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Rapid City Shooting Range Not Drawing Deluge of Private Donations; GF&P Hiring Private Fundraiser

Hey, Game Fish and Parks! How’s fundraising going for the big shooting range you said you could build northeast of Rapid City in Meade County? Not great, project supervisor John Kanta told the Game Fish and Parks Commission last week on Friday:

Commissioner Julie Bartling of Gregory asked Friday how much has been raised from non-government sources. Kanta said the total so far was $740,000 and the goal is $5 million [Bob Mercer, “First Bid Awarded for Rapid City Firearms Complex,” KELO-TV, 2023.09.08.

Oh. Two years in, and not quite 15% of only a quarter of the total cost of the shooting range raised? That doesn’t sound like a resounding endorsement from the private sector.

To jump start fundraising, GF&P is taking bids for an independent fundraiser:

3.1 The purpose of this RFP is to hire an individual or company to lead a campaign to identify potential donors or continue working with already established contacts, build relationships to generate interest to support the project, and affirm financial support with commitments to support the project; resulting in the generation of a minimum of $5 million in donations to support the construction of the South Dakota Shooting Sports complex near Rapid City, SD.

3.2 The offeror will work with key contacts already established by GFP and to also develop a prospect list of potential donors.

3.3 The offeror will provide training and materials to select GFP staff that will assist with the campaign.

3.4 The offeror will develop key campaign materials to market the fundraising efforts.

3.5 The offeror will oversee and manage all campaign aspects to include but not limited to setting the agenda and facilitating regular monthly GFP administration meetings, potential donor identification, grant writing, donor outreach and solicitation, and donor event invitations and event scripting.

3.6 The offeror will oversee and manage a list of gifts, pledges, donations, and funding totals, develop and facilitate signing of gift agreements to donors and manage filing of those agreements [Game Fish and Parks, Request for Proposal #23RFP9055, published 2023.08.16].

Proposals are due tomorrow, September 13, in GF&P John Kanta’s office. Make the low bid, and Game Fish and Parks will want you on the phones making cold cash calls starting October 1.

23 Comments

  1. P. Aitch 2023-09-12 08:14

    Innovate, South Dakota. Gunpowder so yesterday.
    – Gunpowder, although historically significant, is gradually becoming a thing of the past in terms of self-protection due to several reasons. On the other hand, laser weapons are often considered the future of self-protection. Here’s why:

    1. Efficiency: Gunpowder-based firearms have limitations in terms of short-range accuracy and ammunition capacity. Laser weapons, on the other hand, can provide pinpoint accuracy and a virtually unlimited ammunition supply, as they rely on energy sources rather than physical projectiles.

    2. Reliability: Gunpowder-based firearms require regular maintenance, including cleaning, lubrication, and reloading. They can also suffer from malfunctions and misfires. Laser weapons, being electronic devices, can be engineered for higher reliability and require minimal maintenance.

    3. Ammunition: Gunpowder-based firearms rely on physical ammunition, which needs to be manufactured, stored, and transported. This creates logistical challenges and limits their availability in certain situations. Laser weapons, as mentioned earlier, use energy sources, eliminating the need for physical ammunition altogether.

    4. Versatility: Gunpowder-based firearms have limited versatility in terms of their use. Different scenarios often require different types of firearms or ammunition. In contrast, laser weapons can be calibrated to different power levels, making them adaptable for various purposes, such as self-protection, non-lethal incapacitation, or even disabling targets like drones or missiles.

    5. Safety: Gunpowder-based firearms produce recoil, muzzle flash, and projectiles that can pose risks for both the user and bystanders. Laser weapons, when designed properly, can minimize these risks significantly, offering a safer alternative for self-protection.

    However, it’s important to note that laser weapons are still in the developmental stage and face some limitations like power requirements, cooling systems, and atmospheric interference. They also pose potential ethical concerns, such as the risk of blinding individuals. Therefore, their deployment and integration into mainstream self-protection practices require further research, development, and regulatory frameworks.
    AI Generated ~ fully curated & edited by P. AItch

  2. John 2023-09-12 09:02

    Could the Black Hills be at “peak gun range”? Inquiring minds want to know!
    SDGFP gives no indication that it will eliminate or reduce funding to the other >12 gun ranges with 60-90 miles of its proposed ammosexual megaplex.

  3. jerry 2023-09-12 11:12

    Get the Red Sparrow, Maria Butina, to shake that money maker to the fellows in the SDGOP. Money will fall like spring rain. Ask Putin for the 5 million from his trust here. Yes, she could do that, and all would be well. trump would kiss NOem on the mouth, while the SDGOP would be eating gunpowder and shooting their mouths off.

  4. Phil 2023-09-12 11:17

    Maybe off topic, but if GFP wants to spend that kind of money, they should put it into the CSP airstrip instead of just shutting it down. It is an already existing, underutilized resource; which, with a little imaginative management, could be a popular flying and camping destination and source of cash flow. Maybe they’re hoping the Feds will improve it enough to get Air Force 2 in there for better access to Valhalla.

  5. LCJ 2023-09-12 11:18

    No wonder they can’t get donations.
    Bidenomics is taking a big chunk of money out of everyone’s pockets.
    None left for donations.

  6. Phil 2023-09-12 11:27

    Speaking of Valhalla, it’s about time it was returned to the people rather than being an exclusive private retreat for the state’s “elite.”

  7. larry kurtz 2023-09-12 11:37

    Trump states are underperforming, for sure.

  8. Marie 2023-09-12 11:58

    SD Gov. Noem doubles down on US/SD gun carnage with her $12 Million GFP gun palace.
    World outlier US gun deaths continue apace with over 48,000 gun deaths in 2022.
    SD gun deaths continue to rise–nearly doubling from 75 in 2010 to 141 in 2022.
    Once again, the elementary school children walking by my house to a new school year will experience “essential curriculum”—active shooter drills.
    A shameless legacy for US/SD children.

