[HISTORY: Adopted by the Conservation Commission
of the Town of Barnstable 8-16-1988; revised May 2002, 1-7-2003, 6-24-2003; 1-20-2005 by Order No.
2005-040; 11-22-2005; 3-14-2006; 2-27-2007; 12-11-2007; 1-6-2009; 12-4-2012; 2-19-2013; 3-5-2013; 10-15-2013. Subsequent
amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town of Barnstable Conservation Commission's goal is
to provide a safe and affordable public shooting range, following
best management practices. The range is open to residents and nonresidents
for a fee and is located in the West Barnstable Conservation Area,
off the service road. The range is managed by the Conservation Commission,
at the direction of the Town Manager, and policed and maintained by
the Marine and Environmental Affairs Division. The Certified Range
Safety Officers shall be provided as to be determined by the Town
Manager.
The public shooting range in the West Barnstable Conservation
Area is open for target shooting subject to the following rules and
regulations:
A.
Certified Range Safety Officer.
(1)
"Certified Range Safety Officer" (CRSO) as used herein shall mean
an individual who, upon the completion of an approved training course,
has been certified by the National Rifle Association, or an equivalent
national shooting or law enforcement training organization, as a range
safety officer.
(2)
The range shall only be opened when a CRSO or certified firearms
instructor is on duty. The CRSO has the authority to interpret and
enforce these rules in the interest of public safety, to enforce the
Conservation Commission's General Range Use Policy and to expel
and/or refuse service to any and all users. The Certified Range Safety
Officer also retains the authority to close the range as circumstances
may require.
B.
Prerequisites for admission.
(1)
All persons entering the range must first sign the official sign-in
sheet maintained by the designated range official and provide all
information requested on said sheet. The Certified Range Safety Officer
or his designee may require any person seeking admission into the
range to produce a government-issued identification or other official
identification containing a photograph and showing his/her date of
birth. (This information may be provided in two separate documents,
for example a school-issued identification containing a picture and
a birth certificate).
(2)
Permit holders.
(a)
All permit holders seeking admission into the public shooting
range at the West Barnstable Conservation Area shall possess a range
permit issued in their name. Permits are available at the Marine and
Environmental Affairs Division (MEA), 1189 Phinney's Lane, Centerville,
MA (508-790-6272).Before the issuance of a range permit, the applicant
must certify under the pains and penalties of perjury that either
s/he attended a range orientation program offered by the Town or watched
the video of same online at the Town of Barnstable website: www.town.barnstable.ma.us.
(b)
Individual permits shall be issued only to those persons possessing
a valid Massachusetts firearms identification card or Massachusetts
license to carry firearms. Individual permits will be issued only
to those persons signing a waiver of liability and indemnification
agreement for themselves. (Appendix A-1)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A-1 is on file in the Town offices.
(c)
The range use permit shall be displayed on the outer clothing
of the permit holder.
(d)
The current schedules of fees and hours of operation which apply
are available at the Marine and Environmental Division.
(3)
Guests.
(a)
Permit holders may be accompanied by no more than three adult guests. The CRSO may, at his/her sole discretion, limit the number of guests allowed to shoot. Subject to Subsection B(3)(b) below, where a minor is a guest, that minor shall be the permit holder's only guest; provided, however, that when a minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, the parent or legal guardian may be allowed admission as an additional guest. The permit holder shall be responsible for any such guest, and any rule violation shall be enforceable against the permit holder as well as the guest. Any person entering the range with a permit holder will be deemed to be a guest regardless of his/her intention to participate in shooting or not. Prior to gaining admission to the range, any adult guest, must execute and present to the CRSO or designee the approved waiver of liability, and indemnification form (See Appendix A-2.[2]) and pay the required admission fee. The current schedule
of fees is available at the Marine and Environmental Division.
[2]
Editor's Note: Appendix A-2 is on file in the Town offices.
(b)
Minors under 11 years of age are not permitted inside the range
facility. No junior (a minor under 18 years of age) may use any firearm
unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or a certified firearms
instructor. Minors must be under constant adult supervision and control
at all times, including on the firing line. Prior to gaining admission
to the range, a minor and his parent or legal guardian must execute
and present to the CRSO or designee at the range the approved waiver
of liability and indemnification agreement. (See Appendix A-3.[3])
[3]
Editor's Note: Appendix A-3 is on file in the Town offices.
