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Legislature set to give $3 million to gun range partly funded by NRA

The money would go to the 150-acre Palm Beach County Shooting Sports Park.
 
Published March 2, 2018|Updated March 3, 2018

The Florida Legislature is mostly avoiding obvious handouts to the gun lobby in the wake of the Parkland massacre.

But they're prepared to give a $3 million handout to help pay for a 150-acre shooting range in Palm Beach County that's partially supported by the National Rifle Association.

The money would go to the Palm Beach County Shooting Sports Park, which will feature five gun ranges and skeet shooting in a remote area of the county, near a wildlife refuge and youth camp. It's being built by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the county.

The Legislature is in the middle of budget negotiations, but both the House and Senate have agreed to give the park another $3 million. It was first reported by Florida Politics.

The NRA's contribution to the $9.3 million complex was only $25,000, according to FWC. The vast majority of the money came from federal grants from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, with funding from the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida and Palm Beach County.

"This public facility is being created to offer a place for people to gain skills and knowledge for safe, responsible target shooting," the agency said in a statement.

The facility is expected to be finished next year.