singlestacksig
Master
There is a large political effort to protect our gun ownership rights, but I think sometimes people over look the issue of ranges.
As shooters we need to make sure there are good ranges for our use, our children , and for new shooters to learn the fun of shooting sports.
large complexe ranges that offer many types of shooting are rare and very expensive.
A public owned range is nice because it is "cheap" and you generally do not have the hassle of having to deal with membership..
we have to keep our public ranges open and funded. Even if a member of a 'private' range , one should make a trip to a public range a few times a year so the state knows they are being used.
Also we should try to stay abreast on funding issues for the up keep & staffing of public ranges.
A private , membership required, range is probably when one would find the best in a range experience.
there are several types of them;
the fully private for profit range usally operated by a gun store.
A non profit club.
and a not legaly formed group ....
The private for profit range is probably the most expensive to operate , and the most threatened with being shut down.. But since they are subject to lots of market forces it is hard to do much other than try to keep income going to them.
Most larger outdoor clubs that i have been involved with are not for profit corporations that you become a part owner when you join.
these can be the 1 member 1 vote type, or the share type ( more shares you purchase the more votes you have)
Besides all the extrnal threats to the existance of the range, a lot of not for profit corporations fall apart do to bad government. ( internal not state)
Members do not attend meetings, the same person hold a office for years and get tired of it..
poor funding leads to problems with up keep....
and so on...
If you are a member of a NFP club try to go to meetings a few times a year, consider serving on the board once a decade..
A large amount of income for clubs like this comes from events, IDPA - trap - USPS and so on, try to get out and help with events , even if you don't shoot that type.. you are helping to keep the range open...
consider financial gifts.. if the club is a 503c corporation you can give $ and deduct it on you taxes..
even if it is not a 503c they probably could use a little extra ....
if we don't keep the clubs open & healthy , they might not be there next year....
As shooters we need to make sure there are good ranges for our use, our children , and for new shooters to learn the fun of shooting sports.
large complexe ranges that offer many types of shooting are rare and very expensive.
A public owned range is nice because it is "cheap" and you generally do not have the hassle of having to deal with membership..
we have to keep our public ranges open and funded. Even if a member of a 'private' range , one should make a trip to a public range a few times a year so the state knows they are being used.
Also we should try to stay abreast on funding issues for the up keep & staffing of public ranges.
A private , membership required, range is probably when one would find the best in a range experience.
there are several types of them;
the fully private for profit range usally operated by a gun store.
A non profit club.
and a not legaly formed group ....
The private for profit range is probably the most expensive to operate , and the most threatened with being shut down.. But since they are subject to lots of market forces it is hard to do much other than try to keep income going to them.
Most larger outdoor clubs that i have been involved with are not for profit corporations that you become a part owner when you join.
these can be the 1 member 1 vote type, or the share type ( more shares you purchase the more votes you have)
Besides all the extrnal threats to the existance of the range, a lot of not for profit corporations fall apart do to bad government. ( internal not state)
Members do not attend meetings, the same person hold a office for years and get tired of it..
poor funding leads to problems with up keep....
and so on...
If you are a member of a NFP club try to go to meetings a few times a year, consider serving on the board once a decade..
A large amount of income for clubs like this comes from events, IDPA - trap - USPS and so on, try to get out and help with events , even if you don't shoot that type.. you are helping to keep the range open...
consider financial gifts.. if the club is a 503c corporation you can give $ and deduct it on you taxes..
even if it is not a 503c they probably could use a little extra ....
if we don't keep the clubs open & healthy , they might not be there next year....
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