BLM Proposes Banning Recreational Shooting on Arizona Public Lands -- Ironwood Forest National Monument The 128,000-acre Ironwood Forest National Monument is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and is generally opened to dispersed recreational shooting. A management plan just released for public review and comment is likely to change that if BLM's preferred management alternative (Alternative C) is adopted. Alternative C would close the Monument to recreational shooting. Hunting would continue to be allowed for the time being. The proposed recreational shooting prohibition on 128,000 acres of public land in the Monument is simply a first step toward banning the discharge of all firearms for all reasons, including hunting. If the federal government can ban shooting on an area this vast and rural, it can and will ban shooting on other federal lands. They must be stopped now! Unfortunately, this is the continuation of a patter of discrimination against gun owners across the nation whether it's national forests or other public lands like BLM operated monuments. It's time that gun owners standup and be counted! Until recently, recreational shooting has always been recognized as a legitimate use of most public lands. The plan contains 4 alternatives: A is the no-action alternative that would keep current management as is; B is the most restrictive management alternative and along with C, would close the Monument to recreational shooting; and D is the most access-oriented and would allow shooting to continue. To review the document go tohttp://www.blm.gov/az/LUP/ironwood/ironwood_plan.htm. BLM has scheduled five public meetings to present its plan to the public and allow for comment and discussions. The meetings are as follows: March 29, 2007: Tucson, Arizona -- Pima County Parks & Recreation, 3500 West River Road, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 3, 2007: Sahuarita, Arizona -- Sahuarita High School, 350 West Sahuarita Road, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 5, 2007: Chandler, Arizona -- Chandler Public Library, City Council Chambers, 22 South Delaware Street, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 10, 2007: Sells, AZ -- Legislative Council Chambers, Main Street, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 12, 2007: Tucson, Arizona 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. --Pima County Parks & Recreation, 3500 West River Road, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Comments on the plan are due by May 30 and can be submitted by mail to Mark Lambert, BLM Planner, at 12661 E. Broadway, Tucson, AZ 85748, or sent via email to AZ_IFNM_RMP@blm.gov. www.NRAILA.org Write Your Representative Write The Media Get Involved Locally Register To Vote Contribute