To the Editor:
The first Sunday of spring in the Similkameen doesn’t get any better than this! The sun is out, temperatures are warming, makes for a great day. People look forward to get outside and into their yards to do spring clean-up. Also to enjoying the sounds of spring after the long dark days of winter.
Unfortunately, if you happen to live and work anywhere near the Keremeos Cawston Sportsman Associations Club House, the sounds of spring are shattered by the sounds of gun shots. Not just a few shots, but shot after shot for hours. How considerate of their club to allow this to happen any day of the week and any day of the year. Funny thing is they don’t ever show up on a cold windy, rainy day.
When the KCSA approached land owners in the early 80’s they neglected to mention they would continue to expand the shooting range to accommodate larger calibre firearms. When the targets they shoot at are further than the houses of neighbouring properties, that’s the problem.
Small calibre rifles are tolerable, but when members shoot rifles that are large enough to blow the head off any animal known to man it is a bit ridiculous. Why should people who own property, pay taxes (unlike the KCSA who are exempt from taxes for some reason) have to put up with this constant disturbance from a group of people who think they have the right to do so.
What about the rights of residents who live and work here, who deserve to be able to enjoy the solitude of this beautiful valley.
I don’t argue the fact that KCSA members should be able to shoot firearms in a safe and controlled environment. What I do argue is, it does not belong where people reside and have to put up with the constant, unbearable gunshot noise.
Jim Bauer, Cawston
