Shelby Farms Gun Range to Stay Open

[dwaldrip]

From the on Friday, and go to the third article down the page. This article was writen from the press release issued by the County.

Gun range fees hiked in austerity action

User fees at the Shelby Farms gun range will be in creased next month in an ef fort to keep the public facility open.

Shelby County government had planned to close the fi nancially strapped shooting range at the end of the year to save money. But the range on the south side of Walnut Grove won ' t close if the in creased fees can help it oper ate without a deficit, county officials said Thursday.

The range operates on a $113,000-a-year budget but has been plagued by an oper ating and capital deficit of $42,000 a year, said county spokesman Susan Adler Thorp .

The fee increases take effect Oct. 1. For shooters using pis tols or rifles, the fees will rise to $12 per day from $8. People with shotguns will pay $8 in stead of $5 for 25 clay pigeons.

About 9,000 shooters use the range each year.

- Michael Erskine

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-David Waldrip

[dwaldrip]

There will be some announcements in the coming weeks of planning meetings for a shooting event and possible fund raiser at and for the Range. There may also be an effort to establish a non-profit foundation or alliance to help support the range. There is an "equestrian alliance" that makes the same kind of effort for the riding stables. So, if the Shelby Farms Gun Range is important to you, please consider being involved in both of these efforts.

[dwaldrip]

More from the in today's Outdoors section.

Range action aims to please
By The Commercial Appeal
September 7, 2003

Shelby County firearms enthusiasts are excited about an effort from the county government to keep the Shelby Farms gun range open.

"I'm glad to see this," said David Waldrip, director of the Shelby County Tennessee Firearms Association. "I think there is a real chance to work with government officials and keep the range open for the future. I hope people will realize how special that area is for recreation and use it even more than they do now. I'm glad to see this done for people who use the range as recreation."

Next month fees at the range will be raised to see if that can be enough to keep the shooting range open. Shelby County officials previously said the range would have to close Dec. 31 due to significant annual financial losses.

But last week Shelby County officials said the range on the south side of Walnut Grove won't close if the increased fees can help it operate without a deficit.

Fees beginning Oct. 1 will be $12 per day to use pistols or rifles instead of $8, and trapshooters will pay $8 instead of $5 for a round of 25 clay pigeons.

About 9,000 shooters use the range facilities each year according to county officials.

Copyright 2003, GoMemphis. All Rights Reserved.

[MitchSchaft]

[hkgonra]

[dwaldrip]

[dwaldrip]