PSA - Wake Co. Range to close to public 1/15/20

Great job to all the amazing speakers! I think our message got across loud and clear. There were an hour and 40 minutes worth of comments by my watch. The best part is that such a spectrum of people spoke - men, women, Asian-American, white, black, white collar, blue collar, sports shooters, hunters, even an anti-gunner that wanted to keep the range open! Very proud of all that stood up there and spoke. :cool:
 
Agree with @zuerjoha ^^^ I was there. Many thanks to all the speakers, you represented us well. You were articulate, respectful and respectable - so what are you doing on this forum :p. Many good points were made. I'll go back for the commissioners' discussion on the 13th. Greg Ford (chairman) did a good job running the meeting. I was a little upset to learn that property valuations are going up 20% though :eek:.
 
There were a lot of people there - the main meeting room and the overflow room were both full a little bit after the meeting started. I was in the overflow room. The comments took about 90 minutes and were very good, including a surprising couple of individuals that were not what I was expecting. In any case, I think the commissioners go the message loud and clear, but not in a rude way. It was respectful with lots of diverse views and people and reason, but numerous and unanimous in support of the range staying open to the public.
 
There were a lot of people there - the main meeting room and the overflow room were both full a little bit after the meeting started. I was in the overflow room. The comments took about 90 minutes and were very good, including a surprising couple of individuals that were not what I was expecting. In any case, I think the commissioners go the message loud and clear, but not in a rude way. It was respectful with lots of diverse views and people and reason, but numerous and unanimous in support of the range staying open to the public.

I was in the back row and when the first Stop RDU Quarry speaker stepped up the cop behind me told the other "You know she's gonna say sumethin' different" (I think he assumed she was anti-gun since she didn't have any Stop RDU Quarry badging). Even she ended her 3 minutes with "Oh, and keep the gun range open!". :D
 
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Field report. The 1:40 was correct. There were only 3 speakers that had other issues (Rock Quarry and RDU AA not buckling to their demands). I was an environmental manager and they were fringe, at best.

Back on point. There were probably 28 - 30 speakers. So, we had at least 25...or a few more. I got there and was 6th on the list. Some very startling and compelling pleas from some contingents that I never would have thought of. The Asian speakers were focused and good. WCC got to decide if they want to turn over 15% of the population to “the other side”. Chairman Ford allowed the meeting to flow and did. OT cut off the comments @ 30 minutes like the former chairman did. The vice chair lady had also GONE to the range and met with folks and did her own fact finding.

The County Manager looked like he was still smarting from having to break the news to Sheriff Baker that it was the COUNTY’s property and not his. He did not seem near as receptive to the suggestions and comments as the actual commissioners were.

The points and viewpoints and angles were diverse. I was on the front row and “people” watching. The speakers had the attention of the commissioners.

I plan to write mine, Chairman Ford and flat out say that if the range is closed on January 14, after watching the body language of the commissioners, as a whole, due to lack of a plan by the County Manger that the next meeting will run to midnight. We kidded him before the session about that.

The battle is not over, but one of the key players, the County Manager, seems to be reluctant to do the Commissioner’s bidding.

Gonna be interesting...
 
I think the video will become available at https://wake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

EDIT: it is not yet posted on the meeting calendar but the video can be found here: http://www.wakegov.com/commissioners/Pages/tvschedule.aspx

I think it went well. In a word, I would describe the turnout in support of the range as "overwhelming".
I was surprised to see Sheriff Baker showed up to watch the proceedings - wonder what was going through his head.

I am proud to be part of this community and amazed at the number of people who took time out of their schedules to attend at 5 PM downtown on a Monday.
 
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The battle is not over, but one of the key players, the County Manager, seems to be reluctant to do the Commissioner’s bidding.

Gonna be interesting...

I was there until you spoke, and left shortly afterward. You did an outstanding job.

I left because before any of the speakers started I heard the County Manager say that he would have a proposal for a new contractor/management company to run the range, a timeline for naming that company and a timeline to have the range open to the public.

Maybe there was discussion after I left, but I got the impression reopening the range was a done deal.

