Clark County councilors seek briefing, possible work session on shooting-range access as English Pit faces development pressure

Councilor Little requested a council briefing and possible work session to identify current public and private shooting-range options and to explore the county's role in preserving access for hunters and law enforcement.

The request came during the Clark County Council's Wednesday council time meeting, where Little said the county has limited outdoor ranges that allow shooting past 50 yards and that the English Pit location could face conflicts as adjacent land is developed. "There's only one place where I can go where I can shoot past 50 yards. That's the English Pit," Little said. She added that families who rely on hunting for food and law-enforcement training both need safe, accessible ranges.

Chair Marshall and other councilors discussed options for initial fact-finding. Chair Marshall said staff could provide a short briefing, and Little asked for a work session if at least two other councilors joined. Councilors Belcott and another councilor indicated support; Marshall said a majority would allow scheduling a work session.

Councilors also cited a recent decision to eliminate an FBI training contract at Camp Bonneville, which reduced a training location option. Council staff clarified that Camp Bonneville had not been open to the public as a shooting range and that yesterday's action related specifically to the FBI contract and public-safety concerns. Councilor Little said that if English Pit closed, families might have to travel through Portland traffic to reach alternative facilities such as the Tri-County facility.

No formal ordinance or funding decision was made; councilors directed staff to gather information about existing public and private ranges, distances for residents to travel, which sites are open to the public versus private, and options for interjurisdictional collaboration. Councilors discussed holding a short (about 15-minute) briefing that could fit on a Wednesday morning agenda; if more time is needed, staff will return with a proposed work session length and participants.

The request was framed as fact-finding rather than a commitment to build or fund new ranges. Councilors emphasized clarifying whether shooting ranges serve as a food-source function for hunting families and noted law enforcement training needs. Councilor Little referenced a recently passed state bill she cited as "1163" requiring firearms training for new gun owners; the council did not take a formal position on that legislation at the meeting.

Next steps: staff was asked to identify current range locations (public and private), note any near-term closures or conflicts such as development around English Pit, and propose a short briefing or work session schedule. Councilors said they prefer an initial 15-minute briefing to preserve time on regular agendas, with a fuller session if necessary.