Last spring I wrote several letters pointing out the hazards caused by the firearms range near McCurry Park. I said that it was too close to the playing fields, and that there was a danger of both stray bullets and overly loud noise. I have since exchanged letters with the County Administrator, [Bill] Beckett. He acknowledged that the range is a problem and agreed to look into options to relocate this facility. When the range was still open in September, I wrote him again, but received no response.

I am disappointed to note that six months later the range is still in operation. This is especially troubling in that a new sports season has come and gone and, once again, our children continue to be exposed to the dangers inherent to that activity. As I stated before, the range is too close to the playing fields and therefore puts the children and others in jeopardy of being struck by an accidental discharge. Additionally, as there are no sound buffers, the noise from the weapons firing exceeds safe level.

One could argue forever about the merits of the range, so let me make just two observations. First, the range does not have the safety features recommended by the National Rifle Association and other safety-oriented organizations.

These measures would prevent an accidental weapon discharge from causing harm outside the range. There should be barriers to the left, right and rear of the firing line. Additionally, there should be an overhead cover — basically a roof — that ensures that a weapon accidentally fired above the plane of the target will not carry outside the range.

This problem is not just for the users of McCurry Park. It should be of interest also to those living in the neighborhoods directly in the line of fire. Homes along Calloway Road, Clear Brook Way, Clear Brook Lane, Den Creek and others are in the immediate hazard area of the range. Some of these homes are within 900 meters of the firing line, well within range of any rifle inadvertently fired at a 30 degree angle.

The second point is the sound. It is known that the high-impulse noise produced by firearms causes permanent hearing damage beginning at about 75 decibels. The firing at McCurry range is probably twice that since the average noise produced by a shotgun is estimated at 150 decibels.

In addition to the clear safety hazard this poses, there is also the issue of public nuisance. The range is frequently in use after 10 p.m. and before 7 a.m., including Sunday mornings. The sound of firing is clearly audible inside homes up to a mile away.

To save your readers from some of the responses this letter is likely to generate, let me address the most obvious rebuttals here. First, it does not matter if the range was in place before the nearby park or homes were built. The operators and users of firearms ranges never have the right to expose the property or the occupants of adjacent land to any of the hazards of firing. If the shooters have in the past used the range without the appropriate safeguards, they were wrong to do so. To continue doing so now that homes and children are directly exposed is irresponsible.

Second, it does not matter that the range serves a valued public function such as sport or police marksmanship training. Nor does it matter that the users of the range are all fine, stable citizens who are sure they will never make a mistake with a gun in their life. The range must have appropriate safety features or be closed down. Even well-intentioned, experienced marksmen make mistakes. And finally, please let's not hear that the homes in the line of fire are protected by the woods beyond the range. Trees are an uncertain buffer at best, even where they are not being cut down by nearby construction activity.

What can concerned citizens do? Write to the county administrator, Billy Beckett, at Suite 100, 140 Stonewall Ave, Fayetteville, GA 30214, or call at 770-460-5730. Tell him what you think.

Parents of children who use the McCurry Park facility, have your child tested for the type of hearing loss associated with high-impulse noise. If the school won't do it, use a private audiologist. Hearing loss in children can impair their intellectual development and can contribute to other physical and emotional problems.

Finally, the most important thing we can do is vote. It's our county. If we don't like the way it is being run, we can change it.

Brendan Wilson
Fayetteville

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