By the way Tom, I've been a DCWC member since 2007, was the membership chair for a few years, and now run the clays target movement committee.

Danny
 
What’s the short version of that speaker’s message?
  1. He hates being around guns but he'd rather the people with guns be trained.
  2. He likes studying ancient Japanese culture including their black powder pistols. Apparently the Wake range is the only indoor range for quite a ways where you can shoot black powder.
  3. His taxes are paying for it, so he wants access.
He even started by saying he hated the 2A and thought it should be repealed.
 
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I was there until you spoke, and left shortly afterward. You did an outstanding job.

I left because before any of the speakers started I heard the County Manager say that he would have a proposal for a new contractor/management company to run the range, a timeline for naming that company and a timeline to have the range open to the public.

Maybe there was discussion after I left, but I got the impression reopening the range was a done deal.

By the way Tom, I've been a DCWC member since 2007, was the membership chair for a few years, and now run the clays target movement committee.

Danny
Will try to look you up. Thanks.

I watched the County Manager and my impression was that he is either holding back or they have not approached RSM... so I guess we will see.

I hope they do the right and expeditious thing.
 
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Went to meeting and put in my 2 cents worth about how the range should not be close. I was a little nervous because I've never done that before. Only had 3 min to speak, and I was still able to plug the 1911 and trash the glock. :) Did speak with Baker and told him I didn't agree with closing the range to the public. He back track and said he has been misrepresented about closing to the public. It was only about changing the management. Nothing but a lie!!!! I did thank him and the other deputies for their service. I am only hoping David Blackwelder or someone else will beat him in the next election. #David Blackwelder for Sheriff
 
I was sitting across the aisle from her. There were few times she was not typing on her tablet or phone.
 
I haven't been to the court house in years. Last night I went there to support not closing the wake county range. I learned something new and my luck is changing for the good. Went through the metal detector and it went beep. I left my firearm locked up, keys in truck and even my change was left in the truck. But I had my cell phone, leather cell case and leather holster on my belt. After the beep went off, they checked me with the hand held. She said what's this? My leather cell case. She said what's this. I said my leather holster. She said you can't bring that in. So I ran 4 blocks round trip to put up my leather holster. Went through again and she she you are good. I replied, I'm sorry, didn't know my leather holster was more dangerous than my leather cell case. Good thing they didn't look at my photos on my phone. I might have been charged with carring multiple firearms in the court house. See my luck is changing!!!
 
I am a bit late to the party, where do we stand on this by now?
 
I was there, too, and appreciated all the speakers and others who came.

It seems obvious that they will reopen it but now we need to be vigilant about the terms. Will Bay 1 be available, or just reserved for the Sheriff like it is now? Will the hours be expanded or reduced? Will they address the “profitability” concerns by jacking up the fees? Will the new management company restrict drawing from the hip or black powder? Can we please get some automated target systems so we don’t have to go “cold” and “hot” all the time?
 
Saw the N&O a article. Watched the WRAL weather this morning as I was going to shoot around noon at DCWC. 45 minutes of a lot of fluff and frill. Trump is responsible for the 35 deaths in Iran where there was a stampede athlete the Iranian mandated, get out the masses for the fallen hero’s funeral. If Trump had not violently assassinated him, the mourners would be alive.

Then, there were almost 130 people at the Nash County Commissioner’s meeting protesting jail conditions. The Nash Sheriff is also helping churches do security audits and trying to make them less vulnerable.

NARY a word about Wake County. I used to work at WRAL while at NCSU in the 60’s and still know a few old timers. If it ain’t about a certain ethnic group or political party, it ain’t getting coverage. I have seen them have live coverage at the WCC meeting when 10 folks might have spoken and there was maybe 25 folks there in support.

THAT is the reality this morning. I hate to cheer up and find out things will be worse. I hope I am pleasantly surprised and there is no loss of public use, but, I don’t read the tea leaves that way...
 
Will the hours be expanded or reduced? Will they address the “profitability” concerns by jacking up the fees?

