Petersburg’s Borough Assembly last week heard impassioned public testimony on an ordinance that would allow people to discharge their firearms in a remote subdivision.
At present, Borough code doesn’t allow people to shoot guns in well-populated residential areas, for safety reasons. But Frederick Point East is fairly remote. The subdivision is on the northeastern shore of Mitkof Island. And it can only be accessed by a U.S. Forest Service road that isn’t maintained regularly — or even at all, during the winter months.
Almont Lindsey is a resident of the neighborhood in question. He asked the Assembly how they would feel if people were shooting guns around their homes and cars.
“…I am guessing most of you would not,” said Lindsey. “Why not use the money paid in property taxes from the Frederick point east property owners to replace the ‘No Discharge Firearm’ signs on each end of the neighborhood that have been riddled with bullets? Please let the Frederick Point East neighborhood be a habitat for humanity, not a habitat for gun violence.”
Local hunters frequent the area surrounding Frederick Point East to harvest deer, moose, and bear. But if they stray too far downhill of the Forest Service road and into the subdivision, they’re not allowed to take a shot.
Ralph Strickland is a local subsistence hunter. He said he understood Lindsey’s perspective. But he said that removing the prohibition could unlock the area’s potential for subsistence hunting.
“You’re excluding miles of prime hunting real estate from subsistence users,” said Strickland. “And I don’t know if you check the price at the grocery store — meat costs a lot. I think it’s a lot of land lost to subsistence use that isn’t anywhere near anybody’s homes.”
The Assembly voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance both times it came before them. Assembly Member Rob Schwartz said he was sympathetic to Frederick Point East resident Almont Lindsey’s safety concerns. But, he said, negotiating space with resource users is just part of living in Alaska.
“Growing up here, you spend an awful lot of time considering not peeing on somebody else’s shoes,” said Schwartz. “To put it mildly — you try to be respectful. I can see your point, Mr. Lindsay, but also understand: it’s Alaska.“
If it passes one more vote at the next Borough Assembly meeting on April 1, the firearm discharge prohibition will be lifted in the Frederick Point East subdivision.
