Legislature Could Close County Gun Range

Call it another example of the law of unintended consequences. The Florida Legislature takes control of all gun laws in the state on Oct. 1. County commissioners across the state had to amend their ordinances to eliminate any mention of arms and ammo, or face arrest. 

Sarasota County complied Tuesday afternoon, and one consequence will shut down the public pistol and rifle range at Knights Trail Park near Nokomis as of Saturday. Law enforcement officers use it to practice and re-qualify with their weapons, and sportsmen zero their rifles there. But not for long.

County staffers are working hard to transfer management to a state agency and keep it open, but so far without success. “We are working on a [memo of understanding] with the [Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission],” said Parks and Recreation General Manager Carolyn Brown. “We thought we’d be able to bring it to you, but their commission needs to vote on it.” The next meeting of the governing board of the FWC is Nov. 16.

Only 10 counties in Florida have public gun ranges, and legislators overlooked them in drafting House Bill 45 that pre-empted counties from regulating guns and ammunition. “There are severe penalties for counties not in compliance,” said Donna Thompson with zoning administration.

Nine county zoning ordinances and codes were amended on Tuesday to comply, including one zoning code banning the sale or repair of guns in a residential neighborhood. Three other ordinances were also amended, including one that allowed the county to close ammunition and firearms establishments in time of “civil emergency.”

The immediate impact is at Knights Trail. “If we have to suspend operations at the pistol and rifle range, we intend to make it for as short a time as possible,” said Brown. She hopes the FWC will take over management of the range and re-open it. 

“If we can’t work it out with Fish and Wildlife, maybe we have to privatize it or close it,” said Commissioner Jon Thaxton. County Commission Chair Nora Patterson said, “If we privatize it, it would have to raise the rates to make a profit.”

At present the gun range breaks even. Brown said it might even come out a little ahead this year, because the county “mined” the range for spent lead and brass recently. 

A last-ditch effort will be made Thursday during a conference call between the county and the FWC. “We could have a solution in place quickly,” said County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh. But if FWC staff needs a vote by their governing board, it could take until November.

“Nobody was able to get us off the hook,” said Marsha Hosack, the county’s legislative affairs specialist. “Nobody wants to file a glitch bill, because that would open up the whole controversial issue all over again. We could pursue something legislatively, but April would be the earliest time.”

The trap and skeet range, and the archery range at Knights Trail Park will remain open.