I want to start a gun club/shop! No ifs, ands, or buts!!
Hey everyone! I would like to thank everyone on firingline.com for all their amazing support and information. I am a 24- year-old college student in Kennesaw, Ga (where we have a blue law that states the head of every household MUST own a firearm for defense), and just got out of the Marine Corps. Hoorah! Anyway, my family owns 110 acres in Canton, Georgia, and the idea came up about starting a gun club possibly affiliated with the NRA. After months and months of researching things such as market size, demographics, buying the NRA Range Sourcebook, development, planning and zoning, etc. I have decided its time to start a gun range with the intent of developing new trends that bring in new shooters, and regular shooters, a unique place to shoot for sport and learning defensive tactics. Here are a few things going for me, because Lord knows how expensive this is going to be after all my research. #1 Private property, outside of city limits, consisting of 110 acres and natural backstops with 300 plus yards of rifle shooting distances. Only 1 neighbor exists within 1 mile from the property, but the land is 5 miles from a very populated city, and development around our topography is booming! #2 My dad owns and operates a manufacturing company that has agreed to build the targets, the rifle range structures, etc. #3 Our lawyer that works at our company just got elected as the Commissioner of the county the land resides in. #4 We have several land development contractors willing to work for minimal costs, as well as, land attorneys!
So, these are just a few of the advantages that I have, and I know there are already a TON of disadvantages to owning and operating a rifle range/gun shop, but I am very adamant about the firearm industry and keeping our rights alive! I honestly hate hearing others talk about how starting a range is nearly impossible, or at least not worth it... Now what would that do to the firearm industry if we kept that attitude. Whats next? Someday, we might all be saying its too difficult to buy and own firearms! Well not me. I know I may have a few advantages over others, but I would like to be able to continue to have discussions on this forum! Okay, so last thing. If anyone has any experience or expertise on how I can get this range/shop opened, it would be GREATLY appreciated. I want to be able to get all the facts, estimates, rules and regulations in order before I start construction. Please only constructive comments. Again, I want to be as realistic as possible without the negativity. I guess to narrow my questions down a bit, what is the best way to go about getting a grant for funding the project? Through the NRA? NSSF? Thanks everyone!