Long-time rod and gun club shares thoughts on shooting range
The Western News | UPDATED 2 weeks, 1 day AGO
To whom it may concern,
I have been a member of the Libby Rod and Gun Club for many years. As I think back to what the range was 50 years ago, there is no comparison.
The Libby range would not be what it is today if not for the hard work of several Rod and Gun Club members. These members wanted to improve the range for the benefit and safety of the shooters in Libby.
After much work and many grants, the range has become a first class shooting complex. The investment in clay target equipment is large. The Scatterguns maintain this equipment by donating many hours of their time.
Mike Cirian and other members should be especially commended for their work and dedication to the youth shooting program. I don’t shoot trap anymore but maintain my membership in the Scatterguns. This I do because they maintain and keep the clay target shooting facility in great shape.
I don’t know anything about the Big Sky Trap Association. The BSTA must not have contributed anything to the range or I would know something about what they have done.
The range is open to the public. Like many things in life there are rules that need to be followed. These rules are necessary to help maintain the range and protect the shooters who use it.
Many people use the range who do not belong to the Rod and Gun Club or the Scatterguns. Because it is public, the public users are reaping the benefits of the hard work of the members. I think it would be hard to find a range of this quality where any person can go and shoot. By following a few simple rules and still not paying a range fee, anyone can enjoy the range,
It is disheartening to think that after all these years of hard work a group is trying to destroy it. Perhaps it is human nature, but every time something good develops someone tries to tear it down.
My dealings with Mike Cirian have been nothing but positive. Mike and several other members should be thanked by the shooting public!
They have contributed many hours of time and work to maintain and improve the range. Special notice and thanks should also be given for their dedication and support of the youth shooting program.
Sincerely,
D. Nelson Bland, Libby