gringogigante
enthusiast
Posts: 106
Loc: Allen
Reg: 02-06-11
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03-31-12 07:53 PM - Post#147412
The way to do this is to get a group of people together (like around 200 minimum....more is better) to pre-pay an amount (like around $200-250 but more is better obviously). We form a non-profit and put that money in its account. Then we use it to buy land, and the rest is history.
We'd need to vote in a charter, by-laws, officers, etc. That's it...the very spartan version, but its been done a hundred times. I talked to an old friend that ran the NRA's Whittington Center about range layout, safety, and insurance (which is shockingly cheap). It's not difficult to arrange for max safety, usability, and fun.
This is extremely doable. I will say that excluding rifles makes life much much easier. That's why the majority of these clubs are Pistol and Shot club type things. If we had an Allen Pistol and Shot club, we could limit it to hand guns (pistol and revolver), shotgun, archery, air rifles, etc.
Having the rifle component causes several problems. First, the obvious space needed for the range itself as well as the over-travel area behind the range (2 -3 times longer than the longest range you have) required for shots that go over the berm/backstop. Also, city councils get much less nervous when they realize that there will be no rifle rounds traveling up to a mile (which means much less guff from the gov). Shotgun and handgun rounds simply don't go that far.
I talked to 2 gun clubs that both mentioned how this was their family's most favorite place to go do fun family events together. One lady told me how her son and husband have been members for over 2 years and haven't even shot at the shotgun part yet....theyspend all their time at the air gun range shooting BB guns and the archery range. Real family fun!
Thoughts?
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civicminded
Community Guide
Posts: 9249
Loc: Lone Star State
Reg: 04-24-02
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03-31-12 10:37 PM - Post#147419
In response to gringogigante
All good research. But for most of the Metroplex I think the indoor sites are all that most cities can consider. If we just use Allen as an example, there isn't a place to do it again as far as I can tell. But it's all good brainstorming. Many of us agree it is a thing people want. 
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8758
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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04-01-12 12:10 PM - Post#147436
In response to civicminded
If you are making this a non-profit organization, you'll need to complete an IRS Form 1023 - which is more like a book - to get your 501(c)(3) status unless you are chartered under a larger parent organization who should list you under their non-profit umbrella and get you a tax id which you'll need for banking in the very least.
My boys like shooting rifle and have been to the gun range over in Garland and really enjoyed themselves there. Who would run it and would those who run it need to get NRA certified (another $125) for training purposes?
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Brewer
enthusiast
Posts: 1285
Reg: 06-02-07
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04-03-12 09:17 AM - Post#147556
In response to denisew
Why would anyone NEED to get NRA certified?
A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.
-GEN George S. Patton
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 8758
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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04-03-12 01:10 PM - Post#147588
In response to Brewer
NRA certification is for someone who wants to teach others the proper way of handling and shooting guns. I know it is required in Boy Scouts (and possibly other similar organizations) since adults are teaching youth how to handle and shoot guns and that is why I am asking if within a gun club if someone would need to have this certification since this would be used by adults and youth.
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