Thanks for this.

counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov

I will submit testimony. Is there requirements such as an address, phone number, etc.?

Not that I know of, but it might be useful to at least indicate that you and/or people you know would definitely use the range if it existed, even if you don't live on the Big Island.

Not that I know of, but it might be useful to at least indicate that you and/or people you know would definitely use the range if it existed, even if you don't live on the Big Island.

I don't live there now but I will be moving there when I retire. I'll just put my BI address on there any way. Couldn't hurt.

Thanks again!

I guess the "World Class Range" at Puuanahulu has dried up and blown away??
Aloha

Stueb's Guns & Ammo just sent out a 'reminder' text message on this (for those BI folks who subscribe to their text alerts on sales and deals at their shop).  Get your testimony submitted by 1:00pm today.  I'll copy the text message here (i'm sure they won't mind since we're all in this cause together).

There will be a County Council committee meeting Tuesday, August 1st at 1:00 pm to discuss building a public shooting range in Hawaii County. Please be there to show your support!  If you are unable to attend, please take five minutes out of your day to send an email to counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov  in support of the range.  Put something like "support for public shooting range" as your subject.  Emails must be sent by 1pm today, July 31.


I sent my testimony in. I hope that address gets inundated with all of our support emails! 

Sent in my support. I hope it helps.

If I send in support can I get some free range time with my own reloads? Draw from holster? Rabid shooting?

If I send in support can I get some free range time with my own reloads? Draw from holster? Rabid shooting?

"Rapid", very likely. "Rabid", maybe not, depending... 

If I send in support can I get some free range time with my own reloads? Draw from holster? Rabid shooting?

If you buy the "Platinum" plan you can use your reloads. Other wise if you buy the "Bronze" or "Gold" plans you have to buy your reloads from me and sign a waiver promising not to use them in your guns nor hold me liable if you do. Make sense? You can draw a holster with the crayons you get in the "Gold" plan but not with the crayons you get with the other plans. You are only allowed to draw guns with the crayons from the other plans. And if you see a "Rabid" running around the range you can shoot it no matter which plan you purchase. Okay?

And when you come down to pay make sure you bring your letter of support for the range for a free minute of range time. 

Thanks to everyone who submitted testimony. Now we need to do it again for the full Council meeting on the 16th (testimony must be submitted by noon on the 15th). Might as well do it now, right?

Email to counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov with "Support Shooting Range" and/or "Res. 17-246" in the subject line.

At least none of the Council members appeared to be opposed to generating a report about a hypothetical range. That's a good start. No idea where they think they'd get the money from if it ever gets to the point of approving it and the funding for it, as they can't even repair the buses for the public transportation sector. But I'd rather have an official legal shooting range rather than public transportation. We don't need no stinkin' buses! 

http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/council-panel-advances-gun-range-measure

Council panel advances gun range measure

HILO — A study of locations for one or more shooting ranges was advanced Tuesday by a County Council panel that voted unanimously to endorse the concept and support a working group to create a report.

The county currently has no shooting range, forcing gun educators, enthusiasts and those who must train on guns for their jobs, to either fly to another island, seek permission from a private landowner or take their chances illegally shooting targets in hunting areas regulated by the state.

More than two dozen testifiers, and another 143 letter writers, were overwhelmingly in support. They included law enforcement, shooting instructors, land owners, youth activities counselors and hunters.

“We’ve heard loud and clear from our constituency,” said Kohala Councilman Tim Richards, sponsor of the bill.

The county Game Management Advisory Commission would be the point group for the study, drawing information from public and private sector individuals, Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy, cosponsor of the bill, told the Committee on Public Works and Parks and Recreation.

“As long as it’s legal to bear arms, (a shooting range) needs to be provided,” said Commission Chairwoman Naniloa Pogline.

Resolution 246 does not specify any particular area for a shooting range, but a handful of Waikoloa residents testified against putting one near them.

Great news! 

Hope this progresses from concept study to reality. 

Thanks to everyone who submitted testimony. Now we need to do it again for the full Council meeting on the 16th (testimony must be submitted by noon on the 15th). Might as well do it now, right?

