A group of Jim Thorpe residents are asking borough council to take action regarding what they described as “extended excessive gunfire” over a recent weekend.

Mark and Dee Reitz of Glen Onoko Estates, a private development bordering State Game Lands, said their son was visiting from Manhattan several weekends ago when they became “under siege from seven hours of military gunfire shooting” taking place at a neighboring property.

“The shooters come up from Newtown Square and they are one of three shooting ranges on that mountain that I know of,” Dee Reitz told council. “It sent high energy shock waves through the neighborhood.”

Reitz told council that police were called and inspected the range, but no immediate action was taken. After police left, she said, another 200 rounds were fired.

Asked about the situation, Council President Greg Strubinger said the issue is under investigation.

“The borough is in receipt of a letter from the Reitzes’ attorney so at this point it’s a legal matter,” Strubinger said. “Police are also investigating and we are going to have the borough zoning officer look at this as well. It is under consideration and review. At such time when there is a completion of what is being looked into, the borough may or may not have a statement at that time.”

Another neighbor, Curtis Jackson, said he has lived in the area for 10 years and for the first several years, shot medium and low caliber pistols on his own property.

“As more neighbors moved in, I stopped that and I haven’t shot there in probably close to five years,” Jackson said during Thursday’s council meeting. “Normally these people shoot mid to lower caliber guns. Last Sunday, I was there for around two hours of it and it was excessive and loud. It was clearly large caliber stuff that was disturbing everyone.”

A Leisureland North resident, Tom Stribula, said he has to move his family indoors when shooting begins. Stribula said he feels the ranges should be shut down.

“I’ve called the police numerous times,” he said. “The State Game Commission said you need 150 yards to shoot a rifle between where you are shooting and a known resident. There is no 150 yards here. My neighbors are afraid to say anything. I’m not. I really think we need to step up and do something.”

One member of Jim Thorpe’s council who definitively heard the noise was Bob Schaninger, who said the firing went on for at least five hours.

Schaninger said he had to drive out of town to “get away from the nonsense.”

“I’m glad I wasn’t the neighbor because I would have gone ballistic,” he told the residents. “I’m sorry you had to put up with that.”

Reitz said she hopes the borough updates its zoning ordinance to eliminate shooting ranges.