DALTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- A neighborhood in Muskegon County is on the edge, with one resident telling FOX 17 News residents are dodging stray bullets from a nearby shooting range. John Dollaway says something needs to be done about it before someone gets hurt.
Between talking to the owners of Grasmeyer Brothers Gun Range and to Dalton Township officials, Dollaway says they are getting the runaround on what he calls a “safety risk."
Dollaway’s yard has caution tape sealing off his front yard and in his garage is a bright orange sign he is working on. He’s not redecorating; he’s sealing of his yard, because he believes it’s a danger zone.
“I just want it to be safe for all of us,” he said. "The noise doesn’t bother us. We just don't want someone getting hurt before they actually take care of the problem."
Dollaway has lived behind the Grasmeyer Brothers Gun Range range for 28 years. He says the range has been under different ownership in previous years. He said bullets have always been a problem, but the last few years have seen a few close calls. Dollaway said he filed a police report in addition to complaining to the township.
FOX 17 News went to the Grasmeyer Brothers Gun Range on Wednesday afternoon, and they said they had no comment. They referred us to their lawyer, but he never returned our calls as of news time.
Dollaway has 11 grandchildren, who all come to hang out at grandpa's house, whether it's to ride bikes or race their go carts. Lately, the fun had to stop, Dollaway said. He’s concerned about bullets hurting one of his grandchildren.
“It’s going to be terrible if one of my grandkids are running around with an eye shot out because they decided to pay their lawyers instead of paying to fix the problem," said Dollaway.
“Somebody is going to get hurt. It's just not safe enough for guns right here.”
FOX 17 news asked Dalton Township supervisor for a comment but did not hear back as of news time Wednesday night. The Dalton Township zoning ordinance gives some insight into how they decide a gun range can be approved and where it can be located:
“The planning commission shall give due consideration to the nature of the proposed use and its potential impact on the surrounding land uses and may establish appropriate site conditions to assure that the use will generate no detrimental impacts on surround property."
Dollaway said the ordinance must have been overlooked when the gun range went in, because it's about 500 feet from where his property ends, which could lead not only damage but potential injuries.
“Let's get it taken care of before someone gets hurt," he said. "It doesn't matter who's fault it is; just get it fixed.”
The gun range and the township have been at odds recently. You can read about that here.
