This contraption's days are numbered, even if the NRA has its way.
Here were four days later and what a difference kinetic marketing and handful of determined and outraged people can make. Here in Saint Petersburg, if you've not been able to keep up, a 21 year old has built a 4 foot eroding and crumbling cube of sand and wooden pallets, backstopped by a vinyl fence and homes. You know, where people live. And literally less than 20' away? My friend's side fence in their backyard where lots of kids climb trees, play in any of the three tree houses, swing on ropes, chase frogs and otherwise play like kids do, or did until the "gun range" was, er, constructed.
Yesterday was seminal though, as the miraculous has happened since this story has gone viral, making its way to New York (I interviewed with the New York Daily News) and California. Yesterday, local leaders from BOTH parties have weighed in with public statements.
None have been more bold than Democratic Mayor Kriseman, who said as reported in the Tampa Bay Times today,
"It's a ridiculous situation, and we are going to put a stop to it,'' Kriseman said. "If it's not reckless and negligent to have a gun range in the middle of all these houses, then I don't know the definition of those words.
"… If they want to sue us, then let them sue us. My No. 1 job is public safety … and those residents are not safe right now.''
And while you might have expected that from a Democratic mayor,
this might surprise you:
Even Second Amendment enthusiasts are calling the man’s impromptu range a bad idea. Republican State Senator Jeff Brandes issued a statement Monday calling it “inappropriate” and “dangerous.” And NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer told the Tampa Bay Times “Shooting ranges don’t belong in dense residential neighborhoods.”
Senator Brandes has been particularly strong in his opposition to this, perhaps because he is a combat veteran. As fellow neighbors, we appreciate his efforts and now that he is learning (from the local Republican Sheriff) that there are more of these things in this area he wants them gone too. He'll find 100% of his colleagues across the aisle in agreement. I am hopeful he'll forward or at least co-sign onto a bill in the Florida State senate.
This morning I put up the petition, and it seems to be taking off rather nicely. Your help would, well, help, so please share and tweet the URL http://tinyurl.com/... with the tag #frontyardgunrange:
Expressly prohibit by law the creation or use of outdoor gun ranges in all land zones primarily for residential use and within 500 feet from any occupied dwelling, including off hours when residents or employees may not be present.
We think this is a VERY, VERY modest request, and now that the NRA has stated its clear opinion that this insanity has no place in residential neighborhoods all political barriers have been smashed, giving legislators who care about human life the opportunity to take the ambiguity out of the current law.
State representative Darryl Rouson said he'll be entering a bill in the coming session. May he find many willing co-signers. We'll be watching here, and hopefully making a trip up to the state house to share our concerns as parents and neighbors.
Meanwhile, we are keeping up the pressure. Local activists continue to agitate and spread the word. Our civic association president continues to wage battle. And, I just finished another television interview, this time with Bay News 9, a leading cable channel here owned by a cable company people actually really like, Brighthouse.
Thank you dear DKosians for all your support so far.
11:39 AM PT: Next up: I am considering drafting a public and certified letter to every home insurer in the state, informing them of the potentially disastrous costs resulting from liability claims and lawsuits due to the looseness of this law. I will link them to every respective story in the state I can find.
While sanity may be winning, now is the time to push even harder so we can get this moved to the top of the Florida legislative priorities in the upcoming session.
6:30 PM PT: Later today, young Mr. Carannante painted the target bright green. I'm years away from my old classes in the physical sciences, but I'm fairly certain green spray paint does not add ballistic strength, nor magically attract bullets to ensure he does not miss the 4' square compost-like heap -- the only thing preventing that bullet from entering the back wall of the other neighbor's home just 60 feet or so on the other side of the fence. I heard this evening the woman and her child have moved out temporarily. I have not met this neighbor, but am told she just bought this home.