Jeffco forming group to explore public shooting range

Just read this at liberal post. I emailed the Commissioners to let them know as a resident of Jeffco, I look forward to developments.

Article here - http://www.denverpost.com/southjeffc...ublic-shooting


Jeffco forming group to explore public shooting range
By Joe Vaccarelli
YourHub Reporter
Posted: 02/21/2014 01:00:00 AM MST

JEFFERSON COUNTY — Jefferson County Open Space is forming a working group to study options for a possible public shooting range somewhere in the county.

In assembling the group, Open Space is looking for three citizens interested in serving the working group alongside representatives from PLAN Jeffco, The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and several other groups from around the county and the state.

The group will be tasked with exploring the possibility of a public shooting range, looking at possible locations and making a proposal to the Board of County Commissioners this summer.

"I think it's because there's been such an interest expressed by residents to hone their skills, whether for recreation or competitive shooting. Really that's what's driving it," Jeffco Open Space partnership coordinator Nancy York said. York will select the citizens who will participate in the group.

York said she is taking applications through Feb. 24, but if some came in through the end of the month, she would consider them. Interested citizens should have familiarity with the county, a willingness to serve and be available to meet regularly. Experience with sports shooting would be a plus.

The board of commissioners charged Jeffco Open Space with exploring the option for a public shooting range. At a meeting last month, Open Space representatives suggested the formation of a working group to invest more time on the subject.

"We were receiving numerous requests of the commissioners asking why we didn't have a shooting range," District 3 Commissioner Don Rosier said.

Rosier said Jeffco has numerous potential sites in various parts of the county, but hopes the working group will find a suitable central location to accommodate all residents.

Currently, residents have to leave the county and go to national parks or Cherry Creek State Park to find a place to fire guns outdoors.

York said the board will likely meet monthly, or more often if necessary. She has a target date of July 15 to make a presentation to the county commissioners.

The work group can also make use of a study done about 25 years ago prior to the development of the law enforcement shooting range near Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood. That site was originally explored as a public shooting range, but the county decided to just allow law enforcement use.

"We're really looking to that as a model to tackle the issue," York said.

It'd be great if a member from here was on the board.

That is awesome! Hope it works out! Would like to be on the board but don't have experience shooting competition type shooting so it would be nice if someone that did was on the board because it would be nice to have a range you could do that at because I would like to get into like 3 gun or something like it!

Thanks for the heads up. I sent an email, we will see what happens. If they turn down a person like me, they probably don't want one built. :)

Hunterhawk, 3Gun at Byers first Saturday in March. :)

Given the number of public golf courses (I have nothing against golf), I am constantly amazed at the lack of public shooting facilities...and no, I do not consider Montbello or Aurora neighborhoods as public shooting ranges!

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Originally Posted by MarkCO

Thanks for the heads up. I sent an email, we will see what happens. If they turn down a person like me, they probably don't want one built. :)

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Who did you send it to? The commissioners?
Fingers crossed on this!

Will be happy to lend a hand on this

As long as it gets done, and is "explored" by at least a few civilians with a passion for shooting, I'm happy.
would prefer not to ride my motorcycle an hour in snow to shoot

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Originally Posted by Jeffrey Lebowski

Who did you send it to? The commissioners?
Fingers crossed on this!

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I volunteered to be on the working group, sent my notice to: commish@jeffco.us

I used to shoot IPSC on South Table Mountain until they closed down the range. Seems some retards were intentionally shooting rifles over the berms down into the homes. About the only thing up there now is the shared CSP and JCSO driving range. (I've driven on it...kewell)

There used to be a range...Coors/Golden Gun Club? on west side of Hwy 93 years ago, wonder if it might be available?
http://www.goldengunclub.com/aboutus.php

Hell, disregard...looks like they moved out to Watkins.

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Originally Posted by whitbaby

I volunteered to be on the working group, sent my notice to: commish@jeffco.us

I used to shoot IPSC on South Table Mountain until they closed down the range. Seems some retards were intentionally shooting rifles over the berms down into the homes. About the only thing up there now is the shared CSP and JCSO driving range. (I've driven on it...kewell)

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They definitely shoot up there on that CSP driving course. It has to be a blast - I'm envisioning evasive driving tactics with someone sitting "shotgun" shooting.
They let us race (bicycles) up there in summer, and you'll see spent casings on the side.

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Originally Posted by whitbaby

There used to be a range...Coors/Golden Gun Club? on west side of Hwy 93 years ago, wonder if it might be available?
http://www.goldengunclub.com/aboutus.php

Hell, disregard...looks like they moved out to Watkins.

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Yeah, that's quite a move, hey?
Golden to Watkins?

Where is that LE only range?
Somewhere near Matthew Winters or more up towards Genesee? Seems like there would be a spot there.
OR - why not near Rocky Flats? What with all the diseases from that, seems like useless land, right? Oh, oops, they're putting in a subdivision there! (Wow, count me out on wanting any part of that!)

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Originally Posted by Jeffrey Lebowski

Where is that LE only range?
Somewhere near Matthew Winters or more up towards Genesee? Seems like there would be a spot there.
OR - why not near Rocky Flats? What with all the diseases from that, seems like useless land, right? Oh, oops, they're putting in a subdivision there! (Wow, count me out on wanting any part of that!)

