Wake County Firearms Education And Training Center To Reopen Friday With COVID-19 Safety Measures

Press release from the Wake County Government:

by Stephen R. Walston on 9/29/2020 1:01 PM
Category: Sheriff's Office; WakeGOV Home Page

The Wake
County Firearms Education and Training Center will reopen to the public on
Friday, Oct. 2, thanks to a partnership among Wake County, the Wake County Sheriff’s
Office and the N.C. Wildlife
Resources Commission.

“We were on track and excited to reopen the range back in
March, but we had to put that on hold when the COVID-19 pandemic began,” said
Greg Ford, chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. “Staff from our
three partner organizations have worked hard to find a way to reopen the range
in a way that focuses on safety and mitigates the potential spread of
COVID-19.”

The Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center,
located at 3921 Old Holly Springs-Apex Road in Apex,
will be open to the public from 5-9 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and from 9 a.m. to
7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

The range is free to use. All
shooters must watch a range safety and etiquette video before receiving a pass
to use the range. Children ages 12-17 must have a waiver signed by their legal
guardian and be accompanied by an adult.

“In recent months, we’ve seen a surge in the number of
people applying for permits to buy handguns,” Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker
said. “Many of these are first time gunowners, and everyone would benefit from
the training and shooting experience available at the Firearms Education and
Training Center.”

New safety measures will enable residents to use the range
while adhering to the Three Ws to prevent the spread of COVID-19: Wearing a
mask, washing hands frequently and waiting six feet apart. Staff have also implemented
new policies and physical changes to the facility to prevent the spread of the coronavirus:

• Every-other lane will be closed off to keep
  shooters socially distanced;
• The public must preregister online to reserve a
  time and assigned space;
• Check-in will occur outside; and
• Chairs are spaced six feet apart in the safety
  training room.

“We operate 14 ranges across the state, and we’re proud to
partner with Wake County and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office to give Wake
County residents a place to practice shooting and learn firearm safety,” said Kristopher
Smith, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission wildlife education division chief. “COVID-19
created new challenges, and we have worked with our partners to provide this
service while preventing the spread of the virus.”

There are no retail operations at the Wake County Firearms
Education and Training Center. Visitors should bring their own targets, ammunition,
ear and eye protection and anything else they plan to use.

The
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has created a website with information about how the range will operate for the public.

This press release was produced by the Wake County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.