Wake commissioners consider change to outdoor shooting ordinance after neighbors say stray bullets hitting homes

Wake County Commissioners are contemplating changing the outdoor shooting ordinance. This comes after residents in Knightdale have complained about stray bullets hitting their property.

Over the last year, deputies responded to 128 shots fired calls around Knightdale. Over the course of that year, those shots have hit homes, split fences and rattled the neighbors’ sense of safety.

Neighbors stepped up to the podium at Tuesday's meeting.

"Some of us that live in Knightdale are afraid," said one speaker.

Another said, "Our home was one of the homes hit with a bullet. I don’t know how many homes there are but our home right now has a bullet in it."

One resident was too frightened to attend so she wrote a letter which was read by a friend.

“I find myself worrying if my child is safe playing in the bedroom,” the letter read.

Under the current ordinance, you are not allowed to fire a gun within 100 yards of a home.

A current proposal would change the minimum distance to 300 yards.

The recommendation would also require a backstop to contain projectiles once fired.

Shawn Sorrentino is with Grass Roots North Carolina a gun rights organization. He says the group takes issue with increasing the distance on where you can shoot a gun from 100 to 300 yards from a home.

"That kind of distance is insane," said Sorrentino. "The amount of property you would have to have."

Both sides did agree that the shooting in Knightdale needs to stop.

"Putting a bullet in your neighbor's property is unacceptable,” said Sorrentino.

The discussion will continue at the next public hearing on this topic scheduled for September.