Recent Suicides At Royal Oak Shooting Range Prompt Gun Discussion
ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - The recent suicides of two people at a Royal Oak shooting range has prompted police and city administrators to take a closer look into the issue of rented gun access.
City Commissioner Peggy Goodwin requested city officials discuss the issue at a meeting Monday night after learning of the two suicides and one suicide attempt which took place in the past five months at Target Sports Shooting Range and Gun Shop on Woodward Avenue.
"I'm concerned, obviously, about the victims and I'm concerned about the people who witness it, the employees. Generally, people are traumatized when something like that occurs and so we need to talk about this difficult issue and bring it to light and see how we can address it in a bigger way," she said.
Goodwin said the store owner hasn't broken any laws, but more needs to be done to stop the suicides.
"This is a very high rate of incidents at one gun range. Has he done anything illegal? No, I don't believe so. There have been suicides in other gun ranges, absolutely. But I think what should be news is what a community can do to help prevent it," she said.
There have been five suicides and two attempts at Target Sports Gun Shop since 2001. Target Sports owner Ray Jihad declined to comment on the topic.
