Mountain Times, 5/14/15
Selectboard meeting fosters
community conversation on useful but not burdensome restrictions
By Cristina Kumka and Polly Lynn
Killington will take steps toward
adopting a new ordinance that restricts gunfire along certain town roads. The
details, however, are still being ironed out after the town Select Board and
the police chief received input from citizens at the Select Board meeting, May
5. About 18 residents attended the Tuesday meeting.
Chief Whit Montgomery, in response
to numerous calls from residents about noisy, rapid gunfire along River Road,
proposed a plan for “restricted firearms discharge areas.”
Under state law, towns cannot restrict
the possession of guns nor one’s ability to hunt, fish or trap but towns and
cities can regulate or prohibit gun use within the borders of their specific
town.
“With those two directions by the
state, it allowed me to come up with an idea that would be best for our town,”
Montgomery said.
“The different parts of the town
that I am recommending we have restrictions on… are River Road, Schoolhouse
Road, West Park Road, Barrows Town Road and Roaring Brook Road,” he said,
explaining that these areas are in close proximity to schools, recreational
areas and golf courses. There was subsequent discussion on whether or not all
of River Road needed to be restricted. The 4.8 miles on the other side of
Thundering Brook Road may be excluded as they are a significant distance from
town library and recreation fields and trails.
Montgomery said the prohibited area
would extend 200 yards from the roads. He proposed fines ranging from $50 per
ticket for a first offense to $200 per ticket for a fourth offense and all
subsequent violations.
Defense of your life, property or
animals, butchering farm animals, as well as hunting, would be exempt from the
restrictions, he said.
“It’s mainly target shooting we are
trying to eliminate from certain areas,” Select Board Chairwoman Patty McGrath
summarized.
“What we are trying to discourage is
someone, generally in their backyard with close neighbors, popping off and
doing this. There is a balance. You have a right to have a gun but you have to
be a good neighbor… respectful,” McGrath said.
McGrath wanted to hear from more
“gun owners and people who hear the noise” prior to approving any new proposal
for a town ordinance on gun fire restrictions.
Cristina Kumka is a correspondent
for The Mountain Times, Cristina_kumka@yahoo.com.
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