Plans for a south-end Barrie indoor gun range have finally stopped firing blanks.
After being turned down by city council in March, finance and corporate services committee approved a motion Oct. 19 that inches the facility forward.
City staff will work with the proponent, Roger Gray, the Chief Firearms Office of Ontario and Barrie Police Service to identify applicable regulations, the potential amendments to city bylaws that would be required to provide an exemption to allow an indoor gun range on King Street. It would also look at the implications of the proposed gun range, asking that staff identify any sensitive uses in the area along with completing a mail-out to all King Street businesses seeking feedback, with all expenses being the responsibility of the applicant. Staff would then report back to Barrie councillors.
“This will be potentially the first gun range within the city limits,” said Coun. Gary Harvey, who represents this area of the city. “They’re obviously asking for some exemptions through our bylaws and being someone who lives in the area, I’m fully aware that there are some sensitive uses that are quite close to the locations that are being looked at for this.
“I think it’s only prudent upon us to ensure that we get feedback from all the companies in the area and not just the sensitive uses,” he added. “I think it would be key when we identify the sensitive uses and potential impacts that it will have on these businesses that have been in operation for several years in the area.”
Harvey said he’s heard concerns about guns being carried in and out of such a facility, even within cases, and that there is a daycare in the area, a trampoline park for children and restaurants.
“I’m not saying anything bad is going to happen with this, but I think we need all the information and also get feedback from the area businesses that potentially could be impacted,” he said.
This motion will be considered by general committee of city council at its Nov. 1 meeting.
Gray told finance committee that the Simcoe County Sports Shooting and Educational Academy would be a state-of-the-art shooting range with a three-tiered educational facility that would serve as a private club to members of the public, hunters, sport shooters, as well as local law enforcement, military personnel and the security industry.
“Our vision is to be the go-to educational and shooting facility company for all those living in and around the Simcoe County and southern Ontario regions,” he said.
Gray says the range will meet all security and sound-abatement standards, using the most advanced sound proofing and buffers.
“To a level of approximately 60 decibels, which is the same as people talking,” he said. “You’re in an industrial area. There’s actually going to be less noise than any of the other normal factories that are probably out there.”
But Harvey says he can understand the concerns.
“We are going to be having people taking guns out of the trunks of their vehicles and carrying them into this facility, most likely in cases. It’s a new thing in the city that we’re looking at. Our bylaws don’t permit this,” he said. “This is an exemption being asked for and I think it’s only incumbent on us to get all the information.”
In order for Gray to submit an application to the Chief Firearms Office of Ontario for an indoor gun range in Barrie, a motion of council to provide an exemption from the city’s regulatory bylaw is required, according to city staff.
This bylaw permits the discharge of firearms only in these specific cases: police officers discharging a firearm in the course of carrying out their duties; a municipal law enforcement officer destroying an animal; a shooting competition or display, provided council has given its consent to hold the competition or display; and activities carried out at Barrie Armouries by the Department of National Defense at 37 Parkside Dr. In addition, no one shall discharge any firearm, either for gain or in such a manner or in such places, as to disturb other people.
At the Feb. 23 finance and corporate services committee meeting Gray, then calling his company Gun Linx, told its members, about a connection to Barrie police officers, saying two of Gun Linx’s co-owners were ex-military and current, active police officers in the SWAT division in Barrie.
But Barrie police Const. Justin Frye said in an e-mail he copied to BarrieToday on Feb. 25 that there is no connection involving himself, his twin brother Jason, and Gun Linx.
In March, Harvey said the application should be turned down because he had significant concerns about councillors being misled.
