Marion County officials have cleared the way for a new facility that will provide simulated firearms training through the use of advanced scenarios for individuals and groups who are looking to improve their preparedness in a variety of real-world cases.
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a special use permit request from Scott Adams, of Carbine Stable, during its regular Planning and Zoning meeting on Monday, December 15.
Adams plans to construct a new simulated munitions facility on a 6.5-acre residential site located at 4243 NE 175th Street Road in Citra. The new facility will feature a classroom for instruction and a dedicated area for physical simulations.
Ocala-News.com first reported on the topic last month.
Scott Adams, who lives in Ocala, says he and his wife fell in love with Florida and firearms when they moved to the state about four years ago. As he and his wife did training and purchased firearms, they discovered a lack of training facilities that offered real-world scenarios.
“We found out from some training people that yes, I can shoot an AR15. Yes, I can shoot pistols if I’m sitting there, looking at a cardboard bullseye,” said Adams. He went on to suggest that their simunitions training would offer a completely different take, focusing more on personal protection rather than just firearms proficiency.
“Say my wife and I are in bed. So we’d set up kind of a bedroom setup in this situation. And we’re in bed, and she’s got a gun on her side and I’ve got a gun on my side. Are we going to be able to use it when someone breaks in?” said Adams. He went on to suggest that the facility would also be open to ex-military, law enforcement, and other specialized personnel looking to train and improve on situations they regularly encounter.
“There isn’t anything like that in this area,” said Adams. He said the facility would feature a small classroom for discussions about the scenarios and then walkthroughs with trainers on the scenarios themselves.
“I love that, it’s like date night,” said Carl Zalak III, the chair of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.
When asked by the commission if any of the events would be outdoors, Adams assured that all activities would be conducted within the metal structure erected for the business.
“We’re currently building our house there. We’ll be 150 feet from the facility, so if people have questions about sound, sound isn’t going to be an issue. It will be all insulated,” said Adams. “It’s my place of residence.”
When asked by Commissioner Craig Curry about the arrangements, Adams indicated that all firearms and ammunition would be provided by the facility.
“I will supply all of the guns, I will supply the ammunition, I will supply all the PPE. Depending on what people want and how much pain they want to feel, “said Adams.
The facility will host sessions that are up to four hours in length. The cost of each session will depend on how much time and ammunition are spent in the scenarios. All exercises will be conducted under the oversight of certified instructors, with participants required to wear full protective gear such as helmets, neck guards, and body armor, according to the application.
“It’ll give you a welt if you have bare skin, so they would have to come with long sleeves, pants, and we’ll have goggles and glasses to protect people,” said Adams.
The facility would utilize cartridges with lead-free, non-toxic primers fired from converted weapons that prevent the accidental discharge of live rounds. In his application, Adams notes that the noise levels would be comparable to standard airsoft or paintball activities, resulting in no ballistic hazards to the surrounding area.
When asked by Commissioner Michelle Stone to confirm whether the weapons could be converted back to using live ammunition, Adams indicated that it would not be possible at the site and that he would retain possession of all weapons.
“You cannot drop in a 9mm real bullet if you have a simunition weapon, it just doesn’t work, they don’t fit in,” said Adams.
“I just want to make sure, all of the horror stories that we’ve read on movie sites and all where it’s been an accidental shooting, I would just hate to see anything like that happen, especially on your homestead property,” said Stone.
The permit is three years in length and can be renewed three times for three years, according to county staff. As part of the approval, there are several conditions that must be met. That includes a limit of only two simunition training sessions per day, with each session consisting of around four to five people.
County staff believes shooting ranges are “ideal” for low density environments, saying they do not believe the new facility will adversely affect the public interest and that it is compatible with surrounding areas.
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