Shooting range proposal worries Rusty Stars Alpacas farm owners
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Aron Shultz (left), owner of Rusty Stars, and the alpacas at sunrise (right). Photos: Courtesy of Rusty Stars
The owners of an alpaca farm in Madison County are worried that a potential shooting range could disrupt their idyllic farmland.
State of play: Owners of Black Flag Arsenal, a Waukee gun shop, applied to build a private shooting range south of the farm, called The Vanguard, which goes up for a public hearing next week.
- Aron and Kari Shultz have run Rusty Stars Alpacas in Madison County for years, offering free weekend visits to thousands of people year-round.
Zoom in: The range would be built on a 128-acre parcel currently zoned for agriculture in the 2000 block of Rustic Lane. It would operate daily from 8am to sundown, with occasional evening sessions for night-vision classes and training, per the application.
- Per Black Flag's Facebook post, they plan on building multiple outdoor rifle and pistol training bays, law enforcement-only bays, a 1,000-yard long-range shooting area, classroom spaces and a clubhouse.
What they're saying: Aron Shultz says the farm's 30-plus alpacas would adjust to the noise. His real concern is for his family and the weekend visitors who seek the quieter countryside.
- "It would be different if we moved there and there was a shooting range," Aron Shultz tells Axios. "But when it's moving in, we didn't get the choice."
The other side: A co-owner of Black Flag Arsenal did not respond to a request for comment yesterday afternoon.
- But in a Facebook post last night, the shop shared that it is already experiencing "organized resistance from anti-gun groups" that plan on opposing the project and urged its supporters to attend the zoning meeting.
- "Our goal is simple: build something Iowa shooters can be proud of — a facility centered on safety, professionalism, and education," per the post.
Shultz says he isn't against guns or a law enforcement training facility, but he said no one reached out to discuss the project before they received the meeting notice.
- "Even the most supportive person, most likely would not be happy about it being in their backyard," he says.
Zoom out: In Warren County near New Virginia, some residents also opposed a gun club moving in and sued the Warren County Board of Supervisors, saying they were not properly notified of the proposal, per the Indianola Independent Advocate.
What's next: The Madison County Zoning Commission will consider the request during its March 19 meeting at 6:30pm.