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Wayne Stephens has alerted VCDL to a scheme being hatched by the Culpeper Board of Supervisors. We need to act to put a stop to their proposed shenanigans.

Even if you don't live in Culpeper, you should keep an eye on this situation as your county could be next. It serves as a reminder to those who live in rural areas and think that their right to shoot on their own property won't be taken away.

Before you can shoot on your own property, Culpeper wants you to have 20 acres minimum! And hunters, you better hold on to your hats! No slugs and nothing more powerful than a .22 LR!

No one is immune from this kind of thing. But we can, and will, fight back.

I won't be able to attend the Rules Committee meeting mentioned below on May 10th, but those who can do so should. I would like to attend their Board of Supervisors meeting, which should be on June 7th (first Tuesday) at 7 PM. But first, things first, we need to see what happens at the Rules Committee meeting. Your emails and calls could nip this in the bud.

Here is Wayne's email:

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Culpeper County - Proposed Anti-Hunting, Anti-Shooting Statute

The Rules Committee of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors is proposing legislation to ban the shooting of guns on most property in Culpeper County. This proposed law also bans the use of most hunting weapons throughout the County. Low-lights of this legislation include:

1) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot any gun on any piece of property in the County containing less than twenty acres. 2) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt with a shotgun loaded with slugs. 3) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt with a firearm having muzzle energy greater than a .22 caliber rimfire cartridge.

If you live in Culpeper County (or if you like to shoot or hunt in Culpeper County) please contact each member of the Board of Supervisors and express your opposition to these proposed restrictions on your rights. Contact information for each member of the County Board of Supervisors is available at http://www.culpepercounty.gov/BOS/index.asp. The next meeting of the Rules Committee is currently scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2005. Please remember to be polite in demeanor but firm in conviction when talking to any politician.

Culpeper County resident Wayne Stephens is trying to organize opposition to the proposed statute. He may be reached via e-mail at jwstephens@earthlink.net, or by telephone in the evenings at (540) 937-5568.

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You can email the Board members using this address:

supervisors@culpepercounty.gov

Suggested email:

Subject: Oppose changes to shooting range/hunting ordinances

Dear Culpeper Board of Supervisors member,

Please oppose changes to the County's ordinances that would reduce the amount of land necessary for a person to discharge a firearm. One of the great freedoms in America is the right for someone in a rural area to be able to shoot responsibly on their own land. Someone can safely shoot on a couple of acres and a nice rifle range can be setup on property that is less than 10 acres.

Please oppose changes to the County's hunting ordinances. A gun that has a muzzle energy of a .22 caliber rimfire is only usable against small animals, such as squirrels and rabbits. In fact, by state law, a deer cannot be hunted in Virginia with a .22 caliber firearm at all! Shotgun slugs provide a quick and humane way to hunt deer and should not be banned.

It is critical that we preserve our American rights and heritage. I ask that you oppose these unnecessary anti-gun/anti-hunting measures.

Please let me know what you are going to do.

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]

You can also reach the County Administrator, Frank Rossio at 540-727-3427.

Thanks to Wayne Stephens, Mary Ann Bowersock, Greg Taylor, and others for the contents of this email.