"We went through a series of holidays and we were hoping and praying that this July was going to be different than last year," said outspoken opponent Todd Bissonnette of Willington. "The people of Willington are walking around with a big smile right now."
The retreat essentially brings Commissioner Melody Currey of Connecticut's Department of Administrative Services back to the drawing board, but this round seems easier.
"People came forward in other communities across the state and said, 'Take a look at our property. We're willing to sell it to you for this purpose,'" said Currey. "We are looking to find a more welcoming community."
Ten sites in Canterbury, Voluntown, Griswold, Sprague and Hampton are now under consideration by DAS. After the strong opposition in Willington - evidenced by hundreds of anti-gun range signs, anti-gun range town-commissioned committees and anti-gun range meetings -- DAS is employing a new strategy.
"We approached the First Selectmen and said, 'We`d like to come and do an informational hearing.' It's never been done this way but I think it's important we put it out there on the street now," said Currey.
Those informational meetings happened in March. Currey said worries at the new potential sites echoed those of the past.
"Just through the property values dropping, who would want to live in a town where you hear gunfire seven days a week?" said Bissonnette.
The main fear in Willington concerned noise. Noise, literally and figuratively, will continue to be a major factor, according to Currey who said locating the range at a minimum half-mile away from any residence is the goal.
"The desire is that the state is a good neighbor," said the commissioner. "I realize that no community is going to embrace this fully because they are concerned about the noise, which I think is much less noise invasion than is perceived at the moment."
She added that not putting the project in any backyard is not an option.
"State Police have to have a place to train. We have to site a facility where they can train adequately with today`s method of training. It`s a little different than it was 60 years ago," Currey said.
She hopes to have the five remaining towns narrowed down within the coming weeks, then begin the intensive months-long environmental impact study process. Currey said two years would be a conservative estimate for how long it would take to choose a site for the gun range and break ground.
