KINGSTON – Opponents to a proposed indoor gun range in Midtown Kingston
may have shot themselves in the foot Tuesday night. Attempts to cite several
public safety laws, painting the Safe Shoot facility as a potential threat
to local school children, kept backfiring.
The latest citation, a federal statute called Gun-Free School Zones Act
of 1990, prohibits gun possession and discharge within 1000 feet of a
school. The law however contains an exception for “private property
not part of school grounds.”
Under the federal statute, Safe Shoot can be considered a private school,
offering gun training programs through state and federally certified instructors.
As such, Safe Shoot is protected by its own school zone, rather than subjected
to the “zone” of Kingston High School.
The Kingston City School District (KCDS) Board of Education has officially
opposed Safe Shoot’s proximity to their KHS campus. The federal
school safety zone statute was raised Tuesday night during public comment
by school board member James Shaughnessy.
The Kingston Common Council is considering changes to an unrelated 1978
ordinance banning gun discharges within city limits, allowing several
exceptions for indoor gun ranges, veteran honor guards, and historic re-enactments.
Killed in committee last month, the matter went to the floor Tuesday night
where aldermen promptly sent it back to committee.
Supporters and opponents of the range both favor re-considering the amendment.
Advocates seek a loophole, while naysayers wish the idea to die or disappear.
Meanwhile, a local activist group has gotten involved, lobbying against
amending the law – not as paid professional lobbyists, but voluntarily
on behalf of a neighborhood cause.
KINGSTONCITIZENS.ORG, a website describing itself as “A nonpartisan,
citizen-run organization,” focused upon “increasing citizen
engagement in local government,” posted online a series of talking
points in opposition to Safe Shoot’s local business proposal.
In a section titled Not Fear, Just the Facts, a page dedicated to opposing
Kingston’s indoor gun range states “Regardless of how we have
been portrayed, this platform does not take personal positions on issues.
We simply point out the law and process, and in light of which, make recommendations
based on both.”
However, the group is known to pack public meetings with commentators
on local controversies, parroting the talking points listed on their website,
extending the time spent deliberating by public officials up to 1-3 hours
per night.
Last year, KINGSTON CITIZENS was instrumental in shutting down a proposed
water bottling plant at the city’s reservoir, by forcing a public
referendum through public pressure. More recently, the group has taken
an aggressive stance against the Pilgrim Pipeline proposal. Key members
comprised a vanguard which recently swept the city’s mayoral election.
Lately, KINGSTON CITIZENS has turned its eye upon Safe Shoot. “…Ward
5 Alderman (and Majority Leader) Bill Carey is quoted as saying ‘I
think the fear is unfounded’ regarding the location of the shooting
range and gun shop being proposed for Prince Street in Midtown Kingston.
This point of view should be challenged,” writes KINGSTON CITIZENS,
on a recent page addressing the gun range.
Suggested talking points focused on the issue of proximity of the gun
range to Kingston High School, plus other Midtown youth facilities including
the YMCA, and Andy Murphy Community Center. The page suggests citing the
Board of Ed’s opposition, based on proximity to the school as an
example, among others, including alleged decreases in property values.
Dr. Adam Sawyer, owner of safe Shoot, blasted the proximity argument,
noting the City of Yonkers in nearby Westchester County owns an indoor
gun range located close to a playground and nursery school. Sawyer added
reference to another gun range in Woodhaven, Queens which sits across
the street from an athletic complex and a series of high schools.
“Proximity issues have never been shown to be statistically significant,
with a safe regulated indoor gun range” Sawyer said. He emphasized
the difference between indoor and outdoor gun ranges, particularly regarding
property devaluation. “I wouldn’t buy a house next to an outdoor
range, for that matter,” Sawyer acknowledged.
In another concession, Sawyer said that relocating the facility over to
Albany Avenue would personally be more convenient, with walking distance
to his own home. That neighborhood isn’t commercially zoned, and
he owns no suitable property there. Many opponents stated acceptance of
the gun range in principle, satisfied seeing Safe Shoot set up shop elsewhere
in town.
Expressing solidarity with local veterans groups, Sawyer apologized for
any difficulty his business application poses to the tradition of military
rifle salutes, performed at funerals and holiday events. The 1978 ordinance
technically bans such activities, although its provisions had never before
been enforced. “If I’m the cause of that, I’m sorry,”
Sawyer said.
The veteran’s 21-gun salutes, fired from the front lawn of City
Hall, profoundly affects aldermen’s interpretation of the 1978 ordinance.
Memorial Day honor guards, a political sacred cow, poses a silver bullet
against the city’s unenforced shooting ban. 4th ward Alderman Nina
Dawson stated at Monday’s caucus that disrespecting veterans is
unthinkable. The Law and Rules Committee will next discuss the gun range
on May 17 at City Hall, Conference Room #1, at 7p.m.
