Shooting range posed threat to public, chief says in letter revoking permit

UPDATE @ 3:42 p.m.: (Oct. 10)

This news organization on Tuesday obtained the letter to Miami Shooting Grounds owner Dana Tackett in which the Vandalia Police Chief Douglas Knight revoked the business’ permit.

“It is my professional opinion that Dana Tackett, Miami Valley Shooting Grounds, and/or their designated representative(s), have discharged in a manner that is not compliant with Permit to Discharge Firearms,” Knight wrote. “Specifically, Mr. Tackett, Miami Valley Shooting Grounds, and/or their designated representative(s) have violated the issued permit and/or Vandalia ordinances. ...”

The violations, according to the police chief, include:

  • Discharging firearm(s) from a place other than the permit premises
  • Failing to take all necessary measures and provide supervision sufficient to ensure that projectiles are confined to the property
  • Firing weapons in a direction other than from east to west perpendicular to and using as backstop the 50-foot hill on the western edge of the permit premises
  • Projectiles not being confined to the property
  • Knowingly discharging a firearm in or on a mother vehicle.

Tackett has 10 days to appeal the decision, and the city will hold a hearing plead his case and present evidence as to why his license should be reinstated. Tackett’s lawyer said they absolutely will appeal.

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UPDATE @ 5:15 p.m. (Oct. 9)The Miami Valley Shooting Grounds has lost its permit, the attorney for business owner Dana Tackett said this afternoon.

“I can confirm that the police chief has revoked the current permit,” the lawyer, Timothy Rudd, said. “It has nothing to do with any projectiles going onto Mr. Spencer’s property. An application for a new application will be forthcoming.”

Jamie Spencer has issued the following statement: “We are pleased with the outcome and I believe the city did the right thing. Bullets were exiting the range and it was a serious public safety issue. And at the end of the day an outdoor shooting range has no business inside the city limits aimed toward a residential neighborhood.”

EARLIER REPORT (Sept. 19)

A lawsuit from a Vandalia resident claims bullets fired from the Miami Valley Shooting Grounds were landing in his property.

Jamie Spencer said he’s found hundreds of bullet casings on his property, with some projectiles flying past him.

“It’s a whistling sound that flies over your head. It’s gone before you even know it was there. At that point you knew you were pretty doggone close to it,” he said.

RELATED: Gun range suit: Vandalia cop ‘retreated’ as bullets whiz overhead

The owner of Miami Valley Shooting Grounds, 771 Johnson Station Road, said the slugs are not coming from his gun range.

“He has his own range up there, he shot up there forever,” Dana Tackett said of Spencer. “I can give you names of people who go there and shoot.

“If I thought for one-half a second one of my bullets, trajectories, were going onto his property, wouldn’t shoot, wouldn’t do it, don’t need it,” Tackett said.

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The permit for Miami Valley Shooting Grounds states shooters are only allowed to fire from east to west at the 50-foot hill.

Today, there were bulldozers going in and out of the gun range. Tackett said it’s regularly scheduled maintenance. Spencer said it’s because of the recent attention from his lawsuit.

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“It clearly states projectiles are to be maintained on the property. Even if you don’t believe me, I think we’ve got the police officer’s report, we’ve got multiple witnesses,” Spencer said.

The city of Vandalia said it’s not getting involved in the dispute.

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