Allen Palumbo Prof. Presnell ENGL 1102 12 April 2012 Dangerous Shots?

Going green has become a popular catch phrase over the past few years. Along with that phrase has come a renewed interest in protecting and preserving the environment. Outdoor shooting ranges have come under fire for their questionable impact on the environment. Specifically what happens to the lead from the bullets after they are fired? As an avid shooter, the answer to the question whether outdoor shooting ranges were poisoning the environment, was of great importance to me. Environmental protection is everyones responsibility and this issue deserved an in depth look. Taking a Look Back Formal shooting ranges have been with us for roughly over 100 years. Shooting sports are a part of Americana and have a long, rich tradition. I can remember my Father taking me to a range to teach me the fundamentals of marksmanship early on in my childhood. The range was located in rural Ramsuer but people still complained. The US Constitution grants individuals the right to private firearm ownership. To be a responsible shooter one must be proficient and comfortable with their weapon. A very large part of this is practicing at a range. Being an accurate shooter is a perishable skill that requires constant maintenance to stay sharp. Shooting ranges that have long existed are now becoming neighbors with urban sprawl. Some ranges have stayed in place while many have had to move further out. Increased attention is now being placed on how the ranges operate and what possible consequences could result from shooting

sports. More importantly what is the impact that the spent bullets are causing on the surrounding environment. A Likely Suspect

What is in a self-contained metallic cartridge that is potentially dangerous? The three main components are the powder, case and projectile. Generally speaking most cases used domestically are brass and are usually recovered to either reload or sell as scrap metal. The powder is
Figure 1: copper jacketed lead bullets

burned up in the firing process leaving the actual

projectile, the bullet, at the shooting range. The overwhelming majority of bullets are bi metal, see figure 1. This is usually a copper jacket around a core metal, in most cases lead. High velocity rifle bullets usually deform on impact with a hard surface splitting the components apart. With lead now exposed in the earth the potential for harmful side effects is now present. Why is lead so dangerous? I read that lead poisoning may result in several side effects the most serious is premature birth or miscarriage in women and memory loss and deficiency in adults. The side effects can be much worse for children. To get to the bottom of this question was going to require more than a passive Google search on a smart phone. While providing a wealth of information, search engines also provide a plethora of nonfactual and disinformation. In the first page of results there were two articles that stood out and begged to be included. The first was from USA Today and cited safety incidents and noise complaints as most citizens concerns about outdoor ranges. At the very end of their list of problems was possible lead contamination. Theres a real possibility that lead could seep into

the ground water said Alex Formuzis from the Environmental Working Group (Marohn). A few results down was an article from the Environmental Working Group a non-profit organization linked to a lobby group. The claims contained within their pages were extreme to say the least, calling what the shooting industry was doing was a reckless rampage (Lead). With extreme claims comes the need for extreme proof and that was found to be lacking. Focusing the Scope The ballast tanks were flooded now and I was diving deeper and deeper into this question. Raw data was needed to learn more. Information published in sources without bias would be the best way to determine what is happening to our land. Again two articles were resourced to find out more. A European country had studied plants around shooting ranges to see if any harmful metals were being taken up by the root system. In all cases the levels of lead were below the published European Unions safe level. As stated in the conclusion of their study the researchers found metal uptake in three plant species studied did not show any level of potential toxicity in relation to food safety and livestock (Conesa, et al). Another lab study in the US was conducted to determine the best way of
Figure 2: Typical earthen berm at an outdoor range. This dirt stops and collects fired bullets.

immobilizing any metal in the soil of a

berm, see figure 2. Several different methods were tested and it was found that To operate an outdoor range that is protective of human health, the environment, and wildlife, each range should have a site specific, well designed best management practices plan (Cao, Xinde). A site specific plan would need to be implemented do the varying pH level present in the soil. These

finding then confirmed the information present on the Environmental Protection Agencys website that outlined best management practices for outdoor shooting ranges to follow. The main point the EPA stressed was a site specific plan. The geography and climate of the US is very diverse and a one size fits all plan would not be applicable here. The fact that the government is publishing BMPs for range operators displays concern for both the environment as well as the shooters. The Home Front The information that was being uncovered was all well and good but it was still somewhat abstract. To bring the environmental question closer to home, someone with more firsthand knowledge than I had needed to be found. At a recent workday at the local gun club I belong to I had a chance to interview the clubs president. All of the burning questions I was thinking could be brought up and given a local importance. First Wayne Broome told me that there have been no reported range closures in the US due to lead contamination. At each event the club goes further to remind members and guests to follow manufactures guidelines regarding lead to minimalize exposure. Furthermore the gun club periodically reclaims the metal from the berm cleansing the soil of lead and copper and recycling the metal for other applications. It is good to see that even small ranges are taking environmental protection seriously. As the president told me safety and the environment are our top priorities here. We want to ensure the continuation of our club in a responsible manner (Broome, Wayne). This range is about a fortyfive minute drive from UNCC but there are also other ranges around Charlotte. Bulls-eye or Missed Mark The environment is a very precious resource and we only have one of them to use. This should make it an issue of importance to every citizen. After returning to the surface after a long

dive into the question of whether lead was contaminating the environment at shooting ranges I came to this conclusion. Lead bullets need a new PR agent. The proof of any sort of harmful side effects due to lead bullets was simply not there. Accusations were found in spades but credible studies backing up these claims were no were to be found. So why all the debate over whether this is occurring or not? One possible explanation that was mentioned in the USA Today article and again by the president of the gun club is land disputes. When houses get closer and closer to ranges noise pollution becomes a concern as well as safety. If those two arguments fail, lead contamination is claimed and can be very difficult to prove one way or another. Protracted legal battles can achieve the goal of closing a range due to the mostly limited funds of many ranges and clubs. This is just one possible reason why but the point remains that lead bullets are not endangering or health and destroying the environment in the process.

Works Cited Boome, Wayne. Personal Interview. 24 Mar. 2012. Cao, Xinde. "Immobilization of Lead in Shooting Range Soils by Means of Cement, Quicklime, and Phosphate Amendments." Diss. University of Florida, 2007. Print. Conesa, H.M., et al. "Effects of Vegetation and Fertilizer on Metal and Sb Plant Uptake in a Calcareous Shooting Range Soil." Ecological Engineering. 37. (2011): 654-658. Print. "Lead Pollution at Outdoor Firing Ranges: Poisonous Pastime." Environmental Working Group. Environmental Working Group, 01 05 2001. Web. 12 Mar 2012. Marohn, Kirsti. "Outdoor Gun Ranges Under Fire for Safety." USA Today 16 12 2010, n. pag. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. United States. Environmental Protection Agency. www.epa.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Feb 2012.