Public vying for chance to shoot at public gun range

A lot of people have been buying guns recently and that’s putting a strain on Oahu’s only public firing range.

It’s become so crowded at the Koko Head Shooting Complex, that some people are even sleeping in their cars to get a spot.

Last year hours at the park were cut back but with the range in high demand some are fighting for more time.

Some say it’s for protection others say it’s for recreation.

Regardless of the reason, more and more people are buying guns in Hawaii and looking for a place to practice.

"Used to be you could come here, you could get a bench. You could park. Now you can’t park, you can’t get a bench or you can’t shoot unless you wait!" shared gun owner Brian Isaacson.

Oahu’s only public shooting complex at Koko Head is not just busy, it’s busting at the seams.

The range opens at 9am, but Paul Cullpepper got here before the sun came up to ensure a spot to shoot.
 
"Oh about 3:30, 4 in the morning , that’s no joke, it’s still dark we can’t shoot, until 9," said gun owner Paul Culpepper.
 
He’s not the only one.

"I get here about 4:15  4:30, if you get here any later all the benches are gone, so you have to come early or plan to wait a good half a day," said gun owner Kenson George.

The City parks Department operates the range.  Under the past administration, hours and days to shoot were scaled back to Wednesday through Friday noon-3, and
weekends 9-3.

"Very concerned about the hours at the KHSC, for me its really an issue of public safety," said Councilmember Stanley Chang.

Chang says he’s been in talks with the Parks Department to restore hours and improve the aging facility.

"You can see a section of the roof is out. The range hasn’t had much maintenance in years, we can use some," said Isaacson.

Mayor Caldwell’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2014, sets aside $17.7 million to improve parks and its facilities.  Complaints about the shooting range are on his radar.

"Amount of usage for the range is very heavy to increase the level of service to the public to match the demand we are really going to need more resource here," said Chang. 

The new parks director says the city is considering hiring more part-time workers at the range, so they can keep the complex open longer.