Caroline County, Maryland Takes First Step To Banning Shooting Ranges!

Call Your County Commissioner Today!

On February 10, the County Commissioners of Caroline County, Maryland have approved an eight month long moratorium on shooting ranges in the county. 

Effective February 10, 2009, ordinance #2009-001 prohibits the county zoning administrator from accepting, reviewing or approving any applications for a new shooting range and prohibits any existing shooting ranges from upgrading or expanding in any R-1 area (which means one residential housing unit per lot).  

The County claims it needs 8 months to “fully study the appropriateness” of any shooting activity, and to then draft and recommend any changes from such review.

If a study is needed, does it justify a complete ban on zoning applications?

This anti-gun ordinance is just the first step to a countywide ban on shooting ranges.

Shooting ranges have a long tradition of service to a wide variety of citizen groups in local communities.  Due to population shifts from urban to suburban to rural areas, new groups of citizens have moved in closer proximity to existing ranges.  In recent years, this has resulted in hundreds of lawsuits and complaints filed by newcomers against range owners or the passage of local ordinances aimed at closing ranges because of noise, times of operation and facility expansion to accommodate growing interest and shooting club membership levels.

It is critical that you call your county commissioner and let him know that you oppose Ordinance #2009-001 and its effort to stop our shooting and hunting heritage in Caroline County.

Remind the county commissioners that:

v     Shooting ranges have longstanding records of safely providing important public services and recreational or training opportunities.

v     Shooting ranges often serve as training facilities for local law enforcement officials and military personnel.

v     Shooting ranges offer firearm and hunter education and safety courses, providing invaluable hands-on instruction in the safe and proper handling and use of firearms for shooting club members or citizens exercising their fundamental right to self-protection.

v     Shooting ranges serve as a location to hold both informal practice sessions and organized competitions for those engaged in recreational shooting.

Don’t let the County Commissioners of Caroline County close down the valuable public services and facilities where you can train or practice.

Please contact the County Commissioners and voice your opposition to this ordinance.

Below are the names and contact information of the Commissioners of Caroline County:

Chairman Jefferson L. Ghrist

President John W. Cole
Vice President Roger L. Layton

Phone: (410) 479-0660
email: [email protected]

To view the minutes of the February 10 meeting, please click here.