bogie
Member
Nope. Little league.
Bullies at the shooting range...
- Thread starter wristtwister
- Start date
- Status
Nope. Little league.
give stated:
She might be the reason he is like he is. He might have to let off steam someplace
Years ago I was shooting on a public range on BLM property near Parshall, Colorado when a car load of loudmouths arrived and started shooting up the hillside. Not even at targets. Just shooting and drinking beer. Discretion being the better part of valor, I packed up and left. That is the only unfavorable action of any consequence I can remember.
I currently shoot at a club range as well on Fort Bragg's MWR range. There have never been any problems while on Bragg while I've been there. The club range can get full during the weekends so I usually go during the week. Everyone there is required to wear club identification and are subject to established rules or loss of membership. Usually a gentle reminder of a minor safety infraction is all that is required. These are few and far between. Outside of having my own range this has been pretty good.
She might be the reason he is like he is. He might have to let off steam someplace
Years ago I was shooting on a public range on BLM property near Parshall, Colorado when a car load of loudmouths arrived and started shooting up the hillside. Not even at targets. Just shooting and drinking beer. Discretion being the better part of valor, I packed up and left. That is the only unfavorable action of any consequence I can remember.
I currently shoot at a club range as well on Fort Bragg's MWR range. There have never been any problems while on Bragg while I've been there. The club range can get full during the weekends so I usually go during the week. Everyone there is required to wear club identification and are subject to established rules or loss of membership. Usually a gentle reminder of a minor safety infraction is all that is required. These are few and far between. Outside of having my own range this has been pretty good.
SSN Vet
Member
it's posts like this one that make me.....
appreciate the rod and gun club where I shoot....
people are always very pleasant, courteous and polite...
safety is priority #1, yet the club is informal and low key....
there is not a designated range officer posted, but rather, if your the first one there and you put the flag up, you are the range officer.
every member is responsible to immediately address any safety violation.
I've been at the pistol range during a cease fire and while one guy was down range hanging paper another guy uncased a pistol and started showing it to his buddy.
Since it's against the range rules to handle any weapon during a cease fire, I was obliged to correct them......"hey guys, could you please wait untill we call the range hot to handle your hand guns". And their response was typical of what I've come to expenct... "O.K. Sorry, we forgot"
On my last visit, a couple of guys were shooting mil. surps. One had a Yugo Mauser and the other a Garand. I was at the next bench down testing out my first cast bullet loads and was taking some notes, trying to pay attention to what I was doing, so I didn't notice that one of the guys didn't have on any eye protection. An older gentleman, who I believe is a club officer came up to the guy with the Yugo and handed him a pair a safety glassed and said "It's range rules that everyone where safety glasses", to which the guy replied....guess..."O.K. Sorry, I forgot"
Note one little detail in this annecdote. The club officer didn't bawl him out. He didn't tell him to pack up and leave. He didn't tell him to put his f@#%in' safety glasses on.....but rather....he politely told him about the rule and then enabled him to comply with the rule by handing him a loaner pair of safety glasses.
The club keeps a small locker stocked with a few pair of safety glasses, a box of foam ear plugs, a small first aide kit and ...... best of all ..... a couple staplers and extra staples.
No reason to be a prick about it. Courtesy is a two way street!
appreciate the rod and gun club where I shoot....
people are always very pleasant, courteous and polite...
safety is priority #1, yet the club is informal and low key....
there is not a designated range officer posted, but rather, if your the first one there and you put the flag up, you are the range officer.
every member is responsible to immediately address any safety violation.
I've been at the pistol range during a cease fire and while one guy was down range hanging paper another guy uncased a pistol and started showing it to his buddy.
Since it's against the range rules to handle any weapon during a cease fire, I was obliged to correct them......"hey guys, could you please wait untill we call the range hot to handle your hand guns". And their response was typical of what I've come to expenct... "O.K. Sorry, we forgot"
On my last visit, a couple of guys were shooting mil. surps. One had a Yugo Mauser and the other a Garand. I was at the next bench down testing out my first cast bullet loads and was taking some notes, trying to pay attention to what I was doing, so I didn't notice that one of the guys didn't have on any eye protection. An older gentleman, who I believe is a club officer came up to the guy with the Yugo and handed him a pair a safety glassed and said "It's range rules that everyone where safety glasses", to which the guy replied....guess..."O.K. Sorry, I forgot"
Note one little detail in this annecdote. The club officer didn't bawl him out. He didn't tell him to pack up and leave. He didn't tell him to put his f@#%in' safety glasses on.....but rather....he politely told him about the rule and then enabled him to comply with the rule by handing him a loaner pair of safety glasses.
The club keeps a small locker stocked with a few pair of safety glasses, a box of foam ear plugs, a small first aide kit and ...... best of all ..... a couple staplers and extra staples.
No reason to be a prick about it. Courtesy is a two way street!
Wristtwister, that wasn't a bully at all. That was someone with serious control or manliness issues.
