Gunfire noise in Rhode Island

Frustrated residents ask police to stop the gunfire noise outside their homes

Martha DiMeo and Patricia Schoeninger are long-time residents of a charming neighborhood in Cranston, Rhode Island, which might look idyllic to a visitor. But their homes often get disrupted by rounds of gunfire noise. The reason? The local police department’s outdoor shooting range sits across the street from their homes.

Although the shooting range isn’t new, the facility also gets used by police visiting from nearby towns and by the FBI. And with the increase in use, there’s been an increase in firepower: from pistols to semi-automatic weapons. The sound of gunfire stresses the residents. And what’s more, the students in the middle school and the high school across the street from the shooting range can hear the gunfire in their classrooms. Residents want the shooting facility enclosed, or moved.

Listen to the podcast

In Soundproofist episode 28, we talk with Martha and Patricia about their struggles with the city government. Joining us are two mental-health specialists: Dr. Patricia Ricci, a psychiatrist, and Dr. Melissa Jenkins Mangili, a neuropsychologist and trauma researcher, who discuss the impact of persistent gunfire noise on human health.

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