Greenfield Gun Range Moves Forward In Common Council Meeting

GREENFIELD, WI — A gun range proposed for the City of Greenfield made its next step to eventual construction. The Greenfield Common Council approved a change to local ordinances that will now allow the gun range.

Although there are multiple steps that the gun range still has to go through to be constructed, Tuesday's meeting brought the first necessary Common Council action. Point Blank Gun Range has been working on bringing a new indoor gun range to 10557 West Layton Avenue since January.

Kevin Allee, vice president of real estate for Shoot Point Blank, attended the meeting, and answered the many questions about the range fielded by citizens.

"We sought out Greenfield because we though it was a wonderful community," Allee said at the meeting. "If a community tries to push us toward the red-light district, if it tries to push us toward the gravel pit, we don't go."

Allee said that if the community doesn't want the range, they don't sue. Instead, they simply leave.

Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke read proposal documents in the meeting that state the building would employ about 25-27 people, that it would be set back from the road, and that it would be insulated with rubber and foam to prevent the sound of gunshots from getting out. Neitzke added in the meeting that he would be one of the closest neighbors to the range.

Several members of the community attended the meeting to speak in favor or against it.

One public comment said that the new gun range would be a good idea, and that it would help his kids and wife learn how to use a gun better.

Another person spoke in favor of the range, stating that "it doesn't promote getting a gun, you could decide that's not for you. As a woman, I want to practice."

Others spoke out against the new range, citing issues with environmental practices for disposing the lead and issues with the sound that could come from the range.

Allee responded to the concerns about lead poisoning and noise. He said that the whole range will be insulated with rubber and foam to negate any sound, and that the disposal of lead bullets and air filtration units is strictly regulated by federal agencies.

Allee added to his comments that the company's name, Shoot Point Blank, is something he does not like. He said he hopes the whole company, which has over 25 locations in across the country, will change its name to "Range USA" soon.

"Gun culture is growing, growing, growing," another citizen said during the public hearing. "This gun culture is asking something of the community, and we don't have to give it to them."

Neitzke said at the meeting that the development is not an easy thing to approve, and that the current owner of the Layton Avenue property that the range could be constructed on has been trying to get rid of it for 15 years, Netzke added.

"When they approached us, I think everyone thinks about guns and oh my god, it brings out strong emotions," Neitzke said.

Neitzke added that Greenfield Police Department has reached out to other departments across the country that already have a Shoot Point Blank range in their area. Other departments had nothing negative to say about the company, Neitzke said.

Allee responded at the meeting to safety concerns that the company uses standards stricter than federal ones when selling guns. The Brady Bill mandates that gun shops can sell to an individual if they can't get a background check back from the FBI in 3 days, Allee said.

Allee said that the range goes one step further, and does not sell to anyone without a background check, no matter how long it takes. Allee also said that the company never uses person-to-person transactions, such as the ones found at gun shows.

The company exclusively uses indoor ranges, Allee said at the meeting.

The amendment to the zoning ordinances and special exception was passed 4-1.

The Brady Bill was passed by Bill Clinton.