WI: Appeals Court closes gun club

[hammAR]

http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_12882932?source=rss

Wisconsin Appeals Court closes gun club near Baldwin
Associated Press
Updated: 07/21/2009 11:14:07 AM CDT

An appeals court has ordered a western Wisconsin gun club to shut down its shooting range after neighbors complained about bullets flying onto their properties.

The 3rd District Court of Appeals ruled today that the Central St. Croix Rod and Gun Club near Baldwin had one chance to submit a workable safety plan for the club in an agreement with the neighbors, but failed to meet that requirement.

The three-judge panel said St. Croix County Judge Eric Lundell erred in failing to issue a permanent injunction banning firearms at the 11-acre shooting range.

Six neighbors and a safety group sued the club, a for-profit shooting range, in 2006 contending the range was a nuisance and that bullets and shotgun pellets were landing on their properties.

[1911fan]

I always wonder who was there first....

[hammAR]

I always wonder who was there first....

...the Indians.....

[MisterOblivious]

Makes me wonder....
Are these the sort of folks living 500 yards from a trap range complaining about shot landing on their lawns? Also known as "**** liars"

[ComradeBurg]

I'm guessing the range was there first as ranges are generally built away from residential areas.

[870TC]

I'd say, if they can confirm that rounds left the range and impacted somewhere else, it doesn't really matter who was there first.

[RobD]

The 3rd District Court of Appeals ruled today that the Central St. Croix Rod and Gun Club near Baldwin had one chance to submit a workable safety plan for the club in an agreement with the neighbors, but failed to meet that requirement.

I can't tell if that means they just didn't bother to submit a plan, or they couldn't get one that the neighbors agreed on.

[Paul]

I bought a house next to the airport. I don't like listening to the airplanes... I think I will sue.

[Paul]

Given the way most ranges are constructed, I have serious doubts that bullets were actually going off property. Especially on any sort of regular basis. I would be willing to be that it's a case of people not liking guns, or wanting to listen to them.

[Joecool]

There are some people who don't control their firearms and obviously it doesn't matter who is there first if the bullets are not contained. I don't have too many doubts that bullets were leaving the range. I know a range here in Twin Cities that had that problem occasionally.

It is unfortunate they let this happen as it give a bad reputation to all the good clubs that care about safety.

[DeanC]

I know one range locally that was accused of having bullets leave its range. After they implemented volunteer range attendants they found that many of the adjacent neighbors were trespassing, shooting illegally, shooting into the range property, poaching, and one local cop who was not a member who let himself in the back gate to shoot trap for free with his kids.

[RobD]

But if they were asked by the court to develop or present their safety protocol,and they refused, I really can't blame the court for shutting them down.

If they are too inept, or too lazy to develop safety precautions, they shouldn't be open.

[Ironbear]

Given the way most ranges are constructed, I have serious doubts that bullets were actually going off property. Especially on any sort of regular basis. I would be willing to be that it's a case of people not liking guns, or wanting to listen to them.

Going to the outdoor ranges and looking at the variety of holes, high in the side fences, roofs of sheds, etc., I have little doubt that bullets are occansionaly leaving the property. Many careless and reckless people out there.

[Rip Van Winkle]

Having recently gone through a situation like this, it's my opinion that most clubs pay mostly lip service to safety. What I mean by this is most clubs, and their members, think they are safer than they actually are.

[Rev. Dead Corpse]

Despite some of the nay-sayers here...

It looks like they tried to comply, but couldn't reach an agreement.

This has all the classical marks of a hatchet job. Shutting them down via lawsuit. You don't like their activity, sue 'em out of existence.

Apparently, this is how American's settle differences these days...