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Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:01 pm
by texanjoker
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/loca ... nge/nYJGY/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Shooting range drama in Walburg.
Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 7:19 am
by jimlongley
"Large Caliber Weapons" and "We have felt the vibrations"
Sheesh.
"What a maroon."
Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 7:23 am
by knotquiteawake
attracts as many as 20 people on a Saturday morning
The HORROR! The crowds, the traffic! Those poor poor neighbors!

Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 7:32 am
by Cedar Park Dad
Usually I don't have sympathy as most ranges were there before the complaining residents were. However in this case, the range just recently opened. I'd be royally annoyed about it.
Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:37 am
by bdickens
Waaaahhhh!
I'd rather hear the gunfire on Weekend mornings than their dang lawn mowers leaf blowers.
Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 1:05 pm
by Panda
knotquiteawake wrote:attracts as many as 20 people on a Saturday morning
The HORROR! The crowds, the traffic! Those poor poor neighbors!

I wonder if the coverage would be the same if the neighbors were complaining about noise and traffic from a new mosque.
Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 1:44 pm
by Cedar Park Dad
AndyC wrote:The range could show goodwill and build 15-foot earth-berms on the sides facing their neighbors to dampen the noise.
True that (assuming they haven't of course). I was at a competition recently. There was shooting in bays on either side of us, but the actual noise level in the bay was really moderate.
Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 1:59 pm
by baldeagle
This is poor planning. Before they purchased the land and built the range they should have canvassed the neighbors to see how they felt about it. They could have asked for input from the neighbors regarding their concerns and done their best to alleviate them or decided it was best to put the range somewhere else. As it is now they have created an adversarial relationship which will likely consume a lot of energy, time and money and create even more hard feelings.
Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:04 pm
by gthaustex
It is a shame, as we need more ranges. As mentioned above, this will create some hard feelings if nothing else. That said, someone feeling vibrations??? Do they have a Howitzer range for rental by the hour???
Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:08 pm
by RottenApple
baldeagle wrote:This is poor planning. Before they purchased the land and built the range they should have canvassed the neighbors to see how they felt about it. They could have asked for input from the neighbors regarding their concerns and done their best to alleviate them or decided it was best to put the range somewhere else. As it is now they have created an adversarial relationship which will likely consume a lot of energy, time and money and create even more hard feelings.
Yes and no. Private property is private property and neighbors shouldn't have a thing to say about how someone
legally use their land. As this guy is complying with all state and local regulations... Well, the neighbors opinions shouldn't be given any additional weight at all.
That being said, he could certainly do more to alleviate the neighbor's concerns. According to the article, he has been doing some of that. Requesting his customers slow down, putting up "Children At Play" signs, changing his hours, etc. He even made improvements to the range, albeit without a building permit, in order to address some issues.
At this point it seems that he's being reasonable and trying to work with them, but they're just being whiney because they aren't getting their way. So at what point does he quit trying to accommodate them?

Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:24 pm
by Cedar Park Dad
RottenApple wrote:baldeagle wrote:This is poor planning. Before they purchased the land and built the range they should have canvassed the neighbors to see how they felt about it. They could have asked for input from the neighbors regarding their concerns and done their best to alleviate them or decided it was best to put the range somewhere else. As it is now they have created an adversarial relationship which will likely consume a lot of energy, time and money and create even more hard feelings.
Yes and no. Private property is private property and neighbors shouldn't have a thing to say about how someone
legally use their land.
Except historically if use of their land creates a tresspass on the neighbors' via noise pollution, pollution, or ther intrusion. Then, depending on the relevant statutes, case law, facts etc. it could indeed be actionable. I'm not knowledgeable enough in this case and state/locality to say more.
Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:25 pm
by Oldgringo
This is an instance where some zoning laws might've come in handy. As much as I enjoy shooting, I wouldn't want to live next to a gun range that I did not own.
Re: Walburg residents irked at outdoor gun range
Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:10 pm
by alvins
Oldgringo wrote:This is an instance where some zoning laws might've come in handy. As much as I enjoy shooting, I wouldn't want to live next to a gun range that I did not own.
well people move out to the county to get away from things. They didnt move out to the country to have zoning laws put on them. But thats the problem their is none and anything can move in at anytime and disrupt your quiet. What if a chicken or pig farm moved in. they would be annoyed by that also. and i rather have gun fire then it always smelling like poo.