Duelist1954 under attack by local government over the use of “The Duelists Den”

On February 24, 2023 Mike Beliveau, known online as “Duelist1954” posted an update on facebook about a letter he had recieved from his local government.

Today I got a letter from the the township where the Den is located, saying they had a complaint that I’m running a shooting range, and I have no zoning permission for such an operation.

Their investigation shows I am indeed running such an operation. And, not only that, but my range lacks unclimbable, 7-foot high side berms around each shooting lane, and my range lacks the appropriate safety signage, and, even though my backstop is a 150 foot high ridge, I have to excavate 7 foot high back stops that are free of rocks or other hard surfaces for each shooting location…not that they would grant me permission to do that anyway.

But, in the unlikely event they did give me permission, I’d need to apply for a permit from DEP to do the excavation, which will cost $15,000 for the engineering and the permit, and about $100,000 in excavation costs.

As Mike would later note, this is rather ridiculous. Mike is using his private land for his own use, there is no shooting range on the property apart from the variety of targets he uses when filming videos for his website.

Mike later updated us on February 27 about his conversation with a local zoning official.

His position is the primary use I’m putting my property to is target shooting, therefore I am operating a shooting range, which requires a special zoning permit, and I’d have to meet all the same requirements as a gigantic commercial shooting facility.

As many of you already know, the Zoning Board of North Hopewell, PA has accused me of “Operating a shooting range” at My Duelist’s Den property.

The ordnance they are applying to me is clearly intended to regulate commercial shooting ranges, or large gun clubs. They do not seem to be intended for an individual land owner, shooting on his own property.

They are doing this to me despite the fact that only I shoot on my property…no guests.

And despite the fact I only shoot there about once a week, during the warm months, and that I almost always shoot in the middle of the week, when people are working, so as not to disturb anyone.

The Acting Zoning Officer told me he didn’t care if I only shot there once a year. He would still close me down.

Since all my neighbors also shoot and hunt, this seems like a targeted action, specifically aimed at me, and I am determined to fight it.

Mike continued his research and in early March 2023 shared he had found legal council that was willing to help him in his case.

The first lawyer I went to has declined the case because it requires a specialist in municipal law.

He recommended another attorney, who has agreed to take my case. He is working on my appeal to the zoning board now.

The good news is, he is an expert, the bad news is, his typical customers are property developers and corporations, so his rates are double what general practice attorneys charge.

So, this appeal is going to be ruinously expensive for me .

Just filing the appeal is $750, and it is too complex for the average resident to successfully file within the deadline. They design it to be hard so their authority won’t be questioned by the riff raft.

If I lose the appeal, the next step is to file suit in commonwealth court. But I will only do that if my team thinks we have really good odds of winning. If we win, I can sue the township to recover my legal costs. Which I’ll need because paying for a trial will take most of my savings.

On March 6, 2023 we recieved another update from Mike. The law firm ishard at work prepearing his appeal to fight the local zoning board, but the expenses are mounting.

I retained a law firm that specializes in municipal law, and they are preparing my appeal.

Because they are specialists, they are very expensive. My life savings is rapidly depleting, but I do not want to go down without a fight.

Ken Hill has graciously set up a Go Fund Me page to help with my legal bills.

I hate to ask for help, but I can’t do this on my own.

I would be very grateful for any help you can provide .

Thank you.

Below you’ll find a link to the official Go Fund Me for Mike to support his legal fund. As of writing the fund is 1/4 of the way to its’ $10,000 goal but I hope to see us break and pass that goal to support Mike and give back a little for all that he’s done to help us all along the way.