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Residents press Huerfano County on feasibility of a public shooting range as concealed‑carry rules change
Summary
Community members told commissioners there is no nearby public shooting range and urged the county to explore establishing one after state concealed‑carry training rules change effective July 1; county staff said they would follow up and noted potential grant opportunities.
Two residents and a local firearms instructor urged the Huerfano County Board of Commissioners on April 1 to examine the feasibility of creating a publicly accessible shooting range to serve local training needs.
Darryl Lohr and Ron Erickson told the commissioners that the nearest public range they could identify is about two hours away in Salida and that local demand exists for a communal place to shoot. “We get a lot of people in the community, and we don't have a public shooting range in the area,” Lohr said. He said community members had asked whether the county would be interested in hosting or facilitating a range.
A firearms instructor who identified himself at the meeting as the owner of a firearms training business said that state concealed‑carry course requirements change on July 1 to require an eight‑hour class with range time and an 80% written test score, which would make it impossible for him to continue offering classes in Huerfano County unless a range is available. “After July 1, I can't do my business in any kind of thing,” he said. “I could take it to my place or somebody else's private range, but I don't want to take a bunch of people up to my house that I don't know.”
Commenters said they had previously discussed possible locations — including private efforts at the Thorn Ranch and City Ranch — and that progress had stalled; one speaker said he had not heard any movement in two years. They suggested potential funding through grants from the National Rifle Association and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, noting a common grant requirement that ranges be open to the public.
A county official replied that commissioners would “put [the issue] back on the docket and see what we can do,” and staff said they would follow up. The transcript does not record a formal county decision or commitment of funds.
