STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Quang Nguyen, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has introduced House Bill 2763 to prevent the quiet shutdown of Arizona’s public shooting ranges and require full public and legislative oversight before any state-owned range may be shut down.

HB 2763 adds a new safeguard before the Arizona Game and Fish Commission may close certain state-owned shooting ranges located in or near large cities. The bill would require legislative approval through a joint resolution, in addition to existing requirements that include public hearings, commission approval, and action by the Governor.

“Public shooting ranges that belong to the people of Arizona should not be shut down by administrative fiat or behind closed doors,” said Representative Nguyen. “If a statewide asset is going to be closed, that decision should be made in public, with full legislative approval.”

The legislation is especially relevant to the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix, the largest publicly operated shooting facility in the United States and one of the City of Phoenix’s top designated Points of Pride. Ben Avery serves tens of thousands of Arizonans each year through firearm safety training, hunter education, competitive shooting, and law enforcement qualification. The range existed decades before surrounding development and has long been operated by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

“Ben Avery was built to promote safety,” Representative Nguyen said. “If this range were ever closed, shooting wouldn’t stop. It would be pushed into unregulated desert areas, creating serious public safety risks and environmental damage. That outcome helps no one.”

Quang Nguyen is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 1 in Yavapai County and is Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Follow him on X at @QuangNguyenAZ.