Wayland Rod & Gun Closure Attempt?

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I just saw an email from GOAL about an (another?) attempted closure of the Wayland Rod & Gn Club.

"Wayland residents heads up! The anti Second Amendment group who attempted to force closure of Wayland Rod & Gun Club are back!
Their proposed article will come up for discussion/approval at the Wayland Finance Committee Meeting on October 4th at 7:30 PM – Wayland residents are invited to attend and answer questions from the committee. The Finance Committee will be voting on whether or not this article should be approved. Their vote will carry a lot of weight regarding the future of the article.

This group hopes to include an article on the November town meeting warrant which would include changes such as:

  • Changing the 500 foot buffer for firearms discharge to 1000 feet.
  • Eliminating the 500 foot exception for ranges outlined in Ch. 269, §12E (c, d, & e).
  • Note, currently there are very few parcels of property in Wayland with >500 foot buffer, changing the bylaw to 1000 feet would effectively eliminate all private property as well.
Should this article make it to town warrant, and be approved, it would eliminate and make illegal any firearms discharge at the Wayland Rod & Gun Club."

Wayland Alert | Anti 2A Group Seeks Closure Of Rod & Gun Club -
 
This article was submitted as a Citizen’s Petition, so it will be on the Town Meeting Warrant. The fincom vote will only be to recommend, or not, its passage at town meeting, not whether it will be on the warrant.

Thanks for goal giving us a heads up, but once again a poorly written presentation of the facts by goal, the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.
 
Folks in Wayland do need to mobilize here.

FinCom’s favorability to an article or not does have some recommendation weight in many towns. Show in numbers at the FinCom meeting. You are looking for the proponent of the article to withdraw it. No support from FinCom helps. So, get folks to FinCom meeting, request to speak when this article is reviewed, have good speakers deliver talking points that repeatedly request they vote against or that the article be withdrawn. Lay out all the arguments against here, show the proponents they are in for a fight a Town Meeting.

Then, at Town Meeting, need to speak against the article with many respectful speakers. Even if it is just someone to say they request the body vote against the article, have them speak. Don’t get emotional or angry about it. Location wise if not precinct assigned seating, spread your speakers out within the meeting, don’t pack together. Create perception there is wide lack of support.

Don’t leave town meeting after the vote if you are successful. A crafty proponent could ask for it’s reconsideration prior to the end of the meeting. Don’t get a nasty surprise later.

Be strong, get numbers out, apply political pressure against, good luck.
 
Considering this is the Fincom that will be holding the hearing, I would also argue that I wouldn't want my town to waste a lot of tax revenue defending this bylaw in court in the event it is approved by town meeting.
 
A credible argument can be made in court that this is an end-run around the MA range protection ordinance that deals with noise, and is a proxy for ignoring the range protection law. Making this clear to the fincom will add credibility to your threat to litigate, as the reasonable conclusion is "the gun guys have a chance of winning".
 
This article was submitted as a Citizen’s Petition, so it will be on the Town Meeting Warrant. The fincom vote will only be to recommend, or not, its passage at town meeting, not whether it will be on the warrant.

Thanks for goal giving us a heads up, but once again a poorly written presentation of the facts by goal, the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.

Yes, I am a member of GOAL. Could you share the reason for the bolded part?

Matt

Whether or not GOAL may have every little fact and nuance exact is not the problem. The fact is that GOAL is alerting the citizens of Wayland to an effort which could be used against lawful firearms owners. In this case it seems to be a variation on the tactic, "don't bother to outlaw guns, just restrict where the honest gun owner can shoot and watch them wither away."

I find myself wondering whether NES member free was going to alert people to this effort or just let it slide under the radar.
 
A credible argument can be made in court that this is an end-run around the MA range protection ordinance that deals with noise, and is a proxy for ignoring the range protection law. Making this clear to the fincom will add credibility to your threat to litigate, as the reasonable conclusion is "the gun guys have a chance of winning".
Ditto, hit them in their wallets. If the citizens of Wayland realize a few hard core anti's will cost the town thousands in legal fees they might stop this now.
 
Chapter 40A, Section 6. "Except as hereinafter provided, a zoning ordinance or bylaw shall not apply to structures or uses lawfully in existence or lawfully begun, or to a building or special permit issued before the first publication of notice of the public hearing on such ordinance or by-law required by section five, ... ." This change in zoning may not affect the Rod and Gun club along as they do not apply for a Special Permit in the future but will harm any any new use of other properties for shooting in town.
 
To any Wayland residents: Wayland has an Open Town Meeting format where any resident who is a registered voter may speak and vote. Special Town Meeting is on Nov 13, so the last day to register to vote would be Nov 2. You can check your voter registration status and / or register on-line at www.mass.gov/topics/voting
 
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This group hopes to include an article on the November town meeting warrant which would include changes such as:

  • Changing the 500 foot buffer for firearms discharge to 1000 feet.
  • Eliminating the 500 foot exception for ranges outlined in Ch. 269, §12E (c, d, & e).
  • Note, currently there are very few parcels of property in Wayland with >500 foot buffer, changing the bylaw to 1000 feet would effectively eliminate all private property as well.
Everything here is directly aimed at shutting down a rifle range and nothing else. Any committee or board worth existing should dismiss it immediately.
 
