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Two and a half years later, the gun range has been zoned commercial and is safe from encroachment as long as it operates as such.

http://www.galvnews.com/story/168582" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

G-Ma wrote:She said wouldn't it be great if the developer would work with the Gun Range to build it up and make the development's theme around the Gun Range. There are so many golfing communities and a smattering of flying communities, but have you ever heard of a Shooting Community? Wouldn't that be a great place to live, where you could walk down the block and shoot your gun, then walk home ... just blocks and minutes away!

That's brilliant.

I wouldn't personally move there because I never want to move again. But If I were looking to move, a place like that would be very attractive.

- Jim

Letters to the editor published Jan.1:

It’s The Big Guy Crushing The Little Guy — Again

I see Mayor Jerry Shults’ actions in trying to get a small-business man to sell his land to a developer as an assault to the rights of small business and legal gun owners and enthusiasts.

His actions present a serious threat to property ownership and Second Amendment freedoms. It’s the big guy crushing the little guy once again.

The Department of Public Safety list of concealed handgun licenses shows 414 licenses issued in League City in 2007, up from 298 in fiscal 2006 — far above the single digits reported for most other zip codes and highest in the state. Why?

Obtaining a concealed handgun license is expensive, time-consuming and inconvenient. It requires rigorous background checks, fingerprinting and no criminal record. Why would so many residents go to so much trouble?

Could it be that League City has become a Sanctuary City, thanks to elected officials with misplaced loyalties to developers because of their campaign contributions?

The unprecedented issuance of 414 licenses indicates citizens no longer feel safe in League City.

So here’s my question: League City has more gun license holders per capita than any other ZIP code, so wouldn’t we want to keep an established business that allows gun owners to maintain their skills, thus enhancing public safety?

There is power in numbers, and the ZIP code information shows that gun owners have the power in League City.

Wonder if Mayor Shults knows this? Or is he just so arrogant that he doesn’t care?

Shirley Hendrickson
League City

It’s Time To Put League City Back On Track

I noticed that Mayor Jerry Shults (The Daily News, Dec. 29) failed to answer any of the questions posed by The Daily News.

Why is it that he will only respond in a letter to the editor?

The mayor states the basis of the report was that he received a contribution from (developer) Sam Boyd “a few years ago.� Yet the mayor never states that he has a house and property in central Texas near Mr. Boyd as well. Omission of fact?

When you put all the coincidental deals going on in the city for the developers and contributors — the big picture appears.

The trash contract, the bridge in Glen Cove, the gun range, a new water line ($6.3 million) for Tuscan Lakes as well as $20 million in amenities in the form of a park in front of the subdivision to help sell their homes. The list goes on.

Add the forced resignation of the police chief and the lack of a process in selecting a new one, as well as the selection of a police officer who has no experience as a city administrator and you have the mayor’s city administration.

It’s time to put League City back on track.

Chris Mallios
League City

Gun range story a case of shotgun reporting

By Jerry Shults
Special to The Daily News

Published December 29, 2007
Being the mayor of any city is never easy but it seems that, in League City, we make politics into a blood sport — one based on rumor, innuendo and, quite frankly, openly sensational, albeit, inaccurate reporting.

Recently The Galveston County Daily News ran a story that began, “Records show that top city officials spent at least seven months discussing how to shut down a gun range,� and indicated that this was part of a “conspiracy� to help a developer. This entire story was simply hogwash.

What was the basis of this allegation? That, a few years ago, the developer contributed to my campaign.

I state categorically — there has never been and there never will be a quid pro quo for a campaign contribution. Not now, not ever.

These are the facts, for those who are interested.

The city is examining the issue of the gun range only from a zoning perspective.

Ernest Randall approached the city to discuss the possibility of rezoning the property for future use as a mobile-home park. It was during this process that it came to the attention of the city that he may have already lost his grandfather status and may be illegally operating a gun range in a residential zone.

City staff advised Randall and his attorney that they need to produce documentation that will allow the gun range to continue to be grandfathered or request a zoning change to a classification that will permit the gun range.

