are shooting ranges 2A protected?

[gunsmith]

after yrs of rural isolation there may be some houses being built around here for retired burningman folks, our range is about ten acres from the road and faces a huge hill - the houses will be built behind us about 20 acres away & across a road. I'm pretty sure unincorporated areas like us simply need to be 1000 yards from the road and I'm pretty sure we are.

[BlindRacer]

It sounds like you are probably fine with that much land, and in an unincorporated area, but you need to check the specifics of your city/county code and make sure of all the details.

Also, actually measure out the distances from some things, cause being 'pretty sure' won't cut it, if you're even 1" inside the forbidden boundaries.

[Librarian]

But to the precise point of your question, 'shooting ranges', in general, very likely are protected - see Ezell v Chicago - but any particular shooting range may be subject to restrictions.

So long as the range follows local ordinances, the principal defense against the problem you anticipate is 'the range was here first; the seller should have disclosed that to you before you bought, and if he did, you can go pound sand.'

But easier - at the first indication of complaint, invite them over to shoot.

[Mesa Tactical]

So long as the range follows local ordinances, the principal defense against the problem you anticipate is 'the range was here first; the seller should have disclosed that to you before you bought, and if he did, you can go pound sand.'

Nonetheless, many ranges have been closed on grounds of encroaching subdivisions, most spectacularly the San Gabriel Valley Gun Club in 2005.

[CAL.BAR]

Don't count on any protection. Money always wins. Houses always are worth more money than open land. (i.e. homes almost always beat open shooting land)

[dantodd]

Nonetheless, many ranges have been closed on grounds of encroaching subdivisions, most spectacularly the San Gabriel Valley Gun Club in 2005.

2005. Pre-Heller, pre-McDonald. Also, individual cases will have to be litigated for some time.

[Librarian]

Comparable, but less politically/emotionally loaded situation: in Sacramento, Mather AFB (now long closed) was sued for noise and flight operation dangers. Aerial photographs from 1940 onwards showed a facility far out in the farmlands, slowly encroached upon by subdivisions.

Plaintiffs lost on the 'we were here first, you knew or should have known you were next to an Air Force base' argument.

I'll grant that US DOD has more resources than the typical small land owner.

[safewaysecurity]

According to Ezell they are indeed protected.

[BlindRacer]

Is the land that you are talking about your personal, private property?

[violator22348]

"are shooting ranges 2A protected? "

If you're talking about open,uncontrolled ranges, NO. There used to be 3 NFS ranges in the Big Tujunga area, north of L.A. The first one closed down because some dude was murdered there, the second and third ones for 'environmental reasons'. People were shooting washing machines and refrigerators up there....morons.

....used to take my Galil up there...and a couple of....other things.

[gunsmith]

ah, the range is on private property for the use of the owner and guest-I'm just a lowly serf, oops I mean "ranchhand"