Judge plans field trip in Rowlett’s dispute with Garland gun range(TX)

dallasnews.com ^ | 15 November, 2012 | RAY LESZCYNSKI

[marktwain]

After a day of testimony from witnesses for the city of Rowlett, Judge Ken Molberg will see for himself whether safety improvements at the Garland Public Shooting Range are enough to protect a neighborhood more than a mile downrange.

The city and residents who have had a problem with rifle bullets on their property and the owners of the gun range returned to Dallas’ 95th District Court on Thursday to settle a request for a temporary injunction to shut the rifle portion of the range down.

Early in the proceedings, Rowlett City Attorney David Berman challenged Molberg to visit the site to see if a problem remains. After an hourlong afternoon conference with both attorneys in his office, the judge announced a Friday excursion.

“I was reluctant to do that because only one party had asked,” Molberg said, announcing that defense attorney Randy Mathis had agreed to the idea.

Giving time for the defense to present its case, Molberg said he hoped to rule on the case by the end of the day Friday.

“This is unusual,” Berman said. “In Texas, juries don’t often take field trips. And judges even less than that.”

The parties had seemingly resolved all issues in February, when range owner James Day agreed to safety measures that would prevent bullets from flying off his property.

The deal was amended in March, giving Day until mid-August to secure a permit from the city of Garland to complete what the defense termed was the final requirement, to raise the berm behind the rifle range from 11 to 20 feet.

Meanwhile, ammunition that was capable of hitting the neighborhood across the cities’ border in Rowlett was prohibited at the range.

[marktwain]

It is insane that we require enviromental studies for a project such as this. It is a blanket means of exerting control over nearly all of society by government.

No one can know in advance if what they wish to do is legal or not. This is tyranny.

[JRandomFreeper]

I have burned a lot of ammo at that range. Tens of thousands of rounds. We used to go every other weekend and make a day of it.

Shame the libtards want to shut it down.

/johnny

[Slump Tester]

Only libtards would require a permit to make a pile of dirt bigger.

[gop4lyf]

I used to go there pretty often but lately they are so busy that when I see the parking lot packed I don’t even stop. I have started going to Gibson’s Outpost in Mesquite, but some of the people working there are world class assholes.