St. Johns man won't dismantle gun range ahead of Leaded Tea Party

[Hazcat]

St. Johns wanted it closed; he's planning a big Labor Day event.

    * By Dan Scanlan
    * Story updated at 10:42 AM on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009

Richard Willich was told to dismantle by today an illegal outdoor firing range that he wanted open during a free Labor Day weekend "Leaded Tea Party."

But it still stands.

And while mediation may result in a temporary permit to allow the firing range for the Sept. 5 event only, Willich said it won't matter.

Permit or not, he said, the gun range remains. He said he's had so much e-mail and telephone support for the event - free gun range use and all - that he still plans to have it open.

"They have not rescinded the notice to remove the range, and I am not going to do that," Willich said. "It's on my land and anyone can come, Democrats or Republicans."

St. Johns County spokeswoman Karen Pan said the county has laid out what Willich needs to do "to ensure they can hold the event, and we have no reason to believe they won't do that."

And Willich said he is a "cooperative individual" who filled out a temporary permit so firing range use remains part of the party at MDI's 30-acre office site off Nocatee Parkway. Pan said the County Commission would have to approve any request for the gun range to become permanent.

Willich is chairman of the Florida Advisory Board of Americans for Prosperity, a grass-roots group espousing tax relief and fiscal conservatism, though the event is not tied to the group. He is also president of MDI Holdings, which offers health care and medical billing services.

He said anyone who comes to the Labor Day weekend event can speak out on any issue as they celebrate the right to assemble. That includes use of the firing range, with off-duty police officers and veterans on hand to ensure safety rules are followed as visitors enjoy a live band, free food and horse rides for children.

But when county officials learned of the event, inspectors scoped out the 8-month-old range, used by MDI security officers for gun certification and training, Willich said.

The inspection resulted in an Aug. 11 warning, citing Willich for operating a firing range without permits and telling him to remove targets and its earthen berm within seven days.

Willich placed security officers at his business entrance to keep inspectors off property, adding this isn't "a local code issue. It's a Bill of Rights issue."

Willich's Leaded Tea Party is not part of the agenda of Americans For Prosperity, which has 500,000 national members (18,000 in Florida), according to its Web site, said its Florida director, Adam Gillette. He said what members do on their time is "their individual decision."

"We don't get involved in gun rights issues and are strictly a fiscal organization," Gillette said.

The tea party kicks off at 11 a.m. Sept. 5. Licensed gun owners may bring unloaded locked weapons. No alcohol is allowed.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-08-18/story/st_johns_man_wont_dismantle_gun_range_ahead_of_leaded_tea_party

Comments at link

[tt11758]

You going, Haz?

[fightingquaker13]

What's the beef with his range? Environmental stuff, zoning, lack of permits? It just seems weird as Fl. is pretty gun friendly, but does have a lot of yankees that go all weak in the knees at the thought of gunfire. I'm just curious.
FQ13

[Hazcat]

You going, Haz?

Bit far for me.

[tt11758]

Bit far for me.

Sorry, like most Americans, I'm ignorant of the geography of states other than my own.  How far is it?

[Sponsor]

[Hazcat]

couple of hundred miles

[tt11758]

couple of hundred miles

That is kind of a haul.  Farther for me, of course. 

[tombogan03884]

 Probably a zoning issue. But I know from experience that those can be fought at least in the case of Gravel pits. If it has been functioning for 8 months with out the town bitching it's a little late to start now, it will be expensive but he can beat it. Friend of my Dads bought a working Gravel pit , but some of the local selectmen didn't like him so they passed an ordinance banning Gravel pits. It took him 10 years but he beat it on 2 items, first, he bought it as a WORKING pit before the ordinance was passed, so was protected by grandfather clause in State law, second, town ordinances, such as zoning regulations do not have the force of law under the Constitution, The State legislature are the only ones who have the power to make actual enforceable laws.

[Hazcat]

That is kind of a haul.  Farther for me, of course. 

Especially as the AC in my truck took a dump!

[mudman]

BUMMER no ac