Growing up in the Midwest, shooting on public land wasn’t much of an option. All of my range time was spent on private indoor and outdoor ranges, or occasionally on the family farm. Then a few years ago work took me further West, to the land of sun, sand, and sin. Shortly after my arrival, I began to learn about what I’d only read of, shooting on public land.
The little space I’ve carved out for myself is pretty isolated. More of a hotspot for dirtbikers and butterfly hunters than shooters. I’m far enough away that city-goers are uninterested in coming out to this neck of the woods. Of course occasionally I can see the telltale signs of other shooters. Some shot-up bottles, clay pigeons, and other miscellaneous junk, food wrappers, and empty cartridge boxes. It’s never much, but certainly enough to frustrate, and require some cleanup on my part.
While driving to my secluded shooting space I realized I’d forgotten the uprights for my targets, fouling the entire trip. Not one to be easily defeated, I went home, grabbed my things, and went to a popular spot 30 minutes from the house. This is one of the go-to places for city folks, though I’d never stepped foot there myself. I’d heard horror stories about safety, but figured everything was overblown.
What I saw was disgusting. Acres of trash strewn about the desert. Spent hulls, broken appliances, shot up furniture, hundreds of broken bottles and water jugs, empty ammo boxes, and other garbage was in some cases literally piled as tall as me. The range was absolutely unsafe for children or anyone less than sure-footed. One slip and I’d need a trip to the ER for stitches and shots. I couldn’t imagine the first impression it’d give new shooters. I’ve heard horror stories, but the reality is worse than I expected.
We picked the “cleanest” spot for a brief range session, picked up a bag’s worth of trash, and left. Photos don’t do it justice. This is my second trip to popular public land, and this location takes the cake for unpleasantness. This reinforces my decision to not show people where I go to safeguard it for my family. It’s no surprise why people want these places shut down.
For those who aren’t aware, public land shooting ranges are threatened all over the country. Just like our gun rights, people want to take away our ability to plink, practice and train on public lands. Here’s just one example of what some folks think about these places: https://evanquarnstrom.com/2020/04/21/why-shooting-should-be-banned-public-lands/
If that’s not enough, here are some examples of anti-gun successes from Washington state to Michigan, and between. Some of these cases cite safety concerns, while others use rampant trash and environmental disruption to justify their actions.
Trash and environmental disruption
Ranges closed for “safety”
These are just a few examples I found with a quick search. The list goes on and on, and unfortunately the folks looking to close our spaces are often far better funded than those defending them. What is there to do for us who depend on public land?
Get active in your community. Not just with those who regularly compete or train, but regular earth people. We won’t reach everyone, but some help is better than none. I organized a cleanup day of the range that spurred this piece. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provides dumpsters, trash bags, pickers, and safety equipment. My state level firearms advocacy group shared the event with their audience, handling sign-ups, and is interested in helping with future events. I chose a date, time, location, built the flyer, and coordinated between parties to get this off the ground. In just a few hours my group of 20 volunteers filled up a 40 yard dumpster, and made a big impact on the range.
My local BLM office was surprisingly eager to help me, counter to what I’ve seen from them at the state level. We’re already working through plans to make this a biannual event. Twice a year we’ll make our way through various ranges across the region. This is just a drop in the bucket to fix things, but it’s a start that others have yet to take. Nearly everyone I’ve mentioned this to wants to join in, but never knew where to start. Be the inspiration to drive change.
Outside of big events, we can make progress on our own. Bring trash bags and cleaning equipment with you for each range session. There’s always something to pack out with me, even when leaving the place spotless myself at the end of a session.
Usually it’s garbage people have used as targets, empty cartridge boxes, and food trash. If you have access to a trailer, that can help you move larger items. You would be surprised at how many couches, appliances, and mattresses I’ve seen dumped and shot to ribbons.
Many schools have programs requiring students to build volunteer hours before graduating. As a prior servicemember, I know the military loves volunteerism for awards and promotions. Try framing it as environmentalism rather than a gun rights issue. Reach out to your community, surely there are folks who will lend a hand, regardless of their political affiliation.
If we want places like this to continue to exist, we must take care of them. It’s our job to help people understand that these are not a dumping ground for old appliances and other trash. Both for a safer and more positive experience while we’re there, but to also ensure they’re not taken away from those looking to shutter them for good. Set the example, and (some) people will follow.
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