KISSIMMEE, Fla. —A new tourist attraction promises to give people as young as 13 years old the chance to fire fully automatic weapons.
Outside the new attraction, you can hear the unmistakable rat-a-tat-tat of machine guns inside. The automatic weapons are powerful and firing them is intense, but owners are hoping Orlando tourists will want to try the unique experience.
"We see this as attractive to someone who might want to go bungee jumping -- adrenaline rush experience," said Bruce Nierenberg, general manager of Machine Gun America Orlando. "There are a lot of single parents who might be looking for something to do with their kids as a bonding experience, weekend excursion, that type of thing."
Brazilian Tourist Roberto Netto said he would never buy a machine gun or get a chance to shoot one at home.
"If you are trying something new only to have fun, I think that's cool," Netto said.
Tourist Bernie Griffin takes issue with the attraction letting children as young as 13 shoot automatic weapons.
"What are we coming to? We're promoting violence when we do this," Griffin said. "Very disconcerting because in my heart I know all the violence is going around because we're training them too young to do this."
Nierenberg said teens under 17 must have a parent with them. Every person firing the high-powered weapons has an experienced range safety officer with them at all times.
The general manager of Machine Gun America Orlando said strict safety measures are in place to handle and secure the weapons.
"It's not a gun range. You can't bring your own weapon here. It's a very controlled environment," Nierenberg said. "Safety is number one and two on the list and number three, number four is have a good time."
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