Gun Range Zone Change Letter Request By Residents

[Mountain Times Editor]

We were asked to post this for residents:

Many residents have expressed that they would like to enjoy the outdoors around Mountain Cove, without hearing noise, which some residents have stated, "sounds like we live in a war zone." In addition to the noise, there is also some information regarding illegal gun sales occurring on the leased gun range property, owned by Vulcan, which was brought up at the last Planning Commission meeting. Residents are also concerned about stray bullets hitting dry brush which can start a fire. This occurred at the gun range in Eaton Canyon in Pasadena in 2000. As a result of several complaints by neighbors in Pasadena about the noise, and stray bullets hitting a home in 1996 and the brush fire in 2000, Pasadena spent $1.9 million to put their gun range indoors.

Some residents believe that just because a company has been here way before we came here and we were told that there would be noise, does not give justification for the gun club to remain permanently. They would like see Azusa make decisions to make the city move forward, into a city that the residents can be proud of. They feel that the people using the gun range on the Vulcan property should use the Burro Canyon Gun Range, also in Azusa and that 2 outdoor gun ranges in one city is not necessary.

The City Council and Planning Commission have been discussing the gun range. The City Council recommended that the zoning of the property be changed from CF to open space, which would force the gun range to close in 5 years. If you support this, please let the city council and the owner fr the property, Vulcan Mining, know that you do support the city council's proposal to change the zoning so that the gun range can be closed down in 5 years.

Letters must be received by October 8th

Letters need to be sent to:

Vulcan Mining Company
3200 San Fernando RD
Los Angeles, CA 90065

And the Azusa City Council:

Dave Hardison, Dick Stanford, Diane Chagnon, & Joe Rocha

213 E. Foothill Blvd.
Azusa, CA 91702

[circamc]

"They feel that the people using the gun range on the Vulcan property should use the Burro Canyon Gun Range, also in Azusa and that 2 outdoor gun ranges in one city is not necessary. "

Although the City has already acted in furtherance of shutting down the gun club, I thought I should point out the above as being inaccurate and something that should not be used as an argument regarding the range. The Burro Canyon range is not in Azusa, in fact it's about 15 miles up into the national forest from the city limits. Another point that gun club supporters will make is that if only Burro Canyon is available for shooting, we should remember that the national forest roads are sometimes closed (due to fire or other reasons), and so people would be left with no place nearby to shoot.

[Foxtail]

My response to your comment "at times the road may be closed" is too bad. The road is not closed that often that anyone could justify two ranges in one city! When we have a natural disaster they can lay down arms. Hopefuly by closing the range we will avert a fire or additional pollution of the river!!

[circamc]

Re your statement "two ranges in one city!". Again, Burro Canyon is not in Azusa.

Also: "Hopefuly by closing the range we will avert a fire or additional pollution of the river!!". Fires caused by shooting at organized ranges are very rare. It's much more likely that someone using fireworks, or barbecuing, or kids playing with matches at Mtn. Cove will cause a fire in the forest lands adjoining. With regard to lead pollution -- yes, it's something that bears monitoring, but there have been two studies out of Virginia Tech examining leftover lead munitions at old ranges that show that lead oxidizes quickly on the surface of the bullet and has not leached out into the soil or water to any extent even after decades.

I'm not a gun club member, and I'm not shilling for them. I just want all the facts to be out there for consideration.

[MarkR]

I support the councils stance to make the area open space. That is the first strong stance an Azusa city council has taken in a long time. The area around the gun club and vulcan should all be made open space so the residents of Azusa, Duarte and San Gabriel Valley can enjoy Fish Canyon. Just yesterday in the Tribune, there was an article describing the passionate disapproval of future mining rights at a Duarte council meeting. Part of the article alluded to Azusa not doing much about the issue and being a poor neighbor. In our past elections the issue was a hot topic and did have bearing on the results. Times are changing in Azusa, although slow, I want to believe we take the phrase "Canyon City" seriously. To Duarte residents, Azusa has fired the first shot to preserve our canyon and it did not come from the gun club.