According to Freud, something probably happened to him during the phallic stage and he was never able to overcome it. People who become fixated during the phallic stage grows up mean, obnoxious, and sometimes, to the point where other people starts to think they are crazy.
According to Freud, something probably happened to him during the phallic stage and he was never able to overcome it. People who become fixated during the phallic stage grows up mean, obnoxious, and sometimes, to the point where other people starts to think they are crazy.
Cosmoline
Member
One of our own THR members was recently murdered at a range by some bandits, so this is not a hypothetical concern.
LiquidTension
Member
I haven't really had any problems at my gun club. The club president did come up and tear a guy a new one once. We still don't know why. Apparently standing 2 feet forward of someone else on the line is unsafe - even if they're 25 yards apart on the line.
The club rules state that if you observe someone breaking the rules, you identify them or get their tag number and report it to the club officers. Membership can be revoked if you're reported to be breaking the rules. Apparently that's enough to keep people in line.
There aren't any ROs at the range.
The club rules state that if you observe someone breaking the rules, you identify them or get their tag number and report it to the club officers. Membership can be revoked if you're reported to be breaking the rules. Apparently that's enough to keep people in line.
There aren't any ROs at the range.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
The private range I used to be a member of in northwest Florida was a fantastic place to shoot, but if you went on a weekday or at certain times of the day it was not uncommon to be the only one there. They had cell phone coverage, at least, but it was ISOLATED.
One member, there by himself, was downrange setting up targets (had just gotten there) and a van pulled up to the firing line, and criminal(s) jumped out and attempted to steal his guns, but he hadn't taken them out of the trunk yet. They jumped back in their van and drove away. He is fortunate that they didn't assault him to take his keys or make him open the trunk; they may have been afraid he was armed. Had they harmed him, he might not have been found for hours.
After that, when shooting alone, I never left guns lying on the bench with ammunition around, and the rifle would come downrange WITH me (with a magazine inserted) when changing targets.
The upside of shooting at a range like that, though, was that I could set up all kinds of drills that you can't do on a highly structured range. Rifle Presidente, moving to cover, turning and drawing, drawing while moving, that sort of thing. I miss that range badly.
That's why I stay home a lot, there are no decent ranges left between Pompano and Del ray, and those are too crowded. I wish there was a place where I could go and not choke on fumes but other than Markahm park, I don'y know of any. If anyone knows of a club in N Broward, oe S Palm Beach, please let me know, thanks
mhillsing23
Member
I joined a private club/range to avoid the questionable characters at public range. All of the guys that I have met and/or shot with at the club have been very nice, and safe. That said, I don't spend a second at the range when I am not carrying a live weapon either open or concealed. You just never know. I concealed carry everywhere else, you better be sure I am going to be carrying the range.
MinnMooney
Member
Same at my range..... HOWEVER, a holstered handgun is considered safe at all times and doesn't have to be left at the firing line with it's action open. The handgun cannot be removed from it's holster during ceasefire.
hill billy
Member
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2008
- Messages
- 61
I try to be as polite as possible unless I'm being swept by a careless person for whatever reason. THen I ask firmly that they safe the weapon. If I get any other response other than, "sorry" I raise my voice and say some un-highroad stuff. Having said that I carry concealed at all times on any range I go to. No one needs to know but me.
wristtwister
Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 419
Wow, thanks for the replies guys... I'm glad that I'm not just getting paranoid about people like that at the range. After reading this 4 pages of replies, I closed the thread and went to the "discussions" index and the next thread was "what would you do if you didn't have a gun when you needed it"... or something to that effect... and it made me think about the bully incident again.
I've always maintained that you never want to shoot yourself out of ammo ANYWHERE... especially at the range, or where you might be travelling and get off into remote areas. The discussion about the pastor who was murdered at the range and the discussions of this bullying incident just go to confirm that idea.
I normally keep several clips of self defense pistol ammo in my bag that are "no go's" for target shooting... they're there to "resupply" after I shoot. While the range rules are that you have guns open and locked out, the RO has told me that the Department of Natural Resources has told them that if you're "legal" on the DNR property, they don't care if you carry "locked and loaded" as long as the pistol is in a holster.
They just don't want people waving loaded guns around where people might walk into the line of fire... and those of us with CCW permits are only limited to carry in specified locations, such as doctor's offices, city & county offices, etc. or places where specific "no concealed weapons" signs are posted on buildings... and even those have to comply with the exact regulation size, type, and color to be considered "legal"... plus they have to post them at EVERY entrance to the building... even the storage rooms.
As an ex-LEO, I don't get too frisky with people around guns, but I make sure I have a way to "fight my way to mine", so I keep a pocket pistol in my pants pocket regardless of what I have on my side. I've seen just about every kind of shooter out there from "redneck" to "sophisticate", shooting everything from .22LR to .500 Magnums and rifles, and generally they are all courteous... the problem is that it only takes one that isn't to make the rest of us VERY nervous and concerned for our safety.
When I work as an RO, I try to be courteous, direct, and helpful... not demanding, rules shouting, or stomping over to people who might not have any idea who I am or what I'm doing heading their way... but I'm going to be a lot more careful from now on... and if I have doubts about somebody, I won't go downrange until they do... even armed. I'd rather be careful than buried.
