting them tour the facilities and meet the family friendly group of men and women that enjoy shooting as a sport/hobby. Offer free self defense instruction that day from a certified instructor of unarmed self defense

Call Michael Hart and Dr. Gina talk radio shows...they both support the 2A and shoot at Hoover Tactical and might be sympathetic to your cause. At the minimum, they would let you get your side of the story out and their program (101.1 WYDE) broadcasts in the area of North Alabama you speak of.

Contact the Board of Directors at Steel City Shooting Sports in Birmingham...they went through this a while back and may be able to lend some thoughts and insight.

I live in Arab, so I would benefit from the range, but I didn't know you existed until just now.

This should really concern everybody.

The latest claim is that since Albertville has police jurisdiction outside the city into areas of the county, the city's ordinance against gun fire in the city can extend into the county. Essentially, the neighbors (really the former BATFE agent) are saying you cannot fire a gun even in the county.

Again, this is a very slippery slope with serious potential consequences to everyone, not just the range. This could impact your ability to shoot on your private property, hunt, etc.

Email or call your politicians!!

There is a meeting at the Albertville City hall tomorrow (Monday) at 6:30 PM. If anyone is local, please come by and show your support.

You may want to rethink the pick on the website. The guy bump firing onto the rock wall will not help your cause.

It's not my range but I'll pass it on. I'm just a local shooter and concerned gun owner.

Albertville council delays decison on firing range license request

ALBERTVILLE, Alabama - The owner of a shooting range in the Albertville police jurisdiction asked the City Council Monday night to allow him to reopen the facility, but the council delayed any decision, The Sand Mountain Reporter reported.

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/05/albertville_council_delays_dec.html

My understanding is AL has a range protection law and preemption so I don't think the muni ordinance is valid.

That link you posted links to the other story which has a lot more information: http://www.sandmountainreporter.com/news/local/article_6f1c8812-991c-11e1-9bf4-001a4bcf887a.html
Suggest reading that article, here is a small blurb from it:
".... City leaders stressed the decision to shut down the range was not based on the neighbors complaints about excessive noise. State law prohibits such action. Instead, the move was based on a city ordinance that says a gun range must have council approval to discharge firearms in the city limits or police jurisdiction.

Alabama Tactile Shooting Range did not gain council approval, although Harbin says he did inquire about the rules and guidelines for such a facility prior to opening the operation...."

If businesses outside the city limits but inside the police jurisdiction in that area are not routinely required by the city to have licenses, then the range has a good argument for a pretext

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