Public Access 
OPEN FOR "FIRST TUESDAY" ON FEBRUARY 7th, from 6 - 9 PM!
In addition to access to the 12-bay police training range, South Metro Public Safety Training Facility offers a number of other opportunities for the public to visit the facility. For educational programs, see below.
PUBLIC SHOOTING INFORMATION
HOURS: Saturdays from 8 AM - 2 PM; 1st Tuesday of each month from 6 - 9 PM. Walk-in business only. Reservations not accepted.
COST: $16 per lane per half-hour. For two people sharing a lane, the charge for the second person is $11.00 with an additional 20 minutes of shooting time. No limit on # of guns.
USERS: Lanes may be rented by adults 18 years or older. Persons younger than 18 must share a lane with an accompanying adult. A liability waiver must be signed. This shooting environment is family-friendly and we encourage use by novice shooters and anyone looking to improve gun handling and safety skills. For your safety and convenience, a minimum of 2 range safety officers are on the range at all times.
WHAT IS ALLOWED? Bullseye targets only. Most handgun caliber pistols (see types not allowed below). We DO NOT rent guns on site. Ear and eye protection are REQUIRED, and may be rented on site (50 cents each). Targets may be purchased on-site (4/$1.00). Use of gun cleaning room and air hoses (with use of your own tools and cleaning supplies).
WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED? No silhouette targets. No fully automatic weapons. No tracers. No black powder. No steel casings. No long guns (exceptions are .22 caliber rim-fire rifles and pellet guns). No disruptive guns with high decibel levels (these include, but are not limited to: .454 Casull, .460 and .500 S & W Magnums and 50 Action Express). No disrespectful behavior. Anyone displaying behavior considered risky by range safety staff members will be denied use of the range by range safety staff members. No rentals or purchases of firearms on-site. No ammunition sales on-site.
Complete range rules are available via the following link:
To view required Affirmation of Release of Liability form, click here.
For questions or to be added to our mailing list: call 952-903-5700 or e-mail:publicaccess@southmetrotraining.com
For directions to the site, click here. It is recommended that you NOT use Google, Mapquest, etc., or a GPS system. These programs do not recognize the HWY 169 Frontage Road, and you WILL be sent in the wrong direction!
COURSES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
To info on how to register for classes, follow the link(s) for each class.
Permit to Carry a Firearm
2012 Schedule
Introduction to Handguns & Firearms Safety Training (CO-ED group)
Tuesday & Thursday, February 21 & 23, 2012
Introduction to Handguns & Firearms Safety Training (WOMEN ONLY group)
Tuesday & Thursday, April 17 & 19, 2012
History of South Metro's commitment to offering gun safety programs
It was October 24, 1964. Edina resident, Dr. Frederic Wippermann and his two sons were on a highly anticipated hunting trip when the worst happened. Twelve year old, Brian’s 20- gauge shotgun accidentally discharged, killing him instantly. Amidst their grief, the family resolved to somehow turn this profound tragedy into something positive.
In 1971, with over $50,000 in pledged donations from the Wippermann family and the Edina Optimist’s Club, the Brian Wippermann Memorial Gun Range was opened on a parcel of city-owned property in the corner of Edina - just to the south of where the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility now stands. The donations, which extended over 25 years, were earmarked to educate youngsters in the importance of safe gun handling in an attempt to ensure that other young people and their families, might be prevented from having to endure such misfortune.
By 1997, when the Brian Wippermann Memorial Gun Range had to close, largely because of environmental concerns, nearly 4000 children had participated in firearms safety programs with many thousands more area residents using the firing ranges to practice safe gun handling through indoor target shooting and outdoor trap shooting.
In 2004, the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility was opened – with the mission to provide a state-of-the-art training environment for area public safety agencies. The facility is jointly owned and operated by the Cities of Edina, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, and by the Metropolitan Airport Commission. Training space and on-site support services are provided for these and many other police and fire agencies throughout the southwest metro area.
The City of Edina’s joint venture with the Wippermann family and the Edina Optimist’s Club may have ended in 1997; however, the board of directors governing this facility and the City of Edina Parks and Recreation Department’s determination to honor the spirit of the past arrangement did not. Opportunities for people of all ages to attend gun safety programs are offered throughout the year, both here and at other locations. In addition, the police firing range is open for public use on Saturday mornings for target shooting.
The City of Edina is proud to continue honoring the memory of Brian Wippermann, and the South Metro Public Safety Training Facility is grateful to be able to assist in this worthy endeavor.