October 6, 2008
- Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston Gun Club under fire
A shooter takes aim at the Lewiston Gun Club. By Stephanie Smith
LEWISTON - The Lewiston Gun Club is America's oldest continuously operating gun club. But board members says they are now facing some tough times.
The club has been located next to the airport since the 60s. With new development planned for neighboring land, they were given an eviction notice asking them to move out by the end of this month. Board members say the city and county are jumping the gun. "Their schedule is that they are not going to start construction until about a year from now," said Ken Biery, Gun Club Board Member. "Their schedule is July of 09. So we are saying, since we haven't found another site yet, why cant we stay and shoot until such time that they start construction. " Biery says that they are only open on Wednesday evenings and weekends and would be happy to shut down while surveyors or other crews are working. "It's just that when there is nothing going on here, we should be able to continue to shoot." In the meantime Biery says they have been looking for property in Asotin and Latah County but have yet to have any luck. "We've had a couple sites, but one of them, the neighbors complained and the other one we couldn't get a wide enough access into it," he said. Over 200 members enjoy a variety of shooting and the club holds several events that bring hundreds of people to the area each year. "Its probably one of the biggest trap shoots in the Pacific Northwest. We've had 400 to 500 shooters at it." The club employees 30 to 40 teens each year and Biery says they paid over $17,000 in taxes last year. "We like to consider ourselves an asset to the community said Biery. "Because it gives people a place to shoot and we've had a lot of families up here. I think practically half the kids in this town have set traps up at this gun club, probably one of the first jobs they ever had " Beiry says that he hopes to hear from the city council by early next week about whether they will be able to get an extension. Board Members say it's not just the gun club that uses the facility. Ken Biery says ATK, Idaho Fish and Game and LCSC use the property as well. 4H Scattershots leader Alyse Cadez says she doesn't know what they'd do without the Gun Club. "If they shut down the location I don't know if we would be able to shoot very wel'," said Cadez. "Sometimes you can take a personal trap and shoot out at places but you never can know if it's really safe." Cadez says with more knowledgeable shooters at the range, it adds to the experience and makes for a family friendly atmosphere. "We find that the other members that have spent years and years working here either doing trap or skeet always want to help." If you would like information about Scattershots, call Alyse at 743-3077. Kids age 9 to 18 are welcome to join. |
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