Archery range was planned for safety

I want to discuss the "problems" with the local archery range ("Taking aim at archery range," Tuesday.)

I am no longer a member of the Blue Ridge Archers Inc. due to a change in priorities, such as my two children.

I was the range master for three years and president for two. I was an officer with the BRA before the range was at the present location, during the move, and I was an active member for years after the relocation.

As you have seen, I'm sure, the range layout is designed to offer the utmost safety to the archer as well as to observers or passing traffic.

The range is constructed as one long path with target stations posted on both sides shooting outward.

All targets on the side of the trail parallel with Newby Shop Road are designed to be shots that are not only closer to the archer but lower to the ground.

This strategy gives the archer a downward angle on his or her shot, virtually eliminating any chance of conflicting with any traffic, either vehicular or pedestrian.

All targets that would require a higher trajectory are on the back side of the trail and they are few.

As can be seen by the club's unimpeachable safety record, this arrangement obviously works.

This club was founded in the hayday of archery and the archery hunting era a few years ago.

We were - and are - simply a group of enthusiasts who want a safe place to practice and hone our skills.

Members of this club have ranged from doctors, lawyers, CIA employees and FBI employees right on down to those pillars of our community, the farmers.

No one has ever thought more about safety than we did when constructing this range and it has paid off.

The club has been able to expose many to the great joys of the outdoors.

The club has worked in conjunction with other clubs to promote the sport with absolutely no personal gain in mind, except for the knowledge that more people have been exposed to archery.