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<DIV>I haven't seen anything about a need for inspections by the DEM-TA
either.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I also haven't seen any updates since 3/8. Also on that
date, our Baronial Archer Marshal (Lodwig von Neusohl) submitted a
waiver request to Allen by e-mail. We had our Baronial Birthday event
coming up the following weekend, and it looked like we might need one
to hold our Baronial Archery Champion shoot. We never got a response from
Allen, but as it turned out, we had to move the event location because the
original site got flooded out, and the emergency site had nowhere to shoot
anyway. The important point though, was that if we hadn't been flooded
out, we would have had to cancel our archery shoot at a range that should have
been acceptable, <U>because</U> we couldn't get a response from the
DEM-TA. I realize that normally a waiver should be requested more
than 5 days before an event, but since the visibility requirement had just been
addressed, and the event scheduled when it was, we didn't have more time.
Anyway, It's been 2 weeks now, and we still haven't heard anything at all
from Allen.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am still not entirely clear what situations actually require a
waiver. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As Siegfried pointed out, there is an obvious disconnect between what the
rule currently says: "A<FONT size=2><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">
</FONT></FONT>waiver may be requested for shorter ranges provided there is a
physical barrier, which will stop arrows", and what Kynnyth indicated
is his and Allen's interpretation: " If you have a structure that
provides the protection described in 3.9.3.2.3 you are alleviated of the burden
to grab a waiver."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>One problem is that, even though 3.9.3.2.3 gives a better definition
of what is required than any other kingdom rule I could find, it still requires
some judgement. It states: "The barrier must completely cover the safety
zone in order to count. A small barrier that could be shot around is not
sufficient." To me, this says that the barrier must cover the entire
<U>width</U> of the safety zone, but the height is apparently still left to the
judgement of the MIC. No practical barrier (other than one in an indoor
site) will stop 100% of possible overshoots. Even a 200 ft high barrier
could conceivably be shot over, so the MIC has to make a judgement on
what is reasonable based on the height of the barrier, how far it is down range,
and other factors. This rule (3.9.3.2.3) was fine when the local MICs were
allowed to use their own judgement to determine if a range was safe, but it
doesn't make sense to use it as a criteria for determining whether or not a
waiver is needed. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This comes into play with our local practice site. We use a permanent
archery range at a city park, which has a 6' to 7' berm behind the target
butts. Behind the berm is a very large, lightly wooded area with "Danger -
Archery Range" signs all around. The berm stops most overshoots, but
because it also obscures our view of the area behind, a waiver might now be
required (depending on interpretation). We are working up a detailed
waiver request, just in case, but regardless of the outcome, we are not going to
stop using the range for practices. The city of Newport News has an
ordinance against archery, but has provided an exemption for this
range. If the DEM-TA deems that our range is not acceptable, then we
will just make the practices "unofficial". </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Tnek <BR></DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></BODY></HTML>