Midway shooting range changes considered

This week, El Paso County began discussions about making changes to a popular but unauthorized shooting range in Midway.

The range is on county-owned land near a residential area behind the Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Officials have long allowed people to shoot there but the range received scrutiny after two nearby grass fires ignited in March of 2015.

During one of the fires, firefighters complained that they were dangerously close to bullets fired by people who may have been unaware of the fire.

Since the fires, officials installed “no trespassing” signs asking that people not shoot there. However, the signs have been taken down or taken away.

Neighbors said they’re most bothered by piles of old furniture, appliances and other debris used as targets and abandoned.

Dave Rose, a county spokesman, said the first step is to determine a plan for cleaning the range. The Hanover Fire Department, which has jurisdiction, is working with the county on a plan.

“I expect the county will deploy volunteers and then we’ll supply some equipment and some additional manpower so we’ll be able to keep the cost reasonable,” he said.

Rose said the next step is for the sheriff’s office and county attorney’s office to determine whether shooting can be legally prohibited there.

“We’d rather have people go to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex near Fort Carson,” he said. “I know they have to pay to get in, and many people prefer going somewhere to shoot for free. But shooting at the unauthorized range is not the best place or the right place.”

Rose said the range is a public safety matter but adds that most shooters act responsibly and clean up after themselves.

The county should finalize plans for the range by next week.

The situation is similar to the Rampart Shooting Range, which also received complaints about trash and safety. The county closed the range after an accidental shooting death in 2009. The new complex opened in January of 2013.

Interestingly, gunfire was cited as the cause of a grass fire near the complex in February 2015.