At a time when the National Rifle Association is at forefront of the Legislature’s mind, House and Senate budget writers Friday morning agreed to put $3 million toward the construction of a shooting range, which is funded in part by the controversial group fighting gun bills.

Ever since the Parkland school shooting took place on Valentine’s Day, the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott have pushed school safety initiatives that include some gun restrictions opposed by the NRA. Lobbyist Marion Hammer argues proposals that would impose three-day waiting period for all gun purchases and raising the age limit to buy assault-type weapons to 21 years old punish “law-abiding gun owners.”

As they face opposition from the powerful organization, lawmakers are also scrambling for money to help fund the other proposals that would help fund mental health services at schools and school “hardening.”

To find money, Senate Budget Chair Rob Bradley, for example, said this week he will kill his own criminal justice bill to help fund for the proposals. The Legislature also intends to sweep millions of dollars from the state’s affordable housing trust fund.

The $3 million set aside to build the public shooting range sports park in Palm Beach County would go to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is helping build the facility in partnership with the county and the NRA.

Phase one of the construction project was completed in June 2017.

The total cost of the project is not yet known, but once completed it is expected to be one of the largest shooting sports facilities in Florida with five Olympic trap fields, five rifle and pistol shooting ranges and nine skeet fields. When the facility opens, it will be supervised by range safety officers and volunteers.

“This center is being created to offer target shooting enthusiasts a place to gain skills and knowledge for safe, responsible firearm handling and target shooting,” the website for the FWC states.

Memos on construction plans note “recreational target shooting is a big business in Florida” and that the “sporting arms ammunition industry supports 14,850 jobs and generates $695 million in wages.”