New Shooting Range For Colo. Springs

Fort Carson and county officials are anticipating approval on the proposed Cheyenne Mountain Sports Shooting Complex.

The shooting range would be located at Fort Carson, and officials said it would be open to the public.

?You do not have to be a soldier, you do not have to be in the military or involved with Fort Carson at all. In fact, when you come to this range you will not even have to go through the gate of Fort Carson,? said County Commissioner Amy Lathen.

Lathen said the range will be a family-friendly range, and will be monitored for safety.

Lathen explains the first phase of the project would involve designing and building six shooting ranges and would cost about $750,000. Funding for the project is being provided by community partners including the Colorado Division of Wildlife, National Forest Service and El Paso County Sheriff?s Office.

?It?s a great deal for everybody; a win-win circumstance in which we get to deliver capability for the Front Range on Fort Carson terrain but accessible to the community,? said Col. Robert McLaughlin.

Officials said there will be a fee charged for usage of the facility, but said the revenue will be used to keep the facility running and any additional revenues will be used to support the military and their families.

?As the Garrison Commander, I?m especially proud of the partnership that we have with the community. This range is an example of everybody working together for a common good,? said McLaughlin.

If the proposal is approved on Tuesday, officials said ground-breaking could happen as early as April.