Gun range reopens under new ownership, will honor existing memberships

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Best Shot Gun Range held its grand opening last weekend after taking over Shooters Choice.

Though the popular indoor shooting range in Wilmington has changed ownership, the new business owner plans to honor previous customer memberships.

Shooter’s Choice was an indoor gun range, store, and place to take shooting classes. It closed down unexpectedly in November and many customers were left wondering what happened. William Wright of Shipman & Wright, LLP, an attorney representing the business owner, said Shooter’s Choice closed down because of “staffing issues” and delays during the business sale.

A close family member of the new buyer was hospitalized and died during the process of closing the sale, said Wright. The owner did not notify customers through a Facebook post or an email, because he was not expecting the shutdown to last as long as it has.

Wright says lead violations issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Administrations cost the business $900, but the problems have been remedied. The attorney called them “non-serious OSHA violations.”

“All of those have been addressed," said Wright. "Now they are in full compliance.”

Generally speaking, serious lead exposure can occur at any indoor firing range, according to research published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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