Old Orchard gun range stirs noise, safety debate

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Old Orchard gun range stirs noise, safety debateBy JEN FISH, Portland Press Herald WriterCopyright c 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.OLD ORCHARD BEACH - A proposal to reopen an abandoned outdoor firing range near a mobile home park is raising concerns about noise and safety. The range is on town-owned land behind the transfer station on School Street Extension. Town officials want to reopen the range, saying it would help local police with training and save money.But because of its proximity to residential areas, especially the Atlantic Village trailer park, some residents and at least one town councilor are worried about the prospect of loud gunshots and stray bullets.The council is scheduled to discuss the proposal during its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.Reopening the range would benefit police and residents alike, said Councilor Eber Weinstein, who is proposing the idea. Weinstein said police often must travel out of town to conduct firearms training. And before the range closed, many residents used it, he said."There's a lot of hunters in this town and it's getting harder and harder for people to find a place (to shoot)," he said.Police Chief Dana Kelley said police could save as much as $4,000 by having officers train on a local range. Before it closed eight years ago, the chief said, the range operated for years with no problems."We had it up a number of years, and never had a problem with safety," Kelley said. Residents of Atlantic Village interviewed Wednesday said they would be open to having the range open for police use, but would not favor having residents use the range daily."If it were just for the police department, that's fine," said Doreen Burger.But, she added, residents in Atlantic Village are bothered enough during the hunting season. Sound carries especially well out in the woods, she said, and having a firing range would be an annoyance."I probably wouldn't be too crazy about it," said Louise Turgeon, another resident. She has two small children, and she said she would worry about kids following the noise of the guns and getting hurt. "You never know what could happen," she said.Kelley said that he prefers that the range be for police use only. This would cut down on safety concerns and noise complaints because police would use it only three or four times a year, he said.But Weinstein said he wants to open the range to the public in limited hours during the day for recreational shooting.Detective Gerard Hamilton, the firearms instructor for the police, said one compromise might be to open the range to residents at the beginning of hunting season. Then, he said, he could be there to help residents sight their weapons and give other lessons in gun safety.Still, the idea is already facing opposition from at least one town councilor. Sonia Simpson-Gardner said she would not support reopening the range. "I am opposed to opening a range that close to a residential area," she said. "I think there ought to be private facilities" for people to shoot. Staff Writer Jen Fish can be contacted at 282-8229 or at: http://www.portland.com/news/york/011213range.shtml