On Tuesday April 23, a public hearing took place at the Center Drive School in the town of Orrington. At this hearing two public issues were presented. The first was a joint development project with the town of Brewer. That garnered little comment. The second and much more controversial was titled “Ordinance Regulating Shooting Ranges.”

Residents of Perkins Point Road, who live approximately four-fifth’s of a mile downrange, and 300 feet in lower elevation than the Orrington Rod and Gun Club, are advancing this ordinance. They claim that “projectiles” are leaving the range and endangering their properties and lives. Verbal and written testimonials were given by several of the residents citing projectiles or “fragments” passing close to them or others. It should be noted that no physical evidence of any kind was presented to support these claims.

A little history is necessary at this juncture. Five years ago these residents complained to town officials about the noise of gunfire from the range. However, they were told that Maine Law grandfathered the range because it was established in 1986, many years before they moved into that area. Undeterred, they changed tactics. Two years later they contacted Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) citing concern that a small, seasonal outhouse on the range property was “contaminating” Brewer Lake. A DEP official inspected the unit and found absolutely no evidence that anything was escaping it, let alone traveling nearly a wooded mile to the lake. The complaints forged on.

DEP was contacted again. This time the residents were concerned that “lead” was “contaminating” the area adjacent to the range and possibly reaching the lake. Once more DEP dispatched an investigator to evaluate the situation and test for lead contamination. The test results were negative. Finally unable to conjure up a legitimate issue, the frustrated residents played the “safety card.”

Unlike earlier concerns that needed collaboration by outside experts (and were debunked by the same), anyone can claim they have heard projectiles – or fragments thereof – “whizzing” by, and no expert can verify, or dismiss it. During this time period, The Orrington Rod and Gun Club took a number of measures to make its operation safer. The earthen impact berm was raised and lengthened substantially, protruding ledge was removed from the range, the pistol shooting area was reoriented 90 degrees from its original position, the trap range was reoriented, standard operating hours were put in place, and the grounds and property lines were clearly marked and signed. More groundwork is planned for this summer.

However, based on past experience, it appears the complaints will not be satisfied until the range is closed, the stated goal of one former resident and one of the original complainants. The proposed ordinance as written is relatively innocuous, but if enacted would be the proverbial camel’s nose under the tent principally because of its amendment procedure.

Orrington town officials can make changes they feel necessary and/or are convinced to do so by others – like (surprise, surprise!) the Perkins Point residents. And most undemocratic of all, the gun club, which would have to comply with any amendments under penalty of law, is excluded from the process!

Obviously with such a mechanism in play it would not take long before an amendment is made that the gun club could not comply with, thus terminating its operation.

The landowners of Perkins Point knew full well they were downrange from a shooting club before they decided to build and live there. With their safety in mind, the Orrington Rod and Gun Club will continue to improve its grounds and practices, however these residents cannot be allowed to hijack the town government for their own purposes.

As a longtime member of The Orrington Rod And Gun Club, I am urging residents to attend the June 4 meeting and vote this autocratic, special interest proposal down.

Christopher B. Mitchell is vice president of the Orrington Rod and Gun Club. He lives in the Milo area.