KLAS-TV, Las Vegas
(Feb. 13) — Everyone wants to be safe in his or her own home, but imagine an entire neighborhood where every homeowner is armed. It’s a place where homeowners will not only be armed but know how to use their weapon to stop the enemy. Journey with us to a master planned community that some are calling "The Safest Neighborhood in America," and it’s right here in Nevada.
As the sun rises in the desert between Las Vegas and Pahrump, the only sound heard is the rush of an occasional car. But travel down "Front Sight Road" and you'll hear what some call sweet music — the sound of gunfire.
Front Sight is a world class firearms training facility, an action adventure training resort if you would.
On any given day, there are hundreds of students, from police officers to housewives taking aim.
Student Ian McKnight told Channel 8 Eyewitness News "when you have someone else looking over your shoulder … it gives you a little more incentive."
These students are learning from a group of master firearms instructors to use rifles, handguns and submachine guns. This place has been described as a gun owner’s Disneyland.
Dr. Ignatius Piazza, a former chiropractor, created Front Sight based on what he calls a necessity. He says 95% of gun owners don't have what it takes to stop the enemy. According to Dr. PPiazza, "if a student has to use a firearm to defend their lives and the lives of their loved ones we want to make sure they come out a winner."
If the idea of hundreds of students arming themselves in the middle of nowhere has you thinking "radical militia movement", you're not alone. But this place isn't a school for "wanna be" terrorists either.
Everyone who takes classes here goes through an extensive background check. Piazza says, "There are a lot of misconceptions out there about Front Sight and the organization — most of them are from people who have never been here."
That’s why in order to do this story I was required to visit Front Sight as a student for 4-Days.
Not only did I learn how and when to pull the trigger but also along with the other students I was taught safety, responsibility and legal issues that go along with firing a weapon. "The best thing they try to teach is to be alert, be aware of your surroundings, and the best gun fight is the one that is avoided," says one student.
But the concept of Front Sight doesn't end with gun ranges. Within the next 2-3 years it could be the safest neighborhood in America. The 550 acre Front Sight master planned community will include 177 homes, with a group of homeowners like no other community in the world.
According to Dr. Piazza, "a criminal would have to be crazy on a suicide mission to come to Front Sight and try to create violence when everyone in the community is not only armed, but are trained to levels that far exceed that of a law enforcement military community."
It may sound like unrealistic but there are already dozens of firearms enthusiasts waiting to move to front sight and hundreds of others who "wish" they could.
PART II: Meet Several People Who Are Packing Their Bags Getting Ready To Move In
Erik Johnson used to carry a gun out of necessity, now he shoots for other reasons, his love of the sport. Once a month he’s here at "Front Sight Firearms Training Institute" perfecting his skills.
The action adventure training resort is in the middle of the Nevada desert about 45 minutes from the Las Vegas strip. This place is as much for experts to sharpen their shot, as it is for the novice to learn how to handle any threat to their life. But in 2 to 3 years this will be "home" to hundreds. Front Sight the Training Facility will become part of a 550 acre master planned community. There will be homes, a shopping center, even a "K" through 12 school.
According to Front Sight creator Dr. Ignatius Piazza "Front Sight will not have any crime whatsoever. He says Front Sight will be the safest neighborhood in America. Everyone who lives here will be a knowledgeable gun owner.
To me it’s a hobby. It’s an activity. It’s a fun factor," says Ron Weiss. He has his home sight ready for the day he retires. According to the future Front Sight resident, "it wasn't something I was looking for, But after I came and had the Front Sight experience it seemed like well 'What am I going to do when I retire.'"
Almost 60 of the 177 homes are already spoken for. Future residents agree it will be a secure place to live, but for Erik Johnson that wasn't the only selling point: "if you were a golfer or into water sports or a skier and you could live and do what you love 24 hours a day How does it get better than that."
Gun enthusiasts are waiting patiently for the day they can call Front Sight, "Home Safe Home."
We'd also like your opinions on the concept of front sight. You can email your thoughts to [email protected].
Click here for more information on Front Sight.