In the same week that Liberty University decided against allowing students to carry guns on campus, it began allowing them to use a shooting range off campus.
The range on Candlers Mountain that the Liberty Police Department and other local police agencies have used for years was opened to students Thursday.
To qualify, a student must first take a two-day gun safety course with LUPD and sign up in advance to go to the range with supervision.
Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. announced the initiative last month, and “it wasn’t two days before we had hundreds of students applying to take the safety course,” he said.
The first group of 40 students finished the safety training two weekends ago, and had their first opportunity to use the range Thursday and Friday.
“I love it,” Liberty junior Isaiah Jillis said at the range Friday. “I would never have dreamed this would happen.”
Freshman Sarah Fahrenbruch said she plans to use the range “every possible time I can. As long as I have ammo, I’ll be out here.”
LUPD Officer Josh Van Gorp supervised the students as they approached their targets in groups.
Five at a time stood seven yards from the targets, put on ear protection and listened for the signal.
“Shooters, are you ready?” Van Gorp yelled.
“Fire!”
They raised their semi-automatic pistols, aimed, and fired all their rounds.
When everyone finished, they lowered their weapons, approached the targets and compared.
Students who live on campus store guns with LUPD when they aren’t at the range.
On Tuesday, the school’s board of trustees considered whether to allow students to carry firearms on campus, but ultimately decided to keep the policy that prohibits carrying weapons.
The safety course covers basic handgun safety, Van Gorp said, and also information on concealed carry laws and the use of force. A course specific to rifles also is in the works, he said, and a neighboring rifle range will open to students soon.
Students said they took the safety course for a variety of reasons.
Some were focused on personal protection, while others enjoy the recreational aspect of target shooting. Sophomore Chris Burtz said some students hope to form a competitive club shooting team.
Falwell said it was “probably the most positive response I’ve heard from students on any new initiative since I’ve become president.”
Since the school already had the range, said Lee Beaumont, director of auxiliary services, it cost “almost nothing” to open it to students.
Other parts of the mountain are used for an archery range, hunting, paintball and a system of trails.
“Every college has got something to offer,” Beaumont said, “and Liberty has all this land.”
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