Councilor Faron Ellis wants a cease fire at the Lethbridge Fish and Game Shooting Range until more security measures are put in place.
“Adding a greater level of security through commissionaires or other trained security officials, not to police the activity but to be there to report on behavior that should be monitored will help.” said Ellis.
Upgrades have been made at the range at city councils request in the past, but Ellis says after a police report confirmed a stray bullet that struck a north side home did come from the range; more security is needed to protect the public while the fish and game association looks for a new location.
“It’s just a matter of providing added security while that occurs and getting on with the process of closing the facility within the city,” says Ellis.
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The Fish and Game Shooting Range is run by volunteers, and the organization feels the added cost of paying someone to monitor will have a big financial impact on programs.
“We don’t see it adding any value; we see it adding a lot of expense but no value. Nobody gets paid to be down here, and that’s our model, that’s why it’s such good value and we want to make it that way so its affordable for families”, says Friesen.
In the proposal Ellis is asking the range be closed until a new location is found if the new requirements are not met.
Range Operator Allan Friesen says he doesn’t believe closing the facility down until it can relocate is the right decision, and that the facility is a positive for the entire community.
“I believe the range provides value for everyone in Lethbridge whether they are using the facility or not, because we draw the activity that would happen on the fringe areas, fields people might otherwise use and we bring them down here to a secured area.”
Range officials say the organization is making steps to look for a long term solution to the range location but is waiting to hear about funding from the city.
“We’re hoping for a successful vote from council to get some financial support and then were going to get on the relocation right away,” says Friesen.
Councilor Ellis says he hopes the proposal will ensure the facility is relocated by December 31 of 2016.
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