Ranger Range Owner Arrested

[i8godzilla]

http://www.kwtx.com/news/headlines/Loca ... ml?ref=255

The owner of a local shooting range and his wife were free on bond Friday after they were arrested on warrants stemming from an investigation of complaints that stray bullets from the range have struck nearby buildings and vehicles.

If you have never been to this place, it is located directly behind the Gatesville Hospital. The range is just outside of the city limits (by about 50 feet). There are city residents have had an effort for some time to close the place. However, it sits outside of the city limits.

You can see the range here on Google Maps.
http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rl ... d=0CAwQ_BI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[FishInTx]

Seems like ranges have been under attack lately. I'm new to this forum. Is it anti-gun? or real estate? or...?

[74novaman]

Seems like ranges have been under attack lately. I'm new to this forum. Is it anti-gun? or real estate? or...?

I think MAINLY real estate, but there may be some anti gun bias involved as well.

For example, old ranges that have had communities build up around them, and then the homeowners act shocked and surprised that their neighborhood has a GUN RANGE nearby! *gasp*

Insert feedlot, gravel pit, pig farm, etc for gun range and its the same story. Mostly about urban sprawl building up next to "undesirable" property then trying to improve their values by driving undesirable features away.

As a farm kid, it makes me

[FishInTx]

As a farm kid, it makes me

I'm a country boy. Not a native Texan but all Texan. It makes me mad too. People move some where and then want you to change to their ways. Them Californians ruined California then oregon and Washington now they're working on Idaho and Texas. We need a border fence.

[jadearcher]

I agree that it's ridiculous the way ranges are being shut down because of growing communities and the anti-gun sentiment.

However, in my humble opinion, bullets should stay on range property. Couldn't they have done something to keep the bullets on the range if in fact that's where they're coming from?

[74novaman]

I agree that it's ridiculous the way ranges are being shut down because of growing communities and the anti-gun sentiment.

However, in my humble opinion, bullets should stay on range property. Couldn't they have done something to keep the bullets on the range if in fact that's where they're coming from?

Andy mentioned this tidbit from the article:

In an interview earlier in the week before his arrest, Robert Cantu said his operation is safe, legal and certified and said the bullets about which residents were complaining could not have come from his range.

"Laws of physics," Cantu said.

"We fire to the west. The complaints are coming from the north."

Hmmm

Its possible there are some negligently fired rounds leaving the range.

Its also possible theres a homeowner or two who isn't above firing a few rounds into convenient places for their agenda.

[jadearcher]

Its possible there are some negligently fired rounds leaving the range.

Its also possible theres a homeowner or two who isn't above firing a few rounds into convenient places for their agenda.

I'm not sure we have the whole story. I'd like to see the satellite view of that area.

It would be a lousy thing to do, to fire a few rounds in the direction of that neighborhood for their agenda, but you're right. I wouldn't put it past some people.

Those guys make that neighborhood seem like a war zone in that news story.

[i8godzilla]

Seems like ranges have been under attack lately. I'm new to this forum. Is it anti-gun? or real estate? or...?

I think MAINLY real estate, but there may be some anti gun bias involved as well.

For example, old ranges that have had communities build up around them, and then the homeowners act shocked and surprised that their neighborhood has a GUN RANGE nearby! *gasp*

Insert feedlot, gravel pit, pig farm, etc for gun range and its the same story. Mostly about urban sprawl building up next to "undesirable" property then trying to improve their values by driving undesirable features away.

As a farm kid, it makes me

From my observations since moving near a farm town it is like being back in high school. You are either part of the elite click or you are not.

The range borders the city line. IMHO the issue here is noise. In the last few months the activity at this range has really increased. To me it appears as most of the shooters there are military and I surmise that the increased activity may be attributed to the number of soldiers returning from deployment. BTW there is another private range about a 3/4 a mile to the west that points to the north. What I find interesting is that all of the bullets recovered are .40 (one .45). I guess no one goes to that range to fire 9MM, .38, .357. The Affidavit can be found here: http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/Ca ... arrant.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Resident Drew Paige who lives just north of the range once counted 50 bullets on the ground.

While I normally shoot on my property, I have used this range on occasion. In an effort to be kind to property owners around us we try not shoot on our property more that once a week or so. When family is in town we try to give those around us a break and make the drive in to 'town'.

[74novaman]

From my observations since moving near a farm town it is like being back in high school. You are either part of the elite click or you are not.

The range borders the city line. IMHO the issue here is noise. In the last few months the activity at this range has really increased. To me it appears as most of the shooters there are military and I surmise that the increased activity may be attributed to the number of soldiers returning from deployment.

I think thats more of a "small town" thing than a "farm town" (although you could certainly argue that most small towns have a decent sized agricultural/ranching population.)

Thanks for adding more to the story for us. I'm curious: Did the city creep up on the range, or did someone put a range just outside city limits?

[i8godzilla]

@74novaman - I do not know about the city sprawl. We have only been in this area for about three years. I have to go into town today to go to the Post Office. If I have the time, I'll try and stop by and talk to Bob.

[RiverCity.45]

I'm not sure we have the whole story. I'd like to see the satellite view of that area.

The op has a link to a google map for you. You can select satellite view there.

[jadearcher]

The op has a link to a google map for you. You can select satellite view there.

Got it, thanks! I took a look and can't tell a thing. So much for that idea.

[Excaliber]

In an interview earlier in the week before his arrest, Robert Cantu said his operation is safe, legal and certified and said the bullets about which residents were complaining could not have come from his range.

"Laws of physics," Cantu said.

"We fire to the west. The complaints are coming from the north."

Hmmm

Hmmm indeed.

When I look at the Google Earth view, I see empty country to the north and a neighborhood that appears to be potentially within range of pistol fire to the west of the range behind what looks like the berms.

Use the link in the OP's post to go to Google Maps and click on the Earth or Satellite links in the upper right corner to see what you think.