Homeowners Cry Foul Over Shooting Range Vote
BRIGHTON, Colo. (CBS4) - Some homeowners in Adams County say they are upset after county officials voted unanimously to approve a plan to expand a shooting range.
The plans for the Colorado Clays Shooting Range, near East 144th Avenue and Lanewood Street, also include allowing more weapons.
Currently only shotguns that target clay targets are used at the range. With the new plan, pistols and rifles will be allowed.
Adams County Commissioners defended their vote on Monday, saying new structures will be built to cut down on noise. Range owner Douglas Kraft claims there won't actually be any more noise than there is now.
The range is about a mile away from the Box Elder Estates neighborhood and residents there say their pleas for rejection of the plan were ignored.
"We were able to get about 100 letters of opposition to it and in spite of that it does feel like we're not being heard," said homeowner Nancy Stanton.
Residents say they don't see how there won't be much more noise coming from the range now.
"It will be nearly impossible to sell a house if a realtor arrives in the middle of a shooting day," Stanton said.
Some residents also have concerns about safety.
"Some of these rifles that people shoot have a range of 2 miles. They are sniper rifles that are deadly," said homeowner Bob Most.
The range will not allow the use of fully automatic weapons and armor piercing ammo.
"It will be NRA approved, it's going to be supervised by NRA-trained people that we will hire," Kraft said. "I will guarantee you we are going to go out of our way to have no incidents on our property."
Residents also said they have concerns that visitors will still be allowed to bring alcohol with them when they go to the range. The range will continue to be prohibited from selling alcohol.
