The Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (SAF), in partnership with Southwick Associates, have announced the release of a comprehensive research project titled “Boosting Local Support for New and Expanded Shooting Ranges.” This study provides a data-driven roadmap for industry professionals, business owners, and state agencies to navigate the hurdles of range development by understanding public perception and highlighting the immense economic value these facilities bring to local communities.
“Many state and private range operators face significant hurdles in gaining the required public support to build or expand shooting ranges, and this research report provides them with the facts surrounding the immense economic impact these facilities drive for local communities,” said Evan Heusinkveld, Sportsmen’s Alliance president and CEO. “The report also further demonstrates common concerns range developers face, and the messages that best resonate with non-shooters to ease those concerns.”
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The Economic Powerhouse of Shooting Sports
The research underscores the massive economic contributions of target shooting in America, which generates a total economic output of $144.2 billion. Direct spending alone accounts for $61.2 billion, supporting more than 787,500 jobs nationwide.
Key fiscal impacts identified in the report include:
- Tax Revenue: Target shooting generates $8.4 billion in state and local tax revenue and $11.5 billion in federal tax revenue.
- Conservation Funding: Through excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment, the industry contributes over $1 billion annually to conservation efforts.
To help stakeholders communicate these benefits locally, SAF has introduced the Shooting Range Economic Impact Calculator. This tool allows users to estimate the specific jobs, spending, and tax revenues a local range contributes to its state’s economy.
Understanding Public Perception: Advantages and Concerns
The study surveyed over 4,200 individuals to identify what drives support—and opposition—for range development.
- Primary Advantages: Respondents across all demographics identified safety-related benefits as the most significant. The top-rated benefits were opportunities for the public to learn gun safety (62/100) and providing a safer, controlled environment for shooting compared to informal locations like gravel pits (60/100).
- Top Concerns: While safety is a primary benefit, it is also the leading concern. “Adequate training of users” and “safety of participants” were high-priority issues for both indoor and outdoor ranges. For outdoor facilities, concerns about noise pollution and its effect on people and pets were significantly higher than for indoor ranges.
Strategic Recommendations The report concludes that increasing support for new ranges requires proactive messaging focused on safety. “Safety resonates strongly with everyone,” the report notes, suggesting that operators highlight range safety practices, profile qualified personnel, and use the economic calculator to demonstrate tangible community value.
For more information and to access the full report and resources, visit: https://sportsmensalliance.org/boosting-local-support-shooting-ranges-report/
This Project was funded by a Multistate Conservation Grant, from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and jointly administered with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
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