BANG! Target Practice

I've lived in Dorchester forever, and up until recently, I had no idea there was a shooting range in Fields Corner. Yes, that’s right -- there's an honest-to-God, completely legal gun range off of Dot Ave., right next to T station.

...it's called the Boston Gun and Rifle Association. Behind the BGRA’s non-descript door there's a 50-foot indoor shooting range, a lounge and in-house shop where you can buy ammunition, cleaning supplies and other gun-related necessities. The decor is quite retro, with walls covered in wood-paneling that’s gotta date back to the 1970s. You feel like you're in a hunting lodge in the woods – it's easy to forget that Red Line trains are rumbling by right next door.

I found out about the place when I wrote a story about the Second Amendment Sisters. Earlier this year, I joined them for one of their "ladies night" shoots at the BGRA:

FYI, the Boston Gun and Rifle Association isn't totally open to the public – you can't just stroll in and shoot a weapon you found in the street. The facilities can only be used by BRGA members and their guests. To join the BGRA, you're required to take a firearms certification course, pass a safety test, and pay membership fees. It's a great place to check out if you're a licensed gun owner and live in the city...if you’re interested, applications are available on the BGRA website.

-- Emily Sweeney

tags: Boston , Dorchester, shooting, Massachusetts,
firearms