Coventry to take a closer look into backyard gun ranges

COVENTRY, Conn. (WTNH) — The town council in Coventry has unanimously approved a move to look into backyard gun ranges.

The town is forming a committee, which takes aim at researching the backyard sport, because some residents are worried that a stray bullet or missed target could hit too close to home.

Coventry Police Department have responded to several of those complaints.

“They’re either too close to their neighbor’s home or they’re not shooting into a berm that’s maybe high enough,” Coventry Police Chief Eric Peterson said. “We had one instance where someone was shooting into the ground at cans and behind the cans was a rock wall.”

When clubs set up their gun ranges, federal and state standards and guidelines are followed. But if you want to set up one in your backyard, there are no state rules or regulations for that.

“I thought you had to be so far away from another home to shoot a gun, but I guess not,” Jordan Spencer, of Tolland, said.

Spencer says he shops and spends a lot of time in Coventry.

“You have the right as a citizen to possess a gun with the Second Amendment and your neighbor has a right to live their life safely and the two can merge,” Dudley Brant, of Coventry, said.

Brant is also a gun safety instructor.

The committee is expected to be made up of five people, including two firearms safety instructors and two residents at-large, as well as a member of planning and zoning.

Members will make recommendations to the town council. But before any ordinance or land use change is made, there would be a public hearing, “Where the general community has the opportunity to express their thoughts,” said Coventry Town Council Chairwoman Lisa Thomas (D).

Committee members will have nine months to set their sights on a solution that could keep gun owners and neighbors happy and safe.

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