Just as schools across the US debate how to keep firearms away from campuses in the wake of deadly mass shootings, the largest Christian University in America has opened a multimillion-dollar gun range for student activities and hosting competitions, Fox News reported.

Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, already allows students to have guns in their dorms and more than 3,000 students have completed free firearm safety courses, a prerequisite to use the new range.

Liberty's planning coordinator, Brad Butler, told Fox: 'Our president, Jerry Falwell Jr, and his father, Jerry Falwell, Sr have a saying that "if it's Christian it should be better" – so we're going to make it not only safe and competitive, but beautiful.'

Liberty has now become the only campus with a venue fit for all Olympic shooting sports and it is aiming to be one of the most 'luxurious' facilities in the world, according to Fox.

Butler added: 'Jerry Falwell, Jr is definitely a visionary when it comes to developing collegiate programmes and activities that the students really want to be engaged in, and without his bold leadership and the support of the Second Amendment, we probably wouldn't be developing a project as nice and sophisticated as this.'

LU's shooting sports team coach, Dave Hartman, said the new facility provides a 'rare opportunity' for enthusiasts of one of the fastest-growing sports in the US.

Second year student Landon Dalton said: 'I got introduced to a whole new world up here in competitive shooting and it's been awesome. Coach Hartman has really helped us out a lot. He's a very godly man and a great coach and he's helped us grow as teammates and as shooters, but, more importantly, as better Christians.'