“Everything is prohibited unless permitted” is a very bad way to start a new local law. The primary objection of the Beaverbrook Rod & Gun Club Board of Directors is that the proposed Local Law #3 is both illegal and unethical and, if adopted, would have a devastating impact upon the town that we all agree is a great natural resource. The Beaver Brook Rod & Gun Club Board of Directors and its membership are committed to protecting our land and our community and we believe the best way to do this is to reject proposed Local Law #3. In addition, the document includes a commitment to the purposes of the River Management Plan for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River and the Upper Delaware Council in the appendix. Included in the appendix are provisions that infringe upon the operations and rights of Beaver Brook Rod & Gun Club and its members. An example is language that would outlaw the reloading with smokeless powder, in addition to other language that is expressly anti-sportsman.

Our membership is concerned that this law is a red herring, and that when it was originally proposed, the town board did not fully understand the impact that it would have upon the fabric of our community. The proposed local law was drafted via a template submitted by Community Environmental Defense Council attorney David Slottje on February 10, 2012. While this law may help Mr. Slottje in winning his upstate lawsuits, it will have a devastating impact upon our local community. We also need the board to follow the money back to the Park Foundation.

As previously stated, Beaver Brook Rod & Gun Club has been a strong and tireless steward of our land. Because of our concerns regarding the alleged negative impacts of hydro-fracturing, Beaver Brook Rod & Gun Club turned down numerous requests from gas company landsman to sign gas drilling leases. Our organization was actually given a check for over $3 million in order to coerce us into signing a lease; we declined the offer.

We have no interest in signing up for hydro-fracturing. We also have no interest in losing our rights. Our club uses the value of our property to acquire mortgage money from the bank. To willingly allow the passage of Local Law #3, we would be willingly allowing our club to lose its financial solvency. As directors of the Beaver Brook Road & Gun Club, we would be in violation of our fiduciary responsibilities.

This past Saturday, we had a youth event in which 93 children were able to fish for trout. We served the kids hot dogs and hamburgers and each child received a prize. Each year, we spend a considerable amount of our budget to teach the next generation the value of our natural environment. We pride ourselves on our civic involvement and the protection of our land. We have acted responsibly as an organization, and as active members of this community, we are simply asking the town board to do the same.

[James Hanson is president of the Beaver Brook Rod & Gun Club Board of Directors and a resident of the Town of Highland.]