(11-20-2006) Leadership and members of the National Capital Skeet and Trap, Inc, (NCST) facility in Montgomery County ask for your help in their desperate attempt to re-open.
As we have previously reported, the facility was closed temporarily because of a lawsuit over lead, filed by Riverkeepers. (Most counts in that suit have since been dropped, and the remaining count is in the process of settling, following arbitration.) The club has long since reoriented its shotgun fields and sought permission of the state to resume operation, something which is not proscribed by the litigation, but at this time the state (the property owner) is still withholding its permission. Bureaucracy and politics have gotten in the way of this group resuming operations.
NCST is going to the top, and asks for as many letters as possible from supporters to be sent to the Governor of Maryland, asking for him to do the right thing. A sample letter is listed below. (Our view: This is an opportunity for the GOP to show what it is made of in Maryland before its unsuccessful candidates go softly into the night following bruising November elections. We suspect we already know the answer to that question but we remain ever hopeful, and are happy to support the NCST effort however we can.)
(Put your Return Address Here)
(Current Date)
Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
Office of the Governor
100 State Circle
Annapolis , Maryland 21401-1925
Re: Request to Re-Open National Capital Skeet and Trap, Inc.
Dear Governor Ehrlich,
This letter requests that you immediately take whatever steps are necessary to re-open National Capital Skeet and Trap Club, Inc.
National Capital is one of the oldest shooting facilities in the state and is the only public shooting facility in Montgomery County . Since 1954, National Capital has continued to provide a shooting club which is open to the public and provides recreational benefit to a broad cross section of Maryland citizens.
Since October, 2003, representatives of your administration have continually assured NCSTC that a shooting sports facility at this location was important to them and that your administration fully supported reopening the shooting range. However, to date, nothing has been done, despite the fact that NCSTC has cooperated in every way possible and has complied with every request made of them by the State of Maryland .
Governor Ehrlich, the time to reopen NCSTC is now. The election is over and the opportunity to take action without political concerns is at hand. Insofar as the club sits on State of Maryland property, the authority to reopen this club is unilaterally within your power. All it takes is your direction to do so. The shooting and hunting community in Maryland has steadfastly supported you through two election cycles and has show commitment to the Republican Party. Now it is your turn to show your commitment to this loyal constituency by immediately taking executive action to reopen National Capital Skeet and Trap Club. Please, let your actions show that you honor the second amendment rights plank of the Republican platform and value the support you have been given by the shooting sports community in Maryland , the Free State .
Please don't let the closing of this club be your legacy.
Respectfully,
Supporter - National Capital Skeet and Trap, Inc.