El Paso Sheriff’s Encourage Safe Shooting

The El Paso Sheriff's Office is stepping up patrols in far east El Paso to remind folks of the rules regarding recreational shooting. 

Target shooting is a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family and is allowed in most unincorporated areas of El Paso County. The EPSO wants to curb shooting done close to homes though so, extra patrols will be out near Red Sands and around the Student Activities Center.

Here are a few tips from an article at ElPasoHeraldPost.com:

• Don’t risk becoming lost in the desert areas of El Paso County.
• Ricocheted rounds or accidently shooting a house are possibilities.
• Do not discharge firearms within 150 yards of residences, building, campsites or occupied areas.
• Find a safe backdrop. Shots fired across the open desert can travel over a mile.
• Proper access to public lands must be through public roads.
• Crossing private lands is not permitted unless you obtain permission from the landowner.
• Do not shoot on private lands without the owner’s permission.
• Shooting should only take place in areas well away from people and property.
• Shooting across a road or trail is not permitted.
• Shooting from a vehicle is not permitted.

For more safety tips, click here. Sheriff's will also be enforcing laws regarding the county burn ban, the unsafe use of ATV's, curfew violations and alcohol use.