Las Cruces police encourage gun enthusiasts to utilize the Butterfield Shooting Range and refrain from illegally firing weapons within city limits or near residential areas.
Police regularly receive reports of recreational and target practice shooting within city limits on undeveloped land east of Sonoma Ranch Boulevard and Pagosa Hills Avenue.
City ordinance prohibits the firing or discharge of any gun, pistol, rifle or other firearm – including air rifles and BB guns – within city limits. Many portions of the East Mesa, specifically undeveloped land directly east of Sonoma Ranch Boulevard and Pagosa Hills Avenue, are within city limits and therefore off limits to hunting or recreational shooting.
In addition to the law prohibiting shooting within city limits, anyone firing a weapon outside city limits must be no less than 150 yards away from any building, structure or residential area. Legal gunfire also must be done in a direction that has a safe trajectory away from structures and populated areas.
- Do not discharge any firearm within City limits or within 150 yards of any structure.
- Ensure your downrange trajectory is void of roads, homes, structures, parking areas, hiking areas, trails and away from populated areas.
- Remember, what goes up must come down. Do not discharge firearm in a dangerous or unnecessary upward trajectory.
- Practice proper gun safety at all times.
- Be considerate of others in the area and residents who may live nearby.
- Utilize a designated shooting range such as the City’s Butterfield Shooting Range.
The Butterfield Shooting Range is off Interstate 10 on the city’s West Mesa and is free to the public during daytime hours, except Thursdays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. when it is closed for regular maintenance. The Butterfield Shooting Range is accessible from Corralitos Road off I-10 Exit 127.