This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A plan to transfer 160 acres of Bureau of Land Management property to Utah County for development as a public shooting range coupled with the closure of between 900 and 3,450 to public target shooting seemed to be a compromise that pleased almost everybody.
According to a story by The Tribune's Brian Maffly, Utah County officials were happy with the chance to build a formal public range. And BLM officials would be able to address some shooting-related conflicts that have created problems with litter, vandalism, marring American Indian rock art, ignited wildfire and even struck a nearby residence.
But one major and powerful organization isn't so happy with the compromise.
The National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action announced this week it is mobilizing its members and supporters in Utah to voice support for continued use of the lands west of Utah Lake for shooters.
"This is the peoples' land and they have every right to use it as long as they are doing so legally and responsibly," said NRA spokesperson Catherine Mortensen. "If there are bad apples breaking the law by shooting recklessly on public land, by all means throw the books at them. The NRA and its members simply want to ensure that those who use the land responsibly have the ability to do so. The federal government, which already owns 67 percent of all the land in Utah, should not be making it harder for Utahns to access their land for recreational activities."
The NRA also recently opposed BLM plans to limit target shooting in the Beaver Dam Area in Utah's far southwestern corner, where the agency said shooting enthusiasts were causing major litter issues.
The BLM is holding a public meeting Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Talons Cover Gold Club in Saratoga Springs. The public can also submit comments on the draft plan through May 31 by email, fax or mail.
According to Maffly's story, construction on the range is expected to begin this spring and should be ready for use within a year., according to Utah County Commission Chairman Larry Ellertson.
"We have appreciated the cooperation in working with BLM to see this come to fruition and are excited for the opportunity to create a facility which will benefit our citizens," Utah County Commision Chair Larry Ellertson said.
Maffly wrote that the county lacks the authority to ban shooting except in emergency situations, so the idea of a dedicated range surfaced a few years ago as a way to encourage shooting in a centralized place.
"People know they can go there and have some improved shooting range, places for targets. Our hope is to have shooting benches and rests they can shoot from, with canopies and so forth," Ellertson said.