FAA cracks down on local gun range near airport - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

FAA cracks down on local gun range near airport

By: Christine Souders

csouders@cbs4qc.com

A cease fire in Davenport.

This, after the Feds decided to ban a local hunting club from shooting guns, and club members are fighting to keep the range going.

The Isaak Walton League has been on the Davenport Municipal Airport's property for 60 years, but now the Federal Aviation Administration is enforcing an already existing rule banning gun ranges near airports.

Shooting instructor Gary Madsen said the airport commission notified him last week the hunting club could renew their lease, but they would have to stop shooting guns, "For this to happen 60 years later and with that range next door, we don't understand it at all."

Madsen said banning the use of firearms there means Izaak Walton League could no longer continue their nature's kids program, which teaches gun safety and conservation.

"It's near to my heart because I can see the young kids, I'll be 72, I've seen the young kids grow up in our Natures' Kids Program, and now their kids are coming out here."

The club's lease expires on Thursday, and at Wednesday's council meeting the club fought for survival.

The city's attorney will ask airport officials Thursday for a 90 day extension on the hunting club's lease with no open fire on the range.

In that time, the hunting club hopes to find a way to continue the program at the range.

"I understand that's been going on for a long time, the simple answer is we never got caught by the FAA until now," said Bill Edmond, 2nd Ward Alderman.

And city leaders we talked to said even though they would hate to see the program go, the city can't risk it.

"Most everything we do there at the airport is funded 90% by the FAA and the city only needs to pay 10%, so we can't jeopardize that."

The police department also has a gun range near the airport, and the city attorney told council members the FAA does not want gun ranges near the airport period, and are only tolerating the police shooting range for the time being.