JEFFERSONVILLE, IND. (WDRB) -- Citing safety concerns and the need to prevent problems for other neighbors, a zoning board denied a request to convert a plot of land into a gun range.
Bob Lemmons, the Clark County SWAT team sniper who owns the land in Marysville, Indiana, had sought to convert his property into a gun range and use it for "special training" for himself and his fellow SWAT team members.
Neighbors have complained about excessive noise from the gunfire for weeks and signed a petition opposing the matter. After the decision, Lemmons said he was "disappointed" by the decision but plans to continue to shoot.
A legal adviser for the board reminded the board members that Lemmons has the legal right to shoot on his property because he lives in rural Clark County where shooting is permitted. If they had chosen to grant him a special use permit, they could have placed restriction on when and how often Lemmons fires his weapons.
In a room packed full of 50 people in the Clark County courthouse, several neighbors spoke out against the measure. Roy Lewis, who owns a nearby horse farm, said he was pleased by the decision.
"Common sense won out," he told reporters afterwards. "We live out in the country where you are allowed to shoot. I'm going to take that one on the chin. But if it becomes excessive, the sheriff is going to get a phone call."
Lemmons said he will continue to conduct his SWAT training privately.
"I'm going to continue to shoot quite often because that's in my legal right," Lemmons said.
