Sat
May 30 2026
01:18 pm
Smith & Wesson noise problem
By: bizgrrl

Smith & Wesson opened a new facility in the past couple of years. Not sure if they are manufacturing, but they are definitely making some noise.

Smith & Wesson Academy opened in September and includes a shoothouse, pistol range, flex range and rifle range. Instructor and former SEAL Chief Warrant Officer Mark T. Cochiolo oversees the courses offered there. As of publication, none of the academy’s nine listed courses were available for sign-up, though seven included course descriptions.

Those descriptions showed participants could receive between 200 and 400 rounds of ammunition per course. Former Louisville Mayor and attorney Tom Bickers said residents have complained about hearing thousands of rounds fired each day.
...
Now the firearms company wants to build a Lodging Facility... "much to the chagrin of residential neighbors who fear the move will only increase activity at the site’s already noisy training facilities."
...
"The Industrial Development Board has implemented a process to actually measure that [weapons noise]. The equipment just came in last week, and so they are scheduled to go along the property line and measure."

It's unimaginable how disconcerting it would be to have firearms going off that many times a day where you can hear it from your front porch. Is Blount County losing it's luster? Someone should have to buy these people out so they can leave the noise behind.

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yellowdog's picture

Absurd all around

Submitted by yellowdog on Mon, 2026/06/01 - 12:01pm.

This project was negotiated without public involvement in the first place by the state and local "development" officials. Many of us do not welcome the gun factory. Many people objected to the noise potential when it first was announced. They were ignored.

Now after knowing in fact what it is like to have gunfire most of the day in their neighborhoods, people learn that there will be more.So the powers that be plan to study the noise levels at the border of the S&W facility. The idea that there is an "acceptable" level of daily gunfire in your neighborhood is absurd.

bizgrrl's picture

A reader who lives near the

Submitted by bizgrrl on Wed, 2026/06/17 - 9:40am.

A reader who lives near the Smith & Wesson property says,

"
I agree that there is No acceptable level of gunfire noise pouring into my neighborhood. My house , home , and property and half of my neighborhood are seriously impacted by the increasing gunfire noise emanating from S&Ws outdoor shooting facility.

Listening to 30 minutes of continuous gunfire is annoying. An hour of hearing it is rattling. Anything after that is ridiculous and totally unnerving.

On 6/8, there was 4 1/2 hrs of nonstop gunfire..
today, 6/13…7 1/2 hrs of continuous gunfire noise ..
on a SATURDAY…when families are home trying to play outside and do do yard work.

Anyone want to take a guess at how many thousands of rounds were fired?

Noise abatement procedures on S&Ws outdoor shooting facility are
needed NOW before it gets any worse.

What’s next? Sunday shooting? Night shooting?

I seriously doubt that any Maryville city, Alcoa city, or even
Blount County commissioner , who seemingly bend to whatever whim S&W wants, will accept my upcoming invitation to come sit in my yard, and listen...."

Treehouse's picture

I use NIOSH SLM app

Submitted by Treehouse on Wed, 2026/06/17 - 3:35pm.

to track decibels. It would be good to document inside and house your house and the days and times.

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