Why no public ranges?

[Charles L. Cotton]

If by "public" you mean government owned and operated ranges, then that's a very good question. Stay tuned. ,

Chas.

Charles, you have my full attention.
When might we hear the rest of the story?

I know for a fact that the TexasCHLforum is read by our opposition (moles are everywhere) and this is a time when I really don't want to tip our hand. I will say that there is a very narrow window in the 2011 Texas Legislative Session to pass bills other than budgets and redistricting, so don't expect a bill on this in 2011. There are other ways to do some things and then 2013 isn't far away.

Chas.

[Beiruty]

This thread will self-destruct in 10sec...

[puma guy]

I've shot at the Texas City range a number of times and have no complaints, they run a good operation.


That being said, why do we need government ranges? Or rather, why is it the governments place to run shooting ranges? We seem to have plenty of privately owned ranges, both open to public and members only shooting clubs.

Texas City is a good range.

Why not public ranges? The government provides plenty of parks and lakes and other areas for the recreation of the public. They also have more land and money that we do.

To add to WB's comments, The general public has access to much of the land and facilities paid for with Federal Pittman-Roberston Funds every time you purchase firearms, ammunition; as well as bows, arrows, and fishing equipment. State funds from license fees also provide revenue for public access land and parks, why not some shooter specific benefits?

[Tamie]

Not sure about the rest of the state, but with such a high population just in the Houston area, why aren't there any public shooting ranges? In almost every state I've lived in, Fish and Game or the state has usually had a few gun ranges.
Just curious why there don't seem to be any at least in this part of the State.

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.

[RPB]

Yep, why cities PD ranges aren't open for the public?

Probably due to liability issues. They figure it's not worth the hassle.

Aren't governments/municipalities exempt from torts except cases of negligence and vehicle incidents?

I first misread this as "exempt except for motor vehicle ..." which is generally true for schools, but Texas Tort Claims act, and case law, is a little more complicated than that regarding cities. And, there's still the expense of litigation, if some person gave proper notice under the Tort Claims act, filed suit claiming some event occurring on a range was foreseeable, because this occurred x times in 2010 ....... but not every thing a person has their mind set to do is preventable, no matter how rarely the incident occurs. And, some people like to sue cities, believing they have "deep pockets" without realizing what a pain it is to get council's approval on settlement details etc etc etc.
I ain't a lawyer person.

[puma guy]

Yep, why cities PD ranges aren't open for the public?

Probably due to liability issues. They figure it's not worth the hassle.

Aren't governments/municipalities exempt from torts except cases of negligence and vehicle incidents?

I first misread this as "exempt except for motor vehicle ..." which is generally true for schools, but Texas Tort Claims act, and case law, is a little more complicated than that regarding cities. And, there's still the expense of litigation, if some person gave proper notice under the Tort Claims act, filed suit claiming some event occurring on a range was foreseeable, because this occurred x times in 2010 ....... but not every thing a person has their mind set to do is preventable, no matter how rarely the incident occurs.
I ain't a lawyer person.

Yeah, I over simplified, but cities are difficult to sue. Government is protected by law. . See Avery VS GBRA (Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority).
If something is forseeable then it would be negligence I believe. Texas City certainly has overcome the trepidation over litigation. Hopefully it won't be an issue if there's success in getting public ranges. I think I remember Pasadena PD range open to public, but I'm older than dirt and can't remember stuff!
I ain't no lawyer, neither.

[RPB]

Pasadena PD range from the 1980s, on Almeda Genoa I think ... behind where WalMart was before it was first built on Fairmont, before it moved, was "kinda" open, but not "supposed to be" I don't think... sometimes the gate was locked
I just went with my buddies in the Dept when I went there.

[puma guy]

Pasadena PD range from the 1980s, on Almeda Genoa I think ... behind where WalMart was before it was first built on Fairmont, before it moved, was "kinda" open, but not "supposed to be" I don't think... sometimes the gate was locked
I just went with my buddies in the Dept when I went there.

Yup! But it's Genoa-Red Bluff Road. You a Pasadena-ite?

