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Anti-Gun Bill Introduced in the Senate, Would Impose Exorbitant Fees on Use of Public Shooting Ranges |
Earlier this week, Senator John Pat Fanning, D-McDowell, and Senate Majority Leader H. Truman Chafin, D-Mingo, introduced Senate Bill 516, which imposes a permit requirement to use a public shooting range.
SB 516 requires anyone other than a licensed hunter or person exempt from the requirement of a license to hunt, to obtain a permit to use any public shooting range operated by the Division of Natural Resources. Funds generated by this bill would be used to create additional public shooting ranges and maintain and improve existing public shooting ranges. So far, so what?
However, the kicker (to many gun owners' groins) is that SB 516 proposes charging an annual fee of $50 for residents and $150 residents for public shooting range permits! These exorbitant permitting fees will reduce the use of public shooting ranges and not raise the funds anticipated or required to fulfill this bill's intent.
While WVCDL opposes charging fees for using public shooting ranges that are funded by our tax dollars and various DNR licensing fees, the fees proposed in SB 516 are outrageous! SB 516 has been referred to the Senate Natural Resources Committee, which Senator Fanning chairs, then the Senate Finance Committee. |
