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Published: 2013-01-10 06:44:00
Updated: 2013-01-10 12:36:46

Harnett leaders could vote Thursday on status of shooting range


Drake Landing
Drake Landing
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Two days after listening to the concerns of homeowners for more than five hours, Harnett County leaders on Thursday will hear more debate about whether a shooting range should lose its agritourism classification and be forced to close. 

Drake Landing, a family-owned farm in Fuquay-Varina with a shooting range, has been at the center of controversy for more than a year because neighbors say the gunfire makes them uneasy. 

Dozens voiced their displeasure Tuesday, with many who live nearby saying they don't feel safe. 

"We can hear it quite loudly, particularly during the winter when the leaves are off the trees," Ted Martin said. "My dogs won't even leave the porch."

According to the Harnett County Sheriff's Office, there have been at least five cases of stray bullets hitting cars or homes in the area. It's unclear if any or all of those bullets were fired from Drake Landing, but many neighbors say it's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. 

"I'm former military, and I have been a range officer," Martin said. "I have seen what fool-proof ranges can do, and there is always some fool out there that can defeat it."

Because it currently falls under the agritourism umbrella, Drake Landing shooting range isn't subject to county zoning laws.

If the Board of Adjustment votes Thursday to revoke that classification, the farm will be forced to shut down the shooting range. Thursday's meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. inside the Harnett County legislative building on East Front Street in Lillington.

An attorney for the owner, a former county commissioner who was present at Tuesday's meeting, said he did not want to comment until after a decision is made.


132 Comments


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Latest Comments
If Drake is forced to close (which I don't think it should be), then the hunters in Harnett county need to be stopped as well....they drive like crazy around and through neighborhoods...and are no where NEAR as safe as DRake is......

"By all means, PLEASE enlighten us all as to exactly how many of the pistol packing fools with legal concealed carry permits have shot anyone other than when legally defending themselves or others from crime!!! veryfrustrated1"

Fine, for starters let us just look at highly trained professional pistol packing Yahoos. Let us look at the two highly trained professional pistol packing cops that have shot themselves recently. that sounds pretty irresponsible to me. you want more? Fine, let us go to the highly trained professional pistol packing cop in New york City that shot nine innocent bystanders recently. That too sounds pretty irresponsible to me. so the cops are not any better then the rest of the pistol packing Yahoos. We have some six hundred accidental shootings a year. Add to that shootings over disagreements and such.

Damien, my family knows them personally. I agree with you that you can close the range but not the shooting per se. But you can reduce it a LOT. Obviously my sympathies lie with the home owners who were there first and have to listen to this all day and can't relax on their own property.

"That is a shame then. It sounds like this place was here before the people complaining. Damien Thorne

Oh does it now? Does it really? Well how does this sound? Go to Google Earth, pull up the range, go to street view and look at the mostly thirty year old or older houses around it. Than tell us what it "sounds" like

I have been to Drake’s Landing many times for both corporate events and personal recreation. The entire staff is professional and knowledgeable and their primary concern is safety. The facility is top notch and is the best place around for Sporting Clays and target practice. I hope that Harnett County leaders do not close this facility.

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