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The Delafield Plan Commission will review plans for the Delafield Oaks Range at a meeting scheduled for March 30.

DELAFIELD If all goes as planned, an effort to breathe new life into the former Hartland Sportsmens Club site could be realized before 2022 gives way to 2023.

Nearly a year ago, Waukesha County resident Brian Dorow introduced plans to resuscitate the long-dormant property with a renamed development: the Delafield Oaks Range. Dorow will be going over a series of late-stage details including architectural renderings and operations plans before the city Plan Commission on March 30.

In an interview with The Freeman, Dorow outlined his latest vision for the sprawling, 35-acre property at 701 Maple Ave. It includes, but is not limited to, the shooting range.

The operations plan Dorow will present to commissioners includes four components, including the three indoor shooting ranges. Early in the planning process, Dorow nixed a proposal for an outdoor range after factoring in comments from nearby residents.

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Ive worked tirelessly to develop great relationships and trust with the neighborhood, Dorow said. Were constructing a complete indoor facility that will have the highest level of safety measures in place and reduce the noise down to, hopefully, nothing.

Also in the mix is a retail area that could sell guns, accessories, personal protective equipment and related items. Educational seminars and training are also included in the plans.

Additionally, a clubhouse that could include a Class B liquor license for members to socialize after shooting sessions are completed is incorporated into the plans, as well as a large reception area and an outdoor pavilion that could host a disparate array of large events.

While the indoor ranges will be secluded and run with a membership-based model as an option, Dorow said he aspires to make the broader Delafield Oaks grounds available to the entire community to enjoy with outdoor hiking trails and similar amenities.

It is very picturesque. There are all kinds of animals back there that people can enjoy, Dorow said. Its going to be open to families, and its going to be open to the community. Shooting aside, I want families to be able to come there and enjoy themselves, in a safe environment.

Dorow said he hopes to bring some of his background in education and training to the operational philosophy at Delafield Oaks. The goal, he said, is to shine a spotlight on the rights, as well as responsibilities, that come with the Second Amendment.

I think its so important if youre going to be involved in handling firearms, that you do it in the safest manner, Dorow said. Our staff will be highly professional, highly trained and very diverse, with different backgrounds to appeal to all of our potential members and customers who come in. Thats going to be so important.

The Hartland Sportsmens Club was shuttered in 2010 after the city of Delafield revoked the establishments permit.

The revocation was in response to an incident involving a pregnant woman who was grazed by a stray bullet from the clubs outdoor firing range as she was dining at the nearby Delafield Brewhaus restaurant.

The Delafield Plan Commission will review plans for the Delafield Oaks Range at a meeting scheduled for March 30.

Originally posted here:
Delafield firing range could be operational by year's end - Greater Milwaukee Today | GMToday.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI A former U.S. Army sergeant, he joined a militia, Wolverine Watchmen, which was suggested by Facebook because of his support for the Second Amendment and his Libertarian views.

After a vetting process like a job interview, he said he soon contacted the FBI and turned informant against defendants accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The informant, injured in 15 months of combat in Iraq, said Friday, March 18, that he rejected the militia when members talked about obtaining addresses for law enforcement and killing police officers.

Known as CHS Dan, the confidential human source gave jurors in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids a close look at the defendants alleged actions, from plotting the kidnapping to live-fire drills and reconnaissance missions to Whitmers lakefront summer home in Elk Rapids.

There, they surveilled her property, and used night-vision goggles across the lake to determine if they could see headlights going past her home. His testimony came during the second week of the federal trial against four men accused in the plot to kidnap the governor.

CHS Dan also recorded chilling conversations.

Related: FBI, informants drove plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer, charges should be dropped, defendants say

Barry Croft Jr., a Delaware man aligned with a group calling for U.S. civil war, was heard telling others that Whitmer who angered the defendants with COVID-19 shutdowns should be tried for treason.

Treason is a hanging offense, he said, on the recording.

Adam Fox, a Grand Rapids-area man and leader, said he expected the kidnapping to trigger a wide uprising in major cities and having to live as a survivalist up north.

He said he wanted to make the world glow, a recording showed.

If we cant have our world, then they cant have theirs, he said, in the recording.

The jury trial, before Chief U.S. District Court Robert Jonker, is scheduled to resume on Monday with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler finishing his questioning of the informant, who then faces cross examination by the defense.

Related: Defendants in alleged Gov. Whitmer kidnap plan claim innocence, entrapment

He has been accused of pushing the defendants to take part in the planning before they were arrested in early October 2020.

