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RELATIONSHIP OF A SHOOTING FACILITY WITH ITS COMMUNITY The Ben Avery Shooting Facility (BASF) is a public managed
and owned outdoor recreational shooting facility located within the City Limits
of the City of Phoenix, Arizona. It is composed of over thirty-five ranges on
1650 acres of Sonoran Desert. BASF provides approximately 150,000 recreational
shooter days a year. This rate has been increasing at approximately 30% per
year. Sixteen police and military organizations as well as twenty commercial
education and training businesses and two community colleges all utilize the
facility. In total there are 180 different groups that use the facility as well
as local citizens. Its size, revenue generation, and recreational use days
make BASF the largest public shooting range in the United States, and perhaps in
the world. The BASF is owned by the State of Arizona. It was built in 1960 to
encourage shooters to quit shooting in the desert and areas surrounding the
City. In addition, it was established to provide a focal point for
International, National, Regional and Local shooting events. Currently, a
majority of use of BASF is by the local community at the Public Range. BASF was leased to Maricopa County Parks and Recreation for
27 years, who provided its management and operation. Six years ago, a change of
county management philosophy resulted in the BASF being returned to the State of
Arizona. It is owned by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, and
operated/managed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The BASF is an active member of the local community. BASF is a member of the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Arizona Small Business Association. The BASF is used by the Arizona Department of Transportation, and by the Maricopa County Department of Transportation for a meeting location for area planning and public forums. Members of BASF participate with the North West Valley Planning Association, and participate with other local planning groups. BASF also provides a site for Arizona State University Outdoor Recreation classes to learn about recreational facility management and operation. City Councilman Dave Siebert, in whose district BASF is
located, is a staunch supporter of the Facility. He considers BASF as a point of
pride for the community and invites BASF to participate in his “meet the
citizens” monthly meetings and dialogues. He welcomes any contacts to discuss
the role that a well-managed recreational shooting range has in being a positive
asset to the community. BASF is considered as one of the major recreational
sports sites in the Valley of the Sun. BASF participates with a booth and information at the
annual Convention and Visitor Bureau’s Trade shows, and at the Women’s
Exposition as well as exhibiting on a national level at the National Shooting
Sports Foundation’s National Trade and Outdoor Recreation Exposition (Shot
Show) and at the NRA Annual Convention. BASF receives widespread public support which includes
support from state and national legislatures. The public as well, supports the
Facility. In 1999, BASF entered a float in the local Deer Valley Days parade and
received standing ovations from many members of the crowd. During one public
planning meeting, over 400 people turned out to support the Facility. BASF has been on television several times, as well as on
talk radio and print media. Local reporters look to BASF to provide information
on firearms safety and education and to provide perspectives on national
firearms related issues. Five hotels and three catering business partnership with
BASF to provide services to visitors to the Facility. BASF visitors are provided
discount rates at these hotels, and the caters provide on site support for major
events. Several resorts bus their visitors to the facility so they
can enjoy the trap and skeet ranges. Many tourists also visit the range; German,
French, English and Japanese are our primary visitors. The City of Phoenix is working with the AZ Game and Fish
Department to provide for the operation of the BASF at least fifty years into
the future. Lands along the edges of the Facility that were set aside as buffer
areas are being studied for inclusion into “economic development zones.” Del Webb personnel at Anthem, a new community built within
five miles of the Facility, have been in contact with BASF for the purposes of
providing discount shooting fees to first time users and developing some
recreation partnerships between BASF and Anthem Recreational Services. Many new
shooters at BASF stated that they bought homes at Anthem so they would be near
the Facility. To the east of BASF, separated from Interstate 17, a major
housing development is under construction. The developers of the property worked
with BASF in the initial planning and concluded that the noise from BASF was
insufficient to create a problem with their development. We have had good
relationships with our new neighbors and there is no indication that there will
be any issues with their new residents. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, and The National
Rifle Association recognize BASF as the foremost leader in shooting range
management and operation. A white paper published by the NSSF described BASF as
a “model range” for the rest of the country. As a result, the Chief
Rangemaster at BASF has been appointed by the Arizona Governor to the “joint
legislative committee for firearms safety and shooting ranges: for the State of
Arizona. The Chief Rangemaster has also been appointed to the Executive
Committee of the National Association of Shooting Ranges, and to the NRA Range
Technical Advisor Team. Well-managed and operated outdoor shooting ranges are safe.
Safety is the primary objective at BASF. The safety record with 150,000
recreational shooter days a year is exemplary. If an outdoor range is designed
and operated with safety as its primary objective, the only concern the local
community may have with a range is noise. Noise abatement is a design complement
of modern shooting ranges. A shooting range is a valid recreational use of land
and resources. A majority of citizens own firearms, and need a place to use them
safely. In addition, the community needs a place where firearms safety and
responsibility can be encouraged. In Summary: BASF has expended time and effort in becoming a
good neighbor with the community. BASF provides quality training, education, and
recreational services that are appreciated and supported by the community. The
business community considers BASF a partner and many provide services to the
BASF customers. There have been no complaints about the facility during the six
years BASF has been operated by the Department. This author has been a
competitive shooter for many years; and has shot in outdoor ranges on the east
coast and at the National Shooting Ranges in Versailles France. Properly managed
and operated outdoor recreational shooting ranges are a positive asset to
their community. submitted by June 30, 2001
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