Got to the discussion late, but still wish to offer my opinion on this topic.

As a gun owner, I would be eager to have a facility nearby. But as a person with a history of using firearms, I think there are several serious questions that have to be addressed before a shooting range could be established here.

Yes, the noise problem is an issue, there would have to be some testing, at a location chosen, and some rules of hours of operation that could make it less of an issue.

The largest concern, always with firearms, is safety. The range should be strictly controlled, with hard and fast rules that would guarantee not only the safety of the users of the range, but would also guarantee that there would be safe handling of weapons so that errant rounds could NOT be sent outside a safe zone of the target area. Would this require the presence of a "rangemaster" during operation hours? Perhaps. It would certainly mean a range constructed so that spent rounds cannot go beyond a safe target zone.

The rationale of having a range should start with the idea that guns owned by people who are not trained in their use are a major liability to everyone around them. A gun owner MUST be taught the principles of safe use, and that is not a simple exercise. Nothing can be taken for granted. Casual use of firearms, without real discipline regarding all aspects of storing, loading and firing, can and will lead to tragic accidents.

I could see that a range could offer many possible variations; from a simple target area for small caliber weapons, to a shotgun trap range, or a place where hunters could sight-in high powered rifles on occasion. But I would think that a significant focus should be on safe handgun training and practice. Residents that buy a pistol for home protection should ALWAYS be trained in the safe handling of that weapon, and not just put it in the closet and wait for an emergency.

Unfortunately, there will always be those that use poor judgment in any course of action. But I believe that the risk of accidents can be reduced by familiarization of the weapon, compared to simply having it in the house.

Bill Haas