By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Legislation which strengthens protections for public shooting ranges in Arizona, including the world-famous Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix, was signed into law Monday by Gov. Katie Hobbs.
The bill’s prime sponsor, Republican State Rep. Quang Nguyen, issued a statement noting, “Ben Avery belongs to the people of Arizona, and no state agency should be able to quietly shut it down because development moved closer or political priorities shifted. This law puts that decision where it belongs: before the public and the lawmakers they elect. Ben Avery trains responsible gun owners, supports hunters and law enforcement, and keeps shooting activity on a supervised range instead of pushing it into the open desert. Protecting this facility protects public safety, public access, and the rights of Arizona gun owners.”
Under provisions in House Bill 2763, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission may not close certain state-owned shooting ranges “located in or near large cities” without legislative approval, public hearings and action by the governor. As detailed in the legislation, no such urban/suburban area range may be closed unless:
- The director of the department recommends the closure in writing
- The commission issues a report detailing the basis for the recommendation
- The commission unanimously approves the closure after public hearings have been held to discuss the closure in the three counties with the highest population
- The joint committee on capital review reviews the closure recommendation
- The Legislature adopts a joint resolution approving the closure
- The governor approves the closure in an executive order
Ben Avery, one of the largest such publicly owned range in the U.S., has been operating for decades. When it was built, there was very little development nearby. As Nguyen noted in a news release, this premier shooting range has served generations of Arizona shooters. It is operated by the Game and Fish Commission.
More than 120,000 people visit the range annually, and it has hosted several major competitive events including the “End of the Trail” cowboy action shooting event.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms congratulated Rep. Nguyen for shepherding the bill through the state legislature. Nguyen has been a past speaker at the annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, co-sponsored by CCRKBA and the Second Amendment Foundation. The event has been held in Phoenix several times.
Gov. Hobbs, a Democrat, quietly signed the legislation despite the fact that it passed without a single Democrat vote. CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb called that “disappointing,” considering Arizona is a state with a large Second Amendment community.
