UNION COUNTY, N.C.,None — A Union County doctor with a machine gun collection faced a group of angry neighbors in court Monday.
In their lawsuit, they claim he is lying so he can fire machine guns on the private shooting range on his property.
Dr. Michael Land fires machine guns at his shooting range on Bloomsberry Lane in Wesley Chapel. It's right behind a subdivision, the Villages at Stonegate.
Attorneys on both sides argued for more than two hours before the judge said he would review the case and decide whether to dismiss it all or in part, or let it move forward.
After the hearing, Land said he was legal and refused further comment.
Kathy Patterson, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said Land's shooting range has done a lot of damage.
"We've had people who have had to go on medication for their nerves," she said.
Federal laws allow people to have machine guns for only special exceptions, including protecting a business.
In court records, Land says he runs a jewelry and antique business out of that house. He said he uses the business to collect items and does not sell anything or employ anyone.
Patterson's attorney, Paul deMontesquiou, said he believes that violates state and federal laws.
"Dr. Land has made a mockery of 14-409 and federal law, putting down there 'protection of business,'" deMontesquiou said of one of the reasons Land put down for his permit.
But Land's attorney, Tate Helms, said his client is within his rights-and isn't hurting his neighbors.
"Dr. Land is in complete and absolute compliance of state and federal law," he said.