Ft. Carson Shooting Range Approved
Major General David Perkins, Colonel Robert McLaughlin, El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa along with county commissioners and representatives from multiple community agencies were in attendance at the County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning.
The vote was unanimous regarding the building of a shooting facility on the grounds of Fort Carson. The resolution was approved and signed at Tuesday?s meeting.
?What happened here today is another sign of the great partnership hat the soldiers and families of Ft. Carson have with all the folks here in El Paso County, Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak area,? said Perkins.
Perkins said the facility will provide recreational and professional opportunities to the military community, law enforcement personnel and civilians.
?We?ve committed. We?re going to provide all the land we are going to readjust our access so you can come in and out seven days a week and don?t have to go through the security control process,? said Perkins.
Concerns were addressed at the meeting. One individual brought up concerns that the addition of the shooting range would detract attention from smaller privately owned ranges in the region.
El Paso County Commissioner, Chair of the Board Amy Lathen said this is something they have taken into consideration, but she stressed that that is not the primary goal of this new range.
?This is not designed to take the place of any other range or to take the place of dispersed shooting in our forest. This is about options for people,? said Lathen.
Lathen told KRDO Newschannel 13 there will be a fee for using the facility. She said the revenues will be used to maintain the facility, with any additional revenues used to help support military personnel and their families.
?It?s a win-win situation because the public gets to partner with the military and law enforcement in using a range that is available for everyone,? said Lathen.
Construction on the project is said to begin in spring of next year.
