Update on Goochland Gun Control
From VCDL's VA-ALERT:
I was **disgusted** with the blatant manipulation of government last
night at the Goochland County Board of Supervisor's (BoS) meeting!
Around 30 gun owners stayed until 11:30 PM to speak against the
County interfering with the creation of a new sporting clays range in
the middle of a *600* acre hunting preserve (the largest in Virginia)!
The County Attorney was the driving force pushing the BoS to vote to
reinstate Conditional Use permits for commercial shooting ranges.
The County Attorney shamelessly used the Boy Scouts as his excuse to
get this ordinance rammed forward. The Boy Scouts, who are holding a
fund raiser in October, have NEVER had to get a "Conditional Use"
permit in the past for the event that they have held for over 20
years. But suddenly they MUST have one and need it NOW.
The Boy Scouts were nothing but a pawn to pressure the BoS into
putting the ordinance in place immediately.
It worked, unfortunately. The BoS voted to reinstate the ordinance,
even though the County's own Zoning Board asked the BoS not to do so!
:-(
HOWEVER, there is a silver lining. Some supervisors would only
support the ordinance if it it NO WAY interfered with the legal case
that shooting preserve owner, Andrew Dykers, has going right now.
The County Attorney said publicly several times that Mr. Dyker's case
would NOT be affected by the ordinance, as Mr. Dyker's case was
already in the works.
That clarification came as a shock to those in the audience who are
opposing the range! They were clearly hoping this would derail Mr.
Dyker's legal fight, forcing Andrew to apply for a Conditional
Permit, which would then be denied as it had in the past.
Mr. Dyker's legal case is strong and the other side (including the
County Attorney) knows it. They are desperately trying to stop it.
We need to contact the BoS to let them know that we expect them to
make sure that the reinstated ordinance in NO way interferes with Mr.
Dyker's case. We also need to urge them to modify the ordinance to
clarify that the ordinance only applies to *commercial* ranges and
not private ranges.
Suggest message:
--
Dear Goochland Board of Supervisor member:
The County Attorney promised that the "Conditional Use" requirement
for commercial shooting ranges that was reinstated Tuesday night
would NOT affect Mr. Andrew Dyker's legal case dealing with a
sporting clays range on the Oropax property.
I expect the Board of Supervisors to honor that promise.
Also, the ordinance needs to be changed to clarify that the ordinance
ONLY applies to COMMERCIAL shooting ranges. As currently written,
that is NOT clear.
Please let me know what you are going to do.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
--
Email addresses for BoS and their phone numbers:
District 1
Andrew W. Pryor
(804) 457-4177
apryor@co.goochland.va.us
District 2
William E. Quarles, Jr.
(804) 556-2927
wquarles@co.goochland.va.us
District 3
Joseph T. Lacy, Jr.
(804) 556-4836
jlacy@co.goochland.va.us
District 4
Malvern R. Butler
(804) 784-4241
mbutler@co.goochland.va.us
District 5
James W. Eads
(804) 784-3944
jeads@co.goochland.va.us