Federal inspectors slam Illinois shooting range with an OSHA inspection and trump up minor infractions with excessive fines as a result
In yet another “under the radar” hit on the gun industry as a whole on the part of the Obama Administration, Federal OSHA inspectors again cited another shooting range for “serious” violations and levied excessive fines as a result. The report released by OSHA (found here: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=22524 ) shows that some “serious” violations were found and recorded, as well as the fines related to each item. But when you take a look at most of them, it appears that minor infractions were elevated into seemingly serious conditions which jeopardized the health of the employees.
Instead of realistic violations which could harm employees, the report is filled with minor infractions. Such things as simply picking up an extracted bullet from the floor appears to be a major issue for OSHA, yet hundreds of thousands of gun owners handle ammunition daily around the country and there isn’t an epidemic of lead poisoning as a result.
Whereas the simple act of sweeping the floor to collect spent brass casings would normally be an accepted practice, OSHA has declared that range employees should dress up in protective suits and wear respirator devices for the task. As well, the hearing protection used by range employees appears to be inadequate according to Federal inspectors. Their suggestion to remedy this issue: Install acoustic sound absorbing material on the walls and limit your ammunition to .22 cal or less. That may work in laboratory settings, but limiting training to such calibers is definitely not going to help maintain the proper training level for the real world situations you face every day with your choice of protection.
A Concerted Effort
The Obama Administration has shown that it will work “under the radar” to achieve its goal of limiting the individual rights of gun owners and the gun industry. While not confronting gun owners directly through legislative proposals, this Administration has worked behind the scenes to dismantle individual rights and the gun industry as a whole. Its latest ploy is to send out OSHA hit squads to shooting ranges around the country and levy excessive fines as a means to accomplish what they are sent out to do. Fines which virtually are impossible to pay, thereby effectively forcing the temporary or permanent closure of shooting ranges and gun clubs as a result.
The Federal Government has no limit of financial resources to tap into. Small family-owned shooting ranges have more limited budgets and can be bankrupted through excessive fines for frivolous reasons. In terms of OSHA inspectors running roughshod against the gun industry as whole and targeting small businesses that operate shooting ranges, the only real question left is: Who will be next?
Immediate Action Required |
- Call and email US Senators:
- Sen. Richard Burr; Phone: (202) 224-3154; Fax: (202) 228-2981; http://www.burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
- Sen. Kay Hagan; Phone: 202-224-6342; Fax: 202-228-2563; http://www.hagan.senate.gov/contact/
- Sen. Richard Burr; Phone: (202) 224-3154; Fax: (202) 228-2981; http://www.burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
- Call and email YOUR US Representative, whom you can find by going to: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.html
- (Note: You will need your 9-digit zip, which can be found on your driver’s license.)
- Ask them to investigate the latest examples of abuse at the hands of OSHA
Deliver This Message |
Suggested Subject: Investigate OSHA Abuse of Shooting Ranges
Dear [Senator or Representative]:
Recent reports of OSHA teams being used to shut down local shooting ranges for reasons ranging from frivolous to fraudulent which them deem as “serious” are outrageous. This has happened recently at ranges in Illinois and Florida. Massive fines designed to bankrupt these ranges were levied for so-called “serious violations.
This is nothing more than a back-door attempt to limit the rights of the gun-owning public by the Obama administration through strong arm tactics. This is gun control, pure and simple without the political calculation of doing it legislatively. These deceptive tactics must be investigated. I am counting on your leadership in this matter. Stop these outrages. INVESTIGATE OSHA NOW.
I eagerly await your response and will be monitoring this issue through Grass Roots North Carolina alerts.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Voter
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