I Received a very strident email late last night complaining about shooting after dark that was disturbing this person. The respondent did not give an address, date of the incident or other details of how long the night shooting took place. The irate resident informed in the email that Londonderry Police attributed the shooting to the Londonderry Fish & Game Club. I find that a bit implausible as LPD well knows we do not shoot after dark.
In the email this person stated, "11:15 PM is too late to be conducting target practice." I could not agree more. 11:15 PM is beyond reasonable to be discharging firearms. The problem is Londonderry Fish & Game Club does not allow shooting after dark. On the other hand, there is a Police Range to the Northeast of our facility. I am also aware that low-light shooting scenarios are also a part of some component of the Police training metric. I cannot say that was the source of the late night gunfire, but I can say with certainty that it was not LFGC.
LFGC does not get many complaints about its range operations. When LFGC does get complaints it is rare that such a complaint is well articulated. Vitriolic, strident and threatening are typical of at least four to six complaints per year.
LFGC is shielded by State law from legal action regarding range noise. Despite that, the Club Officers have spent considerable time and energy to understand the nature of the noise complaints.
LFGC maintains that a substantial number of "loud" gunfire complaints originate from citizens who live along the Musquash Conservation Land and along Power line Corridors and rights of ways. Unfortunately, those places can be popular locations for so called, "target practice" or "plinking." Evidence of this can be found in several locations by the litter left on conservation land. Trees with bullet holes where targets were affixed.
LFGC concedes that gunfire noise does in fact emanate from our property. But, LFGC also contends it does its very best to minimize the level of sound from range activities.
First, LFGC maintains clean orderly managed ranges. In accordance with the National Rifle Association's Range Source Book, Range specifications call for a 20-foot backstop berm and intermediate side berms of 8 feet, terra-formed with at a 45 degree angle. LFGC meets or exceeds those specifications and berms are constructed of gravel (not loam). Berm height and construction substantially reduce decibel levels away from the range itself.
Second, LFGC owns 83 acres of land where most of the forestation and vegetation on the property is left undisturbed. Flora acts as a natural sound dampener.
Finally, LFGC has undertaken visits to surrounding neighborhoods within 2,500 feet of the club facilities. A series of decibel measurements were taken contemplating time of day, peak range use activity, firearms types, air density, season, weather conditions, temperature and foliage levels (fall). We have found that aircraft overflight shows a substantially higher decibel level than does the gunfire at LFGC.
Residents are correct to call the Londonderry Police and express concern over "loud gunfire," because the case may very well be that shooters are closer to homes, shooting in the Musquash than is safe or reasonable. At the very least, gunfire on our property is conducted under very controlled circumstances and LFGC knows where all bullets are going.
Residents simply should not accept Londonderry Police's explaining, "Oh that's Londonderry Fish and Game Club. There is nothing we can do."
Recently, One such resident received that very response from the Londonderry Police but on the date and time in question, all LFGC ranges were shut down for required maintenance. That in my view, is pretty lazy and dismissive.
It is true that LFGC enjoys many protections under RSA 159-B regarding operations of our shooting ranges. But that is not to say we are insensitive to what disturbs people. We know there are those very few folks who will tolerate no gunshots anywhere, anytime, period. That is an unreasonable viewpoint and we usually ignore it. However, When LFGC receives other complaints about "loud gunfire," we do attempt to identify sources outside of our property where it might likely be happening.
