Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-08
EXC|TES OPPOSITION
Legislation Aimed at Ordway
Rifle Range.
PROVISIONS OF BILL
UNDER CONSIDERATION BY
MARYLAND LEGISLATURE.
Effect of Measure Should It Become
Law-Its Requirements Regard
ed as Absurd.

Riflemen in the District are interested
just now in the efforts that are being made
In the Maryland legislature to secure the
passage of bill, which is aimed directly
at the existence of the rifle range OF the
District National Guard at Ordway, Md,
in Prince Georges county The bill was
recently introduced by Mr.. Ray of Prince
Georges county. Stripped of its legal YER
biage the bill declares it to be unlawful for
any citizen to shoot any kind of an arm
from which projectiles are expelled at
mark of whatever nature or wherever plac-
ed, without getting the consent of all the
property holders. lessees other tenants
within the limit of the range of the gum
rifle, pistol, etc.
The end that is evidently sought to be
gained ~ the bill is the dscontinuance of
the rifle range at Ordway. though his pur-
pose and the reasons therefore have not as
yet been made public, as far as can be
learned.
gruder Station, Md, is the property of the
National Rifle Association of the District
of Columbia, which numbers among its
members some of the prominent business
men of this city. 1t is situated in as good
u place for such a purpose any to be
found about this city. The owners have
put themselves to great expense in hitting
it up for the purpose for which II is uSed.
that is between fifty and hundred feet
higher than the remaining portion or the
ground and extends all the way across the
range. The hill is gravel, and very hard,
impenetrable beyond few inches even by
the high power rifles used today. At it's
base this ridge is something like nun
dred feet broad. In addition to the ridge
of gravel as a backstop, the rifle assocla-
ton has erected heavy timber butts be-
hind each target at every range that ex-
tend over the sides of and above the tar
gets.
Provisions of the Bill.
According to the bill introduced by Mr..
Ray the members of the National Rlhe
Association of the District National Guard
and of the regular army and navy Will nave
to dispense with the of this range UNI
less they can go beyond the range for half
a mile or more and obtain the consent OF
the residents of the territory lying within
the range of the rifle for permission to
shoot despite the fact that there Is natu-
raj abuttment broad enough to stop and
hold with little damage to ITSELF shells
from field artillery. This would work a
81 eat hardship on the general government
in giving the troops stationed about Wash
ngton their regular target practice. There
are thousand regulars in and about the
District who have no range other than that
a. Ordway on which they can have their
regular target practice, "A portion of the
military work that must be carried on to
make the soldiers of the country fitted to
perform their duty. Not alone this, but
the District National Guard would suffer
through lack of range, and the Maryland
National Guard would suffer also, as the
bill covers the entire state.
But it is not alone the military marksmen
or associations of riflemen that would Suf-
fer. The bill is one of the broadcast that
could be composed. and includes in its pro-
hibitory provisions every person who owns
a rifle. gun, etc. The proposed law reads
1T shall be unlawful for any person or
persons. body polite or corporate. or other
form of association, to practice shooting at
any mark. board. sign, tree. bank other
object with any gun rifle, cannon, mortar,
pistol or other frearm within the limits of
this state, whether land water. for
military drill. amusement or skill, without
first obtaining in writing the consent to SO
use any such firearms of all freeholders
tenants occupants of real estate, residing
within the carrying capacity of such fire.
arm, and secondly without first obtaining
leave of the commissioners of the county
within which such shooting is proposed to
be carried out etc, etc.