The Sierra Sentinel understands Sheriff Kuntz' position of not wanting to police an illegal gun range with extreme problems, as he stated in his email.
Also see "How Does Sheriff Kuntz feel about Candy Rock?"
For many years, there has been an ongoing and often bitter and yes, violent battle between the people who like to shoot for free at the Candy Rock illegal gun range, aimed at local residents in Hathaway Pines, who only want peace and quiet in their own homes.
Because of the USFS, what has happened is that instead of joining a reputable gun club, where there is supervision and safety, some are allowed to use this illegal shooting range as a place to drink and shoot for free.
Shooting towards homes, continual noise, trespassing, drinking, trash and threats of violence from certain extremist gun people has gone uncontrolled for way too long.
This has never been about whether people should have the right to bear arms or to target practice in a safe place. But we must agree with Sheriff Kuntz; something must be done!
This has come about due to certain USFS employees developing Candy Rock as a shooting range and actually continuing to send more and more people down there; essentially advertising the illegal range.
These USFS employees, it is now believed, not only are close buddies with the people who shoot, but used USFS money to develop the site so that they too would have a place to shoot close to their own homes.
Residents believe that these same employees have told residents who want to report these problems to call them. Then absolutely nothing happens.
Residents have said that it may take hours, and sometimes even days for anyone to show up, and the Sheriff stopped answering calls like these long ago.
We are aware that residents have moved away in fear, due to the physical threats of violence, which this paper is well aware of from certain criminal individuals, some of whom are alcoholics, etc.
What a shame that people can't even live in the forest in peace and that the forest service should be responsible for this fact.
There was a study released, done by an independent group, that outlined most of these problems, but nothing has been done.
When the Sierra Sentinel has raised questions, we have been either given bull or told they NEVER plan to shut down that illegal shooting range. We have emails to that effect.
Now, with the problems escalating and the Calaveras Sheriff's Office stating publicly that he is no longer interested in being a policeman for an illegal shooting range, will anything change?
We will be following this closely to see if Sheriff Kuntz follows through and does something for the PEOPLE! We are only too aware of what he has done for the shooters!!!
Does he plan to run for re-election? Who does he represent. Many residents in Ebbetts Pass do not feel represented by this Sheriff!!
21 comments:
I commend the Sierra Sentinel for having the guts to speak out about the situation at Candy Rock quarry. The local shooters who use this shooting range know they are ruining the peace and quiet for miles around, where people are trying to live their lives. The local shooters hide behind their cries about their second amendment rights. The Sierra Sentinel has it right: this has nothing to do with second amendment rights. It is about the rights of honest, hard working, tax paying citizens who can no longer live in their homes because of the obnoxious noise made by rude and inconsiderate fellow community members who feel their desire to blast away their guns less than 1/3 of a mile from homes is more important than showing any respect for their neighbors. What about the residents' rights to reasonable use of their homes and properties?
And so much for the Forest Service wanting to be "good forest neighbors."
When will Sheriff Kuntz and the USFS show the courage the Sierra Sentinel has and stand up for the rights of our community members who have had their lives ruined?
I thought the forest service was doing some sort of study to decide what to do wtih the shooting range. I haven't heard one word about when they are going to finish the study.
type into search candy rock quarry neutral assessment report and then download it. it wasn't good.
You keep mentioning "illegal" shooting range. As far as I am aware, it is entirely legal to target shoot on USFS property. What is the part that makes this site illegal? If it is a Federal law regarding USFS property that is not being observed, then the Sheriff is not tasked to enforce it. Also, yes, there is one gun club in Angels Camp that has a range for members to use, but membership there is limited and there is a long waiting list. The facilities are not big enough to support more members.
The people causing the trouble don't want a "legal" place to shoot. They want a place like this with no rules, that costs nothing. They could start a gun club with rules and find a piece of land somewhere. It's the few bad apples that have made everyone dislike the shooters as a whole, and no one will police them. Why the forest service allows this to go on and on and on is beyond me. No one has respect for USFS anymore as a direct result of this insanity.
Nice to see some real journalism being done instead of the stuff we usually see in most local papers that just scratches the surface or reproduces the "company" line. It is a shame that some people think their freedoms are so much more important than the freedoms of their neighbors.
Even experienced law enforcement officers recognize the dangers of a firing range so close to a populated area. Some of these officers have seen firsthand the destruction of lives and property because of senseless acts and unintended consequences. So, readers may wonder why the Stanislaus FS turns a blind eye to the very serious problems which have arisen as a result of the illegal shooting at Candy Rock. An investigative reporter might find it enlightening and worthwhile to research this. An investigative reporter might also look into the relationship between the FS and the NRA. It is no secret that the NRA has an enormous impact on how the FS manages the forest as the NRA heavily lobbies the USFS.
Across the nation there are more than 150 prominent organizations with anti gun policies of some nature. They are no friends of the NRA. You’ll recognize some of them: In my search I found no associations relevant to the United States Forest Service listed. This should tell you something.
(partial list) AARP, AFL-CIO, American Civil Liberties Union, American Medical Association, American Federation of Teachers, American Alliance for Rights and Responsibilities, American Bar Association, American Association for World Health, American Firearms Association, American Public Health Association, Gray Panthers, League of Women Voters (US), National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers, National Association of Counties, National Parks and Conservation Association, National Parent and Teachers Association, Police Foundation, United States Conference of Mayors, The US YMCA and over a dozen religious and medical groups.
