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One of my students lives in Easton, on one acre, and she put a pistol range in her back yard, after getting permission from the town PD. All she needed was a safe a bckstop. I told her I hate her

Also another friend in Oxford on five acres has a 50 foot range in his basement and a 100 yard range in his backyard.

I was thinking of purchasing my own piece of land. Drop a big pile of sand/dirt on itas a backstop. Something small and cheap like a 1/2 acre to shoot on. I haven't checked bpts ruling myself but had a couple of people tell me theres no discharge in city limits. Anyone know who to ask officially?

i'm closing on my house at the end of the month... 2.62 acres.  i'm hoping to put a backstop in... i'm just nervous about making sure the direction and everything is safe...

thats exactly my problem gregg, trying to find a direction thats safe

i have 2 acres and a natural berm that is more than sufficient ... anyone know how coventry is in regards to private property shooting?  also how would i find out - just ask the PD?

Sean,

As someone said above, you are thinking of things a bit backwards.  We have a legal system in this country based on the concept that if something is not explicitly prohibited, it is allowed. 

As such you will not find any laws allowing shooting. 
In fact the VAST majority of towns in CT have no legislation relating to shooting.  Most fall back on the CT statutes that simply say that it has to be safe and not cause undue risk.  I'll find the statute when I can and cite it here. 

Of the town ordinances that I have seen they all explicitly relate to outdoor ranges only.  (as does the CT Statute)

Can you provide a link or a quote from the Bridgeport ordinance? 

The proposed Tolland ordinance would have required a 500 foot distance for all outdoor shooting between the shooting place and any neighbors.  I don't remember if it was with their dwelling or the property line.  But I believe it was with the dwelling. 

Regarding the person who invited the police to come look at a range:  While this might be a nice thing to do, remember that the police don't make law.  One might have given an opinion as to the safety of the site and therefore weighed in on the legality per CT Statute, but in reality its not necessary. 
My problem is more that I don't like to see people ASKING their government for permission to do what is legal.  I prefer to simply inform them.  I have had police called when we were shooting machine guns on private property. 

In one instance I got into a slight confrontation with one of the responding officers when I refused to provide identification.  He was on private property and we we didn't have handguns with us so no need to carry pistol permits.   After refusing to give him "the paperwork" on the MG and refusing ID, I told them that their right to be on this property ended when they ascertained that there was not a crime in progress.  The officer said he needs to check to see if we were prohibited persons and if the guns were legal.  I asked him if he thought he had the right to stop cars at random to see if the drivers license, registration, and insurance were valid. 

The older, cooler officer got the point when I said that I had explicit permission from my wife to get arrested in situations like this and that I was more afraid of her than I was of them.  At that point the property owner said something like "Are you refusing to leave my property?"  With that they left while the hotter headed one muttered something about breach of peace. 

So, why do I say this?  I now like to give the local PD a courtesy call TELLING them that we will be shooting MGs.  So if a call comes in they at least know about us.  I've found that it greatly reduces the number of calls and also reduces officer stress and anxiety when they come get called. 

Don