Town committee to study shooting concerns

The Grafton Town Board last week agreed to create a citizens committee to address shooting concerns of residents.

Town Chairman Lester Bartel said the eight-person committee will “research and identify” firearm abusers and problematic areas in the town and return to the board in 60 days with an action plan. Bartel said the committee meeting is open to the public for input.

“There’s probably a lot of people who want to be heard,” Bartel said at the board’s  Wednesday, May 9, meeting.

In April, the board  reviewed a proposed ordinance that will limit the use of firearms throughout the town to put a stop to shooting ranges.

Under the proposed ordinance, “Any individual including property owners firing more than 20 rounds of center fire cartridges in a 24-hour period at intervals of less than 20 seconds between rounds, shall be considered to be operating a firing range. The period of sundown on Friday evening to sunup on Monday morning shall be treated as a 24-hour period.”

The proposed ordinance also states the use of shotguns for trap shooting shall be limited to no more than 100 rounds per event and no more than 25 rounds per shooter in any 24-hour period. 

Property owners are responsible for any firearms activity that they permit on their property. Firearms-discharge permits are required for any individual other than the property owner.

Bartel said the ordinance is not intended to regulate or interfere with any legal hunting activity as permitted under the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources rules, seasons and ordinances.

First-time offenders will be fined $100, with subsequent offenses each carrying a $500 fine.

During last week’s meeting, several residents spoke about their concerns with limiting the use of firearms throughout the town.

Lakefield Road resident Tyler Steindhart said he is opposed to changes because there are not many issues in the town and previous abusers have improved their shooting habits.

Bartel said the town receives about 10 shooting complaints per year, which primarily occur during the summer.

The consensus among board members was to balance residents’ safety with shooting rights.

In March, the board agreed to add two densely populated areas to the town’s no-discharge firearms zone. Those include the Hillcrest neighborhood off River Bend Road, as well as the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Lakefield Road and River Bend roads, which is the Grafton Little League complex.

The Little League complex is in the village but surrounded by the town. Bartel said he wanted to include the area in the ordinance to clarify that shooting is not allowed in its vicinity.

Bartel said the board will consider action after the citizen committee returns with its findings.    “We got to give it time,” he said.