Officials aim for public shooting range near Nellis

Thursday, Sept. 14, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- There are an estimated 100,000 gun owners in Clark County, but there's a declining number of places people can go for target practice.

Assemblyman John Lee, D-Las Vegas, and Chuck Musser, a member of the Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, are leading a drive to get from 2,500 to 5,000 acres near Nellis Air Force Base for a public shooting range.

"We want to build a shooting center where enthusiasts can go and not cause harm to people," Lee said.

He said he will ask the 2001 Legislature to urge Nevada's congressional delegation to try to obtain government land.

There have been shooting accidents in the desert where people have been killed or injured by a random bullet. People are shooting at tin cans and other objects, Lee said, adding, "They have no idea what's behind the sagebrush."

Musser said, "One-hundred thousand people own weapons, and they don't have a place to shoot," in Southern Nevada. Development is encroaching on the current shooting ranges.

"Local police ranges are surrounded by housing developments. Las Vegas and North Las Vegas will have to relocate their ranges," Musser said. A small range at Boulder City will be shut down when the bypass is built for Boulder Dam.

There's a trap-shooting range at Tule Springs with 900 members and a private range near Red Rock with 1,200 members, Musser said.

He estimates the cost to develop a first-class facility will be $5 million to $10 million. He said it would be patterned after a shooting complex in Phoenix that drew 101,000 people last year. He also said the range could draw people to Las Vegas by hosting national meets.

Lee said he is not asking for any state money. He said support is coming from the FBI and the Nevada Highway Patrol. "There is nowhere where they can practice themselves," he said.

"Clark County is taking the lead to make it a regional shooting facility," Lee said. "Eventually, we hope to have archery there.

"We're trying to get a safe place. There would be no gun sales, no bullet sales. If you don't have your equipment, we won't be encouraging you to buy an arsenal of equipment."

The area, Musser said, is north of Moccasin Road and west of the Nellis range fence. It's adjacent to a potential wilderness area and is "well buffered," he said.

Backing is "pretty firm" from Clark County, North Las Vegas and Las Vegas, said Musser. And it's being considered by Boulder City and Henderson.