More than $1 million has been distributed through the NRA and NRA Foundation to fund range development and improvement efforts this year alone. Projects receiving grants run the spectrum of vital needs for public and private shooting ranges and include berm, range cover and pavilion construction, as well as the purchase of trap machines, lighting systems and more.
“To ensure a robust future for recreational target shooting and the shooting sports, gun owners need a place to learn, train, and compete,” said Joseph P. DeBergalis, Jr., executive director of NRA General Operations. “Thanks to the generosity of NRA members, NRA Foundation donors, and those who attend local Friends of NRA events, NRA is able to provide the resources sought after by clubs and public agencies to build, expand and improve ranges in their communities.”
Range funds are available for request in a variety of ways—depending on the facility seeking funding for improvements or construction. NRA-Affiliated Range Funding is offered to 100-percent NRA membership-affiliated clubs for the acquisition, development and improvement of shooting facilities. The funds are distributed with the approval of the Range Development Committee, a standing committee of the NRA Board of Directors. Funding is also made available through the NRA Public Range Grant Funding program to city, county, state and federal units of government to improve, enhance and build public ranges. A third opportunity is through the NRA Foundation State Fund Capital Improvement Grants program, which offers funding to government agencies and non-profit entities.
NRA’s work to promote and support public and private ranges also goes beyond funding. NRA Range Services offers an online course to prospective and current range owners and operators detailing best practices in range development, safety and environmental concerns. To complement the course, NRA has authored “The NRA Range Source Book,” a premier technical source book for planning, construction, design and maintenance of shooting range facilities.
On the public policy side, the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) has been instrumental in protecting access to shooting ranges by promoting and supporting Range Protection laws throughout the country, prohibiting anti-gun local governments from forcing the closure of shooting ranges through onerous regulations. In addition, NRA staff participates on several state agency and federal range development and oversight committees to ensure ranges are constructed and protected on public land.
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