Neighbors press Randolph County to act on noise from Fuller Mill Road gun range

Residents from neighborhoods near Fuller Mill Road urged the Randolph County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 4 to take steps to curb persistent noise from a nonprofit gun range, saying repeated heavy-caliber and semi-automatic firing has shaken homes, frightened animals and reduced property values.

Fritz Wang told commissioners the board’s lack of responsiveness had left neighbors feeling that the board favored the property owner over residents. “Without clear answers to our questions, I think you can appreciate how some people might come to their own conclusions about why there seems to be this bias,” Wang said.

Amy Wang described multiple weekends when gunfire “even managed to shake the windows in my house,” and said neighbors report using OSHA-certified earplugs and that at least one resident estimated a more than $60,000 loss in property value. Isaac Hoffman urged commissioners to consider fairness in how they “shepherd” the county’s people and their concerns.

Speakers asked the board to: produce the legal citation or documentation the county says permits the range’s operation; explain whether a January 2020 board-of-review decision about the range’s tax status also authorized ongoing, unrestricted operation; and consider imposing noise-level restrictions or other conditions to confine sound to the range property.

Commissioners did not announce immediate regulatory action during the meeting. County staff and commissioners acknowledged the residents’ concerns and recorded the requests for follow-up. Several residents said they will return to future meetings until they receive the documentation and remedies they seek.

The remarks during public comment were long and repeated; multiple speakers described a history of escalating noise and expressed fear of reprisals for complaining. The county did not state a timeline for producing any records or legal citations in response to the requests.

Community members who raised the issue said they wanted the board to act to prevent further noise impacts and to show that local government is responsive to all residents.