Idaho Fish and Game officials say they're moving ahead with plans to reopen a public shooting range at Farragut State Park this spring, despite a so-far successful lawsuit from nearby neighbors that shut down the range in 2007. Since it was shut down by court order, the state's spent $367,500 on upgrading the old military shooting range, and it still plans to spend another $200,000. The state Legislature also passed a new law - unanimously - in 2008 banning nuisance lawsuits over public shooting ranges, and setting new noise standards, including a requirement for soundproofing at new homes or businesses built near existing ranges. "They just keep wasting our money," declared Harvey Richman, a retired attorney who lives across the street from the park. He said the neighbors aren't anti-gun; "we just don't want to get shot."

It's a dispute that taps a nerve in Idaho, where there's overwhelming support for gun rights as well as for private property rights. "I grew up in North Idaho and hearing gunfire is not an unusual occurrence," said Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, who co-sponsored the 2008 legislation. "That's been a shooting range for close to 65 years now. They knew it was there when they moved in - I'm sorry, it's like moving in next to a pig farm and then complaining it stinks. You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

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