Dateline: December 19, 2002

Resident asks city to close shooting range

By Carrie Helms, Clarendon Enterprise

Donley County resident Laban Tubbs is up in arms after two stray .30 caliber bullets from the shooting range at Clarendon Municipal Airport hit his barn and residence early last week.

Tubbs made a formal report with the Sheriff’s Office and asked the board of aldermen to investigate the situation after he discovered the bullet-holes Wednesday.

The Offense Report from the Sheriff’s Office reads that the officer observed “two bullet holes, one located on the side of the barn and the other on the roof of the residence. Both bullet holes indicated the direction of travel from the west.”

Tubbs, his wife, and two children have lived in their home located about three-quarters of a mile east of the airport shooting range for six years.

“If the shot that hit the roof had been any lower or to the left,” Tubbs said, “it probably would have gone through one living room window and out the other side.”

The family was not at home when the bullets hit the house and barn; but about a month ago, Tubbs heard a bullet pass by overhead when he and his 9-year-old daughter were outside.

“When it happened, I looked the house over but didn’t see any damage,” Tubbs said. “If anyone shoots above the berm, they are directly in line with my house.”

A sign is posted above the berm at the shooting range that spells out rules for safe shooting, but Tubbs suspects it had been used for target practice more than it had been read.

“Most of the people who shoot out there are very careful and conscious of where their bullets go,” Tubbs said, “but there will always be a few who won’t be so careful.”

Tubbs said he is uneasy now about his children being outside when people are shooting at the range.

“I told them if they hear people down there to come inside,” Tubbs said. “I don’t know what else to do.”

The Clarendon Board of Aldermen has called a meeting for Monday, December 30, at 7 p.m. to discuss closing the range.

“It looks like one person is going to ruin it for everybody,” Sheriff Butch Blackburn said, “Now it appears the city is going to outlaw it, and we will enforce it.”

According to Alderman Janice Knorpp, the opinion of the board seems to be that the range should not continue to operate.

“It should be closed,” she said. “It’s a wonder no one was killed.”

Tubbs is anxious for some change to be made quickly.

“Something needs to be done soon,” Tubbs said. “I appreciate the support the city council has given me, and I know they will do the right thing.”