Virginia, Sussex County Board To Decide Range Issue Tonight

Virginia, Sussex County Board To Decide Range Issue Tonight

Please Call Board Members and Urge Them to Vote No

Virginia Shooting Sports Association

Virginia – -(Ammoland.com)- The Sussex County Board of Supervisors will meet tonight and on the agenda is a vote on the Planning Commission’s proposed shooting range ordinance that would put a number of onerous restrictions on new shooting ranges.

There will not be public comment on the proposal before the vote. While it will be helpful to show your opposition by attending the meeting, the most important thing you can do is to call and/or email the supervisors and voice your opposition to the planning commission’s recommendation.

Under consideration is a proposal that would require the following for all new ranges:

  • A CPR specialist must be present when the range is in use.
  • An industrial grade first aid kit must be maintained on site.
  • A minimum liability insurance policy of $100,000 per individual and $500,000 for each occurrence.
  • A zoning permit will be required before operating a range and a mountain of bureaucratic red tape to apply.
  • A “licensed civil engineer” must design and construct the range in addition to numerous plans and documentation to be filed with the Planning Department.
  • Signs must be placed at 100 feet intervals along the range’s boundary with the words “Firing Range” and “Do Not Enter” on each sign.
  • The range must be at least 500 feet from the highway and any property line.
  • Any buildings on the range must be at least 300 feet from any highway right-of-way and any property line.

Please tell the supervisors that these requirements are unnecessary and will have the effect of discouraging new shooting ranges. In additions, eventhough existing ranges are grandfathered, they will most likely have to comply with the new requirements if they make improvements to existing ranges.

If you live in Sussex, or shoot at a range in Sussex county, please contact the Board of Supervisors and urge the to oppose the ordinance. Board contact information can be found below.

Blackwater District
Wayne M. Harrell
406 Jasper Lane
Post Office Box 1
Waverly, Virginia 23890
Home: (804) 834-2603

Courthouse District
T. Wayne Birdsong
116 Nicholson Drive
Wakefield, Virginia 23888
Home: (757) 899-3806

Henry District
Rufus E. Tyler Sr.
25359 Blue Star Highway
Jarratt, Virginia 23867
Home: (434) 246-4246
Office: (434) 634-2490 or (804) 834-3522

Stony Creek District
Charlie E. Caple, Jr.
12038 Palestine Road
Stony Creek, Virginia 23882
Home: (434) 246-2602

Wakefield District
C. Eric Fly Sr.,
Vice Chairman
38411 Rocky Hock Road
Wakefield, Virginia 23888
Cell: (757) 647-8190
[email protected]

Waverly District
Harris L. Parker,Chairman
300 Barkley Place
P.O. Box 616
Waverly, Virginia 23890
Home: (804) 834-3136

The Board of Supervisors meeting will be held at 7:30 PM at the General District Courtroom of the Sussex Judicial Center, 15088 Courthouse Road, Sussex, VA 23884.

About:
The Virginia Shooting Sports Association (VSSA) was originally founded as the Virginia State Rifle and Revolver Association in 1938. VSSA is the official state association of the National Rifle Association. VSSA is also closely affiliated with the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), Virginia Outdoor Sports Information Network (VOSIN), National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Virginia Gun Collectors Association, and the Virginia Wildlife Federation (VWF). Visit: www.myvssa.org