Live Firing Facility at King 33 Could Open New Opportunities in Southington

Business in the first couple years has been good at King 33, a professional and civilian defense training company, and plans for new expansion could soon make Southington a destination in the northeast for government and private security weapons response training.

King 33 is looking to expand their services to the nearby building at 75 Aircraft Road, installing a live fire shoot house, flat range and storage vault that would be used primary for training of government entities including the Southington Police Department and private security companies.

“The range itself will be a live fire range with real weapons, real ammunition and live training,” said Chris Fields, owner of King 33. “It won’t be a range open for public use. Organizations will need to buy individualized training time and work alongside an instructor to use the facility. Safety is, as always, our first priority.”

Plans for the new 12,000 square foot facility were unveiled Tuesday night during a public hearing at the Planning and Zoning Commission. The facility would meet all industry standards and include a six-sided system that would allow the building to catch any potential stray bullets and trap them within the walls, preventing them from leaving the facility or ricocheting back at those training, Fields said.

The facility will be built and maintained by Rapid Range of Middletown, a company that specializes in bullet trap systems.

The addition would be the latest addition to a business that has grown exponentially in the last several years, led by Fields and other instructors who have a wide range of military and law enforcement experience.

Fields said it is the natural progression for his business, which works with law enforcement agencies and private security contractors across the state in providing a wide variety of simulations. The company also works with civilians in proper handling of firearms and situational training when appointments are scheduled.

“The new facility will be for use with government entities and private security firms first, with civilians able to schedule around those times,” Fields said. “There will be no walk-ins and no one will be in the facility without the supervision and direction of an experienced instructor.”

And with an audience of more than 50 people packing the assembly room at the Southington Municipal Center Tuesday night, Fields and his team have plenty of support.

Residents, law enforcement officials, members of the Southington Chamber of Commerce and Southington Economic Development Coordinator Louis Perillo III all spoke out in favor of the proposal, saying it will bring great training opportunities to industry professionals and could spark an economic boom in the community.

Bart Wichoski, a law enforcement field-training officer, said the new facility offers opportunities that officers can’t get from simulation alone and would better prepare agencies for SWAT responses, emergency responses and more.

“We want to bring our own police to that level,” said Wichoski, who lives in Meriden. I’ve talked to other agencies in the state and they all want piece of this – and that’s just in the state. This is something that would not only be great for our state, but for the entire region.”

Bob Crosle, a National Rifle Association certified instructor, said previously, he’s had to travel to New Hampshire for the closest live-range training, taking his family there for sometimes as long as a week to complete courses.

He said offering this kind of training in Connecticut would draw from throughout the northeast – a point also made by Perillo.

“This is an important application and the demand is here in town. We have the opportunity to do something that will benefit the entire community and we should be taken advantage of it,” Perillo said. “Chris is more than professional, he is an expert and we need to trust his understanding of safety.”

Perillo said the draw would add to local businesses and increase money spent within Southington’s borders as well, with visitors using gas stations, restaurants, hotels and even entertainment venues during their stay with their families.

Members of the commission showed support for the proposal on Tuesday, but tabled the matter after requesting a detailed plan to ensure safety and a set of guidelines to assure the facility will be used only for training purposes and with proper oversight from certified and/or experienced instructors.

Field said, pending a resolution and approval from the commission, the facility could open as early as late summer or early fall.

“It’s something we are really looking forward to offering and we will work to make sure the commission has everything they need to approve this,” Fields said.

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