TexasCHLforum.com

jamisjockey wrote:
2) "Sodom and Gommorrah?" Really? You can take your rurual snobbery and stuff it.

jamisjockey wrote:My example would be the Lee Kay public range in utah. It is supported and operated by the state Fish and Game. You pay to shoot, a nominal fee, which also helps keep the doors open. Its an awesome public facility used for CHL courses, competitions, and hunters ed. Considering Utah is a state of a mere 2 million people, I think its something that could easily be pulled off near several of the population centers here in Texas.
http://utahshootingsports.com/leekay.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just curious, and starting a conversation about it.

XinTX wrote:Few resons why there aren't 'Public' ranges.

First is budget. Most small towns don't have budget to operate a range just for their PD or Sheriff. Some do, most don't. Those that do tend to be larger and more populated. Those areas TEND to end up with more antis on the City Council or County Commission. Smaller ones just don't have the money. I've heard from some PD armorers in a lot of areas have cut their budgets so much that their LEO's get one box of ammo per year to use to qualify. That's not indicative of having funds to operate a public range.

Second is the political will. As I said before, you have to have the budget and the votes on the CC to push it. A few antis would likely kill any attempt. Most big city newspapers would make it out to be some huge waste of taxpayers money (as if there isn't enough of that they could talk about now).

Third is the liability issue. True, it is difficult, though not impossible to sue the government in TX. But I assume (not knowing) that there is some level of effort required to get any suits filed dismissed. And seeing that, the threat of litigation is likely enough to kill the political will. Also, any range near where homes are built would have the potential of being hit by errant fire from the slobs who just want to spray bullets. And if a home (or heaven forbid, an occupant) was hit, it wouldn't be too difficult to find a sympathetic judge to push a case forward. And the antis would look for every opportunity to litigate. Which would factor into the lack of political will.

Tamie wrote:
SLOBS.

There used to be a shooting range on public land in the Houston area, but people abused it. They would do irresponsible things like bring an old TV and shoot it up, and leave the parts lying there. They (TPWD, I think) got tired of cleaning up the trash, so they closed it. A few bad apples spoiled it for everyone.