Residents Concerned Over Shooting Range

Numerous local residents are expressing concern about a proposed Sheriff’s Office shooting range in Stephens County.

Back on August 25, Stephens County Commissioners approved a motion to provide property located behind the road department’s fueling depot for a firing range to be built for the Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, residents in the Scenic Drive area spoke out about the proposal.

Bryan Gordon said he has safety concerns.

“The M-16 and M-4 assault rifle, which are the preferred weapon of SWAT teams and what is currently being used by our military, a shell from one of those rifles will carry 2.2 miles,” said Gordon. “An errant shell from that range could land at Camp Mikell, (Camp Toccoa), and anyplace in between.”

Meanwhile, Jason Bowen is worried about the noise of a firing range near his home.

“I have a nine-month-old and if anybody has kids in there, the littlest noise will make them scream,” said Bowen.

Jack Barnard expressed safety and noise concerns also, but also says he is concerned that residents were not notified.

Barnard said more study is needed on this issue.

“Sit down and let’s take a serious thought at this,” said Barnard. “Nobody is told. No impact study is done.”

Barnard also said he is concerned about the effect on the animal shelter nearby.

Humane Shelter Director Jeff Roberts said he was not asked about the range by the sheriff’s office or the county, but instead found out from a resident.

He said he has possible concerns over noise affecting the animals, but is unsure if there will be any effect.

“The possibility concerns me, but over time, they may become immune to it,” said Roberts.

Residents also point out that the county can use the city range at Alewine Park

However, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said there have there been scheduling issues at times and adds that one of the sheriff’s office goals is to have a range.

Shirley said they did look at the surrounding area before moving forward with the plan.

“My chief deputy spoke with Sheriff’s offices in Georgia and out of the state for the guidelines they have because Georgia has no guidelines for a firing range,” said Shirley. “A 400-yard range for sound was their policy is what they came up with.”

Shirley said his chief deputy talked with the affected houses within the 400-yard range.

Shirley said that people who live a mile or more away will not be affected by the range in any way, nor will a nearby church be affected because he says there will not be shooting on Sundays or Wednesdays.

The sheriff also said that he does not feel the animal shelter will be affected.

“There is the old jail and the new jail sitting up on a hill and the distance is more than 400 yards,” said Shirley, who added the Lavonia animal shelter is 100 yards from a firing range and he has been told it has not affected those animals in any way.

After hearing from residents Tuesday, Stephens County Commissioners voted unanimously to halt work on the range until the sheriff could meet with concerned residents.

Stephens County Commission Chairman Dennis Bell said more discussion is needed based on what he has heard.

“My biggest concern right now, and the reason it is being halted as it is, is nobody in the area knew,” said Bell. “We had numerous citizens here and they had valid points.”

Shirley said that he will hold a forum for residents at the Grand Jury Room of the Stephens County Government Building on Friday, September 18th from 9 to 11 a.m.

Shirley also noted that much of the work on the range had been donated and it was not costing taxpayer money.