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MVA rejects ‘shooting resort’ plan
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Posted on Dec 01 2000
The Marianas Visitors Authority Board yesterday opposed a proposed legislation that will ease the tough gun control law in the CNMI to accommodate the establishment of so-called shooting resort in the Northern Marianas.
In a monthly meeting, the board said it is leaving to Rota and Tinian leaders the decision if they would want shooting resorts on their island-municipalities.
Although Board Chair Dave M. Sablan supports the proposed legislation, he sought a consensus among the board members so that MVA can submit a unified stand to the Legislature.
Five board directors strongly opposed the bill saying it will destroy the image of the CNMI as a safe destination.
HB 12-212 seeks to amend the Weapons Control Act to allow the entry of currently prohibited guns and ammunition into the CNMI.
With the decline in the island’s tourism economy, Mr. Sablan said the establishment of a shooting resort will open the CNMI to a different type of tourist market.
Korean firm Union Rich Saipan has already proposed to invest in major commercial infrastructures on the islands and shooting resorts amounting to over $25 million.
The controversial bill has divided the island which has experienced severe economic slump due to the regional recession and the decline in visitor’s arrivals.
Proponents of the bill believe that the shooting resort can even bring in thousands of members of the Asian University of Sports Federation to come here and train for the annual competition thus, making Saipan a venue for an international shooting competition.
The Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce have separately issued statements opposing the bill because of its negative effect on marketing the CNMI as a family destination for Japanese travelers. (LFR)
