Much has recently been posted to Northeast Shooters web site regarding the Braintree Rifle & Pistol Club. The web site, and its forum, potentially serve a purpose to inform your members interested in firearms and shooting. Recently, however, much has been written bashing the BRPC. While differences of opinions are legitimate, falsehoods and outright lies are not.
Firstly, as president, I do not respond to e mails generally. The response received by a member regarding being unable to shoot when a CMP match that was being held and not on the club calendar is a legitimate complaint, had that actually been the case. Either way, the response allegedly received by this individual, and as coming from me, is not accurate.
The club goes to great lengths to maintain and update the calendar. Being a volunteer organization, sometimes things slip by. BRPC has over 6000 members currently. It costs upward of $300,000 per year to run the club, not including capital improvements. The executive board works diligently to maintain the property and see to it that the ranges function properly and safely. The result is what I would argue is the best shooting facility in Massachusetts. We have two indoor ranges open 24/7 with automatic target carriers and a state of the art HVAC systems. We have a rifle range with targets at 50 and 100 yards, and two pistol ranges, including a small plinking range. The club has a trap field and an archery field. BRPC has one of the largest juniors programs for kids ages 11 to 18. We also host the North Quincy Air Force Jr. ROTC. BRPC has a Pistol Team and a Rifle Team and an active CMP program. Those certified as instructors teach and certify hundreds of new shooters each year.
While many will argue which is the best club, and there are some great clubs in Massachusetts, certain facts reported in Northeast Shooters about BRPC warrant correction.
1. The club has never had a bullet leave the property. Allegations were made some years ago about bullets hitting a building to the rear of our 87 acres. At that time we requested the NRA Range folks conduct an investigation. The NRA response was excellent and I encourage all clubs to take advantage of their Range program. What they found was that persons had been trespassing on our property, despite the fact that is fenced. Apparently access was gained from the railroad tracks to our West. No bullet from our ranges has ever been proven to have struck or landed on property beyond our property lines. Any so called “verified” report is simply untrue.
2. The NRA made several recommendations regarding such things as berms, placement of targets, operating procedures and a host of other things. Work was performed to upgrade the ranges. As such, our ranges are designed so that a bullet cannot leave our property
provided persons shoot from the designated areas. While we like to believe that all members would abide by our rules and regulations to insure safety on the ranges, as they say, one bad apple can spoil the bunch, or in this case get the club CLOSED. The range officer program was started to insure the rules are followed, as well as assist shooters and in my opinion, all involved do an outstanding job. Allegations that RO’s asked for the serial numbers off of someone’s magazine are simply untrue as are several posts in Northeast Shooters about the RO’s. What is a fact is that RO’s volunteer for 3 hour shifts, sometimes multiple times per week. Our RO’s insure that our ranges remain open and operate safely. They are there to, and do, help members. Under the guidance of Chief RO Joe Norman, over half our RO’s are NRA certified.
3. Despite our property being abutted by apartments to our west and houses to our north, BRPC has NEVER received a neighbor complaint. Even when construction was anticipated at the club part of the permitting process was to notify neighbors and obtain signatures. Our neighbors have been very supportive of the club because we have considered them in our operating hours. BRPC supports several teams, the historical society and we are active in town events.
4. While several of the comments on Northeast Shooters have been directed at me personally, I feel compelled to briefly respond. I am more than happy to speak with or meet with anyone interested in the BRPC as well as listen to and address legitimate complaints about the club. While I may not agree with you, I will always listen. Anyone who has attended a member’s meeting or the annual meeting can confirm this fact.
5. As for my profession, yes, I am an attorney and quite proud of that fact. My practice is varied. I represent insurance companies and their insured’s, like you, who have been sued. I have successfully defended several gun clubs in Massachusetts. Through my firm, I represent members of various police departments facing disciplinary issues and before internal affairs and firearm discharge boards. I also handle personal injury matters, criminal cases and cases involving firearms licensing/revocation. I practice in both State and Federal Courts and have tried hundreds of cases. As I said, a varied practice. It’s funny how many people dislike lawyers….until they need one.
I have no doubt that this response will result in additional comments. I hope that they will be positive and constructive. The BRPC is an excellent facility. Personal attacks should be banned and erased from the Northeast Shooters Forum.
Respectfully,
Eric S. Goldman, President of the Braintree Rifle & Pistol Club.
![[rolleyes]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/042.gif "Roll Eyes [rolleyes]")
) ............hence the post about "this is why we can't have nice things".
