State Representative Quang Nguyen has introduced House Bill 2763, aiming to ensure public and legislative oversight before the closure of Arizona’s state-owned shooting ranges. The bill requires a joint resolution for legislative approval, alongside existing procedures such as public hearings and commission approval, before any shutdown can occur. Nguyen emphasized the importance of transparency in decisions affecting public assets, stating, “Public shooting ranges that belong to the people of Arizona should not be shut down by administrative fiat or behind closed doors.”
The legislation is particularly significant for the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix, which is recognized as the largest publicly operated shooting facility in the United States. Ben Avery offers various services including firearm safety training and law enforcement qualification. “Ben Avery was built to promote safety,” said Nguyen. He warned that closing such facilities could lead to unregulated shooting activities in desert areas, posing safety risks.
Nguyen serves as a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives for Legislative District 1 in Yavapai County and chairs the House Judiciary Committee. He was elected to this position in 2021, succeeding Steve Pierce.
