This summer, Governor Kristi Noem endorsed Game Fish & Parks’ proposed $9.9-million shooting range north of Rapid City as a great way to “provide opportunities so that generations to come can learn to love shooting sports just as I did.” But the Meade County Commission isn’t convinced that building this facility in their backyard is such a hot idea.
The Meade County Commission heard GF&P’s pitch for the 400-acre shooting range on Elk Vale Road north of Ellsworth Air Force Base, as well as some public opposition, at its July 27 meeting. Tomorrow (Tuesday, December 21), the Meade County Commission is including on its agenda discussion of this draft letter to the Governor expressing the commission’s opposition to building the facility:
Since this July meeting, the Board has continued to hear concerns from our citizens about the safety of the site, additional county expenditures for road maintenance and the loss of property tax revenues. There was no discussion with the Board prior to this land purchase and we have no guarantees from the State as to how the County will be compensated for increased expenses and lost revenue [Meade County Commission, draft letter to Gov. Kristi Noem, agenda packet, 2021.12.21].
In its meeting materials, the Meade County Commission cites several statutes pertaining to shooting ranges, including SDCL 21-10-32, which protects the authority of local governments to regulate the location and construction of sport shooting ranges.
Game Fish & Parks hopes to start moving dirt at the proposed gun range this spring. The Meade County Commission convenes tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the Erskine Building, 1300 Sherman Street, in Sturgis.
The photo captures that someone has already “start[ed] moving dirt”. Substantial numbers (thousands) of acres of open pit mining (unreclaimed gravel quarries) in prime West Rapid City viewsheds have covered homes with rock dust for decades in the most picturesque geography in the entire state. This natural wealth has been essentially extracted on the backs of the public for the generational wealth of just two influential families.
Perhaps the governor could shoot her shotguns, assault rifles and flame throwers in one of the existing abandoned gravel pits owned by her wealthy political supporters already scratching her back, instead of annoying and endangering ordinary Black Hills residents any further. Her National Guard already has an onerous shooting range next to Stevens High School just over the Meade County border in Rapid City, where she likely can already drive her tanks and armored vehicles, wear her camouflage BDUs, and practice her 2nd amendment privileges with other war paraphernalia, as a guest.
Like northland Governor Daugaard before her, Noem is trying to build her legacy and reelection bid by destroying yet more of Paha Sapa. Rightfully, Dennis was unsuccessful establishing a new State Park in Spearfish Canyon at the last hour of his last term, like Kristi should be. We are just lucky Trump doesn’t have his head on Mt Rushmore as Kristi’s political gift to that violent idiot-in-chief! Grifter to grifter.
Could not have been said any better!
Thank you.
They need a place to practice for the upcoming civil war. They have to take Denver you know.
I admit to liking the idea that the government may easily keep an eye on the deplorable ammosexuals and MAGA nuts – where ever the range ends up.
It’s an incredibly silly feather as a governor’s “legacy”.
Adding on to Leslie’s thought – perhaps Meade County and all hunting license buyers should ask GFP/NOem — what’s a reasonable demand, a reasonable density for shooting ranges? Will building this range withdraw GFP and SDNG funds from the range near Stevens HS, the poorly-sited range in Spearfish Canyon, the trap ranges in Pennington, Meade, Lawrence Counties? When is enough, enough?
Mark, perhaps you’ve seen these or read the retired generals oped warning of civil war in the WAPO last week. (not posted here as it’s likely behind a firewall)
The nation has the deplorables to blame. The MAGA dead enders, their propaganda instruments in FAUX and Sinclair News, and the SCOTUS, federal, and state courts for not smashing gerrymandering.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/12/19/retired-generals-say-military-needs-to-prepare-now-for-2024-insurrection-wapo-op-ed-ip-vpx.cnn
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/12/20/us-civil-war-study-barbara-walter-intvu-intl-ovn-vpx.cnn
It’s prudent to begin fleshing out ones bug-out plan so as to not wait too late as did the Afghan citizens, or Jews of central and eastern Europe. No where is it written the US will last forever or forever be a democratic republic (as the professor notes, the US is no longer recognized as the world’s oldest democracy).
Keep your car topped off with fuel. Clean your 12 gauge, get some lamp oil for your lamp. Pack some peanut butter and crackers. Think of how you will be able to live when the power grid gets blown up and make up your mind to make the bastards pay for what they have done. Revenge is sweet man and paybacks are a mother
Well…the whole awful proposal usurps the authority of local government. Another power grab by “small government” Kristi.
Arlo, the Republicans are trying to consolidate their power at the state level everywhere. DeSantis is a shortstop dictator. He stopped local community’s from disengaging from fossil fuels. If the water rises too high, he’ll just pass a law preventing it.
I think it’s weird gfp gives person the authority to buy land at a good old boy’s will pay you back 3 times what its worth “J scull “ the gfp committee of 8 gov appointed didn’t even vote on it until the thing was purchased Meade co does not need to bear the brunt of road, law enforcement,fire protection that Pennington co will reep the rewards from if the state wants it put it in there park
Mark–The Republican Party which used to celebrate the individual, is now a Totalitarian Party, where the State is Supreme and the Great Leader is the final authority in all things.