Jim Thorpe Borough Council said Thursday it plans to have more discussion next week on whether or not it will outlaw target ranges in residential areas of the borough following a letter in November from residents in Glen Onoko Estates.

Mark and Dee Reitz had visited a Jim Thorpe meeting earlier in the summer, telling borough council they became “under siege from seven hours of military gunfire shooting” taking place at a neighboring property. Most recently, they asked council what plan of action it was taking regarding such shooting ranges.

“Our zoning officer did go out, but there is nothing in our zoning ordinance that pertains to the ranges,” Borough Manager Maureen Sterner told council during Thursday night’s workshop.

Jim Thorpe Police say they get just one to two calls a year regarding shooting in the borough and had no complaints since the summer for the area in question.

Councilman Bob Schaninger said the shooting is still going on.

“I can sit in my house and I can tell you what they’re firing,” he said. “It doesn’t really affect me because I don’t live over there, but I can tell you it’s still happening.”

During the summer, Dee Reitz told council there are at least three shooting ranges on the mountain and that the blasts sent high-energy shock waves through the neighborhood.

Police Chief Joe Schatz said police will go investigate if called, but officers need more ammunition from council if something is to be done.

“There is nothing in the ordinance and our officers are being thrown into the fire,” he told council. “We are in a Catch-22. We need firepower if you plan on doing something.”

Councilman Mike Yeastedt said he could also hear the shooting at his house, though he’s too far away to pinpoint exactly where it’s coming from.

“At some point we may have to consider something,” he said. “You should not be setting off 60 rounds of something next to someone else. Nobody is saying you can’t hunt or shoot. But you shouldn’t have to listen to automatic weapons going off next to your house.”

Balancing the fact that Jim Thorpe encompasses a lot of rural area with how much noise is reasonable is a fine line to walk, council President Greg Strubinger said.

“With the area we’re in, you’re going to hear a lot of guns popping off, but a lot of heavy artillery would put it in another category for me if I was a neighbor,” Strubinger said. “I think one of the things we have to consider at this point is that we haven’t gotten many complaints.”

If council decides to regulate shooting ranges, it may be all for naught. Mayor Mike Sofranko said even if the governing body did pass something, he would not sign it.

“I can tell you right now I won’t sign it and take away people’s Second Amendment rights,” Sofranko said.