Tiffin Reviwing Private Use Rules for Gun Range

[OCCI]

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Tiffin reviewing private use rules for gun range
By Aaron Post | June 24, 2012 | The Advertiser-Tribune

The Tiffin Police Department is in the process of drawing up a new contract that redefines the private use of its shooting range, after a Circleville native sparked controversy over private use of the facility.

"I was looking at expanding my business north and I thought what a better place than the local police station," said Aaron Mahan, owner of Ohio Concealed Carry Institute in Columbus.

The concealed carry weapons instructor talked with Mayor Aaron Montz about using the shooting range in the basement of the municipal building for commercial purposes in April, but was denied access.

"If the city allows other instructors to use the facility it should open a contract for bidding," Mahan said.

Montz told Mahan that the shooting range is not opened to the public because of liability issues.

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Mahan has made accusations that the city is giving preference to instructors who are Izaak Walton members.

"Public institutions should not allow for unfair competition and exclude instructors because they are not part of a club," Mahan said.

Henry said the city is looking at formalities in documents between Izaak Walton and the police department because of Mahan's suggestive reasoning.

"I am in the process of redrafting documents so it doesn't look like Izaak Walton is some sort of boy's club," Henry said.

Tiffin Seneca Izaak Walton President Larry Kipps said CCW instructors are not allowed to use the facility anymore beginning this summer. He said when anyone, including CCW instructors, rent out the facility it is inconvenient to other Izaak Walton members who want to use the shooting range.

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Tiffin Attorney Dean Henry, an NRA certified instructor, also uses the range.

"I approached Chief LaGrange four years ago and was given permission to use the city's shooting range," Henry said.

Henry's CCW business is called Covenant Holdings LLC, but he did not say whether or not he used the facility for business purposes.

The very person who is drawing up the contracts this summer.

"I am in the process of redrafting documents so it doesn't look like Izaak Walton is some sort of boy's club," Henry said.

Izaak Walton recently donated $1,000 towards the restoration of the city's shooting range.