From Deseret News archives:

Cannon joins raid, fires gun at target . . .

. . . in demonstration of war-training product

Published: Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005 11:47 p.m. MDT
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The new facilities will allow soldiers to train in Iraqi-style street actions before they deploy to the Middle East. The first facility was shipped by boat to Turkey and then trucked south to a base in northeast Iraq known as Camp Butler. The camp was formerly the site of a training center for Saddam Hussein's Republican Guards.

Cannon said Action Target is proof that U.S. spending on Iraq benefits American companies.

"We have a local, Utah County, Provo-based company that provides 160 jobs to the community," he said. "Not all of that money (for the war) is going overseas."

Action Target officials walked Cannon through a rifle-safe facility, then let him drill with Metro SWAT, a combined team of police officers from Brigham Young University, Provo and Orem.

Provo police detective Kent Huntsman reminded Cannon "not to point your weapon at anything you don't want to destroy."

Huntsman handed Cannon the weapon and the congressman joked with reporters that "You guys are safe because there are no bullets in it (yet), but I'm not sure you want to stand between me and the target."

Earlier, Cannon was allowed to use the battering ram to bash open the heavy wooden door.

"Forget this congressman stuff," he blurted. "This is fun."

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Action Target has been the focus of local complaints because of its location in the center of a west Provo residential area. Neighbors have complained about loud noises as workers cut steel and about semitrucks knocking down fences on residential roads.

Company officials said the last two fences knocked down in the area were not struck by Action Target vehicles.

"We try really to be sensitive," company spokeswoman Andrea Perri said. "We've added venting so there aren't any paint fumes being emitted into the neighborhood. We're trying to be responsive and trying to do everything we can to be good neighbors."


E-mail: twalch@desnews.com

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