Buckeye Reporter

The Ft Devens Rifle & Pistol Club Inc. has regained access to the shooting ranges at Fort Devens after a prolonged legal battle with the U.S. Army. Earlier this month, members of the club returned to use the ranges for the first time in nearly five years.

As a result of the lawsuit, several changes were made regarding how the club can use the facility. The cost per range outing is now $16.98 for the entire club, and using plastic “Ivan” torso targets on automated ranges costs $18.61 per session. Previously, Fort Devens attempted to charge $250 per range outing, but that fee was struck down by a federal court.

“That’s quite a bit less than the $250-per-range-outing Fort Devens tried to charge us, which the federal court knocked out,” said James Gettens, club treasurer, attorney and Iraq War veteran.

Under new terms, the club may use two rifle ranges per month but has given up handgun privileges at Fort Devens. Most members already belong to other facilities where they can shoot handguns; their primary interest at Fort Devens is rifle shooting.

Another significant change requires all of the club’s range safety officers to complete NRA Range Safety Officer training—even though many are already certified by the NRA—marking a shift in policy from base officials who previously did not recognize NRA training.

Additionally, charges for portable toilets on site have been eliminated; previously, officials billed $140 per day despite actual costs being only $2.29 daily.

The Ft Devens Rifle & Pistol Club had held events at Fort Devens for decades before filing suit in August 2022 over denied access and high fees. The court ruled in favor of the club on March 20, 2025; no appeal was filed within 60 days.

Despite winning in court, members were initially blocked from entering when they returned on May 13, 2025 due to confusion over which firearms could be used—a situation that prompted Gettens and others to file a motion for contempt against fort officials.

“Apparently, the fort would have just strung us along indefinitely had we not filed the motion for contempt,” Gettens said recently.

In response to ongoing issues even after their legal victory, Gettens sent a letter detailing these problems directly to Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth and other key officials: “That dishonesty and obstructionism forced the club to file its motion for a finding and order of contempt, with supporting documents,” he wrote.

Copies were also sent to Lt. Gen. Omar J. Jones IV (U.S. Army Installation Management Command), Stephen Miller (White House deputy chief of staff for policy), as well as advocacy organizations such as Second Amendment Foundation and National Rifle Association.