Neighbors, landowner clash over private shooting range in Thornfield; some call for noise-ordinance changes
Loading...
Summary
Residents near Thornfield Drive told commissioners Sunday-afternoon shooting from a nearby private range has become a frequent nuisance; the landowner defended his property rights and said the lot was marketed as a gun range. No ordinance change was proposed at the meeting.
Public comment at the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners meeting focused on a long-running dispute over a private shooting range that adjoins the Thornfield subdivision.
Neighbouring residents said repeated, prolonged Sunday shooting sessions make outdoor activities impossible. "It's a huge nuisance to people on Sunday afternoons trying to cook out with their families," said Angie G. Woods of 2447 Thornfield Drive, adding she and others have recorded rattling windows and continuous rifle fire that she said lasted four to six hours on some weekends.
Dean Wilkie, who owns acreage adjoining the range and said he bought his property for "peace and tranquility," asked the commission to consider a noise or nuisance ordinance that would limit hours, rounds or the number of shooters on private land.
The landowner and range user, Brock Gates, said the farmland was marketed to his family as a gun-range property and defended shooting activity. "Whenever this actually was sold to us in our family, it was actually marketed as a gun range," Gates told commissioners. He and other supporters said they use suppressors and safety precautions, and called enforcement attempts an inefficient use of sheriff's resources.
Brent Esher and Stuart Tucker spoke in favor of Gates, describing the shooters as safety‑conscious and saying the frequency of use had been intermittent. Esher noted law-enforcement responses had not resulted in successful prosecutions.
Sheriff's Department involvement was discussed: a resident said deputies had issued citations that prosecutors later dismissed given how current statutes are written. The meeting record shows no change to the county code or new law was adopted; commissioners heard the competing claims and accepted public testimony for consideration.
Ending: Commissioners did not vote on an ordinance change during the meeting. The exchange made clear neighbors want limits on prolonged shooting on Sundays while range supporters insist their use is lawful; the board left the matter for further staff study and possible future action.
