Straight shooter

POST FALLS - There are more than 2,000 shooting ranges in the country.

The best, say the folks behind the 2010 Shot Business Award, is in Post Falls.

"This is a Super Bowl kind of deal for us," said Ed Santos, owner of Center Target Sports with wife Peggy. "We're very proud of it."

The range was honored Tuesday as "Range of the Year" during a presentation in Las Vegas.

Community involvement, promotion of shooting sports, supporting Second Amendment rights and providing the community with quality education in a firearms environment were factors organizers considered.

"That's kind of why we're here," Santos said, smiling.

With 10 employees, 400 members and 700 shooters, Center Target is the place to learn how to use a gun the right way. It offers an array of self-defense and gun courses, for those who have never even fired a weapon to an expert with handguns and rifles. You can buy firearms there, too.

"We believe in training," Santos said. "This building exists to satisfy my passion for training. There's nothing within 300 miles of us that's even close to offering what we can offer."

He said there are only seven five-star shooting ranges in the country, and Center Target, at 3295 E. Mullan Ave., is one of them.

In only its sixth year of business, Center Target received what Santos called "the ultimate award, which is pretty mind-boggling."

"We believe very strongly in this community. To be recognized on a national level is pretty exciting," he said.

Santos credits the award to his staff and community involvement.

"It starts with the people without a doubt," he said.

Myra Martin is a customer of Center Target. She said the wide shooting booths in the range, the staff and the training available are the best.

"They are protective of the women shooters, making you feel safe and comfortable," she said.

Martin added troops that were sent to Iraq had a refresher course at CTS, and her nephew with the Spokane police took training courses there, too.

"The staff has incredible skills and knowledge from assisting with your firearms skills to when you want to purchase a firearm or the selling on consignment of your firearm," she said.

Santos has hunted and shot competitively since his father bought him a Browning shotgun for his 16th birthday, and later taught firearms to Boy Scouts. He retired after 20 years with the Army, a stint that included a deployment to Iraq, and has been a firearms instructor more than 30 years.

He wrote a book, "Rule the Night, Win the Fight," a guide to low-light gun fighting. He said he travels extensively teaching the course that has become an industry standard.

Center Target has its own courses on firearms and other forms of self-defense, including pepper spray, Tasers and canes.

"Every level of personal protection, that's what we specialize in," Santos said. "Training is everything for us. We highlight it over and over again."

One sign in the shop reads, "Never let the ghost of any student say, 'If only I had been better trained.'"

Another states, "Be prepared, not scared."

"We can take it to any level," he said.

Santos, chairman-elect of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, said Center Target is a leader in community activities. It has received the mayor's award for its community activities, and holds "Refuse to be a victim" classes, with proceeds to the women's shelter.

Santos, who was on the road this week to receive the award, said the 2010 Shot Business Award wasn't something they sought out, but were nominated for. It came down to about 10 finalists.

"Essentially, the best shooting range in the United States is in Post Falls, Idaho. We're very excited," he said.