The Idaho Supreme Court reversed the decision of First District Court Judge John Mitchell and ruled today that the Farragut Shooting Range could re-open.
Here is a link to the Idaho Supreme Court’s decision.
Maybe it’s just my imagination, but it appears to me that whichever Justice wrote the opinion, he has a bit of a sense of humor, to wit:
Perhaps the most baffling conclusion reached by the district court is contained in the following statement [emphasis mine]:
Simply because IDFG has installed at least one baffle over all 12 designated shooting positions at the 100-yard shooting area, and such baffles are placed and of sufficient size that a shooter in any position (standing, kneeling, prone) cannot fire his or her weapon above the berm behind the target at the 100-yard shooting area does not mean IDFG has complied with the Court’s 2007 condition to lift its 2007 injunction for these 12 designated shooting positions, for up to 500 shooters per year.
The “baffles” were an integral element in the case and the decision.
The Supreme Court made a few interesting observations in its opinion about the decision of Judge Mitchell keeping his injunction in force–
1.”Perhaps the most baffling conclusion reached by the district court…” (I am not sure that is a play on words since the placement of ‘baffles’ at the shooting range was an issue)
2.”it is obvious that IDFG has complied.”
3.”Reading the plain language of the injunction to reach this unsupportable conclusion was clearly an abuse of the district court’s descretion…”
Comment by up river — November 15, 2012 @ 5:12 pm
This was a good, and overdue, decision. Yup, Mitchell got his fanny wailed by the Supreme Court, and justifiably so. Getting overturned by a higher court, and spanked in the process, is pretty much par for the course for Mitchell. I’ve been told he is the most reversed judge in Idaho. If that is true, maybe We The People should reverse him back to chasing ambulances!
Comment by Will Penny — November 16, 2012 @ 4:37 am
We live about 0.7 mile from the ranges of the Coeur d’Alene Rifle And Pistol Club, so when its outdoor ranges are open, we regularly hear muffled gunfire. Rather than finding it disturbing, I find the sounds reassuring. Those sounds mean that private citizens can still legally and lawfully possess and use firearms and become proficient in their safe use.
Comment by Bill — November 16, 2012 @ 7:11 am
It’s the sound of freedom!
Comment by Will Penny — November 16, 2012 @ 7:39 am