C.
Range safety and usage.
(1)
Permit holders shall conduct themselves in an orderly manner at all
times and will be held responsible for the conduct of any guest they
bring with them.
(2)
No person shall possess or be under the influence of any alcoholic
beverages or drugs at the range.
(3)
No smoking, eating, or drinking is allowed in the active range area
(firing line/bench area).
(4)
Ear and eye protection is required for all persons at the shooting
range.
(5)
Aluminum or steel cases, trash, paper or other combustible materials
must be placed in trash containers separate from those used for brass.
(6)
No solicitation on the range property is allowed. Groups using the
range during general public shooting hours are not permitted to make
collections, charge admission, sell tickets or refreshments, solicit
funds or raise money inside the range.
(7)
Firearms and ammunition.
(a)
All firearms must be in good working condition.
(b)
All firearms (unless licensed to carry a concealed a weapon)
must be unloaded when entering the range.
(c)
Ammunition must be in good condition, with no signs of corrosion
or damage.
(e)
Black powder firearms and shotguns.
[1]
The shooter shall ensure that black-powder-type firearms using
black powder or black powder substitute are charged and the projectile
inserted at the shooting tables only.
[2]
Black powder firearms may not be charged directly from a powder
flask, powder can, or large powder containers. Once charged, all powder
containers must be removed from the shooting table before priming.
Black powder firearms may only be primed and/or capped at the shooting
table with the muzzle pointing downrange. Black powder containers
will not be left on the shooting tables when the firearm is being
discharged.
(8)
The use of shotguns is prohibited on the rifle and pistol ranges.
(10)
All firearms (unless licensed to carry a concealed weapon) must
be transported unloaded and in a case (pistols or rifles), or muzzle
up with the action open, for rifles, whenever entering/exiting the
range; muzzle up, with action/slide open, when moving between firing
points inside the range.
(11)
All firearms not actively in use must be unloaded with actions
open, resting in either the rifle stand or on a shooting bench, with
muzzles pointed downrange, or stored in their cases.
(12)
No person shall deface, molest or destroy any sign, yard marker
or other structures.
(14)
Range users shall not distract any shooter while he/she is in
the process of loading, aiming or firing.
(15)
In the event of a misfire or jammed firearm that cannot be cleared
by the shooter, the shooter shall immediately bench the firearm, with
the muzzle pointed downrange, and notify the CRSO.
(16)
A shooter may only go down range with the permission of the
CRSO.
(17)
When any person is down range, all firearms must be unloaded
and placed in a safe condition (action open). No firearm should be
touched. All shooters must step back from the orange safety line.
(18)
All shooters must fire from the same firing line.
The Barnstable Conservation Commission may determine, based
on severity of the violation, to use one or all of the following:
A.
Violation of these rules and regulations or related schedules (fees;
hours of operation) as may be amended from time to time shall be punishable
by a fine of not more than $300 for each separate violation.
B.
Conservation staff, Natural Resource Officers and Barnstable PD may
elect to enforce violations by using the noncriminal process established
by MGL c. 40 § 21D.
C.
Violations will result in immediate removal from the range and possible
revocation of all range permits. Permits will be surrendered upon
demand by the CRSO, Conservation staff, Natural Resource Officers
and Barnstable PD. Permits may be reinstated only after a hearing
by the Conservation Commission and a decision by the Commission authorizing
the reinstatement.
These rules and regulations are promulgated under MGL c. 40,
§ 8C, and shall be enforced by Police Officers, Natural
Resource Officers and such other agents or officers as may be designated
by the Conservation Commission.
The range area may be closed periodically for maintenance and/or
police firearms qualification. The range may also be closed during
poor weather conditions, based upon seasonal demand, staff and funding
availability, emergency situations, and for other circumstances as
necessary for safety. Notice will be provided when possible and posted
on the board at the range and on the Town of Barnstable website: www.town.barnstable.ma.us/naturalresources.
Persons using this range do so at their own risk and peril.
The Barnstable Municipal Shooting range and the Town of Barnstable
assume no responsibility for injuries or lost or stolen items at the
range.
