Chabot Gun Club In Castro Valley Ordered To Close

CASTRO VALLEY (CBS SF) -- The vote came after hours of public comment, mostly from gun enthusiasts who flooded a meeting Tuesday night, urging the East Bay Regional Parks District board of directors to keep Castro Valley's Chabot Gun Club open.

Jonathan Wong, a Chabot Gun Club supporter said, "Closing the Chabot gun range down would only close the door to firearm safety education. Let the gun range continue."

There were dissenting voices including neighbors who claim the club is too loud, and say the noise makes the area sound like a war zone.

Castro Valley resident Sally Cahill said, "I think it's time to shut down the gun range."

But in the end it wasn't noise that the board said swayed their vote.

Dennis Waespi, Ward 3 Board Member, said "For me, the overwhelming issue is lead, just like everyone else. It's an issue we can't get away from. I think it's a definite threat to our environment."

The lead leaches off of spent shells, poisoning soil and water in Chabot Regional Park.

The shooting club had offered to clean up the pollution to stay open but the board argued there is simply not enough money for the millions it would cost to clean and keep the range open.

In the end a unanimous vote Tuesday night gave the club one year to wind down operations before closing.

"Of course I'm disappointed," said Colin Duke, a Chabot Gun Club supporter.

"It's a sad day for 2nd Amendment supporters. It's a sad day for gun owners," Duke said.

Environmentalists celebrated, though some were still dissatisfied at the amount of time the club was given to close.