BY MATT BIEKER
Are you caucusing this year? ASKED AT THE HUB COFFEE ROASTERS, 131 PINE ST. LIZ MANCUSO Project manager
I’m probably not going to go to the caucus. I was considering doing early voting, but I hadn’t committed to doing it yet. I’m 5050, I guess. If I do the early voting, I want to make sure I’ve done all my homework.
CHRIS L ARSON Espresso machine technician
I’m not registered to vote even. I haven’t the last couple of years. I guess I’m bad. I don’t participate. I don’t know, part of it is— it may sound bad—ever since I haven’t been registered to vote I haven’t had jury duty.
JON HALE Y Social worker
Ready, aim, wildfire On Feb. 1, the 69-acre Poeville wildfire was sparked in “I never thought it would happen to me” club probably the Peavine foothills. A wildfire. In February. And with the include people like Alex Javier and Jorge Arias, target worryingly early return of fire season comes the resurgence shooters who were arrested on charges of negligence for one of the stupidest and most dangerous opinions held by starting last year’s Jasper Fire—which burned 800 acres. locals: Target shooting doesn’t spark wildfires. And finally: “These guys weren’t following the This is patently untrue. Shooting can and does cause rules.” Fair enough. Not every stray round or desert wildfires every single year in Nevada, and yet with rock will start a fire, and following the Bureau of Land every new report comes a chorus of online commentaManagment’s proper shooting safety protocols can keep tors decrying the “liberal media’s anti-gun agenda,” everyone safe. clamoring for the “science” of how a hot piece of metal Local target shooters have spoken about the need for could possibly cause a fire, or demanding a new shoota second, more accessible public shooting range to cut ing range so public land isn’t put at risk. (We agree with down on back country shooting, which makes sense. that last one.) However, the risk is never zero. The devastat“Yet more anti-gun drivel. Someone got ing Lamoille Canyon fire of 2018—9,000 their Bloomberg check this week,” wrote a acres burned—was started at just such an commentor on the Reno Gazette Journal’s outdoor range. Target Facebook post of the Peavine fire. “It is the opinion of this investigator shooting The naysayers seem to fall into three that this fire was most likely started by causes wildfires camps. Number one: “It’s scientifically someone shooting at a rock that was impossible for a lead-core cartridge to approximately 500 meters from the shootevery year. cause a fire because it’s ignition point is too ing tables at the Spring Creek rifle range,” low.” A 2013 study by the U.S. Forest Service wrote Nevada Fire Marshal investigator found that, while steel-core rounds led to higher John Boykin in the aftermath of the fire. instances of ignition, even softer lead fragments can This January was the hottest January ever smolder after striking resistant targets—sometimes recorded, and our mild winter is sure to give way to a taking several minutes before igniting dry vegetation. dry, scorching summer in a few months. For the valley’s (The entire report can be read here: www.fs.fed.us/rm/ recreational shooters, being a “responsible gun owner” pubs/rmrs_rp104.pdf) should start with acknowledging the risks that come Number two: “I’ve been shooting for years, and with shooting—including wildfire danger. Ω I’ve never seen a fire started.” Other members of the
I’m going to early caucus. This is the first year early caucusing is being offered, and that’s why I’m doing it because I participated in the … caucus in 2016, and it was not an enjoyable experience. Who can really take off a whole day, on a Saturday, to participate? GISSELL LEON Designer
I am. It’s my first time. I haven’t been before. I’m going to wake up early and head down there. I’m between two [candidates]. I haven’t really taken the time to read everything I need to read. Watching the debates and stuff gave me an idea, but it’s not really something I’m comfortable disclosing. ROBERT ZELLERS Engineer
No. I would, but, one, I work a little too much—I should actually be working right now but decided not to—and then the other is I’m just not super pleased with the whole electoral process at this point. I plan on voting, but I just don’t feel like sacrificing any more of my energy for the primary process.
02.20.20
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