NRA Warns About Montville Ordinance
Mayor Says Safety Is Goal Of Proposal To Restrict Gun-firing
By Megan Bard
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Published on 8/3/2006 in Region » Region News
'We just want to see the ordinance to get an idea of what it is. It could affect the selfdefense and personal protection of our members and residents of the town.'
NRA-ILA spokeswoman Autumn Fogg
Montville — An ordinance that could limit where firearms are discharged in town hasn't even been written but it's already creating a controversy.
On Tuesday, the National Rifle Association posted a warning on its Web site that the mayor will propose an ordinance at the Aug. 14 Town Council meeting that would ban the discharge of firearms in Montville.
Not so, says Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz.
On Wednesday, Jaskiewicz said a proposed ordinance that is still being written by the town's attorney could restrict guns from being shot within 500 feet of an occupied building, near livestock, pets or people, or land designated as a nature preserve, conservancy or town park.
“It's not an anti-gun law. It's not meant to keep people from having target ranges. It's a public safety issue,” Jaskiewicz said.
Resident
Guy Flatleydisagrees. He has a backyard target range that he says he's been using for years. Flatley said he's erected an eight-foot tall dirt mound and an oak backstop to provide a buffer between the target range and the nature preserve his property borders. He only shoots between noon and 4 p.m. and primarily on weekends, he said.
Flatley said any town ordinance that prohibits or restricts the discharge of firearms is “un-American and un-Constitutional.”
“They're essentially trying to force us to join a gun club,” Flatley said. “Why should we be forced to join an organization to go and participate in something that we've been doing for many years?”
Flatley called the NRA's Institute for Legal Action when he found out about the possible ordinance.
Wednesday afternoon NRA-ILA spokeswoman Autumn Fogg said the group posted the warning on its Web site even thought it hasn't review the proposal to let members know about the council meeting. Fogg said the group asked for a copy of the ordinance and when it hadn't received it after several days decided to post the warning.
“We just want to see the ordinance to get an idea of what it is. It could affect the self-defense and personal protection of our members and residents of the town,” Fogg said.
Resident
John Dufrat, who asked the mayor to create regulations that limit target ranges in residential areas, said it's “a shame such misinformation has been promulgated.”
Dufrat, Flatley's neighbor, said he target shoots weekly at one of the region's shooting ranges. A career military man and NRA member, Dufrat said he's in favor of “proper and responsible” firearms use.
“It's not really acceptable to set up a target range in your back yard because of the noise and it's downright inconsiderate,” Dufrat said.
He said as more residential development occurs in Montville, regulations must be put into place to address public safety when it comes to target shooting.
“I cherish my ... Second Amendment rights but that doesn't give me the right to endanger or be inconsiderate of my neighbors,” Dufrat said.
Councilor Catherine Anne Buebendorf said the intention of the ordinance is to limit firearms from being shot in populated areas.
Although she also hasn't seen the ordinance, Buebendorf said after speaking to Jaskiewicz the intention is not to restrict people's Second Amendment rights or to hinder their ability to hunt.
“The intention is to protect the safety of people in Montville because we're not such a rural community anymore,” Buebendorf said.
However Councilor Ellen Hillman said she is not in favor of the ordinance as it could be proposed.
Hillman said, in her opinion, the ordinance is being written to settle a neighbor dispute between Flatley and Dufrat.
She said by not allowing firearms to be discharged near livestock could keep livestock owners from being able to put down a sick animal. Hillman also said it could keep parents from being able to teach children how to properly shoot.
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This sounds an awful lot like the Brady Bunch 
Now don't get me wrong, I would not think of setting up a range in my backyard if it were close to my neighbor's house, but let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. I agree with romma, you can't "blanket" the whole town. :banghead: Thanks 280 for the update. I'm bringing that HP just for you Saturday 