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Federation Position on BPD "Green" Ammo Statement The Wednesday, June 4, 2008 edition of the WCAX news broadcast a story that the Burlington Police Department was about to switch to “green” frangible ammo for training purposes. WCAX quoted Burlington Police Chief Mike Schirling as saying: "We opted to go with a relatively new product called frangible ammunition which is leadless. It's essentially a green product that doesn't discharge that kind of lead into the groundwater and doesn't have that kind of discharge when you're practice-firing," The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs takes great exception with the Chief Shirling mischaracterization of lead-containing ammunition being a source of contamination. Police Chief Shirling has engaged in a publicity action that insults the safe and responsible manner in which ranges are being operated in Vermont. Therefore, the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs is recommending to its member clubs to not allow the Burlington Police Department to use club ranges until Chief Schirling retracts his incorrect characterization of lead-containing ammunition. Chief Shirling certainly has the authority to require the B.P.D. to use any type of ammunition he deems appropriate. He may engage in politically correct publicity events. However, when Chief Shirling publicly mischaracterizes the safety of the ammunition used by the vast majority of shooters in Vermont, smearing the safety practices of the privately owned club ranges in Vermont, he can expect the B.P.D. will stand to lose the use of the privately-owned ranges in this state. The B.P.D. will still have access to the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho and the Police Academy range in Pitttsford for training purposes. It is unfortunate when public agencies violate productive relationships with private sector organizations. But, public officials are sometimes motivated by politically driven agendas to take actions based upon misinformation and misguided political/social crusades This is one of those cases.