The main project and fundraiser for the club is our exceedingly fine gun range by Thunder Lake. We just went through the requirements and expensive and total upgrades last summer that was set up by the Chief Firearms Office Of Alberta when they did their five year range inspection. We passed with flying colors and the comment was made that the range is well laid out and very well maintained. This club operates on an annual operating budget of about $55,000. It is operated like a business with full financial accountability annually to the Alberta Registries, as we are registered as a non-profit organization. Here in lies the problem. We are operated by your executive, a total volunteer group. A group of members that really want to see this club go forward, but are dwindling in numbers.
If for whatever reason, our executive cannot operate as required by Alberta Registries, and the club is shut down, THE GUN RANGE IS ALSO SHUT DOWN. Your club is required to keep a land reclamation fund in order to reclaim the site back to nature when we are finished with the site.
RAMIFICATIONS, should this happen.
1: All restricted gun owners will have to find another club asap to join as required by law. A large number of restricted gunowners, do not keep their club membership up annually as required by the current law. This is a bit of a grey area right now as I understand it. IF, for whatever reason, the authorities question your gun ownership, it is up to the officer on your case to decide to give you time to rejoin your club or confiscate the guns in question. IMMEDIATELY.
2: The government could take over the range for their own training facility. General public excluded.
The rest is sheer speculation. Your executive is going to go over this potential problem at our next meeting on March 25 at our meeting room in the Godberson room at 7:00 PM, next to the swimming facility. I’m not kidding, things are getting serious, basically for lack of help. If you come out and help, we may be able to save this club. Hope to see you there—-Joe