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Firearms range off limits for militia
Department of Defence won't allow soldiers to use ranges operated by city
Roseann Danese
Windsor Star
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Members of the local militia are being forced to head out of town for firearms training because they can't use their guns at the new joint military-police training centre.
The Department of National Defence isn't allowing local military personnel to use two state-of-the-art firing ranges that are operated by the city because they haven't been approved by federal inspectors.
"Ottawa is saying under their procedures military people can only use ranges approved by the Canadian military," according to police Chief Glenn Stannard.
Despite the fact the $15.5-million Major F.A. Tilston V.C. Armoury and Police Training Centre is located close to home, Windsor soldiers have had to travel to Cedar Springs -- more than an hour away -- for firearm training.
SHARED FACILITY
Located on 18 acres near Ojibway Parkway, the facility features a central building shared by police and soldiers for offices and classrooms and two other structures funded by the city and designed for police firearms training.
The federal government didn't help pay for the portion of the centre that houses the firing ranges because the expense couldn't be justified with military ranges only an hour away, according to Major Mark Douglas, deputy commanding officer in Windsor.
The police recently offered to open the ranges to militia members free of charge, Douglas said, so now "the chain of command understands local units would like to take advantage of those facilities here ... rather than going an hour down the road and compete with other users of that facility."
The defence department is in the process of validating the firing ranges according to Canadian military specifications, but "like anything else with the government it takes time," Douglas said.
INDOOR RANGE
The facility features a computerized 10-person indoor firing range and a 20-person outdoor range enabling sharpshooters to hit targets, including moving targets, up to 100 metres away. There is also a five-storey rappelling tower located outdoors with three different types of covering and windows facing the firing range so police snipers can practise long-distance shots.
The high-tech simulator -- which is owned by the defence department -- allows trainees to practise weapon drills on a large video screen.
The Defence Department, Douglas said, wants to be sure any training site is safe and "in accordance with national regulations and procedures."
A long-term use agreement will likely be signed between the defence department and the city for use of the firing ranges and the rappelling tower, Douglas said.
But soldiers will still have to travel out of town for some "long-range" firearms training because they must qualify to fire weapons up to 300 metres.
© The Windsor Star 2005
Would be nice to get this cleared up soon.
Department of Defence won't allow soldiers to use ranges operated by city
Roseann Danese
Windsor Star
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Members of the local militia are being forced to head out of town for firearms training because they can't use their guns at the new joint military-police training centre.
The Department of National Defence isn't allowing local military personnel to use two state-of-the-art firing ranges that are operated by the city because they haven't been approved by federal inspectors.
"Ottawa is saying under their procedures military people can only use ranges approved by the Canadian military," according to police Chief Glenn Stannard.
Despite the fact the $15.5-million Major F.A. Tilston V.C. Armoury and Police Training Centre is located close to home, Windsor soldiers have had to travel to Cedar Springs -- more than an hour away -- for firearm training.
SHARED FACILITY
Located on 18 acres near Ojibway Parkway, the facility features a central building shared by police and soldiers for offices and classrooms and two other structures funded by the city and designed for police firearms training.
The federal government didn't help pay for the portion of the centre that houses the firing ranges because the expense couldn't be justified with military ranges only an hour away, according to Major Mark Douglas, deputy commanding officer in Windsor.
The police recently offered to open the ranges to militia members free of charge, Douglas said, so now "the chain of command understands local units would like to take advantage of those facilities here ... rather than going an hour down the road and compete with other users of that facility."
The defence department is in the process of validating the firing ranges according to Canadian military specifications, but "like anything else with the government it takes time," Douglas said.
INDOOR RANGE
The facility features a computerized 10-person indoor firing range and a 20-person outdoor range enabling sharpshooters to hit targets, including moving targets, up to 100 metres away. There is also a five-storey rappelling tower located outdoors with three different types of covering and windows facing the firing range so police snipers can practise long-distance shots.
The high-tech simulator -- which is owned by the defence department -- allows trainees to practise weapon drills on a large video screen.
The Defence Department, Douglas said, wants to be sure any training site is safe and "in accordance with national regulations and procedures."
A long-term use agreement will likely be signed between the defence department and the city for use of the firing ranges and the rappelling tower, Douglas said.
But soldiers will still have to travel out of town for some "long-range" firearms training because they must qualify to fire weapons up to 300 metres.
© The Windsor Star 2005
Would be nice to get this cleared up soon.
