For some time now, those of us living on the edge of the desert in the Sonoma Ranch area have had problems with people shooting guns very near our homes at all hours of the day and night. We can actually see them from our living room windows. The city has put up signs saying there is no shooting allowed in the city limits – but we have to wonder if the shooters think the city limits end at the edge of the desert.
The city limits go six miles farther east into the desert, so by law there should be no shooting anywhere near our homes.
We worry that bullets may actually hit our homes, ourselves, our children or our pets. Depending on the type of gun, bullets can travel a long distance, so our worries are legitimate. During the day, there are many people out walking in the desert, often with their dogs, and it's unnerving to hear shooting nearby and not know for sure where the shooters are or which direction they are shooting.
Do these people not know how far bullets can travel? Do they not understand that they are in the city limits, or that people and dogs are possibly nearby? Or do they just not care about the danger of their activity?
Our District 6 City Councilor Ceil Levatino is working for larger signs that are clearer about the location of the city limits. Also, East Area LCPD Commander Sean Kearney has asked his police officers to stop and cite anyone they see disobeying this law. But if someone is just misinformed of the law or of the dangers of shooting so close to homes, could you please just take your shooting to the Butterfield Range and leave us alone?
Thank you!
Linda Atwood, President, MirMar Neighborhood Association, Las Cruces