READERS RESPOND

AT ISSUE: Huntington Beach city and police officials want to band

together with the Army Corps of Engineers and other law enforcement

agencies to build a new gun range and training center for use by officers

and the public.

I would like to see a new gun range opened in Huntington Beach

(“Huntington Beach considers opening new gun range,” Dec. 14).

I’ve lived in Huntington Beach for 25 years and often used the old

range before it was closed. I also competed regularly in monthly

National Rifle Assn. matches at the old range, which attracted some of

the top shooters in the nation. I think a new range would be well-used

by the public.

CHARLES THOMPSON

Huntington Beach

Yes, I think another gun range should be allowed to open in Huntington

Beach.

ANGELO P. MARTIGNONI

Fountain Valley

As a member of the City Council gun range subcommittee for the past

three years, I never saw a gun range plan that penciled out.

It would be great if Huntington Beach could afford a range to train

our police on its own; however, we can’t afford one that will require

large taxpayer subsidies.

A gun range should be done as a joint powers authority with other

police agencies sharing the costs of land acquisition, construction and

operation. Any plan for a gun range brought forward by the city staff

will need to be examined in great detail by the public to see if the cost

estimates are valid.

DAVID SULLIVAN

Former councilman

Huntington Beach

My vote is that it should be built. Not only is it critical for our

police training, but it will be a welcome facility for the public as

well. We have many citizens who enjoy firearm’s sports, and it would be a

natural setting to teach firearm’s safety courses to our population.

WAYNE BUXTON

Huntington Beach

I strongly believe the city of Huntington Beach should build a new gun

range.

Having a facility for the Police Department to train isn’t a luxury,

it is a necessity. Residents of Huntington Beach are proud of being one

of the country’s safest cities.

A well-trained police department plays a huge role in that. They must

always train, practice and stay abreast of new technology. Having to

“borrow time” to use Fountain Valley’s police range has been a convenient

and temporary measure but it is just that, temporary.

Let’s build a safe and modern gun range where our police department

can maintain its high skill levels and keep Huntington Beach among

America’s safest cities.

CHARLES COX

Huntington Beach

Absolutely no. The city, years ago by error, put the City Yard behind

our homes in our neighborhood. We don’t need a bus depot or gun range

there either.

JANE PETERSON

Huntington Beach

It sounds like Huntington Beach would be the most logical spot since

that was where the old one was. Also, I’m for it if the public could have

access to it for certain days of the week or hours of the day.

JOHN KOEHLER

Fountain Valley