Email to counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov with "Support Shooting Range" and/or "Res. 17-246" in the subject line.

Great news indeed! I have submitted my testimony already this morning. 

That is some progress!  I submitted another round of testimony. 

The range resolution:  http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/0/doc/936221/Page1.aspx

Well, at least it's progress on paper. Note at least one council person's "concern" that no public money be spent on the range. Isn't that magnanimous of her to allow the citizens to have a shooting range that they pay for themselves out of their own pockets? Now that's what I call "public service"... because she doesn't support any other "wasteful" uses of public money here on the Big Island... 

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/county-council-approves-gun-ranges-big-island

County Council approves gun ranges for the Big Island

The county Game Management Advisory Commission is shooting for a quick solution to the lack of gun ranges on the island.

A unanimous County Council vote Wednesday on Resolution 246 gave the commission the go-ahead to begin the process of locating potential sites, finding funding and putting together public and private partners. Commission Chairman Tom Lodge said after the meeting the process is already in the works.

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

* * * * *
Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara had some concerns about cost and liability.

She voted in favor of the resolution.

“I fully support a public shooting range; I just want to be careful that it doesn’t become a county shooting range,” O’Hara said.

Well, at least it's progress on paper. Note at least one council person's "concern" that no public money be spent on the range. Isn't that magnanimous of her to allow the citizens to have a shooting range that they pay for themselves out of their own pockets? Now that's what I call "public service"... because she doesn't support any other "wasteful" uses of public money here on the Big Island... 

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/county-council-approves-gun-ranges-big-island

County Council approves gun ranges for the Big Island

The county Game Management Advisory Commission is shooting for a quick solution to the lack of gun ranges on the island.

A unanimous County Council vote Wednesday on Resolution 246 gave the commission the go-ahead to begin the process of locating potential sites, finding funding and putting together public and private partners. Commission Chairman Tom Lodge said after the meeting the process is already in the works.

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

* * * * *
Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara had some concerns about cost and liability.

She voted in favor of the resolution.

“I fully support a public shooting range; I just want to be careful that it doesn’t become a county shooting range,” O’Hara said.

Wouldn't the "Public vs. Private" range question depend on the location?  County land would require they build and maintain it, but private land would be up to the land owner to find ways to finance it.

Wouldn't the "Public vs. Private" range question depend on the location?  County land would require they build and maintain it, but private land would be up to the land owner to find ways to finance it.

exactly...  this is confusing..  so they want total say and control of it, but don't want to chip in to pay for it???  SMH

August 2017
One step closer to a range!
Check out the article.
I know, I know... 10 years from now... But here's to hoping for something positive

http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/county-council-approves-gun-ranges-big-island

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This is a good start, but there is a long way to go especially when it comes to funding.  The Barbers Point shooting range also passed the council but got no where.  Need to continue to grow support for the range.

Different ways to fund the range.  Trend is toward self sufficiency through fees and private partnerships with the county providing the land.  County will have to fund at least part of the range since they'll need it for their employees.

This thread is really getting my hopes up that a range could be a reality within my lifetime. If they broke ground tomorrow I would immediately sell my house and move.

However, I know better.   

This is a good start, but there is a long way to go especially when it comes to funding.  The Barbers Point shooting range also passed the council but got no where.  Need to continue to grow support for the range.

Different ways to fund the range.  Trend is toward self sufficiency through fees and private partnerships with the county providing the land.  County will have to fund at least part of the range since they'll need it for their employees.

There is the Pittman-Roberts act which " Funds may also be used for the development and operations of archery and shooting range facilities."
States that use this federal funding get up to 75% of the cost of the range as a grant
"Grant funds are disbursed to states for approved grants up to 75% of the project costs and insular areas up to 100% of the project costs."

https://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/grantprograms/HunterEd/HE.htm

no idea what Hawaii does with this funding.  I cant seem to find anything about it on the hawaii.gov website

The NRA has funding for ranges as well
https://rangeservices.nra.org/funding-grants/