Small-arms range opens at Air Reserve station

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station wants to beef up its combat readiness.

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter was on hand for a ground-breaking ceremony Tuesday for a new indoor small-arms firing range. The $6.2 million project aims to make military operations more efficient in western New York. Representative Slaughter says the Air Reserve Station is a vital part of the economy in Niagara County.

"What we want to do here is other people will want to come here to use this firing range. Economically, it's going to beneficial to us when people are using it, but again, it's part of making sure this base stays open," said Slaughter.

The new firing range will also serve as a training facility for federal law enforcement.