By Liam Verster

rifle and handgun ranges

Concerns over errant bullets leads to closure of Wapiti Shooters Club outdoor ranges

Jun 30, 2020 | 12:52 PM

Investigations into concerns and complaints of errant bullets found on neighbouring properties around the Wapiti Shooters Club has led to the closure of the outdoor rifle and handgun ranges.

Since 2003, the County of Grande Prairie has heard complaints from residents of the Dunes on 17 subdivision of rounds flying by overhead, being found on patios and on the Dunes Golf Course, striking houses and, in one case, a golfer.

Following a presentation to County Council in May of 2019, Council directed Stuart Rempel, the Manager of Regional Enforcement Services for the County, to conduct a Municipal Safety Review.

“During the review we looked at the various legislation, we looked at the distances of homes and recreation from the club. We spoke to [Occupational Health and Safety], RCMP, [and the] Chief Firearms Office.”

In the six months during the review, Rempel heard from many nearby residents, who gave unconfirmed reports of various incidents involving errant bullets.

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“The incidents were anecdotal and historical. The last instance that the residents brought forward was in May of 2019, when a bullet had struck a house, actually the same house that was struck in 2003, and caused some physical damage to the house itself.

“The golfer instance was brought forward, but the majority of what we heard and saw was found, spent errant bullets, that were picked up from decks, from patios, over the course of years from the golf course.”

He says there’s no concrete evidence to suggest the rounds came from the shooting ranges, as it’s nearly impossible to determine exactly where and when a shot was fired from and the trajectory it took so long after the fact.

In November of 2019, the review ended and Rempel reported that they couldn’t do anything further, and asked that the Chief Firearms Officer of Alberta be brought in to do an investigation. The County wrote a letter, and the Chief Firearms Officer agreed to investigate the incidents, and the club was ordered to temporarily close the outdoor ranges.

On May 26, 2020, following an investigation into these complaints and concerns, the Chief Firearms Officer ordered the permanent closure of the outdoor rifle and handgun ranges, and the Wapiti Shooters Club agreed to cease it’s outdoor operations.

A letter written to the County from the Chief Firearms Officer says they were not able to visit and meet with the range executive in person as planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions, but they did hold teleconference meetings.

The County was not involved in any of the conversations between the Wapiti Shooters Club range executive and the Chief Firearms Officer, and due to privacy reasons, no information regarding those conversations has been shared.

Neither the Chief Firearm Officer nor the Wapiti Shooters Club has responded to a request for comment.

A notice published on the Club’s website does say “Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Chief Firearms Officer of Alberta has directed Wapiti Shooters Club to cease all shooting activities on our outdoor rifle and handgun ranges. Shotgun and indoor handgun ranges, which includes handgun calibre rifles, will remain open.”

The County of Grande Prairie also released a public statement on the investigation Tuesday morning.

“The safety of our communities is a priority for the County. The County recognizes the outstanding cooperation of the many parties involved in this extensive investigation to work toward a resolution of this situation.”