Waterford Estates residents waiting for answers on sheriff’s gun range noise in Punta Gorda

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. —

Neighbors living near the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office firing range in Punta Gorda say constant gunfire continues to rattle their homes, and county leaders still can’t say when anything might change.

At a January board of commissioners meeting, officials directed staff to pursue a study to address noise concerns raised by residents in the Waterford Estates community. But when Gulf Coast News asked what progress has been made since then, county officials said they are still developing a request for proposals to study possible design options to reduce sound from the range.

Officials could not provide a timeline for when that process would move forward.

The sheriff’s office says the facility is essential for training deputies and maintaining certifications, but because the range is owned by the county, any long-term solution will ultimately be up to commissioners.

That leaves many neighbors feeling stuck.

“It’s all from morning till night, 7:30 or 8 until dark usually,” said Bill Kross, a retired first responder who moved into the neighborhood two years ago. “What do you think it does to us? You’re trying to work in your house, and boom, boom, boom! They make $36 million a year in taxes off this development alone. Hire some acoustic engineers that are accustomed to doing gun ranges.”

Kross said he had no warning about the noise when he bought his home because the range was closed at the time. Some residents say they were never required to sign any disclosure about the nearby facility, and several told us the gunfire can be heard inside their homes even with doors and windows shut.

Not everyone in Waterford Estates says the noise bothers them, but even neighbors who are less affected say residents deserve clearer communication from county leaders.

“You have a lot of taxpayers down there, and I think those taxpayers should be heard,” said homeowner Steven Tyler.

The facility has faced controversy for years, including a lawsuit from developers who claimed stray bullets were found on nearby land planned for residential development.

Some homeowners believe the constant gunfire is affecting their health, quality of life, and even property values, with a few saying they feel trapped because they cannot sell their homes.

“Basically, what they want to do is kick the can down the road and forget about us,” Kross said.

For now, county leaders say they will continue working on potential design solutions, but without a timeline for action, neighbors say the only thing certain is that the sound of gunfire continues.

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