Dozens Speak Against Proposed Gun Range in Glastonbury Forest

Dozens of Glastonbury residents proclaimed "not in my state forest" during an informational meeting on a proposed state police gun range Thursday night.

Hundreds of residents packed the Riverfront Community Center Thursday night for an informational meeting on the proposed 55,000-square-foot facility that would be built on 30 acres of the Meshomasic State Forest near the Marlborough border.

The proposal, which was outlined Thursdsay night, would include two single-story control towers, a pistol range, rifle range, shotgun range, an active shooter training range and 125 parking spaces. Buildings--or possibly a single large building--would house classrooms for 100 troopers, indoor ranges and firearms and ammunition vaults.

The facility would replace the current Simsbury facility, which is outdated and prone to flooding.

Over 60 people spoke during the meeting, questioning the potential for noise and citing concerns for safety.

"A culture of guns is not what you want for your community," resident David Baker said. "We take our outdoors very seriously."

Others attacked the plan to develop some of the Meshomasic Forest, saying it would go against the town's open space conservation plans and endanger local wildlife habitats.

"You will subtract critical habitat and cause direct mortality," Sienna College professor Doug Fraser said. "This is totally inappropriate."  Fraser studies the endangered timber rattlesnake in the Meshomasic Forest, and said the species would be put at risk by the facility.  The Glastonbury woods are one of two places in the state that the venomous species can be found.

All of Glastonbury's representatives in the state legislature, including state Reps. Prasad Srinivasan and Joseph Diminico, as well as Sen. Steve Cassano, opposed the plan.

After State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance told the assembled residents that the police would "want to be a good guest" Srinivasan responded, "Who invited you?"

Two Glastonbury residents, Melissa Pericolosi and Jeanee Rubano, have started petition drives to stop the facility from being built.  They said they have collected over 1,500 signatures and plan to continue seeking more.

For more information on the petition visit GlastonburyMatters.com.