EPCSO will begin ‘Don’t Shoot’ initiative

The County Sheriff’s Office is launching its “Don’t shoot” initiative with the goal of educating El Pasoans on the hidden dangers of target shooting in remote areas.

The activity is affecting the safety and quality of life of the residents living in the rural areas, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Sheriff’s Office Deputy Juan Garcia took ABC-7 on a ride-along to show just how common recreational shooting is in far east El Paso County.

Video shows some areas completely covered in shotgun shells and bullet casings

“It’s definitely an issue we hear guns shooting two three times a week,” said Yvonne Gallegos, Far East El Paso resident.

Residents like Karmul High and others who live behind the Socorro Student Activity Complex say people shooting in the desert has gotten to close for comfort.

“A neighbor right across the street a few houses down last year one of their windows got hit,” High said.

“The gunshots sounded like they were coming at me. I turned around and ran back,” said another far east resident, Cookie Davis.

While it isn’t illegal to shoot firearms in the unincorporated areas of the county Deputy Garcia says there’s a few items they’ll be checking on when out questioning shooters.

“For one we’ll be checking to see that the weapon is a clean weapon, it’s not stolen and two we’re going to cite them if they have open containers,” Garcia said.

But the biggest issue deputies run across they say is trespassing. They say many are using private land to practice firing there weapons. During the Don’t Shoot initiative they say they will inform shooters if they are on private land and pass on simple tips.

“They need to understand if there is a residential area, if they see a building, if they see something like that, they need to go a little further out than that,” Garcia said.

Residents tell ABC-7 they welcome the crackdown.

“I have three kids so I’m really worried about them. You just never know they are shooting up in the air and a stray bullet comes down,” High said.

The Sheriff’s Office urges gun owners to keep the following tips in mind:

Don’t risk becoming lost in the desert areas of El Paso County.
Ricocheted rounds or the accidental shooting of a house is a possibility; don’t discharge firearms within 150 yards of residences, buildings, campsites or occupied areas.
Find a safe backdrop. Shots fired across the open desert can travel more than a mile.
Do not shoot on private lands without the owner’s permission.
Shooting should only take place in areas well away from other concentrations of people and property. Shooting across a road or trail is not permitted.
Shooting from a vehicle is not permitted.