December 18, 2019
WCSO to
Close Public Access to County Firearms Training Center
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO)
recently informed the operators of a company that provides firearms training to
citizens at the Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center, that their
contract will not be renewed, effective January 14. The decision was made
following Range Safety Management LLC’s (RSM) lack of profitability and a
review that fees and funds collected by RSM were not accounted for accurately.
“To the responsible gun owners who use the
facility, I understand your concern,” said Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker. “This
decision was not made in haste. We will continue to review how to use this
training center that works in the best interest of all citizens, while saving
taxpayer money. Unfortunately, the current agreement only met the needs of a
few.”
RSM operators were notified of the decision
earlier this week. While some were not pleased with the decision, others
understood why the decision was made.
The WCSO has also determined an increased need
to provide adequate training space for local, state, and federal law
enforcement agencies.
“We are living in dangerous times,” Baker added.
“We need to have an ability to provide increased training opportunities for our
officers, so that they are prepared to face the dangers that may await them
every day they protect our neighborhoods.”
The Sheriff’s Office met with County staff who
also agreed with the decision, after reviewing what amounted to a lack of
financial stability, resulting in the sheriff’s office subsidizing the private
company’s sustainability, for the past seven years.
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office is working
with RSM to honor classes through January 5, 2020.
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