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They shoot just off I-70 over against an abandoned quarry wall on the west, it is near the Matthews-Winters open space park on the northwest side of I-70.. Actually some satellite views look like there still might be some quarrying ops going on.

Now and then you can see some LEO-type cars parked there and LEOs walking around with earmuffs. I've never seen any kind of shooting booths, but a few cable reels and boxes as benches and target stands at the base of the wall.
I don't know if it's an official range or just a place they squatted on and assumed ownership of. If it's an established shooting range I'd imagine they'd want to keep it to themselves and not let us riff-raff in. It would be a good place for an organized range. It IS relatively close to I-70 though, less than a mile.

It's not like the only place they have to shoot. I've been in their tactical shooting center in the basement of the sheriff's complex. They have some good shoot/no shoot video trainers. They use lasered Glock guns that record hits and misses and dozens of scenarios, from indoor domestic disputes to outdoor engagement around dumpsters, etc. I've shot there at a Citizen's Academy session...impressive.
They also have outdoor places where they train SWAT tactics...so they do have other places but they didn't disclose where.

There is an established shooting area on the way up to the radio facility atop Squaw Mtn just off C103.
Not a very good area. Rocks everywhere and no place to park, just on the shoulder of a dirt road.

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Originally Posted by Jeffrey Lebowski

why not near Rocky Flats? What with all the diseases from that, seems like useless land, right? Oh, oops, they're putting in a subdivision there! (Wow, count me out on wanting any part of that!)

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I wonder if the developers are required to disclose all the toxic waste illegally dumped in that area before it was bulldozed over? WOW! I'd rather buy swamp land in Florida.

I sent an email to Nancy York. Her assistant emailed me back this morning saying they would review and get back to me in a few weeks.

I got an email. There were 70 applicants, I was not chosen. Here is the text:

Thank you so much for your interest in being a member of the Jefferson County-initiated working group dedicated to exploring public shooting range opportunities in our community. We received close to 70 inquiries from residents across the County interested in being a part of the working group, and as you know, there were only 3 positions available. This made our decision even more difficult, and unfortunately we will be unable to offer you an official spot on the current working group.

That said, if you are interested, we will add your email address to a list and share updates on the working group activities between now and July when we are to brief the Board of County Commissioners on our findings. If you are not interested in receiving updates, please send a message to Karey Baker at kbaker@jeffco.us and we will remove your email contact. Also, if you have information you would like to share, please email Karey.

Lastly, the working group meetings will be open to the public and you are more than welcomed to attend as an observer. The first meeting will be held at the Jefferson County Open Space office located at 700 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 100 on March 12, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. We will be meeting in the Ponderosa Room just inside the main building doors.

On behalf of your fellow community members and County staff, we thank you for your willingness to serve your community and hope that you remain engaged on this important matter.

Thank you,

Nancy York Karey Baker
Partnerships Coordinator Administrative Coordinator
303.271.5966 direct 303.271.5951 direct
303.570.3608 mobile 720.480.0714 mobile

I got the same letter.
Hope the three that were selected are retired etc., so they can dedicate the time this will require.
I plan on sitting in on the meeting on the 12th.

I left before the meeting was over...truly underwhelming.
I really feel for the three guys that were selected to serve on the working group. I'm afraid they're gonna be 'advised' to a standstill.
There was a whole room full of 'experts' that had a firm grasp on the obvious.

I hope any site they decide on has a lot of the precious Prebles Meadow Jumping Mice for targets...

They should be concentrating on the Location first..then the Operation. They had a pretty well thought-out list of criteria, they didn't need to belabor all of it again.
There were some that were worried about competing with the paying ranges now.
Some wanted archery included. I think archery is beyond the scope of a 'shooting range' working group.

I'm sure there are existing Jeffco land owners that have unused property that meets most of the criteria. I think the County should solicit existing Jeffco land owners about a possible land-swap with the County. It's done all the time, usually with developers.

Thanks for the update, whitbaby. I checked-in on the thread earlier to see if there were any updates.

As far as archery goes, I love shooting my bow but Bear Creek Park right off 470 already has an archery range. I hope they focus their energy on a gun range as that's the whole intent behind this thing.

Paying ranges.....I shoot at Blucore in the winter months and on a neighbor's private land in the summer but only when he is with me. I'd much rather shoot outdoors. I really hope they don't screw this up. Thanks again for the update.

Received an email update from Administrative Coordinator, Karey Baker, today. The following link is to several .PDFs which include meeting summaries, proposals, etc, etc..

http://jeffco.us/parks/documents/

Thanks for the updates!

SUMMARY:
This Working Group’s efforts have resulted in concepts that could be explored further, and those aspects of a public shooting range that should weigh heavily in the development of whatever site is chosen. As this endeavor was intended to be a very broad feasibility study and report on general considerations that should be taken into account, much more research should be conducted to delve deeper into options presented herein as events unfold. Broader community involvement in the process, apart from those agencies and individuals involved in this work needs to take place in the vetting of a location and the financial and operational aspects of a potential Jefferson County Public Shooting Range.

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Looks like that about wraps it up for another 5 years or so. Back to shooting in Pike Nat'l Forest.

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Originally Posted by kidicarus13

Looks like that about wraps it up for another 5 years or so. Back to shooting in Pike Nat'l Forest.

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For now at least. The local forests may not last 5 years until the next round.