Whitehorse Daily Star

Some ‘seriously opposed’ to rifle range expansion

The Yukon Handgun Association has taken its first steps in applying to extend the lease of its existing handgun shooting range in the Ibex Valley Hamlet.

By Aimee O'Connor on May 20, 2015

The Yukon Handgun Association has taken its first steps in applying to extend the lease of its existing handgun shooting range in the Ibex Valley Hamlet.

The extension applied for includes a 1,000-metre long-gun range and an archery range.

According to the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources’ (EMR’s) land management branch, the association’s application was received a couple of days ago.

The lease application has begun an initial review, which could take a couple of months to process.

Residents of the Ibex Valley Hamlet will be receiving a mailout in the coming weeks, providing them the opportunity to comment on the application.

According to EMR Minister Scott Kent, the association has been operating its handgun shooting range on the leased land in the Ibex Valley since 1986.

NDP MLA Kevin Barr raised concerns about the association’s intent to extend its activities at both last week’s and yesterday’s question period in the legislature.

Barr quoted a letter from a constituent in Lake Laberge stating, “We are seriously opposed to the proposal for a 1,000-metre rifle range expansion in our residential area in the Ibex Valley.”

“This range isn’t like the one on Grey Mountain Road, where it is already generally isolated from accidental public interaction,” Barr said last Wednesday.

“This one is on the Alaska Highway, and is surrounded by private homes, high-traffic tourism destinations and other private spaces.”

Along with the proposed extension’s proximity to private land that is downhill from the firing line, Barr noted that local residents are concerned about more noise and the size of the berm at the end of the range; that is, whether it would provide enough safety.

When processing the application, the land management branch told the Star, it will simply be determining whether the land is applicable and zoned properly for an extension – and it’s up to the federal government to decide whether the range is a viable option.

In addition to the opportunity for public comment that will be provided in the coming weeks, the application is expected to trigger a Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act review.

The Ibex Valley Local Advisory Council could not be reached for comment on residents’ concerns about the gun range extension.

Comments (6)

Up 18 Down 5

yeesh on May 26, 2015 at 3:04 pm

Yeesh - unless it is traffic circles and creating more bike and walking lanes then everyone else is screwed. When will the common folk get it there are idiots everywhere and all activities have them in their group. That said, if areas are not allowed to expand or service the interest group then guess what laws and rules will be broken. In this case if the extension is not approved then rifles will be used elsewhere and not always in safe places. Kind of like ATV's, snowmobiles, dirtbikes, the more pressure put on the groups the more they simply will stop following the rules because they are not going to stop their recreation.
BTW I am very tempted to start a webpage similar to S&*t parkers of Yukon but call it simply s&8t bikers/dogwalkers, cyclists of the Yukon. I am so sick of the greenies whining about everything, getting bike lanes, paths designated only for their use, parks designated and expanded for their use and other activities being pushed out. I am also sick of said bikers, walkers, dog owners not following rules of the road, leashes, picking up their dog droppings etc. Please realize we have space for everyone and find a way to allow organized groups to exercise their choice of recreation.

Up 6 Down 8

Josey Wales on May 25, 2015 at 11:38 pm

Hey Cpt.Obvious...I "used to be" a member of YHA, "used to"...that said.
Your premise has accuracy to it, just more drop than illustrated.
Those "responsible" folks you spoke of? Yes indeed there are many there, guess what?
Where you get groups of humans, you get groups of those that just do not get it.
Yup...YHA has them too. Hence me and others cleaning up shite left behind after a good day of "responsible" shooting. Cuz didn't ya know the responsible adults always lets others clean up after their day of..."responsible" shooting.

I sense opposition to this has more to do with ever popular "NIMBYism" and add a touch of "anti-gunners" who dare not share the wilds of the forests with no one diametric to their often (but not always) AGPOV.

Good luck with your range, the NDP are now involved...you'll need it.

Up 24 Down 4

June Jackson on May 22, 2015 at 1:35 pm

Lots of room in Whistle Bend...

Up 38 Down 7

Capn Obvious on May 21, 2015 at 3:30 pm

If the locals realize how responsible the club members are that go to restricted ranges, there would be less opposition.
Better to have a well-planned and well-built range than have yahoos shooting down your property lines at cans.

A 1000yd range would end up with a lot of support from the RESPONSIBLE folks who pay to get insured and visit it... it's the people who can't visit them that you have to worry about.

Up 9 Down 16

Concerned resident on May 21, 2015 at 3:13 pm

Wow, I'm very concerned that the explosives magazines has been approved "another Yukoner". Lots of residents and the hamlet council all voiced opposition to it. I really hope it hasn't been approved.

Up 18 Down 4

Another Yukoner on May 20, 2015 at 10:36 pm

If you follow the land branch website, it looks like LMB just approved a zoning change to accommodate an explosives magazine on one of Dev Hurlburts agriculture parcels in the Ibex......hmmm......hopefully someone is paying attention!

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