Opinion : Crime / Urban Shooting Ranges

Rejecting arguments that Inglewood’s high crime rate makes the city unsuitable for a business that promotes firearms, the City Council decided to allow a businessman to open the first firing range and gun club in the city. The Redondo Beach police chief, however,

turned down a request for a private shooting range in his city. Should South Bay cities allow indoor shooting ranges?

Sam Kash

Inglewood businessman who plans to open an indoor firing range

Why not? It can’t be more harmful than a liquor store. This is for recreation--facilities where people can go to practice safety, learn how to handle and respect a gun, and at the same time have fun. They shouldn’t have to drive all the way to shooting galleries in the desert, Beverly Hills or Torrance, 40 minutes away. Our gallery will be safe. We’re hiring retired, reserve or off-duty police officers from the Los Angeles and Inglewood police departments as instructors. And I don’t see why it would increase guns on the streets. Everyone is concerned about gangs, but shooting galleries have nothing to do with gangs. Gangs, they can shoot wherever they want.

Curren D. Price Jr.

Inglewood City Council member

I say no. I think violence from guns has reached an intolerable level in our society. It’s become a mentality of death and destruction. Today, even an increasing number of gun owners are in agreement that there needs to be some sort of control over the acquisition and use of guns. I’m not suggesting that if you have a gun club there is an increase in crime. I’m just saying that it sends the message to youths and others that gun ownership is OK, and I think that contributes to the problem. I understand the kind of entrepreneurial spirit of people who want to open a public firing range, but we have a responsibility to set a higher standard.

Evan Nielsen

Redondo Beach contractor who wanted a private range

Under certain conditions, yes. Of course, they would have to comply with the National Rifle Assn. guidelines, but why shouldn’t someone be able to put a shooting range in their own home? The city of Redondo Beach gave me a permit to build one in my basement but then took it back. They make it so tough that no normal person can get a shooting range unless they have $10 million in the bank to fight the bureaucracy. I would also rather see more public shooting ranges. Shooting galleries are not for the kooks. They’re not going to come down there and practice--they’re going to get a semiautomatic and maybe convert it to an automatic and go out there and shoot at random.

Robert Pinzler

Redondo Beach City Council member

Home firing ranges? Absolutely not. There are plenty of public places for people to go to try out their weapons and improve their skills. The individual firing range is a potential hazard. It doesn’t involve just one person. He’s got friends, colleagues arriving to his house with guns. Firing ranges should be left to professional range managers. I do prefer to have people trained in the use of guns than not. If guns have to be around, then let’s try to make the use of them as safe as possible.