WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | New gun range has students concerned
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By Christy Hutchings - bio | email
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - How close is too close? There's already a gun shop, but now they want to open a range. The problem, the location is right across from Armstrong Atlantic State University and some at the school aren't thrilled.
The gun range will be going up in the old Boaters World building, off Abercorn Street in Savannah. Mission Essential, who already has a gun shop in the strip mall, got the green light to turn the old boat shop into a range. "In the area there really isn’t a range, except for South Carolina, and one in Garden City, so we feel in the city of Savannah we need a new shooting range here," said Chris Hildebrand with Mission Essential.
Armstrong Atlantic State University Student Government Association president Tamer Amer is just one of many on campus that feel this is just too close. "The temptation I think for students to come to class and bring a weapon in their vehicle, leave it in their car, and go shoot after class at the gun range is really great. I think the risks of having the gun range across the street, outweigh the convenience of having a gun range," said Amer.
AASU even took steps to try to prevent it from coming. Amer says they wrote letters of opposition to the zoning board, but it didn't stop the Metropolitan Planning Commission from approving the range.
Hildebrand says they are taking every step to ensure the community's safety. "Our whole facility will be completely controlled, manned the whole time we're open,” said Hildebrand. “ I know some students and faculty are concerned about students bringing guns onto the campus and that shouldn't be a concern because we're offering storage lockers they can rent, they will be inexpensive, they won’t have to bring guns on campus"
Hildeband also says the range is going to benefit AASU, since they offer a police academy pre-service program. The range would allow their students to qualify.
He adds, if they felt anyone was in danger they wouldn't be opening. “We want to make sure everybody feels safe here in the city. We don't want anybody to be alarmed, we want everybody to happy," said Hildebrand.
He's confident, once they're open, everyone will see AASU isn't in harms way.
In addition, this is not Mission Essential's first gun range. They have another facility in Hinesville.
Amer says right now they don't have plans to fight MPC's decision, but if students become more concerned they may take more action.
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