There is no doubt in my mind and those of many others I’ve spoken with that the Stanislaus Forest Service has been grossly negligent. It is NOT legal to have an established shooting range on Federal land. The Stanislaus FS has tried to get around this by claiming the quarry is not a designated site. They are wrong. They have allowed it to become a designated site with no professional supervision or quantity control at all. At most they have allowed the fox to guard the hen house, and the foxes do not play by the rules. This has been documented. The Stanislaus FS has stalled closing down the quarry for over 3.5 years. In this time three families have been forced to move as a result of threats from irrational shooters, potential danger from bullets, and nerve wracking shooting noise including some from illegal automatic rifles and explosions that penetrated the walls and windows of their homes.
While it is true that "dispersed" target shooting is allowed on Federal lands, the shooting range at Candy Rock is just that; a shooting range. It is unsupervised and there are many documented incidents of automatic weapon fire, explosions, shooting in the direction of residential areas and shooting very close to Candy Rock Road. It is not only a safety issue for the poor innocents trying to drive down Candy Rock Rd minding their own business. There should be some sort of supervision or overseeing that safe shooting is occuring there. The USFS does not have the resources to enforce these safety measures. The awful noise from gunshots disturbs and distresses those seeking quiet recreation and those living around the area and reverberates down the canyon. The last I heard the Forest Service was not in the shooting range business, nor do they know how to manage one effectively. This is no place to have a shooting range. It was recommended to the Forest Service to locate a safe place for target shooters to shoot elsewhere in the Stanislaus National Forest, away from homes. It is a huge forest, why have a shooting range so close to people's homes?
As long as the Forest Service is in bed with the NRA, it is in the shooting business. Originally our Federal forests were supposed to be public land for the use of the general public,managed by the government (we pay taxes to do this)with the "belief" (not necessarily the intention) that habitat--trees, wild life, etc could be somewhat preserved for future generations. As in all things, a lot of money corrupts. And with the FS the highest bidder gets the biggest hunk. Without the public screaming and petitioning (aka suing) the FS, much more of our forests would be sold off and destroyed than you see today. National forest timber has been sold at a ridiculously low price to other countries though the FS worked this so it doesn't look like this is what happened. The timber companies, the NRA, the off road organizations and gun and vehicle manufacturers all have lobbied the FS with very big bucks. That's only part of the problem.
The other part is with a few exceptions, the FS has become a lousy manager. That doesn't mean public lands should be privatized! If that were to happen the situation would only worsen as corporations are out there to make money, not to provide "free" recreation for the general public, or preserve watershed, flora, and fauna.
Your complaint that the Forestry Service does a "lousy job" at managing seems to be that they do provide a place for free recreation to the public, but it is not recreation that you approve of. Hunting, fishing, shooting and off-road vehicles are recreational activities that many people appreciate.
You are welcome to your activities, don't deprive others of theirs.
Well, the difference is that this particular shooting range that was built by USFS employees, deprives the people who have to live their from their right to peace and quiet.
Whatever you choice of recreation, you do not have the right to deprive others of their right to peace in their own homes.
Also, the amount of crime that goes on at Candy Rock is allowed by the USFS. WHY!!!
I just read Yellowstone in the Crosshairs on your site. Maybe the problem is bad management. You know the US Forest Service used to have the respect of everyone. Now its just who lobbies to get development in their parks. Even illegal gun ranges without any supervision, right next to people's homes. Disgusting.
Some facts are important to the discussion. The range was established years ago. What, 30-40 yrs? The purpose was to provide one place to shoot to discourage indiscriminate shooting. Further accommodations were made recently restricting hours and no shooting on Sunday. The range is currently closed.
It seems that the only "cooperation" that will appease some is no shooting at all.
Don't blame the FS or Sheriff. It is the will of the people!
The will of what people. Do you mean the death threats that a certain representative of the shooters uses to scare people into being quiet.
The Sheriff doesn't arrest the criminals if they are friends of his, and the upper management seems to be indifferent to what really goes on. they pay too much attention to their underlings, who are personal friends and shooters themselves.
Rather than telling established citizens they should move their activities with a multi-million dollar investment, why don't you move? There is a lot of forest out there.
Think of the heartburn it will save you and there are millions of trees out there that have yet to be hugged even once!
As has been stated above, this area has been used for shooting for 30+ years. So, maybe those that are happy to buy a home that borders Forest Service property think about all the activities that take place (and have taken place) on the public land for decades. For example, if you are stupid enough to buy a cheap home near the airport...don't complain that the airplanes make too much noise for you to live in your house (which happens all the time)! I know, your real estate agent told you that your property bordered the forest, so it was like having your own park next door, and nobody would bother you! Well, that is PUBLIC land, and those shooters pay just as much in taxes as you do, so they to have a right to use "their" public land! I'm not a shooter, not do I hunt...but I do pay taxes and expect to use my public land when I want to.
You don't get it. Just because you CAN do something in the National Forest doesn't mean you can shoot near homes right next to the forest. The right to quiet and safety of residents has to matter to someone. Everyone knows the people who shoot don't give a **** about anyone else. Its life the off road vehicles. Yes, you CAN ride them, but not just anywhere!!
Who doesn't get it?
An established community has developed a variety of activities over the years. For the past forty years that community has a designated shooting sports location. Off road vehicles have long been a part of any mountain community, and this one no exception. All perfectly legal, btw.
And you move in and are demanding that the community change to accommodate you?
It is quite clear who doesn't get it!!
I'll bet you are the newcomer. Our families have been here since the goldrush and in ebbetts pass since just after WWII.
Ignorant comments not allowed on this site, I thought!
I am a new resident. A regular visitor for the past 45 years and decided to move up about a year ago to enjoy the shooting sports and off road activities that so many others enjoy.
Name calling is not necessary.
Just got done shooting up there yesterday
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