[RPB]

Pasadena PD range from the 1980s, on Almeda Genoa I think ... behind where WalMart was before it was first built on Fairmont, before it moved, was "kinda" open, but not "supposed to be" I don't think... sometimes the gate was locked
I just went with my buddies in the Dept when I went there.

Yup! But it's Genoa-Red Bluff Road. You a Pasadena-ite?

Formerly, yes ...
I remembered "Genoa" at least lol

[puma guy]

Pasadena PD range from the 1980s, on Almeda Genoa I think ... behind where WalMart was before it was first built on Fairmont, before it moved, was "kinda" open, but not "supposed to be" I don't think... sometimes the gate was locked
I just went with my buddies in the Dept when I went there.

Yup! But it's Genoa-Red Bluff Road. You a Pasadena-ite?

Yeah, I remembered "Genoa" at least lol
lol yup a former Pasadeenianite
About 1977-2005
Knew most of the P.D., mayor, Gilley, his wife, and his long-haired boy, and I knew Ernie, from the restaurant etc.
Officers Jeff Ginn and Les Early were a couple of my good friends (insert extreme sad icon)
Les, (killed on duty) a certified Glock armorer and I did a lot of upgrading on Glocks, some of which I bought for officers after Jeff was killed on duty while reloading his "Dept-issued 6-shooter".
I lived in apartments on Red Bluff and Harris a few months, Harris Manor Apts.
Bought a home on Rustic, then moved over by Daisy/Pansy/Vista; closer to the Beltway, and lived there until to retiring to Central Texas hill country.

Very Small Orb we inhabit. Know all those places well. Came to Pasadena as a 5 month old when parents moved here ..... well a long time ago. Lived in Maxwell Homes. My dad had bird dogs and we used to bird hunt where Vista is. At age 93 he still practices Vet medicine once a week, though wheel chair bound.
Jeff was responding to our oldest daughter's best friend Kelly L.'s grandparents being held hostage by his murderer. Very tragic. Know Jeff's widow from church. It was one of the few times Kelly and our daughter weren't together and we heard it on the radio. I sold Mickey a .22 rifle for his son when I worked at Globe. Love the Hill Country but only get there to deer hunt and visit middle daughter in New Braunfels.

[RPB]

I had forgotten Globe, I still have the matching shirts I bought mom, dad and me from there lol
I Probably shoulda used PM, instead of too much publication of info ...
I'll make better uses of PM next time.
Also, Guess we hijacked the thread sorry

[puma guy]

I had forgotten Globe, I still have the matching shirts I bought mom, dad and me from there lol
I Probably shoulda used PM, instead of too much publication of info ...
I'll make better uses of PM next time.
Also, Guess we hijacked the thread sorry

Oops! Guess you're right. Gone!

[Mike1951]

Some years ago, I was driving up US259 in eastern OK when I saw a sign pointing to a public shooting range.

IIRC, it was in a national forest area about 5 miles west of 259.

It was a modest, but extremely nice NRA range. Benches were concrete, overhead cover on heavy rustic timbers. 100 yards with chicken wire strung at the various distances to affix targets.

Amazingly, I didn't notice any signs of vandalism and it was very clean.

Maybe our neighbors to the north are more responsible and better behaved than Texans.

Actually, there used to be four areas in the Sam Houston National Forest open for informal shooting before the USFS closed three of them completely. Last I heard, the one west of I45 and north of FM1375 was open from September through deer season.

[jamisjockey]

Not sure about the rest of the state, but with such a high population just in the Houston area, why aren't there any public shooting ranges? In almost every state I've lived in, Fish and Game or the state has usually had a few gun ranges.
Just curious why there don't seem to be any at least in this part of the State.

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.

The idea isn't to just let the mouth breathers tear up some open public land.
There is a very good state run range in Salt Lake City that is open to all shooters, but has RO's and is kept clean and maintained.

[Oldgringo]

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.

There used to be a public range just south of our little Pineywoods hamlet. It was closed years ago for the aforestated reasons - inconsiderate, and most probably ill-conceived, SLOBS.