doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com O/T Marine Corp. Shuts Miramar Trap and Skeet

Many of you may know that my home club is San Diego Shotgun Sports (formerly Miramar T&S). This wonderful gun club has operated under a lease with the US Navy and then the Marines for over 30 years. We had trap, skeet,five stand,sporting,Olympic bunker, and Olympic skeet. Our lease was up for renewal this coming December. Apparently, there were questions brought up about lead. Well, it was just announced:

"At the direction of the United States Marine Corps, SAN DIEGO Shotgun Sports has ceased shooting activities until further notice.

SDSSA President Robert Keefe is preparing a statement to be posted on the web site regarding this matter."

http://www.trapshooters.com/cfpages/sthread.cfm?threadid=167286&Messages=5

So, now the Marine Corp. is shutting down shooting ranges. Ranges in existence for 30 years??!! What in heck is going on???

RCC

They are more worried about gay marriages and clean needles etc... Things have flipped upside down, wholesome things like shooting are made to be "BAD" it is BULL SHIT.

TIM

As a Marine of ole I can say that the Corps needs to get back to shooting and leave the computers alone. No Marines on the oylmpic shooting team or winning any big events of late.Gone from every Marine a rifleman to computer wizard.I will say that some how they still kick serious butt in the sand

I'm a bit of a romantic as you on this, Will. Remember the lesson of Sergeant York? A rifleman was worth at least a platoon. It seems there's little premium on that prowess from Canada's current experience in the sand. Encountering the improving marksmanship of the Taliban, we call in air. A result is hatred of foreigners and Afghanistan now negotiating for peace with the Taliban.

If it's any consolation, the Navy shut down the trap/skeet range at Oceana NAS in Va Beach two years ago for unstated reasons. It reopened this Spring, albeit smaller, but the ranges were updated and new ranges are planned. It should be better than ever. It seems there were security concerns that were solved with a bigger fence. Maybe the same is true for Miramar. Contact your Congressman(person) and express your concern.

We too had a trap and skeet facility closed by government, but there is no mistaking the motivation. The Gila River Indian Tribal Government closed the Red Mountain Trap and Skeet Range which has been providing sport shooting (along with its predecessor range which burned down) for more than the 30 years I have been here in Tempe. Range was basically all that was available on the east side of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa for skeet and trap. The motivation? They didn't need it anymore since we gave them a monopoly on gambling in the resort area of Scottsdale/Tempe which brings in enough money to meet all their needs.

Welcome to the club. They also shut down the most beautiful place I've ever shot skeet.............the club at Marine Corps Air Station-Kaneohe on Oahu several years ago. A shame!

FROM THE CLUB WEBSITE:

At the direction of the United States Marine Corps, SAN DIEGO Shotgun Sports has ceased shooting activities until further notice. SDSSA President Robert Keefe is preparing a statement to be posted on this site regarding this matter. In the course of our lease discussions with MCAS Miramar, lead shot was found outside our lease area. Based on those findings, SAN DIEGO Shotgun Sports Association has been ordered by MCAS Miramar to immediately cease all shooting activities until we submit a plan to assure that SDSSA use of the property is in accordance with our lease. We are actively pursuing all avenues to address and correct this problem of lead outside our lease area. Although all shooting activities have been ordered to cease, our gates are still open. SDSSA would like to apologize for the interruption of a popular sport that our membership, active and retired military and other guests enjoy .

Robert Keefe , President SAN DIEGO Shotgun Sports Association

I was the President of this club in 1991-4. This "environmental" issue is not new. The fence which is defined by the lease has always been a bit unrealistic. As well, shooters are using hotter loads, especially the sporting clays shooters. Yes there is lead from the range beyond the fences there.

Point is, the range has been in use for over 30 years. It is not near any housing or businesses. It is not causing any problems. It is important to the community and, did I mention, it is on a military base. Military personal can shoot for free. That's right, free. The lead outside the "lease" has been there for many years (though no doubt it is being added to). Any "environmental damage" is long since done and is not getting any worse.

The marines shut down a shooting range?? They don't want their soldiers to be able to shoot trap, skeet, sporting and other clays, for FREE!!? Are you kidding me? Anybody know a general?