Three months ago, the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office began opening its range to the public once a month.
The idea behind the plan was to educate the public about firearm safety, provide a safe place to practice and generate revenue at the same time.
So far, the plan is working.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said the response has been nothing but positive.
“I think it’s a good program,” he said. “I am 150 percent behind the right to bear arms, but, at the same time, I think the public needs to be educated about using weapons safely.”
Many area gun owners seem to agree. Attendance has been very good, Smith said.
J. Lee Weems takes aim at a target during the recent range day hosted by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office. The BCSO is opening its range for the public on various dates. Photo by Jessica Brown
Locked and loaded: BCSO range open to the public
Smith, a firm believer in home protection, said the open range provides citizens with an ideal location to practice their shooting skills.
Instructors and range masters are on hand at each range session to answer questions participants may have regarding gun laws, permits and other issues.
“Most of the folks that come out are educated about the laws,” Smith said. However, Smith wants to make sure those with questions get answers.
“What we have found is that by allowing the public to come out and us teaching them the rules and the law and safe use of the handgun, we feel that is going to help us in the long run,” he said. “We don’t have to worry about someone doing it the wrong way. I agree with having some personal home defense in your home, but we want to make sure you are doing it in the right way, the safe way.”
While there is a mutual benefit for both the public and the Sheriff’s Office to be had from the extra instruction and firearms practice, the Sheriff’s Office reaps the additional benefit of generating extra revenue during a time when the budget is very tight.
Proceeds from the range fees are currently being used for maintenance and upgrades to the facility.
Since only three open range days have been held to date, the amount collected so far is well under $1,000 Smith said.
“We have not made an exorbitant amount of money but it’s paying our small bills,” Smith said. The money is placed in a special account for the range. Smith hopes the proceeds will eventually fund more range related expenses for his deputies.
“Our plan in the future is to buy all our ammunition through the money we make so that we don’t have to put it on the backs of the taxpayer,” he said.
In addition to the range proceeds, Smith is also hoping to secure funds for improvements from the National Rifle Association (NRA). The Sheriff’s Office is currently in the process of applying for a $60,000 grant from the NRA which will require no matching funds.
Smith is also working with the NRA to develop a plan in which NRA instructors would be available to teach at the range.
He is also working with the NRA to develop a low-light shooting class.
Though the range already regularly hosts other agencies for training exercises, Smith hopes planned improvements will make it an even more fully utilized facility.
Recently, the Sheriff’s Office has used confiscated funds to create an obstacle course, a long range rifle range and a shot gun line.
“It looks like it’s going to be a very good program,” Smith said. “What we have found is that a lot of people are arming themselves nowadays and we just want to make sure they are being safe. We’re just here to provide that service to them if they need it.”
UP NEXT
The next open range day is set for September 4 from 8 a.m. until noon.
Citizens may bring their own weapons and ammunition and will have the opportunity to learn from certified firearms instructors. The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office strictly prohibits the use of any armor-piercing ammunition and tracer rounds.
Admission to the range is $10 per session. For those interested in learning to shoot, a four hour block of personalized instruction is available for $75.
For more information or directions to the firearms range, please contact Sgt. David Aderhold at 770-307-3080, extension 3936.
Instructors and range masters are on hand at each range session to answer questions participants may have regarding gun laws, permits and other issues.
“Most of the folks that come out are educated about the laws,” Smith said. However, Smith wants to make sure those with questions get answers.
“What we have found is that by allowing the public to come out and us teaching them the rules and the law and safe use of the handgun, we feel that is going to help us in the long run,” he said. “We don’t have to worry about someone doing it the wrong way. I agree with having some personal home defense in your home, but we want to make sure you are doing it in the right way, the safe way.”
Phillip Eishen practices his aim at the recent range day hosted by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office. Photo by Jessica Brown
Proceeds from the range fees are currently being used for maintenance and upgrades to the facility.
Since only three open range days have been held to date, the amount collected so far is well under $1,000 Smith said.
“We have not made an exorbitant amount of money but it’s paying our small bills,” Smith said. The money is placed in a special account for the range. Smith hopes the proceeds will eventually fund more range related expenses for his deputies.
“Our plan in the future is to buy all our ammunition through the money we make so that we don’t have to put it on the backs of the taxpayer,” he said.
In addition to the range proceeds, Smith is also hoping to secure funds for improvements from the National Rifle Association (NRA). The Sheriff’s Office is currently in the process of applying for a $60,000 grant from the NRA which will require no matching funds.
Smith is also working with the NRA to develop a plan in which NRA instructors would be available to teach at the range.
He is also working with the NRA to develop a low-light shooting class.
Though the range already regularly hosts other agencies for training exercises, Smith hopes planned improvements will make it an even more fully utilized facility.
Recently, the Sheriff’s Office has used confiscated funds to create an obstacle course, a long range rifle range and a shot gun line.
“It looks like it’s going to be a very good program,” Smith said. “What we have found is that a lot of people are arming themselves nowadays and we just want to make sure they are being safe. We’re just here to provide that service to them if they need it.”
UP NEXT
The next open range day is set for September 4 from 8 a.m. until noon.
Citizens may bring their own weapons and ammunition and will have the opportunity to learn from certified firearms instructors. The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office strictly prohibits the use of any armor-piercing ammunition and tracer rounds.
Admission to the range is $10 per session. For those interested in learning to shoot, a four hour block of personalized instruction is available for $75.
For more information or directions to the firearms range, please contact Sgt. David Aderhold at 770-307-3080, extension 3936.
Very smart of Sheriff Jud, an arm citizen, not only with a firearm, but also the knowledge, can only help with a spread thin deptnment.
As a resident of Barrow County, I very much appreciate Sheriff Smith making the range and his instructors available.