Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — One of the most popular target-shooting areas on the Wasatch Front has been shut down by the federal government. The ban is not to stop wildfires, as you might suspect. It's to protect people from stray bullets.
The ban applies to a pair of unofficial but highly popular shooting areas known as Little Cove and The Knolls. Both are south of Saratoga Springs alongside state Highway 68, the portion of Redwood Road that runs along the west shore of Utah Lake.
For years, the shooting range has been a popular place for people to target shoot, but the nearby residents are starting to voice their concerns about the proximity of the shooting range to their homes. In June, Lisa Lowery showed off holes in her house to various government officials. She's counted nine bullet holes in all.
She blames it on shooters nearby.
"There is just that low level of fear that you start living with," said Lowery. "It becomes constant."
In February, school kids on a field trip to Utah Lake were pinned down for several minutes when bullets from another shooting range started whizzing over their heads.
"Close calls, and that's good, but we don't want any more close calls," said BLM West Desert District Manager Kevin Oliver.
Now, the federal BLM has closed both shooting areas for at least two years.
"I think it's a very significant danger," said Oliver. "That's why we took this action."
However, gun rights advocate Clark Aposhian says bullet trajectories make it more likely Lowery's house was actually hit by bullets fired illegally from the highway, not the shooting range.
Close calls, and that's good, but we don't want any more close calls,
–BLM West Desert District Manager Kevin Oliver
"That is not an unsafe area to shoot," Aposhian said. "That's actually a safe area to shoot in, and it's evidenced by the millions of rounds that have been fired there without incident."
Lowery says she's already seen six groups defy the signs and start shooting.
"Even with the decision — I mean, it's great that they've done it, but it's not permanent and it's not stopping people," she said.
Lowery says her goal is to work with the public agencies to try to develop maps that show shooters the safe places to shoot. She also wants the ban here to be made permanent instead of just two years.
