Big Isle gun range plan moves forward

Hawaii County will work to establish public gun ranges on the island after a unanimous vote Wednesday by the County Council.

Approval Wednesday of Resolution 246 gave the Game Management Advisory Commission permission to begin locating potential sites, finding funding and putting together public and private partners, West Hawaii Today reported.

“This is a community effort, so the community is going to be involved in this in a big way,” Commission Chairman Tom Lodge said. “There’s a real need and an urgency that we certainly understand.”

Kohala Councilman Tim Richards, co-sponsor of the resolution along with Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy, said he offered the legislation after hearing from many constituents, including law enforcement officials, about the need for a place to shoot. An outdoor range would provide a location to teach people how to handle guns, to give enthusiasts a place to practice and to hold tournaments, he said.

More than 100 letters of support for the plan were submitted.

Sherrie Cronkite, testifying Wednesday from Hilo, said knowing how to handle a gun is important for protection, especially for women. Her children learned how to shoot on the mainland, and she was disappointed when she moved back to the Big Island and found out there aren’t any shooting ranges.

“It’s a time for us to teach our children the proper way to do this,” Cronkite said. “There’s no place for them to practice but the backyard, and the backyard is not a safe place.”

The only dissenter Wednesday was Alex Achmat, who worried about lead contamination and lawsuits against the county.

“The path the Council’s embarking on is going to load us up for endless liability,” Achmat said.

The resolution charges the working group led by the game commission with determining the type of shooting venues desired, for example rifle, pistol, shotgun, air gun, archery or other shooting sports. The group will also determine basic infrastructure, such as how much land would be needed, and create a list and description of shooting venues desired, along with the required infrastructure and the priority of construction.