NRA donates $75K to SC for Gun Ranges

[symtron]

October 16, 2009

National Rifle Association donates funding to DNR for shooting ranges

The National Rifle Association recently presented a $75,000 check to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources for the construction of three shooting ranges in the state.

Herb Lanford, National Rifle Association board member, presented the $75,000 check to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at the Sept. 24 meeting of the S.C. Natural Resources Board in Columbia.

"The NRA and its many tens of thousands of members across South Carolina are proud to make this contribution to assist the South Carolina DNR's program to develop public range facilities," Lanford said. "This effort exemplifies the Department's distinguished record of service to our state and its citizens. It is a pleasure to partner with South Carolina DNR and participate in this program, which will benefit present and future generations. The Department's commitment to providing safe places to shoot, like its many other remarkable achievements, sets an example of leadership and service for agencies across the nation."

A 50-yard pistol range and a 100-yard rifle range will be constructed at both Belfast Wildlife Management Area in Laurens and Newberry counties and Woodbury Wildlife Management Area in Marion County. These ranges will be open for public use. A combination skeet and trap range will be built at Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Marion County and will primarily be used for promoting hunting and shooting sports. The ranges are in the early stages of planning.

"We believe providing public shooting ranges is instrumental in recruiting and retaining hunters and recreational shooters in South Carolina," said John Frampton, S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) director. "NRA and South Carolina DNR are at the forefront of these efforts."

The $75,000 donated by the National Rifle Association will be matched by Pittman-Robertson funding that DNR’s Hunter Education Section receives through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Pittman-Robertson funding comes from a federal excise tax on sporting firearms and ammunition, archery equipment and handguns. This funding pays for almost all wildlife conservation efforts and hunter safety education in South Carolina.

The National Rifle Association is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that promotes the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearms safety and the protection of hunting and self-defense in the United States. Established in 1871, the NRA currently has more than four million members.

South Carolina's natural resources are essential for economic development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the state's economy. Find out why Life's Better Outdoors.

[melloyello]

That's awesome -

Now we just need to keep the idiots from vandalizing and destroying the ranges like they did at Twin Ponds.
Rifle range closed temporarily The Post and Courier - Charleston SC newspaper

[R&M]

Thats great, wil be close to home for me..I sure hate hearing that some idiot got Twin Ponds closed down.. I travel to Awendaw every once in awhile for work.. Always made a point to go fire a few rounds when there..

[Red Hat]

This will be a good start. Now all they have to do is put a few more around so everyone would have access to a range. Everyone needs to practice!

[blume357@]

the problem with that is DNR can't keep the existing ones maintained. So, what are they going to do with three new ones?

[melloyello]

the problem with that is DNR can't keep the existing ones maintained. So, what are they going to do with three new ones?

What is there to maintain if people do their part and left it as they found it (minus some lead and brass)?

About 12 years ago, Boggy Head was a cleared patch of land with a huge mound of dirt 100 yards away.

Then they had to put in covered shooting benches and now it attracts the idiots.
Its those idiots that come and shoot up and liter the place.
DNR shouldn't have to come and play janitor to a bunch of overgrown adolescence.

[RNG]

the problem with that is DNR can't keep the existing ones maintained. So, what are they going to do with three new ones?

Perfect example of this is the DNR range in Richmond Hill, Ga. There's always those that can't seem to clean up after themselves. Dumpsters stay full to overflowing too.

Cheers,
RNG

[blume357@]

I suspect part of the idea is to just build a new range... close down and bulldoze the old one and it will take a year or two for the idiots to find the new one and trash it.

[G50AE]

Any idea when they are going to break ground on the new ranges?