MIDDLESEX TWP — A Middlesex Township couple is asking the three-man board of supervisors to adopt an ordinance that would regulate shooting in the township.

Craig and Tina Pracht said at the Wednesday night supervisors meeting that because there is no ordinance on the discharging of firearms in the township, shooting has become unsafe and a nuisance.

Craig Pracht said his neighbors recently shot a number of guns, including a semi-automatic weapon, for more than five hours near his home.

Pracht stressed that he has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, so the couple's request has nothing to do with Second Amendment rights.

“This is about nonsense shooting,” Pracht said.

He said the township police have refused to cite his neighbors using the township's nuisance ordinance.

Pracht said he also is frustrated because he has been complaining about his neighbor's shooting for three years.

“The complaints fall on deaf ears,” he said.

Tina Pracht said many neighboring communities regulate shooting. She said many do not allow shooting at all with the exception of defending a person or property, or licensed hunting.

Pracht said Middlesex should regulate shooting like neighboring municipalities do.

“This township is growing by leaps and bounds, as evidenced by new development on Route 8,” Tina Pracht said. “Nobody wants shooting in their backyard.”

After the meeting, Pracht produced a copy of the township's nuisance ordinance, which prohibits an animal barking or making noise that “disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities,” while hours of shooting is not considered a nuisance.

“It's ridiculous,” she said.

Supervisor Mike Spreng said the board will consider the Prachts' request and the petition she is circulating.

“I'll take a look at whatever comes across the desk,” Spreng said.

The supervisors took no action on the matter on Wednesday.