Guns blamed for sparking some wildfires

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guns Guns Guns
  • Start date Start date
G

Guns Guns Guns

Guest
In the tinder-dry U.S. West, where campfires, fireworks and even lit cigarettes are banned across public lands, another fire-starting culprit remains free of most restrictions: guns.


This year, officials believe target shooting or other firearms use have sparked at least 21 wildfires in Utah and nearly a dozen in Idaho.


Shooting is also believed to have caused fires in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.


Officials have been asking the public to scale back shooting as legions of firefighters contend with one of the busiest and most destructive wildfire seasons to ever hit the West.



http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57466270/guns-blamed-for-sparking-some-wildfires-in-west/



Discuss...
 
May not be a bad idea. I do notice that they "believe" that's how the fires started. I have never seen that happen but I won't say that it can't, just that it isn't likely. Still, may not be a bad idea to scale back on the target shooting a bit. Hey, we've had muzzleloader season cancelled because of drought before. There is the most likely culprit of the firearms that might start a fire.
 
leaningright said:
May not be a bad idea. I do notice that they "believe" that's how the fires started. I have never seen that happen but I won't say that it can't, just that it isn't likely. Still, may not be a bad idea to scale back on the target shooting a bit. Hey, we've had muzzleloader season cancelled because of drought before. There is the most likely culprit of the firearms that might start a fire.
Click to expand...

I could see it if the person was lying on the ground shooting prone. But wouldn't someone have noticed? I mean, when it starts its easy to put out.
 
That's true, and what I also thought when they cancelled muzzleloader season a few years back. But then I can understand paying attention to the deer you're shooting at and perhaps not noticing you'd started a fire. In either case it would be a rare thing.
 
leaningright said:
That's true, and what I also thought when they cancelled muzzleloader season a few years back. But then I can understand paying attention to the deer you're shooting at and perhaps not noticing you'd started a fire. In either case it would be a rare thing.
Click to expand...

I would think it would be very rare. I guess a hunting situation would be more likely. Since the spark could fall into deep leafy stuff and smolder unnoticed. Target shooting tends to be in cleaner areas. At least on the shooters end of it.
 
WinterBorn said:
I would think it would be very rare. I guess a hunting situation would be more likely. Since the spark could fall into deep leafy stuff and smolder unnoticed. Target shooting tends to be in cleaner areas. At least on the shooters end of it.
Click to expand...

So the people who attributed the fires to shooting are lying?
 
\\\()/// said:
So the people who attributed the fires to shooting are lying?
Click to expand...

Did I say that? Did anyone say that? What you have here is two outdoorsmen discussing the ways and the chances that shooting could start fires. We are both skeptical. No one called anyone a liar.

But then, I doubt there is much proof of this being the culprit.
 
WinterBorn said:
Did I say that? Did anyone say that? What you have here is two outdoorsmen discussing the ways and the chances that shooting could start fires. We are both skeptical. No one called anyone a liar. But then, I doubt there is much proof of this being the culprit.
Click to expand...

So you admit the fires could have been started by gunfire?
 
WinterBorn said:
You cannot be this dense. What did I discuss in posts #3 and #5 that would cause me to refer you back to them? Did I discuss ways in which shooting firearms could, in fact, start fires?
Click to expand...

So you agree.
 
\\\()/// said:
In the tinder-dry U.S. West, where campfires, fireworks and even lit cigarettes are banned across public lands, another fire-starting culprit remains free of most restrictions: guns.


This year, officials believe target shooting or other firearms use have sparked at least 21 wildfires in Utah and nearly a dozen in Idaho.


Shooting is also believed to have caused fires in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.


Officials have been asking the public to scale back shooting as legions of firefighters contend with one of the busiest and most destructive wildfire seasons to ever hit the West.



http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57466270/guns-blamed-for-sparking-some-wildfires-in-west/



Discuss...
Click to expand...

an outdoor firing range that i frequent requires that all users use only jacketed ammo due to fire danger

the problem, non-jacketed ammo can strike sparks

hunters do not use jacketed ammo as this does not make for 'clean' kills - hunting seasons should be closed during local fire seasons

target shooters should be required to use only jacketed ammo outdoors during local fire seasons or refrain from using local outdoor designated shooting areas
 
"We're not trying to pull away anyone's right to bear arms. I want to emphasize that," said Louinda Downs, a county commissioner in fire-prone Davis County, Utah.

"We're just saying, target practice in winter. Target practice on the gun range. When your pleasure hobby is infringing or threatening someone else's right to have property or life, shouldn't we be able to somehow have some authority so we can restrict that?"

The state's Republican Gov. Gary Herbert took the unusual step of authorizing the top state forest official to impose gun restrictions on public lands after a gunfire-sparked fire.

Herbert said his decision doesn't limit gun rights, but is a common-sense response to dry conditions.


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57466270/guns-blamed-for-sparking-some-wildfires-in-west/



Imagine, if you will, what the JPP righties might be saying if Obama had ordered a ban on shooting on dry public lands...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top