UPDATE: Cherokee County Sheriff Escalates Dangerous Gun Range Complaints to County Attorney
- Donovan Bridgeforth
- Jun 27
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 2
UPDATE:
A Cherokee County Deputy has now taken official measurements and photographs regarding the reported incident. Authorities noted a prior report on file, which led to some conflicting information. However, awareness around the situation has grown, and the Sheriff’s Office has officially escalated the matter to the County Attorney.
“It didn’t take a bullet crossing a property line to gain law enforcement’s attention” said the resident. This case is now receiving the review it deserves.
TXAN 24 News will continue to monitor for any updates.
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CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (TXAN 24) — A Cherokee County resident is raising alarm over a private gun range operating dangerously close to their property and a nearby public road. Despite repeated complaints and documented concerns, Sheriff Brent Dickson has yet to take action.
The resident, who lives adjacent to the range, says the firing line is just five feet from his property and roughly 30–35 feet from a public roadway. High-powered rifles are reportedly fired parallel to the property line, with gunfire frequently exceeding 140 decibels — far above the recommended public exposure limit.
The range’s backstop, made of dirt and tires, is said to lack proper containment measures. The resident claims the shooter, believed to be the property owner, posts signs and gives verbal warnings before opening fire — an indication of known risk. The same individual reportedly lives, works, and moves within the hazard zone. This is located along County Road 1412 outside of Jacksonville, Texas.
Attempts to report the issue to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Game Wardens have been unsuccessful. According to the resident, deputies stated no action can be taken unless a bullet physically crosses his property line — citing Second Amendment protections over local safety codes.
However, this stance appears to contradict Texas Penal Codes §22.05 and §42.01(c), which address reckless endangerment and public safety.
With no intervention from local authorities, residents are concerned about potential injury to public road users and their inability to safely use their own land.
TXAN 24 News will continue to monitor this developing story and will be visiting the scene in the coming days to speak with the resident.
Stay tuned to TXAN 24 News for more coverage.
Have a story? Send it in to newsroom@txan24news.com.
Please stop the harassment and slander. I had a Game Warden from the Texas Parks and Wildlfe come out to inspect my private range before this ever started and he found no issues. Months later, the two Deputies that the neighbor called out on by behalf conducted a through inspection of my private range and found no safety violations nor issues. There would be no range there except for the neighbor hired a timber company to clear trees without even getting a survey so they cleared the trees on my property. By the way, Mr Dickson has nothing to do with this.
https://www.wm-attorneys.com/what-is-the-offense-of-deadly-conduct-in-texas/ "Texas takes gun-related charges seriously, and juries often approach firearm cases with added scrutiny. Even responsible gun owners can find themselves on the wrong side of the law when emotions run high or safety rules are ignored. It’s not uncommon for someone to be charged after a neighbor reports hearing gunshots or seeing someone with a weapon in public."
In Texas, shooting on your own property generally has acreage requirements, especially within city limits. Outside city limits, you need at least 10 acres to shoot shotguns, air rifles, air pistols, or BB guns, and at least 50 acres to shoot rifles and pistols. If within city limits, municipalities can restrict shooting, but Government Code 229.002 allows shooting on larger properties. Specifically, those with 10-50 acres can shoot shotguns, air rifles/pistols, and BB guns, while those with 50+ acres can shoot any firearm. There are exceptions for self-defense or protecting others.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Outside City Limits:
Minimum Acreage: 10 acres for shotguns, air rifles, air pistols, and BB guns.
Minimum Acreage: 50 acres for rifles and pistols.