A member prepares to use the indoor range at the Wapiti Shooters Club (photo by Liam Verster)

By Liam Verster

Rifle and Handgun Ranges

Wapiti Shooters Club won’t challenge closure of outdoor ranges, continue shotgun and indoor range operations

Jul 3, 2020 | 1:20 PM

The Wapiti Shooters Club says it will respect the order from the Chief Firearms Officer of Alberta, and permanently close the outdoor rifle and handgun ranges.

The order comes following a report from the County of Grande Prairie of errant rounds being found on neighbouring properties, including the Dunes Golf Course, and the Dunes on 17 residential neighbourhood. The reports also claim bullets, which cannot be definitively tied back to the range, have twice struck a house in the neighbourhood, once in 2003 and again in 2019. There was also a reported instance where a golfer was hit by a bullet.

President of the Wapiti Shooters Club, Paul Trommler, says in 2019, the County tasked the Regional Enforcement Officer to look into these claims, but he says they were mainly focused on the public’s complaints, and there was no consultation with the Shooters Club.

“First of all the County never came here. There was at some point back in December of last year to have the Regional Enforcement guys come out due to all stuff that’s happened, but they never came here. They never did an investigation here on this range.”

He says the County sent a letter to the Minister of Justice and the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO), of which the club did not get a copy until much later, when the CFO started their investigation. The club then immediately and voluntarily suspended use of the outdoor ranges.

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The Club and CFO held a few conference calls, and the CFO was supposed to come up and inspect the range, but the visit was cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions.

He adds that the range was last inspected and recertified in June 2019.

“So it was fairly recent, I don’t think [the CFO] coming up here would have changed anything. In fact, it wouldn’t have. With their new guidelines, the templates they have, the overlays were obvious to us that if there was something to leave the range, it could possibly impact in the safe zones.”

He adds that in the past, inspections of both ranges have exceeded the CFO’s recommendations.

Club Manager Lyle Bramley says they have a longstanding relationship with the CFO, and always have gone above and beyond what they’ve been asked to do.

Despite all that, Trommler says they’re satisfied with the CFO’s decision and, as of May 26, have permanently shut down the outdoor rifle and handgun ranges. He says they won’t try to challenge the order or fight the County over this decision.

“We’re not going to seek any legal retribution or any action of any kind. That’s not what we’re about. We understand the human encroachment, we understand that, and we’re just going to live with the decision and carry on with the shotgun range, and our indoor handgun range.”

Trommler does point out that, with the closure of the rifle ranges, there is now no place in the County of Grande Prairie to safely use a rifle.

The clay target shotgun range is the Club’s big fundraiser facility, where they host events to raise money for local charities and not-for-profits. Trommel says, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they haven’t had a chance to host any charity shoots this year, but a few are scheduled for later this year. Barring a second wave or more restrictions, he would like to see more events.

Handguns can be used in the indoor range, along with firearms that use handgun-calibre rounds, be it 9 mm, .22 or .44.

Even with the indoor and shotgun ranges still in operation, Trommler says the financial hit to the range will be significant. He says two-thirds of the clubs members used the outdoor ranges.

Bramley adds that they averaged 3,000 visits to the outdoor ranges every year, for the last 15 years.

They say prices for memberships and drop-ins will be see slight in the shotgun and indoor ranges to reflect the closures.