New gun range brings business to vacant Hecker lot

Photo by Alec Youngblood
The lot that used to be home to the Denny Hecker Ford dealership sits vacant as it awaits an update. This update has caused controversy in the Stillwater community as in July of next year a new gun range will be built in its place. Some believe that this will bring guns too close to home, when in reality it will bring gun safety and recreation to the community.

Alex Eder
November 27, 2013

The gun range being built in place of the empty Denny Hecker lot is a good use for the space.

Denny Hecker was convicted of fraud, and the 56,000 square foot lot has been there empty, with no use since. The lot is located off of Highway 36 and Stillwater boulevard in Oak Park Heights, and is shooting to open July 1, 2014. The lot will be used as both a gun range and an airsoft facility. The City Council approved of the plans on Oct 10.

This is a great use of space, for they plan on mostly just modifying the original plan itself, and having few additions to it. This is much better than simply allowing the building to grow old and become a useless plot of land. They are also improving the gun safety in the area and allowing the younger population a place for the safe practice of airsoft use.

The modification of the interior includes two gun ranges, a lounge and/or cafe and a small gym. The only update being done to the exterior of the building is planned to be a change in the color scheme.

With the lounge being also centered upon hunting and gun safety, this is the perfect place for a family that enjoys, or is interested in hunting. They can learn about gun safety for both younger and older audiences, while having a good atmosphere for the whole family. Rather than being an adult oriented place where only the extreme hunters go to hangout and tote their guns.

However, there are those who disapprove of it, and their views are understandable. The gun range will be built very close to the Stillwater Area High School. This could prove to be a risk to the children if someone were to go there for target practice and then go to the school and lead to a shooting, a lockdown or be mistaken for a threat when they are not. This is not a rationality for simply not allowing it to be built; the range is for firing weapons and educating people on how to properly handle them. It does not sell weapons and should prove as much a danger as any other firing range would.

If one is a hunter, gun advocate or just someone who wants to educate their family with how to shoot a gun, or handle one if they need to, they should stop by. Someone’s kids could even try out the airsoft range if they are too young for a real one. There will also be a cafe and gift shop so it may be the next big hangout for teenagers.