All good things must come to an end.

That was the first thing that popped into my mind when I learned that Fort Knox's French Range will be closing its doors to the public on Dec. 17 after operating for more than 40 years on the installation.

I've shot at French for 10 years now, and I can't say I didn't see this coming. Perhaps one of the things I liked most about French Range, and what ultimately led to its demise, was the peace and quiet.

I know it seems strange to desire minimal noise at a shooting range, but shooting for me has always been a relaxing pastime. I like to call it "recoil therapy." It's hard to achieve that Zen-like state when every seat is full, the guy right next to you has an obnoxious muzzle brake on the end of his barrel and you're getting pelted by hot brass ejecting out of somebody's AK variant.

From a business perspective, all that silence comes at a cost -- underutilization. That is especially bad for French considering it must support itself to remain in business.

"The range is what's considered a Category C FMWR operation, which means it receives no appropriated fund support whatsoever," Fort Knox Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Outdoor Recreation Manager Earl Higgs said. "All the payroll and everything needed to support the range comes from income supported by range usage."

For several years, the range has operated at a loss.

"What has been happening for the last three years is the range has been losing money," Higgs said. "IMCOM said a couple of years ago that [Category C] facilities that don't achieve a 5-percent profit, or at least break even, are gone."

Higgs said DFMWR wanted to give it a few years to see if things turned around, but French never recovered.

According to Higgs, private sector competition as well as security increases and weapons registration requirements following Sept. 11, 2001 have significantly contributed to a decline in range usage, but the inactivation of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in 2014 at Fort Knox was also a contributing factor.

"Five or six years ago, we had about 140 members, and now we are down to only about 31 members," Higgs said.

Members can expect a refund for a portion of their memberships, which were paid through March 2019.

"There will be a prorated refund for our current members. We have their information and we will be contacting each of them with details on how get their money back," Higgs said.

DFMWR also plans to conduct auctions throughout the remainder of the year and early in 2019, which will include French's rental firearms, steel targets and other range equipment.

As a member and a guy who goes out there almost every Sunday to shoot, I will truly miss the convenience, comradery and good times French has afforded me throughout the years.

The closure isn't necessarily permanent. According to Higgs, future changes in demographics, population and customer desires could facilitate the opening of another public firing range in the future. I personally hope that day comes sooner than later.

Meanwhile, to my fellow shooters out there, we have until mid-December to enjoy the facility, so get out and sling some lead down range while you still can.

-30-