January 24, 2024 |
Photo – Advisory board members James Shearer and James Ainsworth – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The Rawlins Community Shooting Ranges Advisory Board updated the city council recently on the status of the indoor and outdoor shooting ranges.
At the January 16th Rawlins city council meeting, shooting range advisory board members James Shearer and James Ainsworth presented the council with their end of year report. Both men agreed that the shooting range needs to increase the number of paid memberships.
Ainsworth updated the council on the improvements made to the indoor shooting range. Ainsworth said in 2023, the advisory board installed a new ricochet preventing curtain and LED lighting.
Ainsworth said the advisory board has purchased new lane barriers and flooring for the indoor shooting range. However, the advisory board member said the floor can’t be installed until the barriers are in place. Ainsworth said he doesn’t know when the indoor shooting range will open again.
Shooting Range Advisory Board member Shearer provided an update on the outdoor shooting range. Shearer said the outdoor range consists of several long and close-range targets.
Shearer said the advisory board made several improvements to the outdoor shooting range in 2023. Among other renovations, the advisory board member said they resurfaced the entrance road to the range, put a new roof on the office, and fixed the skeet and trap ranges.
Shearer said in the coming year, the advisory board will begin updating the shooting range’s 18-year-old master plan. The advisory board member said the updated plan will be used to find ways to pay for improvements.
Shearer also said the shooting range has a new sign ready to install. Shearer said the sign should alert the public to the shooting range’s existence.
Advisory Board member Ainsworth said the Rawlins Community Shooting Ranges host a variety of tournaments throughout the year. Ainsworth said last year’s first ever Glock shooting match was a big success.
Shearer said the shooting range hosts firearm safety and concealed carry classes. Shearer said he hopes participants become paying members. The advisory board member says the public needs to be aware of the benefits the shooting range offers.
Shearer said in 2024, he would like to have more people sign up for a membership at the shooting range. Shearer said the advisory board must come up with a way to let people know the about the shooting range and entice them to become members.
Shearer said shooting range members receive unlimited access to both the indoor and outdoor ranges. Shearer said the shooting range advisory board is working on adding more benefits to purchasing a membership, but the advisory board member did not present any specific ideas to the city council.
Shearer said the Wyoming state legislature has recently passed a bill to create a state shooting range. Known as Senate File SF0169, the bill was signed into law in March of 2023. The bill created a 12-member task force to select a location for a state shooting complex. Shearer said the advisory board is interested in having Rawlins be the home of the state shooting range, but the state must pay to maintain and staff the larger facility.
Mayor Weickum said he appreciated the hard work the Rawlins Community Shooting Ranges Advisory Board does to make the city-owned firearms facility better.
