Keep range closed

Dear editor:

It goes without saying my family is appreciative and supportive of the efforts our law enforcement community makes each day. We recognize regular training is an important part of keeping us all safe. To that end, our Hot Springs officers admittedly have a self-described “great facility” they are using today at Mountain Valley Sportsman’s Association.

DeSoto Park, on the other hand, is just that, it is a park. It is a place for Hot Springs families and residents to gather for picnics, fishing and outdoor recreation. The new bike path on Park Ave. will certainly add to this family atmosphere. City officials realized this when making the decision to discontinue its use as a firing range over two years ago. Reopening the facility to regular gunfire again would certainly affect the public’s enjoyment of this park, and again become an issue for surrounding residences and businesses.

Those encouraging reconsideration of DeSoto Park’s use as a firing range have obviously never lived close to one. By one officer’s own admission in a recent press account, they were shooting until 9 p.m., up to seven times per year (that’s every 52 days). What was not addressed were the early mornings, weekends and multiple barrages of shots at any given time coming from the range. Unless you have lived close to a firing range you truly have no idea what impact it has.

Property held by the city of Hot Springs is owned by its collective citizens, not a particular group or department, and should be used in accordance with the expectation of the quiet enjoyment conveyed by law. We are appreciative of the actions taken in the past and encourage the city to maintain its current use of both the DeSoto Park property as a family friendly destination, and the existing range facility used today, that in the words of one officer, “… has been very welcoming.” Len Pitcock Hot Springs