A facility like this could never have been conceived as a profitable venture. I have no idea what percentage of the range use has been public vs LEO, but unless LEO units are being charged for use the range would have to run at a significant deficit. Maybe @Miss Lily could help enlighten us on these questions, percentages and such.

In the meantime, I've taken a look at the Wake County budget. Unless I missed something there is not enough detail in the budget, nor in the annual report, to assess the overall costs and profitability of the range. Perhaps I could query the finance manager and see if there are ancillary reports? I don't know enough about county government to know how they will react, and I don't have time for any drawn out freedom of information requests.
 
...Maybe @Miss Lily could help enlighten us on these questions, percentages and such...

You just had to make me think this early in the am. Currently the ratio of LEO v Public use is 50/50. I don't have first hand knowledge of how or what WCSO charges other agencies for range usage but, have heard some are charged and some are not. I do know that RSM charges for every hour the range and or classrooms are used including RSO/Instructor time which is passed through to the county.
 
I haven't been to the court house in years. ............ Good thing they didn't look at my photos on my phone. I might have been charged with carring multiple firearms in the court house. See my luck is changing!!!

All that Gun Porn would get you in trouble. ;)
 
I'm proud of those that took part and attended, y'all did a great job!!
It was nice to be able to put a face to the names @TomGCherry @Miss Lily and @Bullseye Baldee

I was the speaker after Tom. My perspective was about the number of CCW holders in NC and the fact that closing the facility to the public would cause practice rates to go down.
 
I was the speaker after Tom. My perspective was about the number of CCW holders in NC and the fact that closing the facility to the public would cause practice rates to go down.
You did an excellent job, along with your conduct the entire time sitting front and center while everyone else was speaking. I didn't mention you because I would recognize you in public from your posted pictures with the crane, and your business website.
After y'all spoke I was glad I didn't have to follow you.
 
You did an excellent job, along with your conduct the entire time sitting front and center while everyone else was speaking. I didn't mention you because I would recognize you in public from your posted pictures with the crane, and your business website.
After y'all spoke I was glad I didn't have to follow you.

Thanks for the kind words! Where do I send the check?! :D
 
I was the speaker after Tom. My perspective was about the number of CCW holders in NC and the fact that closing the facility to the public would cause practice rates to go down.
I recognized you from when I attended the action pistol matches years ago. Always nice to put a face to a username. :)
 
The CBS 17 article gives some previously unreported bits of info:
  1. Chairman Ford's comment that leaves no doubt where he stands: "Law-abiding gun owners have the right, and should have the right, to practice their skills, work on certification, and personal safety issues in a safe controlled environment...That’s why that center was built, and that’s why I want to keep it open for them.”
  2. First time I've seen this: "...the county will have to ask for new bids. The bidding process could take upwards of a month, which Ford said could lead to the range closing for a short period." (I had hoped they would say that they could do a short-term "emergency" type contract with RSM that kept the range open during the bidding process.)
 
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  1. First time I've seen this: "...the county will have to ask for new bids. The bidding process could take upwards of a month, which Ford said could lead to the range closing for a short period." (I had hoped they would say that they could do a short-term "emergency" type contract with RSM that kept the range open during the bidding process.)

Won't they then also have to figure out how to pay for the contract? If the old money was coming from the sheriff's budget (which presumably comes from the state) will they just remove that money from his budget and allocate it to cover the new contract?
 
Won't they then also have to figure out how to pay for the contract? If the old money was coming from the sheriff's budget (which presumably comes from the state) will they just remove that money from his budget and allocate it to cover the new contract?

I've made a public records request to see P&L format information for the Center. I don't know if that information will include the source of the funds for the Center. I looked over the budget and detailed financial information for year ended June 30, 2019 and the Center is not a detailed line item. Let's see what I get from the County.
 
I've made a public records request to see P&L format information for the Center.

By the way, if I suddenly quit posting contact Sheriff Gerald Baker in the Wake County Sheriff's Office, or Hillary Clinton, care of US Department of State.
 
Just heard on WRAL that there is a meeting today at 2pm to decide future of the range.

There is no public input allowed at today's working session. Several of the speakers from last Monday's meeting will be there to observe.
 
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