Rifle use shot down in CC

Angry deer hunters stormed out of last night’s (Tuesday) Board of Supervisors meeting in Charles City after board members voted 2-1 to rescind the county’s two-year-old law allowing high power rifle use.

A public hearing on rifle hunting options drew close to 100 spectators with rifle proponents slightly outnumbering those opposed. Of the 15 people who spoke, rifle supporters held better than a 2-to-1 margin.

But in the end, District 2 Supervisor Sherri Bowman and District 3 representative Timothy Cotman remained steadfast in opposing rifle use, casting board chairman Gilbert Smith into the minority. Bowman’s motion to prohibit rifles passed after an earlier motion by Cotman to amend the existing law to outlaw rifle fire within 1,000 feet of an occupied dwelling, except by the owner’s permission, and limit rifle use to the final week of deer season failed.

Reading from a prepared statement, Bowman told the crowd she had listened to both sides objectively, but found most of her constituents oppose rifle use. Cotman said accidents occurring with rifle fire are twice as likely to end in fatalities.

“I’m not against hunting,” he told the crowd. “I’d be kicked out of my family if I were so that’s not the issue at all.”

He added that neighboring localities, with exception of Henrico and James City counties, do not permit rifles during general deer season.

Smith, meanwhile, said he continues to support the measure adopted in 2005 that permits rifle use, but only from elevated tree stands at least 10 feet in height. In the two deer seasons since, there have been no injuries or rifle-related incidents in Charles City.

“The facts show it’s safe,” he said.

But those opposed won the shootout. Afterward, county resident Almeda Tyler, a vocal opponent, said she was pleased with the board’s vote.

During the public hearing, Tyler took aim hunters, telling them if they want to fire rifles, they should travel to the mountains.

“Bullets can go five miles,” she said. “If it doesn’t hit a deer, it will hit something else.

“Let’s undo what you’ve done, and let’s do it right,” she told the board. “[Rifle use] is not right for Charles City.”

Elbert Parker, another county resident in opposition, brought along a visual aid– a piece of house siding covered in vinyl.

“Your children could be shot dead in your house watching TV because this is all that protects them,” he said, displaying the siding to the crowd before passing it on to board members.

Rifle supporters, meanwhile, urged supervisors to base their vote on facts and not be swayed by hysteria.

“It doesn’t make any sense why we’re here tonight,” rifle proponent Charles Schreiber said. “There’s a greater chance of getting killed going to church than by a rifle.”

Most supporters requested that the law remain on the books, including John Robbins, a National Rifle Association representative from Fairfax. Others were more impassioned with their pleas.

“Please don’t take this away from us,” county resident John Reed implored. “It took a long time for us to get it.”

As disappointed hunters filed out of the auditorium, Robbins said there is no recourse for the NRA in response to supervisors’ vote.

“I feel they made a bad decision, and I don’t see any benefit to it,” he said. “Safety information was presented thoroughly to the board, and we don’t see any safety problem here.

“I think the voters will decide what the recourse is,” he said.

Others rifle enthusiasts apparently were thinking along the same line, including county resident David Adams.

“It ain’t over,” Adams said. “There will be an election.”