Future Of Recreational Shooting At Stake<BR>In The Arapaho And Roosevelt National Forests

The Forest Service recently announced that it will be examining the impacts of recreational shooting (but not hunting) in the Boulder Ranger District (BRD) of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.  This review is being conducted under the Urban Front Country Initiative that is taking place on national forests along Colorado's Front Range.

Concerns about public safety, natural resource damage and user-to-user conflicts are some of the reasons the BRD is launching an examination of recreational shooting.  It is likely to result in changes to regulations, which in the extreme could be an outright ban on recreational shooting.

The BRD is inviting the public to submit their thoughts, concerns, and issues on recreational shooting by May 19.  Please visit http://www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/ufcea.pdf to view the 4-page document that the Forest Service is distributing which lists the issues, the form for submitting your comments, and guidance on how to make your comments meaningful to the BRD.  Also, visit http://www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/brd042706.pdf to view the letter sent by the Forest Service.

Public meetings have been scheduled for:

1.  May 11, 2006
     6:00pm to 8:00pm
     Silver Creek High School
     4901 Nelson Road
     Longmont

2.  May 13, 2006
     10:00am to 12:00pm
     New Vista High School
     700 20th Street
     Boulder

3.  May 17, 2006
     6:00pm to 8:00pm
     New Vista High School
     700 20th Street
     Boulder

You are asked to call 303-541-2500 if you are planning to attend a meeting and let the BRD know which one for planning purposes.

The future of recreational shooting in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests will depend upon the kind of responses the BRD receives from the shooting community.  It is vitally important that shooters participate in this public planning process by submitting comments and attending at least one public meeting.