Dan Bates says he is not ready

to give up his fight to stop Fayette 4-H members from shooting shotguns

near his home.

"This was a bad day for

peace-loving citizens of Fayette County," Bates said last week after

the County Commission turned down his request to beef up noise ordinances

to stop the shooting.

Does that mean legal action

is next? "It has been discussed," said Bates. But he wouldn't

give any details, saying he doesn't want to tip his hand.

The 4-H Club, sponsored by

the County Extension Service, provides a variety of activities for youths

in rural areas, including a shooting competition and safety program.

In previous years, the county

has allowed use of its law enforcement shooting range near McCurry Park

for the club's activities, but in October 1999 commissioners informed

the group they would have to find a new location because of the buildup

of residential growth and recreation activities around the site.

"It took us a year and

a half to find a new spot," said Extension Service director Sheldon

Hammond.

That new spot is on the east

side of Hwy. 85, across from its intersection with Jones Road, part of

a parcel of more than 200 acres owned by the Peachtree City Water and

Sewerage Authority.

Bates, who lives on Massengale

Road, has filed complaints about the noise, and so have some of his neighbors.

But the county marshal's office and County Attorney Bill McNally have

ruled that the amount of noise coming from the range does not violate

the noise ordinance.

About 25 residents showed up

to support Bates' appearance before the Board of Commissioners Thursday

night. About 50 residents attended to voice their opposition to his stance.

Bates said he supports the

idea of a 4-H shooting program, but, "This is not a case of what

this club is doing, but where they are doing it."

He estimated that 1,000 rounds

are fired Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9

a.m. to 1 p.m., when 4-H practices are conducted.

"That's a conservative

estimate," he said, adding, "Would anybody want that shooting

to be going on" near their homes?

In addition to practices, the

club conducts shooting events like turkey shoots as fund-raisers. The

competitive season is over now it runs through April to mid-May. Five

fund-raising shoots are scheduled for the remainder of this year.

Bates asked commissioners to

revoke the club's permit to conduct shooting events. "If the ordinance

doesn't allow that, then modify the ordinance," he said.

Commissioners were unanimous

in their rejection of that idea.

"Somehow, I feel the benefits

[of the 4-H program] outweigh the inconvenience," said Commissioner

A.G. VanLandingham.

"Less government is better

government," said Commissioner Linda Wells, adding that she believes

beneficial programs like school band and cheerleading squads practicing

after school are just as noisy. "We can become overly restrictive,

controlling everything we as citizens regard as an offense," she

said.

Commission Chairman Greg Dunn

said he went to the homes of those concerned about the noise to see for

himself how loud it is." I was straining at times to hear the shots,"

he said. "The noise of the traffic on 85 was obliterating the sound

of the shotguns."

"You can deer hunt on

10 acres," said Commissioner Herb Frady, pointing out that the 4-H

range is on a site of more than 200 acres.

Dan Dickinson, who attended

the meeting to show his support of the 4-H program, said the key issue

is freedom. Halting the shooting, he said, would be an example of "incremental

government regulating more and more and more ... and that's just wrong.

"If Mr. Bates' criteria

applied, we wouldn't have anybody shooting anywhere in the county,"

he added.

"I hope we're still friends,"

said VanLandingham to the crowd of residents supporting Bates. But as

he said it, one woman in the rear of the crowd shook her head.

Back

to News Home Page |