Lawmakers request Maricopa County shooting complex reopen

(The Center Square) – Two Arizona lawmakers are joining the chorus of people asking for the Joe Foss Shooting Complex in Maricopa County to reopen.

The shooting range closed in June, which Republican Reps. Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss say has led to frustration to those who have regularly gone to the range at Buckeye Hills Regional Park.

"According to the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, the reason for this closure was to allow for more officers and deputies to be able to learn, qualify, and requalify with firearms and reduce the wait time for such training," the pair, both of whom represent Legislative District 1, said in the letter addressed to Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner.

They added that some members of the range could opt to go "shooting in the desert instead" if the range does not become publicly available once again.

"Keeping the Joe Foss Shooting Complex open to the public would eliminate that concern and avoid other unanticipated problems or unintended consequences," the letter stated.

On the county's website, a notice from July 15 states that it will look into re-opening the range to the public following the outcry, but said that the range's condition and "analysis" done by an "independent firm" will play a role in next steps.

"No decision about future activities at Joe Foss will be made until after their report is complete and repairs are finished. The range will remain closed during that time," the notice reads.

The Board of Supervisors did not have a comment on the letter .

"The General Joe Foss Range remains under the care, control and management of the Maricopa County Parks Department and not the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office," Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez, public information officer of MCSO wrote in an email to The Center Square. "If, and when the facility may be on the table for consideration of official transfer to our agency, MCSO along with Maricopa County leadership will evaluate the use of the range in the best interest to balance needs of continued public use and training for your first responders," he continued.