Jim Thorpe Borough Council took no action Thursday night on a request from property owners Dee and Mark Reitz to create a plan to ban target ranges in residential areas.

The Glen Onoko Estates residents first visited council in the summer, telling borough council they became “under siege from seven hours of military gunfire shooting” taking place at a neighboring property.

During Thursday’s meeting, however, Council President Greg Strubinger said it was his understanding concerns over the shooting were made clear to the property owner in question and the problems ceased.

“I spoke to another resident up there who had concerns during the summer and they told me there has been no similar incidents since that point, at least not to the scale it was during the summer,” Strubinger said. “I don’t think we have enough information at this point to put forth a recommendation to council. There is nothing proposed at this time in regards to banning target shooting.”

Dee and Mark Reitz attended Thursday’s council meeting, again asking the governing body to take action.

“It’s my home,” Dee Reitz told council. “It’s about our well-being, our mental health and our weekends. How would you feel if this range was located next to your home? Glen Onoko Estates is an R1 residential development. It is not a rural area.”

Former Councilman John McGuire, who lives on Center Street, said anyone who lives in town can hear the shooting. While he said he firmly supports the Second Amendment, McGuire also expressed a safety concern if shooting is being done in close proximity to dwellings and without proper backstops.

“This borough is just too dense for that kind of thing,” McGuire said. “We have a gun club to shoot at. I’m for everyone having their own guns, but what is happening here could be considered reckless endangerment, and I encourage council to take some type of action.”

Jim Thorpe Police urge residents to call the Carbon County Communications Center nonemergency line at 570-325-9111 while the shooting is taking place if they have a complaint.

“If it is logged in our system, we can go back and look at the complaints and come back and say, hey this is a trouble spot, let’s take a look at what we can do here,” Police Chief Joe Schatz said.

Schatz told council Thursday he would contact other municipalities to see how they handle the issue and also speak with Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer Cory Bentzoni. State game lands border much of the Glen Onoko Estates and Leisureland private developments.

“Cory is in the development quite a bit, so I think it would be a good idea to get his take,” Schatz said.

Nancy Domanski, a Broadview Drive resident, said she’s lived in Jim Thorpe for 22 years and no longer feels safe in her own home.

“I’m afraid to walk outside,” Domanski said. “It’s dense and you can’t see. I’m all for hunting and people having guns, but I would prefer it be in a safe, controlled area. I wasn’t home the last time it was real bad, but if anything happens like I heard happened, I will be calling it in.”

While no action was taken Thursday, Councilman Jay Miller said he would like to see the borough meet residents halfway.

“Let’s see if we can come back next month and help out on the safety end, but also help out the folks who want to shoot,” Miller said. “We have a lot of woods, but we also have a lot of development. I’m looking for a happy medium.”