“Florida State University criminologist Gary Kleck, using surveys and other data, has determined that armed citizens defend their lives or property with firearms against criminals approximately 1 million times a year. In 98 percent of these instances, the citizen merely brandishes the weapon or fires a warning shot. Only in 2 percent of the cases do citizens actually shoot their assailants. In defending themselves with their firearms, armed citizens kill 2,000 to 3,000 criminals each year, three times the number killed by the police. A nationwide study by Don Kates, the constitutional lawyer and criminologist, found that only 2 percent of civilian shootings involved an innocent person mistakenly identified as a criminal. The ‘error rate’ for the police, however, was 11 percent, more than five times as high.”

http://www.newsweek.com/id/124951/page/3

With citizens having only a 2% error rate compared to a law enforcement officers 11% error rate, I can see why police officers would be skiddish of training alongside armed citizens… they don’t want to showcase how poor thier shooting skills are (for some, not all).

Once the new range opens up, I’ll be practicing/training bi-weekly. Not so bad for an armed citizen.

Now, all that taxable spending will be done in PWC versus Fairfax and Stafford counties (I mostly shoot in Stafford).

Did you know that at Shooter’s Paradise there were two suicides there? No police officer is going to use that substation, sit there and write reports with a bunch of armed people walking around.

aint that nice…A prince-william county employee (and supporter of principi) posting on a blog. Get back to work porter and stop using county resources to blog, remember we are paying your salary.

Wonder if frankie and hilda post here? wouldnt doubt if they did, I know the twisted ones from the other blog do all the time but it’s pretty easy to spot those sicko’s. Frankie isnt going to win the next election so he should stop the funky decorating job in his office.

from what I’ve seen it’s going to be state of the art and far closer to me than going to quantico or the NRA range. I love to burn through ammo and hate nothing more than to drive a long way to do it, it’s not only part of my job but it’s a hobby as well and I really enjoy it (as well as the social aspect of meeting with other shooters). I could easily see how having armed persons around the parking lot would help with keeping the scum away from business.

Porter from the County????Sounds like the one that is on Housing or Social Services. These loose Liberals need to go hide somewhere.

The first Shooting Place was great for the Plaza and I am sure the remaining businesses there are looking forward to this one coming in. Hooray for Corey and Maureen who was correct in making the motion to Approve.

Principi gets Dumber every day.

We need a Good candidate next time and I don’t think Royce will do.He would be as bad as Principi.

Mr. Principi,

I recently moved into Woodbridge and fully support the proposed new gun range to be built nearby. Currently there or no firearms ranges in PWC close to Woodbridge and open to the public. Only the NRA range in Fairfax, or three others located in Springfield, Chantilly and Fredericksburg are “close”; all almost thirty minutes drive-time away from Dale City/Woodbridge. I am an NRA certified pistol instructor and regularly teach new shooters the basics of marksmanship and firearms safety. This range will benefit Prince William County greatly as shooters will now have a local range to patronize, as well as the teaching facilities to ensure gun safety classes are widely available.

Additionally, the police sub-station will help alleviate crime in one of the worst areas in PWC.

I urge you to support the range, and ask that if you feel you cannot support it to furnish me and your other constituents the reasons for your opposition.

Sincerely,
[My Info Redacted]

No response from Principi but I did get a nice note back from Chairman Stewart:

Thank you for your e-mail, I plan to fully support the Shooters Range application without delay at the Public Hearing this evening. It is a positive for commercial development and the taxpayers of Prince William County.

–Corey

Can anyone make any sense out of that statement? If so, please explain it to me.