ISLE OF WIGHT, Va. - Some neighbors in the Isle of Wight don't want a proposed gun range near their homes.
Thursday evening the Board of Supervisors will hear from both sides .
In the small rural part of Isle of Wight known as Walters you can see the signs posted on lawns objecting a proposed gun range.
Donald Dalton said, "It's in a community right here and it's not a good spot." Dalton lives across the street from the proposed gun range.
Right now there's a large dog kennel on the property. The owner of American K-9 Interdiction Paul Roushia said they train the animals in a military and law enforcement type setting.
He now wants to get the proper permits to open a gun range at first he wanted it to be public but then changed that plan. "We are throttling back and we are going to change who the clientele is going to be," said Roushia.
Now Roushia said he wants to cater to private companies, train security groups and provide concealed carrying classes.
He got in trouble for operating without the permit but he says it was part of the training for the dogs.
Roushia said they county could just have discussed with him the problem. He said, "They didn't have to issue us a cease-and-desist."
But neighbors don't buy it and say they're worried about their property values, safety and noise.
Volpe Boykin said, "We live in Isle of Wight County, Walters Virginia, a small place. We don't want to wake up every day and think that we're living in Baghdad."
Neighbors already hear gun fire from the nearby Virginia State Police gun range which would be located next to the proposed range.
Roushia argues the community already hears gun fire.
But opponents say it will be too much gun fire. "I don't think anyone would want it in their neighborhood," said Boykin.
"On the range there will be qualified certified range safety officer's around here. They're not just out here running around playing Wild West."
The meeting starts at 6 p.m.