Fourteen men, most with ties to Wolverine Watchmen, have been charged in state and federal courts.

Croft, Fox, Daniel Harris of Lake Orion and Brandon Michael-Ray Caserta of Canton are on trial in federal court. Ty Garbin of Livingston County and Kaleb James Franks of Waterford have pleaded guilty to a federal charge conspiracy to kidnap and will testify.

The others face state charges.

CHS Dan, who works for the U.S. Postal Service, was with the alleged conspirators throughout meetings and training exercises.

The defense said he earned $54,000, including $6,000 for expenses, for his work with the FBI. But he said he earned far less than he would have at the Postal Service. He said he feared for his daughters safety and had to move from his home after one of those aligned with the group discovered his home address.

The informant disputed defense contentions that their gatherings were family outings, despite sounds of children in the background and splashing in the pool. The children were usually kept away from the others, he said.

Related: I will die a saint, covered in blood, alleged leader of Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot said in FBI recording

He said that Fox, who lived in the basement of Vac Shack in Wyoming, once held a meeting there. The Vac Shack owner said earlier he let Fox stay there because he had no place to go but he would have kicked him out if he knew what was going on.

The informant said Fox, who offered multiple plans for kidnapping Whitmer, had concerns about Croft, the other leader. Fox did not know him well and feared he was an informant.

Croft, meanwhile, appeared to have a violent streak that concerned other defendants, testimony showed.

He is an alleged member of the Boogaloos, described by the FBI as a far-right, domestic-terrorism movement that believes the U.S. is headed for civil war. He said in a phone call that we can be the pioneers of history .

In 100 years, he said, people would forget this name but remember that dude from Delaware.

Caserta was upset about the government having control over us, the informant said.

Harris was interested in explosives. Harris also held a meeting at his Lake Orion home where everyone had to provide identification to confirm identities.

He also encouraged use of encrypted chats on applications from outside the U.S. He believed it would keep law enforcement from obtaining search warrants for their accounts.

The attorneys for the defendants said they were big talkers and would not have kidnapped the governor. They have noted that during a trip to the governors home, they had the wrong address and couldnt find the house. They liked to smoke marijuana and drink while discussing their plans, as well as their anger at the government.

Fox was excited when they found her home, especially when he ran into a boat launch across the lake.

Perfect. No Coast Guard.

From there, he said, they would take the governor in an all-terrain vehicle to a boat on the shore of Lake Michigan.

The Big Lake is the best option, he said.

He laughed as he told others they would hog-tie the governor and pose for photos around her.

He said he would say: Aint so funny when you aint got all the power, is it?

A month or so before arrests went down, Fox allegedly told others they needed supplies, such as flashbang grenades, or concussion devices, flexible handcuffs and a black hood to cover the governors head. He said they also needed $4,000 for explosives to blow up a bridge by Whitmers house to slow police response, testimony showed.

The man who was to supply the bomb was actually one of two undercover FBI special agents taking part in the investigation.

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Man who joined militia was alarmed by cop-killing talk, turned informant in Gov. Whitmer kidnap case - MLive.com

Russian soldiers flooded into Ukraine Thursday under orders from President Vladimir Putin, threatening to obliterate a peace that has existed on the European continent for more than 75 years.

News reports say cities were bombarded by land, air, and sea, and Ukrainian forces were struggling to hold ground surrounding Kiev, Ukraines capital, against tens of thousands of Russian soldiers.

Prior to the attack, Ukrainian officials took steps to help Ukrainian civilians protect themselves.

Ukraines parliament on Wednesday voted to approve in the first reading a draft law which gives permission to Ukrainians to carry firearms and act in self-defense, Reuters reported.

The 30-day emergency order, National Review reports, would grant citizens the right to bear arms. It would also allow the government to conscript Ukrainians between the ages of 18 and 60, adding nearly 200,000 troops to the countrys defense.

Permitting Ukrainians to arm themselves is a sensible measure. But as Charles Cooke points out at NRO, its also a bit late.

While Ukraine has relatively loose gun control laws by European standards, estimates suggest only about 1.3 million firearms exist in the country, which has a population of some 43 million. This diminishes the chances of Ukrainian civilians being able to offer serious resistance, an idea that is hardly far-fetched, Stephen Gutowski points out at The Reload:

the history of warfare is rife with examples of smaller, weaker, and less organized forces besting even the greatest militaries in the world. From the American Revolution to Vietnam, Iraq, and multiple wars in Afghanistan, it isnt difficult to find templates for how a Ukrainian resistance could eventually prevail if Russia attempts to capture and hold it.

