The 'Cheers' of Gun Ranges in Middle River

Jim Reagor wants to make sure his children know what to do if they ever come in contact with guns.

Safety and education, the Nottingham man said, is the key to ensuring they aren’t scared of weapons, and later in life know how to protect themselves. It was these lessons Reagor was teaching his 12-year-old daughter, Sidney, on Valentine’s Day at FreeState Gun Range in Middle River.

Father and daughter, a seventh-grader at , took turns taking out paper zombies on the shooting range of the 10,000-square-foot facility off Route 43. For Reagor, FreeState offers a family-friendly environment where he can educate Sidney, along with 10-year-old J.T. about gun safety.

Follow Essex-Middle River Patch on Facebook and Twitter.

“It’s a skill I hope they never have to use,” said Reagor, who moved to Maryland from Oklahoma about six years ago. “I don’t want my children to be curious about guns and mess around with one on their own. We have strict rules that no one can pick up a gun without daddy there to help.

“FreeState really lets me teach my children in a safe, responsible way. It’s a lot more family-friendly than most other gun ranges in the area.”

It’s that family-friendly environment that FreeState co-owners Randy Farmer and Mark Burger are trying to promote at their new business, which opened in April.

Farmer and Burger met several years ago after Farmer’s motorcycle was stolen and Burger, a Baltimore County police officer, was assigned to the case.  The pair became friends and learned they both had an interest in firearms.

Prior to opening FreeState, Farmer owned a computer business while Burger retired in June from the police department after a 27-year career. The gun range represents a dream for the pair.

“We want to be the ‘Cheers’ of gun ranges,” said Farmer, referring to the fictional bar from the popular 1980s and '90s sitcom. “We want to be the place where everybody knows your name.”

Farmer said the goal is to make FreeState a destination for all types of people with an interest in guns and shooting. This includes offering guns and rifles for sale, hosting classes for novices and advanced shooters and plenty of space for target practice. There are even hopes of adding a deli to compliment the recreational area that includes a pool table for people to socialize.

Police officers, Department of Homeland Security officers and armed guards are among those that have used FreeState, Farmer said, but most of the customers are just those who have an interest in guns.

Farmer said to make their experience unique, they have developed creative ways for people to spend their time at FreeState.

This includes weekly poker shootouts on Wednesdays where competitors get seven shots at a paper target, which has a full deck of cards, from seven yards away. The top five cards hit make up the poker hand with the winner taking home a small monetary prize.

In another competition, shooters compete to see who can take out four ping pong balls, hung at 25 yards, in the fewest shots using a rifle.

“We want people’s experience to be more than just putting holes in paper,” Farmer said. “We offer a whole new shooting experience where we also stress safety and education comes first.”

As for the Reagor family, they expect to make many return trips to FreeState. Jim Reagor left feeling like a proud father—and one who likely won’t have to worry when his daughter starts dating—after Sidney was right on target after her turn at the range.

“It’s fun and I’m enjoying spending time with my dad while learning how to handle a gun properly,” Sidney said.