Harvey Mayor Orders Gun Range Shut Down

Residents said bullets have landed in their yards

A suburban Chicago mayor has ordered a gun range be shut down after residents complained about bullet casings landing in their yards and even in their homes.

A cease-and-desist order was posted to the Harvey Gun Range Thursday morning by the city's police department and Inspectional Services Division under the direction of Harvey Mayor Eric J. Kellogg. The move was initiated "amid concerns from neighbors and failure to comply with city ordinances related to public safety," according to city officials.

Residents told NBC 5 they have collected stray bullets from the mismanaged gun range on the 15300 block of South Campbell for years. They said the bullets have landed against their homes and in backyards while children are playing.

"[My daughter] was washing dishes and then she heard something, so we opened the [cabinet] door and it was a bullet in the cabinet," said resident Griselda Hernandez.

Gun range operators dispute those claims, citing the physics of guns. They also contend they passed all city inspections.

"This is not a low crime area," said gun range owner John Howard. "This is no secret for anyone."

The mayor's office said previous efforts by the city to shut down the range were stopped in court. Kellogg utilized an executive order to stop operations until a public hearing scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on June 6.

At the center of the debate, there are allegations that political in-fighting is driving the dispute.

The property is owned by the Harvey Park District and is being leased to an operator.

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