Guns, police and firing ranges

OUR OPINION
Published: July 25, 2008

Twice a year. That is how often Manassas City Police get to practice their firearm skills.

That makes us nervous.

Police officers have the duty to protect us, and they also have the right, when necessary, to use their firearms — sometimes with deadly results. We would hope that people with that responsibility would
get to try out their marksman skills more than twice a year.

At Monday’s Manassas City Council meeting, Chief John J. Skinner and Major Don McKinnon went before the council to request a new firing range or a public safety facility that could include a range.
The issue could be up for a vote on Monday or Aug. 4.

We certainly hope that the council at least decides to look at the feasibility of building this range.

In the past, the Manassas City Police have been able to practice at other locations, but those opportunities have passed with time. The force is allowed to use Prince William County’s Public Safety
Academy in Nokesville and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office in Ashburn, but it is hard to get time on the ranges.

So, police officers are forced to use the Orange County Sheriff’s Department range. They go twice a year and have to travel 120 miles, round trip.

The result of this situation is that the shooting scores of some Manassas Police have dropped. They still meet the state standards, but their scores are not as high as they could be if they had more
regular access to a shooting facility.

Police fall under the umbrella of “public safety.” We don’t feel as safe when our officers don’t have access to the resources they need to fulfill their maximum potential.

Though Chief Skinner says other jurisdictions don’t seem interested in going in on a joint facility, this could still be a good opportunity to see if Manassas can work with some of its neighbors to meet
everybody’s needs.

Regardless, we hope the Manassas City Council sees the seriousness of this request and gives this issue the consideration it deserves.