Madison County Sheriff Dept. eyes new shooting range

They say the move to the sheriff’s department/jail complex will leave the animal shelter out of harm’s way and prove more convenient for the sheriff’s department, not just because of its locale, but because of the access to bathrooms and electricity, which aren’t available at the current range.

But several homeowners around the sheriff’s complex aren’t thrilled with the proposal, saying they worry about the noise and the possibility of stray bullets coming their way.

Madison County Sheriff Kip Thomas stood in the commissioners’ meeting room March 4 before a crowd of about 20 people, including several who live near the proposed range. He sought to assure residents that the range will be safe and that the move is necessary.

“Right now, we’re shooting at the shelter,” said Thomas. “At 50 yards we’re just about even with the animal shelter when we’re shooting.”

Thomas said the new range, which will be on the left side of the jail, if you’re looking at the front entrance of the facility, will be an outdoor facility, with a 22-foot berm. Leyland Cypress trees will also buffer the range. The sheriff said he had a company design the range to be as safe as possible, with a downward slant for gunfire into the bank. He said the berm will be seven feet higher than required and that the sound of gunfire should mostly travel up, not out.

The sheriff was asked if he could guarantee that a bullet would never leave the range.

“I can’t absolutely guarantee that a bullet won’t get out of there,” he said. “… There’s no perfect design for any gun range.”

But Thomas added that he is confident the range will be safe.

“We can sit here and what if it, but with the berm there will be enough where it shouldn’t be an issue of a bullet getting out,” he said. “… We had this thing designed as safe as possible.”

The sheriff was asked if he had considered an indoor range, but he said such a facility would prove far too costly.

“What’s one life worth?” one audience member responded.

Thomas said the new outdoor range at the sheriff’s department will be used by the sheriff’s department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the probation office. The range will most likely be used on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when current training is usually planned. Thomas said he wouldn’t have a problem giving neighbors advanced notice of training exercises. There will be rare occasions of night shooting, because night exercises are a part of required deputies’ training.

Sheriff’s department major Shawn Burns said the county is going to need to be more self sufficient in training its deputies, noting that the state may cut aid to counties for training. He said state funding for deputies’ training in Forsyth may face the axe.


“Our budget is not going to allow us to do that (send deputies to Forsyth),” said Burns. “… You’re going to see a lot of small agencies in trouble if they (the state) cut that (training funds).”

Meanwhile, the county has gotten a grant for a new training classroom at the sheriff’s department. The new range is designed for up to seven people to shoot at one time, though only six are expected to shoot at once on the range. Thomas said he anticipates 60 to 65 people will use the range.

“Shooting is one of those skills where if you don’t do it, you’re not going to be proficient at it,” said Thomas, who urged anyone with concerns to come by the sheriff’s department and visit the proposed range site.

The BOC is expected to consider the proposed relocation of the shooting range at its next meeting on March 29.