When the range was built in an unpopulated area, it had all of the necessary permits, licenses and insurances. It operated within the boundaries of all existing laws.

Years later, as the land around the gun range became populated and zoning was instituted, the rules changed.

During a period of time the mayor, city staff and the city attorney met with the range owner and surrounding landowners to evaluate all existing options.

A gun range may have been safe 30 years ago, but growth creates change, whether we acknowledge it or not.

Our goal at the meetings was to see if we could work together to keep the range under existing laws without jeopardizing public safety. That is it — nothing more. Meetings of this substance take place routinely at City Hall — after all, that is what we are there for.

Why are we doing this? We are doing this for one reason and one reason only — public safety. We want to make sure that the gun range can legally and safely stay in business and, at the same time, follow all laws and requirements.

We want to balance the property owner’s rights with the rights of our residents. A populated area may not be the best place for a gun range to be located.

If we did nothing, what would happen? We would still be attacked. Why? What if a child in a new neighborhood next to the range was killed accidentally by a stray bullet?

The Daily News would surely print a series of articles showing that the League City government had ignored a potential safety issue because we had been “bought� by the owner of the gun range and ignored zoning laws.

So what is the story?

The city government, in an open fashion, has been working with Randall to see if the range can continue to operate under existing laws and increasing population density in the area.

That is it — no more and no less.

Then, why is this a story? Maybe it is because a councilman who lives in Victory Lakes and who opposed all commercial development in Victory Lakes now supports a gun range in the middle of someone else’s neighborhood.

I cannot help but wonder if the same level of support would be forthcoming if the gun range were located in a Victory Lakes neighborhood.

I do not know the answer to those questions but I know that I was elected to be a leader and to take heat. I am willing to do that. But I am not willing to be the center of stories and issues that are simply not true.

Jerry Shults is the mayor of League City.

G-Ma wrote:seamus and rbraughn, if we lose in LC, it will set a precedent for making it easier to "take" GALV.

Good point. I'm sorry I can't be there, because there's an important meeting of the Galveston Rifle and Pistol Club at exactly the same time (6 p.m. on the 8th).

I urge anyone who can attend the League City council meeting to do so. City councils find standing-room-only meetings very intimidating. Also write letters to the editor of the Galveston County Daily News (letters@galvnews.com).

- Jim

rbraughn wrote:Not meaning to hi-jack this thread, but I've been wondering when Galveston will try the same thing with our Range?

It seems in Galveston they can think about only one thing at a time, and the Marquette development has them tied in knots.

I don't doubt that sooner or later the attempt will be made, and if we can't stuff the city council chamber with protesters, we deserve it (the club has over 1,000 members).

For those who don't know, the Galveston Rifle and Pistol Club is on a very desirable parcel of land with a lake view.

- Jim

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-ont2.htm

- Jim

G-Ma wrote:Fine. But will you join me?

I have no standing in League City. I don't live there. I'll certainly help with research or drafting remarks.

One comment that popped into my head is that the right to keep and bear arms is not too useful if you can't practice legally anywhere in the city. It's also an inconvenience for hunters who will have to travel somewhere else to sight in their rifles.

- Jim

I'm impressed.

- Jim

LarryH wrote:If I thought I could do so without going into "rant and rave" mode, I'd sign up for my five minutes to address the council at their next public meeting.

If you write up your remarks in advance and rehearse them, you might be able to pull it off.

A few residents showing up at a city council meeting have a huge effect. City councils like to get things done on the QT. They are allergic to controversy.

- Jim

According to the Galveston County Daily News, the League City council paid an attorney $6,000 to find ways to shut down a shooting range. The range has been in operation for more than 30 years. It was originally outside the city limits, but has been annexed. A developer has shown interest in the land.

This range is one of two public ranges in Galveston County. There are two membership clubs and a range in the Coast Guard facility on Galveston Island, which is not open to the public.

I find it very interesting that the newspaper (which is not a wholehearted supporter of the RKBA) could not find a single resident to complain about the range.

http://news.galvestondailynews.com/stor ... ed91b2d80f

- Jim