A judge ruled to temporarily prohibit the club from shooting. A hearing regarding that order is in two weeks. Meanwhile, a nearby school is getting involved.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio gun club is forced to temporarily put down their weapons after their neighbors made accusations the club operates like a “drinking fraternity” and uses guns recklessly. Now, a private school nearby is getting involved in the legal battle.
However, the attorney representing San Antonio Target Hunting and Fishing Club off W Hausman Road has denied all the allegations. He said the club has been around for 70 years and has always prioritized safety.
The original lawsuit was filed last month by SA Given To Fly, LP. The company owns the property adjacent to the gun club. The lawsuit alleges the club has fired off shots that have made their way into their property. It states the club “were made aware of the extremely dangerous nature of their activities yet failed to take reasonable steps to reduce or prevent further harm.”
It alleges the club received multiple letters, emails and phone calls with complaints. It states the club “encouraged dangerous behavior by failing to monitor alcohol consumptions among shooters.”
The suit also cites another lawsuit where a man riding his bike near the Leon Greenway Creek claimed a stray bullet from the gun club struck his helmet, causing him to fall off his bike. However, that lawsuit was recently dismissed.
In this current case, a judge ruled to temporarily prohibit the club from shooting. A hearing to decide whether they can resume normal operations was originally scheduled for Monday, January 13 but was moved to January 27 due to scheduling conflicts.
Meanwhile, SA Given to Fly is seeking more than $1 million in damages from the club. They are demanding a jury trial.
But on Friday, January 10, Acton Academy North San Antonio filed a petition to join the lawsuit. The private school is located off W Hausman Road as well. It does not claim it has located a bullet or projectiles on its property but is joining the case to ensure the children’s safety.
“The most disturbing allegation is that bullets are coming out of that range and landing on other people’s property,” Attorney Stephen Foster said.
Foster is representing Acton Academy. He said they are not against gun rights but are fighting for gun responsibility.
“We are not looking for money and we have no interest in any dispute between other parties, we just want to make sure the kids are safe,” Foster said.
However, the gun club is firing back. Mark Anthony Sanchez is the attorney representing the club. He believes the plaintiffs do not have credible evidence.
“The claims in the lawsuit are for lack of a better words, scandalous and they reply upon anonymous and unreliable john does,” Sanchez said.
He said they were not approached by the school prior to Friday’s filing. While he did not deny there were bullets found on surrounding property, he said they do not have proof it came from the gun club.
“This was considered a rural area and there was a significant amount of hunting that occurred in the surrounding properties,” Sanchez said. “So, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were projectiles on various pieces of property that are a decade, two decades, five decades old.”
KENS 5 reached out to Joshua Sisam, the attorney representing SA Given to Fly, LP and has not heard back as of Monday night.