Murder Raises Concerns About Shooting Range Safety
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Updated: 1:39 PM Jul 11, 2008
Murder Raises Concerns About Shooting Range Safety
In the wake of the Rev. Mark McCalla's murder at a Wayne County shooting range, some officials want tighter security at West Virginia's 28 state-run shooting ranges.
Posted: 8:26 AM Jul 11, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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WAYNE, W.Va. (AP) - In the wake of the Rev. Mark McCalla's murder at a Wayne County shooting range, some officials want tighter security at West Virginia's 28 state-run shooting ranges.

McCalla was killed in June at the Beech Fork Wildlife Management Area, which is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and has no daily oversight.

Wayne County Sheriff David Pennington wants to see range hours limited to daytime.

Kem Shaw, a wildlife manager for the state Division of Natural Resources, which operates the Beech Fork site, said the murder is the only incident of its kind in the range's 12-year history.

Shaw said DNR will make more patrols in the area.
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Latest Comments

Posted by: Brian on Jul 11, 2008 at 11:56 PM

The Beech Fork range does need to be supervised. I used to go to the range because of having no place else to shoot. That was until I was there one day with my son shooting. A group of rowdy individuals came to the range. I told them we were going downrange to hang some new targets. This is for safety of all shooters. Normally a person of any intelligence lays thier weapon down with the chamber or bolt open while people are down range. Not these dirtbags. No sooner had I started downrange I see out of the corner of my eye a pumpkin rolling out onto the range and immediatly after they began shooting at it with me nearly in the line of fire. My son and I quickly left and we have never returned. If there was supervision at the range incidents like this could be avoided. I have drievn through the camp ground many times and seen many park rangers. Could they not put one of these people at the range? I agree it should be closed at dusk. that would make it easier to cover employee wise
Posted by: joe on Jul 11, 2008 at 11:30 PM

I guess since there are drunk drivers out there we need to ban cars and roads. Ignorant liberals.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 11, 2008 at 04:30 PM

It's a shame a person can't feel safe going to the range to target shoot for recreation. My husband used to go on a regular basis until this happened. He quit going out of respect for my fears I think more than anything else. He isn't a criminal, nor an avid hunter, or in a militia. He has guns stictly for target practice, and protection of our home. I don't understand it, but it somehow relaxes him. I'm sure there are plenty of men out there that would agree with that. For some, they only want to shut places like this down. It's unfair to think all those that have guns are up to no good. The majority that have them are hard working law abiding citizens that want to use their guns for hunting, recreation, and protection. Read the constitution. It's our right. As we live in a heavily populated area, shooting on our property isn't an option. Are there private ranges in the Huntington area? What are the membership fees? Who do we contact to join? I want my husband to do what he enjoys
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