It all started in La Grange, Kentucky when local residents ganged up on Second Amendment activist and real estate developer, Barry Laws. Laws, a resident of Los Angeles County, wants to restore an abandoned building into an indoor shooting and paintball range.

Nearby residents have, oddly enough, taken a position you might expect from a city like Los Angeles where the U.S. Constitution is regularly denigrated. Anti-gunners in La Grange claim that the range's proximity to a nearby apartment complex and bus stop jeopardizes the safety of the children. They have taken steps to prevent the range from opening and have alerted local media. And, if we know anti-gunners, the organizing, protesting, and whining won't stop until they have successfully stomped the life out of the Second Amendment.

Anti-gunners' arguments about "safety" and "won't someone please think of the children" are as old as the Kentucky hills. Nevertheless they keep using these arguments so we have to keep debating them.

Indoor shooting ranges exist all over the country in a variety of commercial/industrial zones. Many are in close proximity to street and foot traffic as well as other local businesses. They are very well insulated for noise and projectile containment. Indoor ranges are often used by local the police and sheriffs. There is nothing wrong with indoor firing ranges. Period.

The reality is that anti-gunners will do everything in their power to prevent lawful citizens from their exercising their rights and enjoying the same freedoms as everyone else. They have no tolerance for gun owners and no respect for the Constitution. And without support from the local 2A community, Handgun Control, Million Mom March, and others will have their way with Kentucky.

Mr. Laws deserves our respect for having the courage to pursue his dreams and for his willingness to fight for what's right. He has supported the Liberty Belles since our inception. Barry Laws is a one-man Second Amendment fighting machine who is no stranger to speaking out at city council meetings, organizing free firearm clinics, obtaining media support, and protesting at City Hall. Nevertheless, it will take all the support he can muster if this 2A supporter is to realize his dream of owning a business and simultaneously supporting our freedom.

Anyone wishing to show their support for a fellow American and patriot is encouraged to attend the Zoning Meeting on January 20th, 2005 at 10:30 am at the Oldham Fiscal Court Annex Building in La Grange, Kentucky.

Jennifer Freeman is Executive Director and co-founder of Liberty Belles, a grass-roots organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the Second Amendment.
http://www.libertybelles.org
jennifer@libertybelles.org