The Associated Press, April 5, 2007
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — For years, ATV-riding, gun-toting sport shooters have flouted gun laws in part of Idaho’s high desert by taking pot shots at ground squirrels and other animals. Now, officials say, they’re also setting their sights on National Guard tanks that train in the area.
Rifles and pistols have been banned in a 68,000-acre area of the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area since 1996.
But the federal Bureau of Land Management is considering expanding the gun-restricted area by 41,000 acres to try to limit shootings at Idaho Army National Guard troops who report slugs bouncing off their tanks on a regular basis.
”There’s a segment of the shooting community that will shoot at anything that moves,” said John Sullivan, the area’s manager.
National Guard spokeswoman Lt. Col. Stephanie Dowling said she thinks the proposed expansion would help alleviate the problem.
”What’s happened over time, as the population has grown, we get more and more people out there,” said Dowling. ”Not everybody uses good safety precautions.”
Idaho is the third-fastest growing state, after only Nevada and Arizona.
National Guard spokeswoman Lt. Col. Stephanie Dowling said she thinks
the proposed expansionauthorizing NG troops to return fire wouldhelpabsolutely alleviate the problem.I fixed that for you Steph.
Comment by wvhills — April 5, 2007 @ 11:29 am