Sound level readings taken

in the area indicate the decibel levels to be higher from the traffic

on Ga. Highway 85 than from our activity. This rural location has one

of the highest levels of traffic and traffic noise south of Fayetteville.

It is not a public range. The

range is used exclusively by our 4-H S.A.F.E. program participants. The

only other time any other person can utilize this range is for our few

fund-raising events. This is the only time anyone else is allowed to use

the range.

Using a commercial shooting

range is not a solution. The state 4-H Shooting Awareness, Fundamentals,

and Education (S.A.F.E.) program is modified trap. This involves a hand-operated

clay target thrower and 90 mm size targets. Commercial shooting facilities

do not offer this. Also, Fulton County facility is not a 30-minute drive

from our location especially during our shooting times at rush hour. I

wonder how many of our Fayette County parents would be willing to drive

their children into Fulton County every time their kids had soccer, softball,

baseball or basketball practice.

The adult leaders in our 4-H

program make numerous sacrifices to provide a community service by providing

instruction and mentoring to these students. It is something that we believe

in. We have a conviction to spend time with not only our own children

but also the children of others, to pass on a family tradition, to teach

our children about safe firearm use, and enjoy our recreational activity.

Finally, to be a considerate

neighbor, our program has made numerous concessions to reduce noise in

the neighborhood. We will continue to look for ways to improve noise control.

Some examples include: we have limited our range use times and dates;

we have denied other youth organizations and individuals permission to

use the range for other events; we offer low noise ammunition to students;

and we have constructed structures to direct sound away from housing areas.

To those people who have supported

our program and the fund-raising activities at the range, which includes

families from the surrounding neighborhood, our children and adult volunteers

thank you.

Denny Kuhr

Fayette County 4-H

S.A.F.E. Coordinator

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