2008 Woodie Awards
College's 72-acre shooting range opens this fall; student weapon storage locker in plans
Katherine Poythress
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: News
Hillsdale College students may soon have a place to store and shoot their firearms.
About 72 acres of land, roughly three miles south of campus on Bankers Road will open as a shooting range this fall, Hillsdale College officials said this week. The range will open initially without frills, though building storage areas for firearms is part of the long-term vision for the range.
It is against school policy for students to keep guns in their dorms.
Vice President of Administration Rich Péwé said he already has heard sharp interest from student, faculty and community members, eager for the new option to hone their shooting skills.
"We probably can't [finish the range] fast enough," he said.
The first phase of the shooting range, anticipated to debut in September, will include temporary traps at the range site with 100-target capacity and the resources necessary for some physical education classes on target shooting.
Péwé said the college also plans to purchase ammunition, targets, safety equipment and several shotguns to start Hillsdale College's shooting program.
The college still needs to hire a part-time supervisor to maintain the grounds and oversee programs and equipment, Péwé said.
He said the college also plans to hire a part-time certified instructor to teach an introductory course on stance, sighting and trigger control. Students will be able to receive physical education for taking the course once the instructor develops and receives approval for the course curriculum.
The original land purchase was funded in part by the college's Roland Ebersole endowment, which promotes Second Amendment rights.
The shooting range fits well into the college's mission, Péwé said, because of the college's interest in promoting the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms.
"It will promote responsible gun ownership," he said. "It's a natural thing for the college."
About 72 acres of land, roughly three miles south of campus on Bankers Road will open as a shooting range this fall, Hillsdale College officials said this week. The range will open initially without frills, though building storage areas for firearms is part of the long-term vision for the range.
It is against school policy for students to keep guns in their dorms.
Vice President of Administration Rich Péwé said he already has heard sharp interest from student, faculty and community members, eager for the new option to hone their shooting skills.
"We probably can't [finish the range] fast enough," he said.
The first phase of the shooting range, anticipated to debut in September, will include temporary traps at the range site with 100-target capacity and the resources necessary for some physical education classes on target shooting.
Péwé said the college also plans to purchase ammunition, targets, safety equipment and several shotguns to start Hillsdale College's shooting program.
The college still needs to hire a part-time supervisor to maintain the grounds and oversee programs and equipment, Péwé said.
He said the college also plans to hire a part-time certified instructor to teach an introductory course on stance, sighting and trigger control. Students will be able to receive physical education for taking the course once the instructor develops and receives approval for the course curriculum.
The original land purchase was funded in part by the college's Roland Ebersole endowment, which promotes Second Amendment rights.
The shooting range fits well into the college's mission, Péwé said, because of the college's interest in promoting the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms.
"It will promote responsible gun ownership," he said. "It's a natural thing for the college."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Lee Ann Tarducci
Lee Ann Tarducci, Dir. of Ops., Second Amendment Sisters
posted 4/02/08 @ 1:27 PM EST
Congratulations to Hillside! I applaud your decision to have a shooting range and instruction in safe firearms handling on your campus.
I also support the college for standing up for our Second Amendment rights. (Continued…)
Mari Thompson
posted 4/02/08 @ 5:03 PM EST
Congratulations for having a place for your students to learn the safe handling of firearms, and to hone their skills.
If one of your coeds would be interested in starting a college chapter of Second Amendment Sisters at Hillsdale, please have them contact me. (Continued…)
Michael Smith
posted 4/03/08 @ 5:29 PM EST
This is great news! As an incoming freshman fall-2008, and a strong supporter of gun rights, I am thoroughly pleased to hear about this shooting range!
I hope a storage area for students' firearms will be opened as soon as possible. (Continued…)
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