Miwok Indian Tribe's proposed gun range in Shingle Springs draws concern

A proposed 29 lane outdoor gun range in El Dorado County has created a lot of concern from the Shingle Springs community as well as others in the county.

On February 24, the County Supervisors heard a presentation from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, owners of the Red Hawk Casino and operators of the proposed gun range. At that meeting there was a lot of concern voiced about safety and noise.

The tribe doesn't need approval due to their sovereign nation status, but they say they will address all concerns prior to moving forward.

“We are investigating and vetting all concerns," said Tribal Chairman Nicholas Fonseca. "We will not move forward with the project until all concerns are addressed.”

“Tribe understands that as a sovereign nation we don’t fall under the jurisdiction of the county and aren’t required to address these concerns," Fonseca explained in a press release. "However, we are dedicated to doing what is right and best for the community. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Board of Supervisors to ensure that all of the sound and safety issues are mitigated. As promised, the Tribe has retained an acoustical engineering firm to evaluate solutions to mitigate the noise and to make recommendations for further noise mitigation. The development hinges in large part on the results of those studies.”

Opponents say they support gun rights and the second amendment but are concerned about the location of the proposed range because of safety and noise issues. The opposition has been posting information on the Shingle Springs Community Alliance facebook page and will be hosting a community meeting on Wednesday, March 25.

The location is 100 yards from Highway 50, 1000 yards from two elementary schools as well as a church, and 200 yards from a popular trail and homes.

Many of the neighboring properties have horses, and the owners are very concerned about stray bullets. In an interview with KCRA-TV, Darren Wirgler said, “With our horses, human beings and other animals that are around, stray bullets may come from the outdoor range and hit a person or one of the animals.”

The March 25 meeting is being held at the Discovery Hills Church, 4270 Shingle Springs Drive in Shingle Springs at 7 p.m.