Recreational Sport Shooting Open Houses Being Held By U.S. Forest Service
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) - The public is weighing in on a proposal that would regulate recreational sports shooting on national forest lands in several Front Range counties.
The areas include parts of Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Larimer, and Park counties. Instead of being able to shoot anywhere on the national forest lands, designated outdoor shooting areas would be created. Monday night was one of the first chances for citizens to talk with U.S. Forest Service officials to share their ideas.
Many gun enthusiasts welcome the safe areas. For instance, the owner of Rocky Mountain Shooters Supply, Tim Brough, says a solid plan can't come soon enough. With the recent death of a man camping in Douglas County on his mind, he welcomes the discussion on shooting in open national forest land.
"If we're going to sell hunting licenses we need to have a place for the hunter to become proficient with his firearm," Brough said.
And it's not just hunters. Brough says recreational shooting is growing in popularity, and so far unregulated.
"In the high density, high population areas, this open accessible public shooting probably needs to be curtailed to some degree," he said.
For the next two days U.S. Forest Service officials are sharing potential options at public meetings up and down the Front Range after holding a meeting in Nederland Monday night. The options include designating shooting in certain parts of national forests, and restricting the activity in others.
"You shouldn't have one without the other," Brough said.
Whatever their opinion, Brough hopes shooters way in and help secure the safety of their sport.
Additional Information From The U.S. Forest Service
These open houses will have six stations staffed by U.S. Forest Service personnel providing information about the proposal. Individuals will also have the opportunity to submit comments on the proposal. The open houses will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be no formal presentation at the meeting and the public is encouraged to come and go throughout the evening. The next two open houses will be held at the following locations and times:
Tuesday, Sept. 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Clear Creek Middle School (Clear Creek School District Administration Building)
320 Colo. Highway 103, Idaho Springs, Colo.
Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Canyon Lakes Ranger District
2150 Centre Avenue, Building E, Fort Collins, Colo.
