‘Property littered by bullets from club’

The Washington Township supervisors, Jan. 23, heard from residents claiming that patrons of the Community Rod and Gun Club of Bechtelsville repeatedly fired live rounds into their property.

“I’ve been here, mowing my grass, with bullets winging by me,” said Lemuel Moore Jr., owner of a Moyer Road home near the club. “I’ve had company over, picnics, getting pelleted.”

Moore said he was aware of the club’s activities when he bought his property and has no problem with the club’s existence or gun ownership in general.

“My problem is when I have pellets all over my patio and lodged in the side of my house,” Moore said. “I’m not trying to be a stink and a bomb, I just don’t want to be shot at.”

At one point, Moore pulled

from his pocket a large bullet that he said he found wedged in his house.

Moore said the problem persists despite years of calls to the club and state police, which service his area. He said the Reading-based state police take hours to respond.

Moore also claimed police haven’t kept a record of his complaints and cases of disorderly conduct reported by many residents, including gun club patrons firing a cannon last Easter.

“It was called in by the whole neighborhood, then all of the sudden there’s no record of it,” Moore said of the cannon firing.

“When the cannon went off, our son — he served in the Army six years — dropped to the ground,” said

Joann Moore, Lemuel’s wife, “because he has PTSD, and he was petrified. We’re just asking for help.”

Supervisor Thomas Powanda said he also called the gun club for an explanation after the cannon incident and got the same reply given to Moore: that there was no proof it took place.

Powanda noted that videos of the cannon event were posted to social media.

Supervisor Chairman David Moyer said there is a need for responsibility among those who operate and enjoy the gun club.

“We’re going to lose our rights over stuff like this because people don’t care,” Moyer said.

Solicitor Joan London said she would send a letter on behalf of the township warning the gun club of disorderly conduct violations.

Efforts to reach the gun club were unsuccessful.