Oct 4, 2006 By Rebekah Sungala 4 min read

PERRY TWP. – Township supervisors decided Tuesday to wait until next month before deciding whether or not to grant a pyrotechnic permit to a gun club that uses property in the township as a shooting range of sorts. The C.A.R.R. Club, the organization asking for the permit, is made up of members who collect and own obsolete weapons and meet at different locations throughout southwestern Pennsylvania throughout the year to fire them. During the shoots, small explosives are also set off.

Club member Rich Marshall, who was present for Tuesday’s meeting, said a Perry Township resident has made a piece of private property available to club members a few times a year.

The property is located in a valley between Routes 51 and 201 heading toward Connellsville.

The club received a pyrotechnic permit from the township and set off explosives and shot on the property several months ago, much to the dismay of several residents.

During Tuesday’s meeting, residents spoke out, saying the club disturbed the peace with their gunshots during the last shoot and that the explosives shook their houses.

Connie DuBreucq who lives on Cemetery Road said the shoot “sounded like a war” and went on all day without stop.

DuBreucq said she lives less than a half-mile away from the area where the club holds the shoot and that she is afraid a bullet from one of the guns will hit something on her property, noting that the noise is almost unbearable at times and creates a disturbance.

She said she also thinks the area where the shoot is held is too close to major highways to be safe.

“I don’t understand why you have to shoot in our township. Shoot in your own neighborhood,” DuBreucq said.

Marshall, who lives Salem Township, said the club shoots on private property and that they are within their legal rights to fire weapons there.

He said a permit is required only to use explosives, something the club likes to use during the shoots, but doesn’t have to.

“We can still shoot our guns there with or without a permit,” he said.

Marshall said the area is “the perfect location” for such a shoot because it is completely safe and enclosed, keeping any would-be stray bullets at bay.

In addition, he said club members do not shoot continuously the whole day and that the club only plans to shoot in Perry Township a couple times a year.

After several minutes of discussion, supervisors A.J. Boni and Janet Galla voted to table the motion that would grant the club a pyrotechnic permit after several minutes of discussion.

Boni said the township solicitor, Donald J. McCue, would look into the matter to make sure the club was following all federal, state and municipal guidelines before giving their approval.

The supervisors will make a decision as to whether or not they will award a pyrotechnic permit to the club in November.

Boni said he wants to be fair and doesn’t want to interfere with anyone’s constitutional rights, but that he also has to take the residents requests into consideration.

He said he believes granting a pyrotechnic permit to the club is not any different than granting a pyrotechnic permit to the company who puts off the Fourth of July fireworks.

In fact, the supervisors granted two separate pyrotechnic permits to the Heritage Society to be used during reenactments during the Perryopolis Pioneer Days during Tuesday’s meeting.

“Legally, it’s not any different,” he said.

DuBreucq, supported by several residents, said the township was right to grant the permits to the Heritage Society because it’s an educational function and doesn’t go on continuously all day long and create a disturbance.

“It’s like comparing apples and oranges,” she said. “I just don’t think they should be allowed.”

Galla said a compromise needs to be worked out between the club and the residents if McCue’s investigation finds the club meets all guidelines.

As for other matters, supervisors also conducted the following business:

– Announced trick or treating in the township will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29. Anyone willing to participate should turn his or her porch light on. The Halloween Parade will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 30, with festivities taking place at the town circle in Perryopolis Borough. Supervisors said residents are encouraged to participate in the parade.

– Voted to purchase a 2007 Ford pickup truck for about $38,000 for daily township use.

– Announced the November meeting will be held the first Wednesday of the month as opposed to the first Tuesday because of Election Day. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 in the municipal building, at which time the 2007 proposed budget is expected to be presented.