A big crowd showed up Monday night for a conceptual presentation of a proposed indoor gun range on U.S. Hwy. 27/441.
The facility would be built on a 12-acre parcel located just north of the Lady Lake Realty Site, north of Griffin View Drive and east of U.S. Hwy. 27/441, near the Orange Barn. The 24,150-square-foot building would include a 20-lane tactical and bull’s eye indoor gun range. It would also include a gun shop and educational area.
Basics Range and Gun LLC would operate the gun range and has the property under contract. The company already operates a gun range in Orange Park.
Richard Rodgers, director of Oak Grove Homeowners Association, raised concerns about traffic and safety barriers. The Oak Grove Subdivision is located near the proposed gun range.
By a show of hands, it appeared that supporters outnumbered those opposed to the gun range. Among those in the audience were members of the Straight Shooters Club in The Villages.
But Dave Hodgkins, who lives on Ivanhoe Circle, said he opposes the gun range.
“This would be in my back yard, and I don’t want it,” Hodgkins said.
The man who wants to develop the gun-range, had a video shown that demonstrated the volume of the noise from the shooting. The video indicated the gun noise was barely audible from the exterior.
“For me this is a calling, I am looking to help people,” said Franklin Dickinson, owner of Basics Gun Range.
He said he opens his current facility to law enforcement for training and is providing safety classes for women and children.
“I don’t have rednecks. I don’t have ruffians,” he said. “It is family oriented.”
Commissioner Tony Holden raised concerns about flooding in the area. He said about a decade ago the area witnessed heavy flooding.
“I think there are better places in the area you could have put this,” Holden said.
He was in the minority. Four of the five commissioners said they would like to see the proposal advance.
