KAUFMAN — Along the East Fork river bottoms, gunfire is proof of some peace being made between neighbors.

But at the Kaufman County Courthouse on Tuesday, it was clear there are still battles raging between Lonestar Gun Club and Redneck Resort and the three neighbors who filed suit against the range. The three convinced a judge in September to shut down the gun range over safety concerns.

The club has met mediation requirements that called for shooting booths, certified range officers, baffles and other modifications as recommended by gun range experts, including the National Rifle Association. That allowed Lonestar to reopen its pistol and shotgun ranges as well as adding trap shooting and archery.

"We're obviously excited that we've met the challenges of the last four months head on, and we've done not only what the mediation required but we've added above and beyond that," owner-operator Derek Ringley said. "We're making sure that we're primarily safe but also a fun place to shoot."

But its 100- and 600-yard rifle ranges remain closed. The neighbors want to make sure those are rebuilt with berms, bullet traps and other safety features recommended for the more powerful firearms.

1 / 2Lonestar Gun Club and Redneck Resort near Mesquite was shut down in September over safety concerns. After Lonestar met mediation requirements, some of the ranges were reopened, but the 100- and 600-yard ranges remain closed.(Rose Baca / Staff Photographer) 2 / 2The view through a tube which club members must shoot through to prevent ricochet during target practice at Lonestar Gun Club and Redneck Resort near Mesquite. (Rose Baca/The Dallas Morning News)(Rose Baca / Staff Photographer)

Challenging the law

Attorneys representing Lonestar were in court Tuesday challenging the constitutionality of a 1991 state law that sets safety standards for gun ranges. The law says ranges must be built to meet the minimum standards of the NRA safety manual; the legal challenge questions whether the law gives the NRA the ability to set state policy.

The Texas attorney general issued a opinion similarly challenging the law in 1992, and there was a bill to rewrite the legislation in 1997. However, the bill did not pass and the law remains on the books.

"The state never moved forward to enforce it," attorney Rudy Fink told the court. "It's delegation of authority to the NRA that flows with whatever the standard of the NRA is at that time."

Having experienced bullets flying onto their properties when the club originally opened in July 2016 along Lawson Road on the outskirts of Mesquite, the neighbors say they just want the law to be followed.

"There's an airport, schools, my property, the neighbors, Forney. Clearly a bunch of people in the surrounding danger zone," plaintiff Tom Truitt said. "This is about safety."

Kaufman County District Judge Michael Chitty said he would issue an opinion on the constitutionality challenge later this week.

'An expensive battle'

The neighbors are seeking more than $1 million in damages. The case will be more than six months old when they meet again in Chitty's court Feb. 28.

A "guns and coffee" bumper sticker is displayed on a vehicle at Lone Star Gun Club and Redneck Resort near Mesquite. (Rose Baca / Staff Photographer)

"The law allows governments or private individuals to enforce the safety of a gun range," said Truitt, who is funding the battle on behalf of his neighbors.

"And that's been an expensive battle," added Truitt's attorney, Xerxes Martin.

In addition to seeking relief from Lonestar for damage to the neighboring properties, the revised petition accuses Ringley of making defamatory statements toward plaintiff Billy Benson, owner of neighboring fishing business Catfish Corner. Ringley has sued Benson for defamation separately because of comments Benson made about the case on a television news report.