Danger of Range Closures

Massachusetts –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Second Amendment becomes a dead letter when there’s nowhere left to shoot a gun.

In the last year a number of gun clubs and shooting ranges have come under attack from local governments, gun control abutters, and would-be real estate developers. Often these are small clubs with few members and limited resources. Clubs like these face almost insurmountable odds when faced with specious land use and zoning challenges from people determined to shut them down.

Comm2A has taken up this challenge and is helping to support the legal defense of three small New England gun clubs.

In May, Comm2A presented board members of the Winchester Rod & Gun Club with a check for $2,500 to retire the legal debt the club incurred fighting the town’s efforts to shut them down. Hearing set on Westminster Rod and Gun Club dispute, 7/1/17 Update: Back to normal! Although the club ultimately prevailed, they were left with a significant legal bill that would have taken years to retire. Comm2A was proud to lift that burden from the club’s members.

For the last year Granby Bow & Gun has withstood a withering barrage of complaints and harassment from neighbors as well as attempts by town officials to shut the club down over specious ‘zoning’ violations and noise complaints. Granby Bow and Gun Club ordered to shutdown for multiple violations, Long-range shooting resumes. The alleged violations are without merit and the club has fought back in Massachusetts Land Court. Granby Bow & Gun has, in fact, been the model of land stewardship. The club has worked with the USDA and National Resources Council Services to implement forest, erosion control and wildlife habitat management plans as well as an Environmental Stewardship Plan. Comm2A has contributed $2,500 toward offsetting the club’s legal expenses.

More recently Monadnock Rod and Gun Club is facing legal challenges over noise and alleged wetland violations. While this challenge is in its early stages, even a quick resolution will impose a heavy burden on a club with only 300 members. Comm2A has contributed $2,500 to Monadnock’s legal defense fund.
Small clubs like Westminster, Granby, and Monadnock are the most vulnerable and will be the first to go and appear to be easy targets for small town officials and would-be developers.

Comm2A is committed to making this a painful and expensive process for anyone trying to shutdown a legitimate shooting preserve. We are able to help these clubs only because of the long term support we’ve received from our members as well as the regular contributions we receive from some of the area’s larger and more prosperous clubs.

We encourage our members to support these clubs by joining their membership ranks, contributing to their legal defense funds, and by supporting Comm2A.

Support Commonwealth Second Amendment (Comm2A)

The only reason that Comm2A is able to bring federal lawsuits against the Commonwealth and its police chiefs is because of the financial support we received from our members and supporters. If you’re not already a member, please consider adding Comm2A to your end of year philanthropic giving.

You can make a sustaining pledge or a one-time donation through our website. Comm2A is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. Donations made to Comm2A are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Additionally, many employers offer matching grants for employees who give to qualified non-profits such as Comm2A. www.comm2a.org

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