Article from MWDN: Petition targets Wayland Rod and Gun Club


Seems the police chief is supporting the club. He might appreciate some short notes of thanks and support from town residents.
Chief Swanick is a strong 2A supporter and deserves lots of praise and thanks for his efforts in Wayland. This was all brought on by a new to Wayland resident formerly from Cambridge (shocker huh) who thinks a club that has been in existence from 1928 should be shut down because he doesn't like guns or gunfire report. This is much akin to what former California residents did to Colorado when they migrated there. Don't stand for it. If you are a Wayland resident be there for this Thursdays 7:30 (10/04/18) meeting and in November at the town meeting.
 
Chief Swanick is a strong 2A supporter and deserves lots of praise and thanks for his efforts in Wayland. This was all brought on by a new to Wayland resident formerly from Cambridge (shocker huh) who thinks a club that has been in existence from 1928 should be shut down because he doesn't like guns or gunfire report. This is much akin to what former California residents did to Colorado when they migrated there. Don't stand for it. If you are a Wayland resident be there for this Thursdays 7:30 (10/04/18) meeting and in November at the town meeting.
^^^ This

Once a petition is filed with the Selectmen, the only reason that they can refuse to put it on the Town Meeting agenda is if it is non-compliant with the rules for a citizen petition or would result in something illegal. Recommendations from Selectmen/Planning Board/Police Chief/Finance Committee/etc. carry some weight but are no guarantee of the outcome.

Only solution is to be present and vote it down at Town Meeting. My recommendation comes from 40+ yrs of being involved in town government and attending town meetings.
 
Wayland residents, please join me at the FinCom meeting tomorrow night. The last time the petitioners tried to shut down the Wayland Rod & Gun Club an unfavorable recommendation from the FinCom shot them down.
 
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The finance committee and the petitioner have agreed that bylaw changes can’t stop current, grandfathered land use, so that this petition, if passed, won’t effect the club. Make no mistake, though, shutting down the club was the petitioners intent — they just didn’t do their homework before writing the petition. The same was true with the petition they wrote several years back trying to shut down the club with a noise bylaw — they didn’t do their homework back then either.

The police chief spoke and told the finance committee that passage of the article may increase cost for police training. I predict that the finance committee will take no opinion on the article.

And the petitioners couldn’t be bothered to show up. We had a very nice turnout of gun owners.
 
Yes. I expect this will be in the warrant and I expect it will have a good chance of passing st the special town meeting.
 
Wayland residents, please join me at the FinCom meeting tomorrow night. The last time the petitioners tried to shut down the Wayland Rod & Gun Club an unfavorable recommendation from the FinCom shot them down.
Just a heads up. It appears the meeting is
The finance committee and the petitioner have agreed that bylaw changes can’t stop current, grandfathered land use, so that this petition, if passed, won’t effect the club. Make no mistake, though, shutting down the club was the petitioners intent — they just didn’t do their homework before writing the petition. The same was true with the petition they wrote several years back trying to shut down the club with a noise bylaw — they didn’t do their homework back then either.

The police chief spoke and told the finance committee that passage of the article may increase cost for police training. I predict that the finance committee will take no opinion on the article.

And the petitioners couldn’t be bothered to show up. We had a very nice turnout of gun owners.
Good showing of Wayland Patriots at the meeting. Nice seeing you all and my neighbors who turned out. Very important to be at Novembers town meeting and see this through and vote. Although the current ranges at the club are "grandfathered", possible future range considerations would be impacted/prohibited if this new proposal was approved. It's not only about WR&GC. Wayland is rich with wildlife, hunting and old world traditions. Those who cherish these things don't want to see them ever go away. Thank you to everyone who took the time after their work day to show up and make a difference.
 
Wayland residents: This is now listed as Article 10 in the Warrant. You should have received a printed copy in the mail; if not a pdf formatted file is available here:
Special Town Meeting 2018 Warrant | Wayland MA

The Special Town Meeting may be completed in one night - if so this may be heard late in the evening of Tuesday Nov 13. Fortunately the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Board of Health have all voted to not recommend approval. Please turn out to vote against this article and be wary of any amendment(s) by the proponent that may be put forward on the floor of town meeting. To participate at Town Meeting you must be registered to vote; the last day to register to vote is Nov 2. You can check your voter registration status and / or register on-line at www.mass.gov/topics/voting
 
Love the articles stock photo. One could not find a better Black Killy photo if they tried. Bias much..?
 
Wayland Alert - Town Meeting 11/13/18 - Vote NO on Article 10!
mail

Wayland will be voting on a measure that would effectively ban legal shooting on private property.

Wayland residents - please attend town meeting on 11/13/18 and vote no on Article 10! If you know a Wayland resident, please encourage them to attend & vote NO on 10!

Wayland alert - the town will be moving on an article (10), which will change the 500ft buffer to 1000 ft for legal discharge of firearms. This will effectively eliminate legal shooting on private property.

The article also has other provisions in it that could impact the possibility of future gun ranges.

This proposal could also force the Wayland Police Department to have to leave town to train with their firearms.

For more about this article, please see this rather biased article published on Wayland Patch.
 
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