Kevin Howard is the president of the Enfield Outing Club. (No, they’re not dedicated to shooting British military rifles; they’re located in picturesque Enfield, New Hampshire.) He recently sent out a notice to members of the gun club, explaining why they’re still open to members and how they’re going to handle it safety.  I think it’s a good role model policy for other such organizations.  Here are some excerpts from the bulletin recently sent to members:

  I’m sure most of you are aware the club’s range remains open.  The Executive Committee met virtually to discuss our options and decided the club should remain open not only as a service to our current members, but as a service to the community and new firearm owners.  From a legal standpoint, The Department of Homeland Security and Governor Sununu, both declared shooting ranges essential thereby authorizing us to remain open. So, I encourage you to get outside & use the range.  As you do, please keep a few things in mind. 

1) Be safe.  Follow all the firearm safety rules you’ve always followed.
2) Keep a 10-person maximum in mind.  Via Executive Order, Governor Sununu has mandated all gatherings have a maximum of 10 people.  So, if you arrive at the range and there are already 10 people, please leave & return later.
3) Remember to stay at least 6 feet apart. 
4) Face masks can’t hurt.  But they do not negate the need to follow all other recommended safety measures.
5) Clean up after yourself.  Please leave the range in better shape than you found it.
6) There may be some shooting newbies out there so please be patient, welcoming and extra vigilant where safety is concerned.

He adds,

  Our next topic of discussion was how to admit new members.  With regular club meetings canceled for the foreseeable future our normal admission policy will not work.  The BOD decided we will temporarily change the policy to accommodate the current situation.  Currently a prospective new member will go to our website, www.eocnh.com.  Click on membership and fill out the membership application.  Then add it to the cart.  They can either view it to make sure it’s correct or proceed to checkout.  They’ll need to pay & print out the application.  A member of the Executive Committee will then call them to set up an orientation.  The orientation will be limited to 6 people, plus 2 members of the committee.  At the orientation each prospective new member will hand in the membership application & be given a questionnaire so we can assess their level of competence.  A basic, really basic, firearm safety course will be provided to those people we feel need it or ask for it. Unfortunately, those people without a computer or who want a Family Membership will need to do everything by mail at this time.

The Executive Committee made these adjustments as a community service.  Firearm sales are setting records at this time.  We feel it is important people have a safe place to shoot.  We also feel strongly people should have a way to learn basic firearm safety.  By providing this service we hope everyone will have a safe, enjoyable shooting experience.

  At this time, the Free Sight-In day scheduled for April 26th is still on.  Of course, we’ll be adhering to the 10-person max, 6 ft spread, facemasks, etc.  However, in light of the ongoing health issues and mandated quarantine, the monthly member meeting for April is being canceled.  Any events scheduled through NH Fish and Game (i.e.: our Hunter Education Course scheduled in May) have also been postponed.  We will reschedule this once NHFG has authorized us to do so.

Copyright © 2020 Enfield Outing Club, All rights reserved.

Folks, Mr. Howard and his team strike me as having taken a very well measured approach to balancing current health concerns with the need to provide a place where the many, many people who bought their first firearms because of the current crisis, can learn their safe and competent use. I tip my hat to ‘em.

11 COMMENTS

  2. Mas,

    I am blessed to live in Texas. All ranges are open here. Indoor ranges are using some restrictions VOLUNTARILY and out door ranges are using good sense but have few limits other than the recommendation of Social Distancing and keeping your hand clean.

    Face masks are optional out doors.

    God. Bless Texas and Fod Bless America!

    JERRY

    • Jerry Adams,

      Texas has citizens who are knowledgeable about politics and economics, Ron Paul and other decent politicians, energy, and its own independent electrical grid. Definitely one of the few bright spots on this planet.

  3. Thank you for the kind words about EOC. We try to be a asset to the community always, and make all members and guest fill welcome.

  4. The Washington state governor declared the Second Amendment nonessential so we have to wait it out. November can’t come soon enough.

    • Yet, there is some positive movement, further South, on the Second Amendment in the Socialist Republic of California (of all places!). See this story:

      https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/california-judge-strikes-onerous-background-checks-on-ammunition-sales

      This clearly shows the importance of President Trump’s appointments to the Federal Courts. Imagine where we would be with a President Hillary in-office. In November 2016, we “dodged a bullet” that has allowed us to continue to buy bullets! 🙂

    • As of a couple weeks ago, the guv of Washington State had not “declared the Second Ammndment nonessential”. He DID fail to include firearms, gun stores, ranges, etc, in the”Essential” list, byt many gun stores are remaining open. I’ve received word directly from the folks at SecondAmmendment Foundation that they have a lawsuit and at lest half a dozeon plaintiffs with standing ready to file on a moment’s notice, and that Jay Inslee is aware of that. So it seems there is a “de facto” inclusion onto the “essential” list. I am not sure the status of gun ranges, I know of one event in a couple weeks that remains on the calendar.

  5. That bulletin was well-written and clear. Citizens of New Hampshire, do not let the communists take over your state! Enjoy your liberty and hang on to it. “Live free or die.”

  6. Mas,
    Thank you for singling out this club for doing things right. It encourages others to do the same thing, and shows just how reasonable gun owners really are. I live in Michigan, and saw that our governor,Gretchen Whitmer, came out today with new modified regulations. So I will have to look online and see just what they include. I doubt that she will change her rules on gun stores, but you never know.
    Since Michigan passed recreational marijuana in 2018, the BATFE made a new rule, that made it so that holders of CCW’s now have to undergo a background check to purchase a gun from an FFL dealer. Before, you only had to show your CCW and they could take the numbers down, and it was good, since you have already undergone an extensive background check to get your CCW. I think that the BATFE is just punishing the gun owners in Michigan because of the marijuana vote.

  7. Our gun club here in NC is doing a similar thing to Enfield. No club meetings or training courses that require indoor association, but the ranges are still open. We’ve just been asked to follow social distancing and clean up after ourselves. The indoor range where I work has closed, but that was voluntary, not mandatory, and there are plans afoot to reopen soon with some additional provisions made for distancing.
    The blog Legal Insurrection has a nice blurb about the judge’s decision in CA – makes for great reading! go to legalinsurrectioncom and scroll down a few entries

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