Neighbors Love Their Police, But Want Gun Range Toned Down

It was all quiet on the firing line at the Marlborough Township Police Range Wednesday, but neighbors here say most days, it sounds like rapid gunfire.

"It's loud, it's echoing and it's constant," says neighbor Sharon Pfander "I have little ones, so it affects where they can sleep, when they can sleep. I rarely have my windows open."

While the range has been here since the 1970s, residents who have moved in along Geryville Pike and Upper Ridge Road say the gunfire just keeps getting louder and more frequent. They say the range used to be home to just Marlborough's three man police department, but these days other local towns and SWAT teams train here.

"The more the leaves fall off the trees the louder it gets. It just booms across the street," Pfander explained.  

Township officials told FOX 29 they've already made changes after hearing neighbors complaints about the noise. They reduced the number of days the range is open., the hours it's open and now they've eliminated the use of the range during holiday weeks.

"I'd like to see them be the best shots in the valley," says 88-year-old Anthony Bucci who lives just two doors down from the range. He says the gunfire doesn't bother him. And he wants police to be well trained.

"Maybe it's because I'm from South Philly. The first shot counted," Bucci said. "They're the police, we owe them so much, so if I gotta bend a bit. I bend."

Neighbors support the police 100 percent, but say something has to be done to cut down on the noise from the range

Of course they need to use the facility," Pfander said, "but it would be nice to take the neighbors into consideration."

Neighbors tell FOX 29 they would like to see the sound barriers around the facility raised a bit to deflect the noise. Township officials say they will continue to address residents concerns.