possible range closing need some help

[dan06]

The town of Phillips, Maine owns the range that the North Franklin Sportsmen Club Operates, maintains and insures this range today. There is going to be a push to get it closed by the voters in Phillips. People have been shooting on this piece of land since 1938 or before with no accidents or injuries . The town tried to get this range closed in the past and one of their biggest arguments is that Phillips may be the only range in the country that the land is owned by a town. They do not want that liability. Buying the land is not an option. Finding a new range in the area that we can afford and is as safe and would not have issues with noise is nearly impossible.

We believe that the noise issue is the real issue here but Maine has a law that grandfathers all ranges that are in operation for more than a year and protects them against law suits over noise. .......So they have given up on trying to get rid of us because of noise and are playing all of their cards.

I think it would be a great help if I was armed with knowledge to be able to argue the fact that there are ranges formal or informal on public land.

Does anyone out there know of any town- county owned ranges..... I can not find much by goggle except BLM operated ranges when i search public ranges.

Thanks in advance from the North Franklin Sportsmen Club where "shooting in the "park" means all is well."

 

[fishbone]

Have them deed the property for $1 to the club and the liability will then be on the club.

 

[shortgrass]

Or an extended lease, like the NRA does with the Whittington Center. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains ranges on property they control around water shed dams, here in Western Oklahoma.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Had the Grand Jury and the D A come after our club. Something about "ricochet" bullets? The NRA came in and inspected the club and said BS!We came out "on top"! Club has been in the same place since the late 30s.
Our club gets used by the local SD,PD, Probation Dept, out of County PD and SD, state HP, Fish and Game and a few others.
Check with the NRA. They may be able to help.

 

[jimbires]

my local gun club shot trap for many years . they got shut down about 5 years ago because they say lead causing environment damage. it was more a personal agenda , I'd say . they just reopened this past summer . I'm not sure if anyone there could help you with getting in contact with the right people or not . google search " philipsburg rod and gun club " it is in black moshannon state park Pennsylvania . I'm sure there will be a lot of these articles come up . it was quite a stink for awhile .good luck on this . Jim

http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1024&bih=578&q=philipsburg+rod+and+gun+club&btnG=Google+Search

 

[necchi]

A local Club came under fire from a Liberal minded County Board just this past year when the "Limited Used" permit came due for approval
The NRA came to the rescue with ALOT of info and time,, this is right up their alley and you should get ahold of them.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

I belong to the Monocacy Pistol Club in Frederick, Maryland. The land is owned by the city of Frederick.

 

[jerrschmitt]

I would suggest talking to the NRA. They have people that deal with this sort of thing on a daily basis.

 

[nfhjr62]

The gun club i belong the Holmesburg Fish and Game in in the Philadelphia Pa. city limits right next to the Philadelphia Police Academy

 

[Exercion]

Out here in Nevada, we have county owned shooting ranges: Washoe County, Douglas County, and others. Carson City, the state capital owns the Carson City Shooting Range. I suspect but can't confirm others in NV. In short, there is not a terrible shortage of municipal owned shooting ranges I would think.

Eric

 

[oneflyer]

I believe that every state in the country, including California, have state run rifle ranges. I don't think this is an issue that can't be superficially investigated and precedents established. There has to be another reason that the town wants the range closed.

 

[Steve Blair]

The city of Phoenix, Arizona lists the Ben Avery Shooting Range Facility as one of their "Points of Pride." It is owned and operated by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

The liberals will try any trick you can think of to shut down shooting. But what part of do not infringe don't they understand?

 

[7tcu]

Rankin DeWalt Shooting Range, owned and operated by the City of Texas City, Texas

 

[Jim See]

http://www.co.marathon.wi.us/Departments/ParksRecreationForestry/RecreationOpportunities/ShootingRange.aspx

This range is county owned and run, see there site.

 

[Jim See]

http://wcrifle.org/

This range is on county owned land and leased to this private club.

 

[dan06]

Thanks guys I will sort through this info and see if I can use any as ammo. I do not depend on the NRA as about 15 years ago when this came up and we were in a rather large battle to keep the range open the NRA promised to come to our aid. They said they were comming to the town meeting with many facts and points.......But they were no shows....

The club has explored the lease idea but the town will not work with us on it. Like I said we are protected by state law for dammages created by noise and I believe that is the main driver to close the place.

I appreciate the help if you have anything else that might be of interest I would love to see it.

danworcester@gmail.com