USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- NRA Range Services (www.rangeservices.nra.org) offers a number of resources to public and private ranges across the country including on-site assistance, educational seminars, grants, and much more.
Every time I turn around I’m hearing about what the NRA doesn’t do. The fact is there is a LOT of things the NRA does that go unheralded. Their Range Services is one such program. A program I’ll bet many of you didn’t even know existed.
I had the pleasure of meeting NRA Managing Director of Recreational Programs & Ranges Elizabeth Bush at the Shot Show and discussing these programs with her. Here is what I learned.
What does the NRA Range Technical Team do?
The NRA Range Technical Team Provides on-site assistance to shooting range facilities.
The NRA Range Technical Team is a nationwide network of volunteers trained in the field of shooting range development, design, and operations. Services provided by Range Technical Team Advisors (RTTAs) include:
• range planning assistance
• range use and procedural evaluations
• range safety and design evaluations
What does this cost?
NRA Affiliated Club/Organization: $450 Case Origination Fee includes one day of on-site assistance ($100 for each additional day of service). Case fees are inclusive of expenses incurred relative to transportation, lodging, meals, telephone, etc., for initial visit and for all follow-up visits.
Non-NRA Affiliated Club/Organization: $500 Case Origination Fee includes one day of on-site assistance ($100 for each additional day of service). Case fees are inclusive of expenses incurred relative to transportation, lodging, meals, telephone, etc., for initial visit and for all follow-up visits.
The NRA also offers Range Development & Operations Conferences
The NRA Range Development & Operations Conference is designed to educate potential and current range owners and operators in identifying potential problems associated with range development, environmental issues, and safety.
The NRA Range Source Book: NRA’s guide to planning and constructing shooting ranges
The NRA Range Source Book provides both basic and advanced guidance to assist in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of shooting range facilities. The source book discusses methods and technologies which may result in a fuller use of range operations. This book is promoted through the NRA Range Development & Operations Conferences and sold online through the NRA Program Materials Center to those looking for more information on owning and operating shooting ranges.
You can apply for an NRA Range Grant
NRA has a variety of grant programs available for Range Improvements through both the NRA and The NRA Foundation. If you are a club range, public shooting facility, or conduct shooting programs for the public, you may be eligible to receive funds to improve your range. Grant programs include:
– NRA-Affiliated Range Funding
Applicants for this program must be a 100% NRA membership NRA-Affiliated Club with funds made available at NRA’s sole discretion by approval of the Range Development Committee – a standing committee of the NRA Board of Directors. Grants can be awarded to assist with acquisition, development, and improvement of shooting facilities. This Range Grant program is limited to $5,000 per applicant per year, and the deadline for submission is August 1 annually.
– NRA Public Range Grant Funding
Established in 2009, this matching grant program encourages city and county governments, and state or federal agencies, to work with NRA on efforts to build and improve public ranges across the United States. At the NRA’s sole discretion, grants are awarded to assist with the acquisition, development, and improvement of public shooting facilities. Grants can also be awarded to assist qualifying agencies or local governments with projects designed to improve community relations and to address environmental issues related to range operations.NRA
– Foundation Range Grant Funding
The NRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. As such, funded projects must promote an allowable 501(c)(3) purpose. If your range is owned by a government agency, or is incorporated as a nonprofit entity or has an IRS 501(c) Determination Letter you may qualify for an NRA Foundation Range Grant. Applications from clubs or ranges requesting improvements must demonstrate how the proposed project will benefit qualified groups, such as the Boy Scouts, schools, or local law enforcement, or benefit the public at large.
How many ranges do you work with every year?
NRA helps to support 16,000 affiliated clubs and ranges each year.
- 50-75 ranges receive help through our on-site assistance program
- 150-250 ranges receive invaluable information on all aspects of range construction and operations thru our NRA Range Development & Operations Conference (in person conferences/online course offering)
- Hundreds of other ranges that purchase the NRA Range Source Book to obtain NRA’s time tested recommendations on range design, construction and maintenance for both indoor and outdoor shooting facilities.
Without you and the NRA we would be losing our shooting ranges. How can we help you and how can the shooting community make better use of your services?
Keep visiting your ranges and encourage them to take advantage of the opportunities for support offered by the NRA and NRA Range Services. Learn more at rangeservices.nra.org, contact NRA Range Services today at 877-NRA-Range (877-672-7264) or email ranges@nrahq.org.
The NRA is more than the political arm known as the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA). Many of their services are INVALUABLE to the shooting community. This program is just one of many AmmoLand News will be highlighting in the coming weeks.
About Don McDougall
Don McDougall is an NRA instructor and member of the Los Padres “Friends of the NRA” committee. If he’s not at the range, you will find him setting the record straight with on gun issues and gun safety on AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.