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sjfcontrol wrote:
Seems to me that since it's the same Fire Marshal using the same M.O. to successfully shut down another range, commercial one this time, that the incident is relevant enough to qualify for a posting in this thread. (But feel free to report it to a moderator if you disagree.)

Enforcing fire codes on a business is not what was done here so no I don't think it's the same thing. I don't care what qualifies, I only responded because you posted with my comment.

TeXJ wrote:We feel as if our hands are tied, and to be able to have the income, the only income for my parents, coming in off of the land that we have to do as the FM says.

I can understand that. Heck it might be that discretion is the better part in this case and you shouldn't have the 20 people over shooting legal or not. I think tho his comments about your father in law and the threats to deny a permit on a totally separate issue cross the line and it may be worth having an off the record conversation with your County Commissioner or Judge. Maybe you can get it so he backs off a bit and you let him know that any gatherings will be much smaller.

sjfcontrol wrote: I wouldn't exactly say he hasn't done anything. Quoted from the other thread...

Which has nothing to do with this thread or this case

banshee wrote:I keep reading about this person, here and at other forums, what can be legally done about him and these allegations...

Part of the problem is the FM hasn't actually done anything yet. He is using threats of retaliation to keep the landowners inline.It's hard to take action against something that the FM hasn't actually done yet. But, in Texas the county Fire Marshal is appointed by the County Commissioners Court. They are his boss and elected officials. You can complain to them and even bring your complaints to the Commissioners court.

Reading post on another thread made me think back to this one. County fire marshals are appointed by the commissioners court. I'm assuming it's Jason Browning giving you the trouble. You might have a conversation with your county commissioner. Heck maybe you can't, well shouldn't, hold events but the idea you can't have your father in law over? Check in with the county judge. Holding you hostage seems a step to far.

The problem is, IIRC, the Fire Marshal doesn't appear to have any sense of right and wrong and might make things bad for TexJ's dad and not the VFW.

Last thing I will say. It seems easy for the fire Marshall to push around some guys who don't have the will or the money to fight back. My point is that wouldn't be the case with the VFW or some other org. If you get them in to take up the fight then you could step back. The idea that he would harass the VFW with bogus bull is absurd and while I realize that the Dallas suburbs are pushing in the county politics still should have that "small town" feel to them. The idea that some rich newcomer can steamroll long time residents should piss a lot of people off. That is the angle I would play. Spend a couple of bucks to get a letter written by some lawyer to the fire Marshall. Speak to the county judge. You do have a nice, or what with very little effort can be made very nice, range so use that to attract orgs that would help so they could have access to your range. Right now all I'm getting is he'll take the bullying because anything else is to much effort. If that is the case, and it's not my problem if it is, them why bother posting about it. Right now it's a "watch me get bullied and do nothing" thread.

TeXJ wrote:

EEllis wrote:I don't know what county you are in and the pop and distribution but try letting the VFW have some events out at your range. My local one has monthly turkey shoots and any fire marshal who screwed with them would be up the creek for sure. You have a pretty nice range and with just a little work it could be real nice.

This is just private land that we are trying to make it as safe as possible. At the moment, not sure what would happen if we had friends come over and shoot. I dont want anybody to get arrested over this.

I understand and that's my point. Just because it's private land shouldn't mean you can't allow the VFW to hold events there. At that point in time it would be the VFW's issue with the fire Marshell not yours and no one with any sense messes with the VFW.

I don't know what county you are in and the pop and distribution but try letting the VFW have some events out at your range. My local one has monthly turkey shoots and any fire marshal who screwed with them would be up the creek for sure. You have a pretty nice range and with just a little work it could be real nice.