At the June 5 Northampton Borough Council meeting, three borough residents addressed council about the ongoing issue of bullets reportedly sporadically flying through their neighborhood. The neighborhood is located essentially adjacent to Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club’s gun range.

The alleged gun range issue was discussed at previous council meetings, with a plan of action developed to improve communication between Northampton Borough Police Department and Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club and with Tri-Boro planning to better regulate the gun range and improve the physical safety of the range.

The issue came to light for council at its Feb. 6 meeting when around six residents attended the council meeting to discuss the issue. At the meeting Feb. 20, the wayward bullet issue was again discussed.

During the March 6 meeting, Chris Bodnar, a leader at Tri-Boro, attended the meeting to address the alleged bullets exiting the gun range and to explain the process involved with members who want to use the gun range.

At the March 20 meeting, a resident said bullets were still flying through his yard. Being upset, the resident said he would attend every council meeting until the issue is resolved.

At the June 5 meeting, the first resident said, “The shooting range issue has not really changed.”

He added the police get notified when a bullet lands in a backyard or outside patio. He alleged a bullet hit his back porch, and the police were called.

The resident noted he believes the police might not be telling Tri-Boro of reported bullet incidents. He said there have been a dozen incidents recently, and he wondered if there is a communication issue between Tri-Boro and the police.

He said his neighborhood is frightened, and the situation is “[...] really bothersome. I’m begging (to know) what the steps will be.”

He questioned if it will take someone being hit by a bullet or the neighbors taking a legal route to stop the shooting range.

The resident alleged the bullets are 9 millimeter bullets. He lamented not knowing what is being done.

Council President Julia Kutzler suggested he call the Pennsylvania Game Commission as it gets involved with shooting ranges. Kutzler also suggested he call the governor’s hotline.

Police Chief Bryan Kadingo said communication with the Tri-Boro president was occurring. He added he is not at liberty to discuss an open, active police investigation.

A second resident, at the June 5 meeting, said there was to be a weekly report from Tri-Boro. He asked if the reports are being done. He noted the situation is getting out of hand again.

He said there are neighbors with kids outside in their backyards. One house, he alleged, was hit three times and another house hit twice. He said there is a way to collect the 9 millimeter bullets to analyze them. He said perhaps the shots are coming from the same gun and maybe not originating from the gun range. He thanked Kutzler and said he will call the game commission and governor’s hotline.

In the third resident’s testimony, he reportedly said one bullet hit his outside patio but, thankfully, sailed over his swimming pool. He noted his kids were in the pool earlier that day.