    US/SD Gun Deaths:
    2022
    https://www.thetrace.org/2023/07/gun-deaths-cdc-data-suicide-homicide/
    2020-2021
    https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/firearm_mortality/firearm.htm
    1999-2019
    https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/compareyears/329/total_number_of_gun_deaths

    https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/states/south-dakota/

  9. Arlo Blundt 2023-09-12 13:24

    Three quarters of a million seems like a good take of volunteer donations for a Gun Range being built and paid for by South Dakota government agencies. Why give money to the government?? If they need money, they will devise a tax to fund the project. It leads one to believe this “gun range” is over built. A “gun range” should not cost more than a K-12 school.

  10. PWK 2023-09-12 13:43

    God, guns and government. God oversees government, guns empower government and government implements the will of God (with guns).

  11. jerry 2023-09-12 14:08

    LCJ, stop doing cocaine and black tar heroin and you would have some walking around money to give to the cult. Come on man.

  12. grudznick 2023-09-12 15:13

    Mr. Phil, Valhalla is just fine. Stop being a hater.

    As for the airstrip, do you not remember when just a bit ago the Dept. of Camping tried to put a nice campground right by the airstrip for exactly what you suggest and all sorts of libbies got their panties all in a bunch.

  13. M 2023-09-12 16:56

    Thanks Marie for the comments.

    GF&Ps money is being spent on something less essential than what the infrastructure of the campgrounds need NOW in terms of modern electricity. Over the busy Labor Day weekend, Indian Creek experienced a meltdown due to outdated infrastructure that cannot handle the long 30-to-40-foot campers that have 2 or 3 air conditioners instead of one. The weekend was drastically hot, humid, yet dry. About 30 sites melted so those campers left on Sunday. I don’t know how many campgrounds three are in the state, but I was told most are in need of updating and repair. More important to more people than a gun range.

  14. Phil 2023-09-12 16:58

    Yes, Mr. Grudznick, I do remember the CG fiasco, the scale of which was magnitudes greater than what I propose. That I proposed anything was a half hearted preemptive compromise, anyway. Gradual decay can sometimes be a good thing, seems to be working for me, so far. I don’t hate Valhalla, lots of good hiking around there. In the old days common folk could even spend the night there.

  15. Mark B 2023-09-13 06:24

    Does the GFP’s RFP also stipulate the principal of the successful bid must have a surname starting with ‘N’ and ending with ‘OEM’ This would be the perfect job for one of her underemployed children

    Or maybe Noem already has the check lined up but needs to make sure her commission clears the State Accounting process with no legal issues? The RFP may be the way to ‘tidy the money up’ before hitting Noem’s bank account.

    Seen more possible VP national articles lately, as Big Lew and his former Insurrectionist Boss (Uncle RICO) are buddies again. One article pointed out her future roles outside of a Fox News talking head or Trump Admin might be as NRA president.

    If it truly is struggling, would truly be awesome to see this fade with her as she packs her bags for whatever National grift is next.

    A more practical issue if it truly isn’t going well is that if you are a big money out of state MAGA donor looking to set up a Taliban Training Camp for the next Civil War, the Redoubt in the NW Rockies may be the safer bet. The open spaces they are talking about and proximity to a federal military installation certainly disqualify it from any serious consideration. Maybe it is the recruiting station?

    I sound suspicious because I am. If we have learned anything from Kristi, it is that nobody gets paid until she gets paid.

  16. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2023-09-13 06:50

    Camping for airplanes? I don’t know, Phil—wouldn’t that be about as noisy as a gun range?

    But I suppose airplane noise might be less bothersome, since its a steady drone instead of sharp bangs. Plus planes are more fun to look at.

  17. e platypus onion 2023-09-13 09:40

    What, if any, connection does Cardboard Mike have to Rounds construction? There is a family of Rounds living where my favorite BIL grew up North and West of Peterson iowa. I wonder if…..

  18. Matthew k 2023-09-13 21:50

    Two months ago Robblins told my county commissioners they had between 1 or 2 million dollars raised. Lost a little money somehow or just another lie buy gfp!!! There is nobody holding them accountable. Also don’t forget the last bid was 19 million far cry from the 10 million they promoted.

  19. grudznick 2023-09-13 22:00

    The use of AI could save the GF&P millions and millions. Embedding an AI-driven system like grudznAIck in these dozers can include safety features like obstacle detection and collision avoidance to reduce the risk of accidents. grudznAIck can also help optimize equipment performance, fuel consumption, and work schedules, improving overall efficiency. The GF&P needs to invest a little research into grudznAIck. grudznAIck can analyze data related to the shooting range’s available space, safety regulations, and user preferences. It can process this data to generate potential layout options that maximize space usage and adhere to safety guidelines and can create 2D or 3D simulations of the shooting range, allowing planners to visualize different layouts. This can help assess the practicality and functionality of various designs. grudznAIck algorithms can optimize layouts based on specified parameters. For example, if the GF&P has constraints on the number and length of shooting lanes, grudznAIck can generate layouts that meet these requirements while ensuring efficient use of space. This would knock the price from $9M to $3M.

  20. Matthew k 2023-09-13 22:10

    You need to eat more biscuits and gravy because you are way to full of yourself Guz !!!

  21. jerry 2023-09-14 13:50

    Hunter Biden indicted on federal gun charge. Damn man, you can’t make this crap up. The 2nd amendment guys and gals will be all over this to defend Hunter. Bring out the NRA, bring out Dirty and the Red Sparrow. This is it. There gonna impeach Hunter Biden.

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