Watch Community Correspondent Austin Schargorodski’s report here:
‘How can those bullets make it here?’: Bullets from nearby range whiz over golf course, piercing RV
Bullets from a nearby range have startled golfers recently, with one piercing Glenn Mlinar’s RV last December. There’s something profoundly unsettling about the suddenness of danger, especially when it mingles with leisure. “We’re sitting here and all of a sudden we heard bullets whizzing through the campground here,” Mlinar recalled. “We’re like holy crap that’s close – they were really close.” The contrast between sporting relaxation and the harsh reminder of gun violence serves as a backdrop for this troubling incident.
Mlinar, an enthusiastic gun owner who frequents firing ranges, maintains that everyone should respect safety. However, his thoughts have turned contemplative as he reflects upon that day. His RV, a symbol of peace and outdoor enjoyment, now carries a mark of peril. It was while cleaning the vehicle, a routine chore that usually brings comfort, when he discovered a bullet hole at head level—next to his water control. “If I was here hooking this up at the time, I probably wouldn’t be here right now,” Mlinar mused, a solemn realization resonating in his voice. The peril of what could have been weighs heavily.
Mlinar gestures toward the bullet hole that pierced through his shower. Reporting the incident to the Glades County Sheriff’s Office, he expected action, but deputies informed him it was merely a civil matter. “I would think with a bullet hole through a camper, it would be more than a civil matter,” he said, frustration creeping into his tone. It feels absurd, even comical in a twisted way, that a bullet, a tangible piece of metal fired without care, could so easily cross boundaries between safety and chaos.
In his pursuit of answers, Schargorodski reached out to the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Hardin indicated that the gun range owner plans to make safety adjustments. Yet, for Mlinar, who has struggled to connect with the owner, this seems inadequate. “I want to talk to him one on one just to say, hey, can we make this right, make sure this doesn’t happen again? I’d like to see the berm they’re shooting at. How can those bullets make it over here?” The simplicity of his request hangs in the air, highlighting a shared hope for safer practices among recreational patrons.
At a county commissioners meeting in December, Mlinar raised these issues. The commissioners acknowledged the owner’s Second Amendment rights while expressing intentions to redirect shooting practices away from the RV resort. The service at the Glades RV Resort Golf Course—a picturesque haven—is now punctuated by these concerns, transforming its tranquility into a contemplative space about community safety and responsibility.
With a hopeful heart, Mlinar and his neighbors plan to engage the commissioners again at their meeting on January 14. “I’m hoping to get some answers at that commissioners meeting and hopefully get a hold of the owner,” he stated, a resolve shimmering through his words. This isn’t just about a bullet hole; it’s about creating a safe environment for everyone. A reminder of the delicate balance between personal liberties and collective safety underlines the urgency of their discussions.
