Posted on 06/13/2009 6:15:34 AM PDT by riverrunner
MONROE, Wash. -- Special federal agents are investigating a local gun range suspected of serving as a militia training camp, according to court documents. Owner Jim Faire says he can't afford to run a background check on every visitor because his outdoor gun range is a nonprofit business. As a result, he said, county officials and the FBI have begun cracking down on the range after a convicted felon was caught with guns and drugs there.
With thousands of shells littered across the ground, the gun range is now closed. Neighbors are glad to have the quiet, but they never suspected anything criminal was going on.
"There is no threat. And I am not worried about terrorism or any type of radical thing," said neighbor Arne Viklund.
Faire said the county shut down the gun range, citing violation of commercial zoning laws. But he believes the county clamped down because of one man -- Andrew Gray, a convicted felon who faces federal weapons and drug charges.
According to court documents, agents say Gray has a history with anti-government groups. An undercover informant told the FBI Gray had been firing rifles at the gun range, prompting agents to search his storage unit.
Inside they found 21 pistols and rifles, including a military-style machine gun. Also in the unit were two bulletproof vests and unregistered silencers. A search of Gray's house turned up more than 300 marijuana plants growing in the detached garage.
Gray's attorney refused to comment on the case.
Faire would not say just how long he's known Gray, but now he knows the FBI is watching him, too.
Court documents said anti-terrorism agents keep an eye on the gun range because the informant says it's known as a militia training center.
But Faire claims the word "militia" is just a part of an inside joke. He says his group is a local chapter of Project Appleseed, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching marksmanship and preserving gun rights.
And neighbors who've known Faire for more than 40 years say that sounds about right. They don't believe he's involved in any radical or anti-government movements.
Gray's attorney says her client stopped meeting with anti-government groups a few months ago. Gray has been freed on bail. He is due in court on Thursday.
The only ‘fair’ thing about what happened to range owner Jim Faire is that the range lads will be far more valuable as home sites. Project Appleseed will go on, and will spread because shooting is as American an activity as exists.
Political instability also has recently increased interest in shooting.
“Geegood thing no convicted felons living in inner-city ghettoes or barrios have any gunsotherwise the cops and govt might have to go after them.......
/s”
In South Dade County, FL a shoot house for criminals was discovered.
Wait!! They’re just terrorists, hep em out Baarney.
“I wonder if posting a picture of the Ayatollah at the range would have made the Feds go away. (Cuz that would mean theyre a legit charity and not a militia!)”
Do you mean a recruiting poster, a “beg poster” soliciting ‘contributions’ for the IslamoWhackos, or is the Ayatollah gracing a target?
Just wondering.
“Owner Jim Faire says he can’t afford to run a background check on every visitor...”
They expect range owners to run background checks on visitors now? It’s been a couple years but all I ever had to do was show my driver’s license.
Project Appleseed Ping
But Faire claims the word “militia” is just a part of an inside joke. He says his group is a local chapter of Project Appleseed, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching marksmanship and preserving gun rights.
Yeah, thats a hoot...A real funny one...
They unknowingly (not surprising) just increased the participation in Appleseed as well...
Keep up the good work!!!
(See, that was a joke)
Excellent point!!!
Perhaps one of these organizations can help Mr. Faire secure his property rights or direct you to another group that can:
http://www.southeasternlegal.org/default.aspx?page=14
http://www.ij.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=566&Itemid=192
http://www.mountainstateslegal.org/
http://www.landmarklegal.org/DesktopDefault.aspx
Good luck and thanks for the first hand account.
I mean a few posters of the Ayatollah’s smiling (I’m sure that deep, deep down he was smiling) face watching the shooters on the line. They could also leave a few copies of the Koran laying around, put some prayer rugs out, paint a big arrow in the parking lot pointing toward Mecca... Just enough to convince the agents that these are peaceful Friends-o’-Obama and not eeeeeeviiiiil American militia types.
Thank you, “penelopesire”. I don’t know if Mr. Faire reads this forum...I suspect not as he’s pretty busy trying to defend himself from assault by dirty, county and federal politicians these days. But I have forwarded your list by private eMail to him.
And the down side is . . . . ?
None whatsoever.
Owner Jim Faire says he can’t afford to run a background check on every visitor because his outdoor gun range is a nonprofit business.
Is that requirement of checking every vistor to a gun range?...
Let’s hope they’re looking at least as carefully at the many Islamic paramilitary ‘jihadist’ training camps in the US. Doubtful, but we can hope.
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