Save a gun range today!

I got this email from the NRA today. I just kicked in 20 bucks via paypal. If your are so inclined, please consider helping our brethren in New England. This is the largest range in NE.

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Save Blue Trail Range, Inc.
www.savebluetrailrange.org
Blue Trail Range is currently under attack. Blue Trail Range in Connecticut is under attack by individuals who have alleged that, even after over sixty years of operation, bullets from the range are improperly entering public and private property. As of this point, Blue Trail Range has been served with two such frivolous lawsuits with claims ranging from trespass, nuisance, noise pollution, lead contamination, and even a claim against the Town of Wallingford for allowing the range to continue to operate!

In an effort to get to the bottom of these claims, this past summer, Blue Trail Range voluntarily closed its outdoor ranges for about three months, while it evaluated its safety protocols and range designs to see if further improvements were necessary or practical. The results of these evaluations have indicated that lawsuits are without merit and are filed merely to try to close this time honored shooting facility. Nonetheless, during the temporary shutdown, Blue Trail Range took the opportunity to make some recommended safety enhancements to try and head off any claims in the future. At this point we are asking for your assistance and support as a loyal patron and sportsman.

Save Blue Trail Range, Inc.'s mission is to raise funds to meet the necessary legal, environmental, public relations, and other costs associated with ensuring continued daily operation of Blue Trail Range. Blue Trail Range requires your financial assistance to continue to operate and remain open.

Expenses are already over a quarter million dollars. The continued litigation by these motivated Plaintiffs will drive these costs even higher, possibly as high as one million dollars, as this is just another way that people use to try and put ranges out of business: by bleeding them dry having to defend frivolous lawsuits. The range needs your help now!

What Can You Do To Help?
Blue Trail Range is currently in the "fight for its life". If its facilities are permanently closed, the chances increase that a "domino" effect will threaten other ranges, both private and public.

Please help today:

1.
Contribute today by check payable to Save Blue Trail Range, Inc., [a 501(c)4 corporation] mail it to the Treasurer, Buddy Niezgorski, 58 Walnut Lane, Wallingford, CT 06492.

2.
Contribute online on the website www.savebluetrailrange.org and hit the "Pay" button to direct you to Paypal account for donations to this fund.

3.

Write letters to the editors of Connecticut newspapers and the Office of the Attorney General in Connecticut supporting the Blue Trail Range. Addresses can be found at www.savebluetrailrange.org

4.
Visit Blue Trail Range today --- the safest and largest indoor shooting range in New England ---- with a fully stocked gun store.

Blue Trail Range and its patrons have always taken firearms safety seriously. Yet certain individuals are accusing the range of allowing bullets to improperly enter public and private property. These same individuals have sued to obtain an injunction to stop the range from operating, even though Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection has issued press releases heralding the safety of the range. It is apparent that the Plaintiffs are dead set on closing the range for their own personal gain, hiding behind the cover of safety, noise and lead concerns.

Blue Trail Range consists of a ten point 50 foot indoor range, fifteen point 33 foot indoor air rifle range, nineteen point 25 yard outdoor pistol range, one hundred point 50-yard and 100 yard outdoor rifle range, a shotgun field, snack bar, and complete gun store. Blue Trail Range is the largest commercial range open to the public in New England and is open 7 days a week, 9AM-5PM, with extended summer hours.

LAW ENFORCEMENT: In addition to the public, Blue Trail Range has served the Connecticut law enforcement community since its opening in 1945, and has provided essential training facilities for the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection agents, the Connecticut Governor's Foot Guard, and the Connecticut Governor's Horse Guard. Additionally, it also serves the United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, United States Navy, United States Army National Guard, and Securitas, the security agency for Connecticut's nuclear power plants. Significantly, the ranges provide training facilities for fifteen Connecticut municipal police departments and the Connecticut CMP.

COMPETITIVE SHOOTING PROGRAMS: Blue Trail Range is also host to many competitive programs. The Connecticut State Rifle & Revolver Association has hosted National Rifle Association (NRA) and USA Shooting registered smallbore, high power, and pistol shoulder-to-shoulder matches, state and regional championships for competitors throughout the United States and from England, Scotland, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as the Olympic Team from India.

JUNIOR RIFLE CLUB: Over 40 local elementary, junior, and high school teams use Blue Trail Range's facilities as their schools do not have ranges on-site. History shows that once a riflery program is removed from a school's curriculum, it's tough for this varsity sport to be re-instated.

OLYMPICS: Olympic shooters have also practiced and honed their skills on this range. Fairfield's Emily Caruso trained and competed at Blue Trail Range and recently represented the United States at the Beijing Olympics in the women's air rifle events. Also firing many matches at Blue Trail Range have been such notables as Olympic athletes Lones Wigger, Mike Anti, and Steve Scherer.

Many hundreds of prospective hunters attend Hunter Safety Classes held at the range under the auspices of the Department of Environmental Protection. Certification classes sponsored by Blue Trail Range have enabled citizens to apply for handgun and pistol permits. Additionally, firearms safety and competence has been enhanced by the Blue Trail's commitment to sponsoring NRA Rifle Instructor's Courses, Women's Pistol events, instruction for Scout and 4-H Program members, local manufacturers training activities, and, ladies charity events raising money for local worthy causes.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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National Rifle Association * 11250 Waples Mill Road * Fairfax, VA 22030
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