Speaking on CNN, Nina Lvovna Khrushcheva, a professor of international affairs at the New School in New York, also said small arms could be decisive.

If every Ukrainian takes a gun, Russians dont have a prayer, she told John Berman. I mean the military can fight, but Ukrainians are really ready today.

Ukrainian leaders apparently agree. The government on Thursday took the unusual step of issuing thousands of automatic weapons to civilians, following the issuance of its emergency order.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of serious resistance is low because the Ukrainian government embraced the right to bear arms so late.

Next time, Cooke points out, bear arms earlier.

Cookes words could be construed as flippant, but his point is a deadly serious one.

The Founding Fathers enshrined the right to bear arms in the Second Amendment of the Constitution, and they made it clear that they were not granting citizens the right, but codifying what was a natural right.

The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, James Madison, the Father of the Constitution, explained in 1789. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country.

As some astute observers pointed out on social media, the Second Amendment was never about hunting or even self-defense (in a civil sense). It was always about liberty.

This may be considered as the true palladium of liberty, the legal scholar Tucker St. George wrote in 1803. The right of self defence is the first law of nature: in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest limits possible. Wherever standing armies are kept up, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any colour or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction.

These sentiments were echoed decades later by Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story in Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States.

The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers, Story wrote, and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them.

Its wonderful that Ukrainian officials finally sought to extend the full, natural right to bear arms to their people. The only tragedy is that it took so long.

This article was originally published on FEE.org. Read the original article.

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Ukraine grants citizens the right to bear armshours before Putin's invasion - The Maine Wire

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Steven is 10 years old. Hes a fifth grader from West Oak Lane, loves Biggie Smalls and Tupac, and wants to be a music producer when he grows up (but only if basketball doesnt work out).

Oh, and he also knows how to disarm a Glock.

Make sure your trigger finger isnt on the trigger before you release the magazine, he told Billy Penn, during a Zoom session set up by Urban Navigation.

Founded last year, Urban Navigation aims to divert kids, teens, and young adults from a path of violence. At their West Philly training center, people aged 10 to 26 can take classes on topics ranging from music production and songwriting to engineering for dirt bikes.

The goal? To give young people a roadmap of options beyond what might be available in their neighborhood or at school.

Yes, students are able to attend school. But they also have to have a mindset where they feel able to be successful. Having that is a lot harder for inner city kids, said co-founder Don Jackson.

Theres also a focus on practical tips for young people who live in environments where guns are regularly present by no fault of their own.

From talking with kids, we know that gun violence was a big issue, said Hameen Diggins, Urban Navigations other co-founder. They also told us that dancing around the issue wouldnt solve the problem, so we tackle it head on with gun safety education.

Already this year, more than 340 people in Philly have been shot, according to data compiled by the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting, up 4% from last years already high pace. The concentration of shootings varies over time and across neighborhoods, but the brunt of the violence falls on young people.

In 2021, young adults comprised a quarter of Philadelphias shooting fatalities. The violence near North Phillys U School has made students feel numb [and] disconnected as they grapple with constant lockdowns, The Inquirer reported, while others are afraid to walk to school.

Diggins and Jackson try to impart skills youth can use immediately, like how to disarm a weapon, stay safe during a shooting, or what Second Amendment rights do and dont cover.

Were not teaching people how to go and shoot accurately, said Jackson, who works as director of education for the Philadelphia Technician Training Institute. Were teaching them how to respect the weapon, which a lot of kids dont learn.

The inspiration for Urban Navigation came directly from conversations with students at his North Philly automotive and technical trade school, Jackson said.

Some students wanted to learn more about the music industry and engineering, while others sought intangible life skills: conflict resolution, healthy self expression, and how to plan for the future.

The organization partners with local hip hop magazine Hypefresh and internet radio station Myndset Radio to teach Media 101 classes, which focus on documentary and audio production. Their signature program, 16 Bars of Expression, looks at how rap can be used to solve conflicts, while their Power Sports Commission combines gun safety lessons with engineering classes.

All programs run on open enrollment and are free to the public. Jackson stressed that no two students will have the same takeaways from a class, but most center on how to cope with gun violence.

Theres little research about how effective gun safety classes are at blunting the impact of gun violence. But for 10-year-old Steven, the program seems to be working.

I would recommend [Urban Navigation] to a lot of kids in Philadelphia, Steven said. The way crime is, kids need to know how to handle being around a gun.

West Oak Lane fifth grader Steven is also a big fan of Urban Navigations Power Sports Commission.

