After reading Mark Knapp’s column Dec. 4, it did occur to me that having a shooting center in Federal Way would be a great thing. It would be a moneymaker and the publicity for such a center would be a deterrent to criminals.

As the manager of a business, I would welcome the opportunity to take classes that teach proper, safe gun handling.

Any time a facility is proposed that depends upon taxpayer money to get off the ground, two questions pop into my mind:

1. Will this employ very many people?

2. Will the community benefit from this facility as a whole?

The obvious answer to both of these questions is yes. A shooting facility would employ a lot of local people and its side effect would be lowering crime.

As a contrast, the idea for a performing arts center should be shelved. The only people employed are going to be the people performing and taking tickets. As for the community benefiting, ask yourself, how many people in Federal Way have been to a show at Knutzen Family Theatre? My guess is not very many. Using public funds for projects that appeal to a very small, but wealthy, minority doesn’t speak well of the people who handle those funds.

B.L. Morgan, Federal Way