10 Usc 4309?

[Ultima-Ratio]

So I saw on another forum a thread mentioning the we "civilians" have this law allowing us to use federal rifle ranges!
I dunno about approaching the federal building tho, mabe I'll call the local NRA and ask first?
Comments?

 

[TheBluesMan]

10 USC § 4309.
Rifle ranges: availability for use by members and civilians
(a) Ranges available. -- All rifle ranges constructed in whole or in part with funds provided by the United States may be used by members of the armed forces and by persons capable of bearing arms.
(b) Military ranges. --
(1) In the case of a rifle range referred to in subsection (a) that is located on a military installation, the Secretary concerned may establish reasonable fees for the use by civilians of that rifle range to cover the material and supply costs incurred by the armed forces to make that rifle range available to civilians.
(2) Fees collected pursuant to paragraph (1) in connection with the use of a rifle range shall be credited to the appropriation available for the operation and maintenance of that rifle range and shall be available for the operation and maintenance of that rifle range.
(3) Use of a rifle range referred to in paragraph (1) by civilians may not interfere with the use of the range by members of the armed forces.
(c) Regulations. -- Regulations to carry out this section with respect to a rifle range shall be prescribed, subject to the approval of the Secretary concerned, by the authorities controlling the rifle range.

It appears that you are correct. Federal rifle ranges can be used by anyone legally capable of bearing arms.

An excellent article by Alan Korwin can be found here: http://www.phxnews.com/fullstory.php?article=22917

 

[TimRB]

That's an interesting find. I think they could effectively prohibit civilian range use, if they wanted to, by invoking paragraph b3:

(b) Military ranges. --
(3) Use of a rifle range referred to in paragraph (1) by civilians may not interfere with the use of the range by members of the armed forces.

It would be easy for the officer in charge of the range to argue that any civilian use would interfere with his normal activities (and it may well be true).

I still get tears in my eyes when I think of those beautiful ranges at Fort Ord that they destroyed when it closed.

Tim