The 13-month program uses ATVs as a jumping off point for technical training on small engine repairs, entrepreneurship lessons, and eventually, the chance to obtain a legal license for a vehicle.

Philadelphias strong dirt bike culture has ties to Meek Mill and community building. It has also incited backlash from city residents who conflate the streams of bikes and ATVs that zoom down Broad Street and other commercial corridors with upticks in crime, noise complaints, and traffic accidents.

Last summer, City Council passed legislation that would make it easier to confiscate these illegal vehicles. But where local legislators see crime, Urban Navigation sees an opportunity.

Theres always the news reports: These ATVs get on peoples nerves. But what the city is not realizing is that when young people are on their ATVs and dirt bikes, theyre not shooting at anybody, said co-founder Jackson. Instead, theyre taking out their frustration on the bike.

Urban Navigations program operates in small cohorts of 5 to 15 students. Some days, instruction means field trips to dirt bike trails to blow off steam. Other times, it means learning how to build robots or fix a motorcycle.

Steven said the program is already teaching him determination and perseverance. Older students who complete the training can earn mechanical certifications and walk in a graduation ceremony.

When youre working on a bike or riding one, all your problems go away, co-founder Diggins told Billy Penn. All of that anger, all of that pain disappears for a minute. And we want to be able to give youth that option.

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Philadelphia's Urban Navigation teaches kids to 'respect the weapon' - On top of Philly news - Billy Penn

NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress is working to donate one million rounds of ammunition to the people of Ukraine, to help them defend against Russian Forces. Childress said he is working to try and get waivers to get that ammo shipped to Ukraine. He said they will use cargo planes and private contractors to get it into the right hands. Its no secret NASCAR legend Richard Childress is passionate about helping others, his country and the second amendment. Which is why when RCR Owner Richard, Childress saw the images coming out of Ukraine and when he heard President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ask for ammunition, he jumped in to help. It just hit me where I knew I am on the board of directors with Ammo Inc. and I knew that we could play a role of making a difference. It may be a small difference, like I said they may need 10 million rounds or more but we want to get that million to them as soon as possible, said Childress, of Richard Childress Racing.He's working with Ammo Inc. to donate one million rounds of ammunition to the people of Ukraine. While theyve got the ammunition, the process of getting it shipped is complicated.The first process is going to be getting a waiver to take it out of the country. Weve got it figured out through cargo planes how to get it over to the country We have private contractors that know how to get it in the hands that need it, he said. Childress hopes what's happening in Ukraine, teaches everyone about why he believes its important to have the second amendment. To protect ourselves, thats what its all about. The people in Ukraine, their president gave them guns to go out and help protect this country, they are fighting not only for their lives but they are fighting for their freedom liberties and democracy, he said. And said he has a message for the people of Ukraine. Stand tall and fight because thats what we would do in America if we were being overtaken, he said. Childress said he hopes to be able to possibly donate even more ammo in the future.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress is working to donate one million rounds of ammunition to the people of Ukraine, to help them defend against Russian Forces.

Childress said he is working to try and get waivers to get that ammo shipped to Ukraine. He said they will use cargo planes and private contractors to get it into the right hands.

Its no secret NASCAR legend Richard Childress is passionate about helping others, his country and the second amendment. Which is why when RCR Owner Richard, Childress saw the images coming out of Ukraine and when he heard President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ask for ammunition, he jumped in to help.

It just hit me where I knew I am on the board of directors with Ammo Inc. and I knew that we could play a role of making a difference. It may be a small difference, like I said they may need 10 million rounds or more but we want to get that million to them as soon as possible, said Childress, of Richard Childress Racing.

He's working with Ammo Inc. to donate one million rounds of ammunition to the people of Ukraine. While theyve got the ammunition, the process of getting it shipped is complicated.

The first process is going to be getting a waiver to take it out of the country. Weve got it figured out through cargo planes how to get it over to the country We have private contractors that know how to get it in the hands that need it, he said.

Childress hopes what's happening in Ukraine, teaches everyone about why he believes its important to have the second amendment.

To protect ourselves, thats what its all about. The people in Ukraine, their president gave them guns to go out and help protect this country, they are fighting not only for their lives but they are fighting for their freedom liberties and democracy, he said.

And said he has a message for the people of Ukraine.

Stand tall and fight because thats what we would do in America if we were being overtaken, he said.

Childress said he hopes to be able to possibly donate even more ammo in the future.

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Richard Childress to send ammunition to Ukraine to help during Russian invasion - WXII12 Winston-Salem