Bush Signs Bill Creating Largest Public Shooting Range

reviewjournal.com ^ | 21 November 2002

[PatrioticAmerican]

Thursday, November 21, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Bill permitting shooting range passes

 

STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

 

Click image for an enlargement

 

 

 

WASHINGTON -- The Senate approved legislation early Wednesday that permits Clark County to build a public shooting range on federal land just north of Las Vegas.

The bill, authored by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has the backing of county recreation officials, gun enthusiasts and law enforcement officers.

The bill conveys 2,880 acres of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management to Clark County, which is drafting plans to build a public range for recreational shooting and police training.

"There are a lot of people in the valley with firearms, everything from pistols to shooting rifles to high-powered rifles and everything in between, so the shooting park will be a series of ranges," said Jeff Harris of the county Parks and Community Services department.

The county's goal is to provide area residents with a safe place to shoot, he said.

"We have a lot of weekend warriors that go out and shoot in the desert. It's illegal," Harris said. "They will shoot bullets and it's a real public safety issue. In the past there have been people shot."

The multi-purpose facility is projected to cost between $20 million and $30 million, and county officials are looking for creative funding, including housing gun manufacturers on the site or levying bonds, Harris said.

The House approved the bill in April, and Reid said President Bush will sign it.
 

[PatrioticAmerican]

"Think Storm Mountain without the trees."

Or the sheep!

[PatrioticAmerican]

It's on this year's list of "acquisitions"!

[PatrioticAmerican]

"I for one would rather they quit these pork programs."

No federal funds involved, just the release of the land for a shooting range.

The county funding will be by the residents' choice and I think that is proper. If you notice, they are thinking of bonding the issue. That means the range will pay for itself through use fees.

[PatrioticAmerican]

Don't know if you knew this, but maybe this might set a trend? maybe not

[appeal2]

Yet another reason to move to LV.

[worldviewer tom]

Will it soon be that everyone who wishes to practice shooting must do so in a government range? It seems to me that this would be another good way to keep tabs on gun owners. Or maybe I'm just paranoid.

[Travis McGee]

It's illegal to go way out in the desert and shoot? Sez who?

[Travis McGee]

It might set a trend out west where there's plenty of land, but back east? Fuggedabowdit.

[Travis McGee]

Exactly! What's wrong with citizens going out on "their" public land in the far boonies and shooting?

The goobermint wants a goobermint approved lock on your gun, wants it "transported" in the approved manner, and fired on an "approved" range.

All other uses will be outlawed.

[adaven]

Yeah, I knew I moved to the right city when I found out that our high school has an indoor shooting range.

[no-s]

Is it the governments job to create shooting ranges?

Does it promote a "well regulated militia", i.e. making sure people can shoot well? It's reasonable to argue it's a matter of national security....

Isn't Las Vegas the part of Nevada where the victim disarmers hang out...?

[PatrioticAmerican]

" high school has an indoor shooting range"

No kidding???

[Fiddlstix]

Bump

[patton]

Where are you?

Here in VA, I just got my CCW. I am pretty happy about that.

But I guess I am on the "list" now.

[B Knotts]

Now, this is a bill I'm happy to see the president sign.

[sheik yerbouty]

I remember when NYC and Long Island schools did. My sister was on the rifle team.

[sheik yerbouty]

You may have a point, considering how many Clintonite holdovers there are in the BLM.

[Fred Mertz]

Exactly! What's wrong with citizens going out on "their" public land in the far boonies and shooting?

I'm going to a turkey shoot today....on private property. Maybe I'll win a few bucks too.

I'm skeptical of this Las Vegas proposal, knowing how the government likes to collect data if you know what I mean.

[Travis McGee]

Good point. In a sense it could be a vast scam, like when the cops call felons to come down and collect a prize. Not that the range operators would know, but the BATF would be gleefully filming everyone, and their weapons.

[PatrioticAmerican]

At the same time, this could also be a ruse. A simple gimme that is to make people think Bush is pro-gun. I don't get that feeling, but anything the goobermint does should ALWAYS be held suspect.