WT
I've always maintained that you never want to shoot yourself out of ammo ANYWHERE... especially at the range, or where you might be travelling and get off into remote areas. The discussion about the pastor who was murdered at the range and the discussions of this bullying incident just go to confirm that idea.
I normally keep several clips of self defense pistol ammo in my bag that are "no go's" for target shooting... they're there to "resupply" after I shoot. While the range rules are that you have guns open and locked out, the RO has told me that the Department of Natural Resources has told them that if you're "legal" on the DNR property, they don't care if you carry "locked and loaded" as long as the pistol is in a holster.
They just don't want people waving loaded guns around where people might walk into the line of fire... and those of us with CCW permits are only limited to carry in specified locations, such as doctor's offices, city & county offices, etc. or places where specific "no concealed weapons" signs are posted on buildings... and even those have to comply with the exact regulation size, type, and color to be considered "legal"... plus they have to post them at EVERY entrance to the building... even the storage rooms.
As an ex-LEO, I don't get too frisky with people around guns, but I make sure I have a way to "fight my way to mine", so I keep a pocket pistol in my pants pocket regardless of what I have on my side. I've seen just about every kind of shooter out there from "redneck" to "sophisticate", shooting everything from .22LR to .500 Magnums and rifles, and generally they are all courteous... the problem is that it only takes one that isn't to make the rest of us VERY nervous and concerned for our safety.
When I work as an RO, I try to be courteous, direct, and helpful... not demanding, rules shouting, or stomping over to people who might not have any idea who I am or what I'm doing heading their way... but I'm going to be a lot more careful from now on... and if I have doubts about somebody, I won't go downrange until they do... even armed. I'd rather be careful than buried.
WT
thebaldguy
Member
I have been to a public outdoor range with no safety officer. Things worked pretty good. We would spend a few minutes shooting, then on mutual agreement we would cease fire, go down and check our targets. Some guys would leave rifles on the bench, but I would sling mine and take it downrange. Why? I would hate to have some criminal sneak up and take an unattended firearm while I'm 100 yards downrange with my back turned. If there was a safety officer at the line, I would be ok leaving my rifle. If nobody is watching my rifle, it goes with me downrange in a sling. I don't think that's out of line.
GlowinPontiac
Member
I typically shoot on private property or at a sandpit on public land. only problem on private property is a guy who lives over a mile away will occasionally walk through the woods to come yell profanities at us because he can hear our shots. we have tried telling him that he is trespassing and that he is likely to get shot as we have no idea that he is walking through the woods downrange. last time he called the police and the officer told him flat out to stay off the property and leave us alone or HE would be arrested for trespassing and harassment. at the sandpit the only problem is morons on dirtbikes who will come out and begin riding around as if the people shooting do not exist. they think it is a game to ride between the firing line and berm while people are shooting. once they realize that we are not going to put up with their stupidity they usually leave. one tried to pick up a rifle left on a truck tailgate but was quickly discouraged when the owner climbed out of the cab with a pistol pointed directly at him. he turned pale and hightailed it out of there and has not been seen back since.
I try to avoid that sandpit now but it is fun to see what certain rounds can do against the burned out wrecked cars out there!
I try to avoid that sandpit now but it is fun to see what certain rounds can do against the burned out wrecked cars out there!
cameroneod
Member
I'd stop going to the range if I ran into that type with any regularity. With few exceptions the shooters I run into are polite, courteous and always willing to lend a hand (or spare ammo). Its one of the major reasons I go to the range.
This thread makes me very thankful that I joined an expensive gun club that has 560 acres of private land, an hour away from home, with numerous separate pistol ranges that you can nearly always have one to yourself. Only at the long-distance rifle range do you really have to shoot near somebody else, if there's even anybody there. The place has a locked gate too, to keep the unwashed out. Doesn't seem so expensive or far away now.
"Years ago I was shooting on a public range on BLM property near Parshall, Colorado when a car load of loudmouths arrived and started shooting up the hillside. Not even at targets. Just shooting and drinking beer. Discretion being the better part of valor, I packed up and left. That is the only unfavorable action of any consequence I can remember."
I know that range! Big, wide open place, but I could see a bunch of yahoos showing up there pretty easily, it's totally unsupervised. Good place to pick up brass though.
I know that range! Big, wide open place, but I could see a bunch of yahoos showing up there pretty easily, it's totally unsupervised. Good place to pick up brass though.
Auburn1992
Member
Anyone heard of Prentice Cooper in Chattanooga TN? BUNCH of unsafe people that show up their.
I have been lucky....the closest thing I encountered to an @sshole at the range was one that use to park outside of the club gate with his bliss-ninny girlfriend andharrangue those entering &exiting as "wannabees" ,"blood-thirsty "...pretty much called me everything but a Child of God.AT one point,with the weapons in th ecar with my father( 83 year old WW2 Vet)I asked him if he enjoyed chewing his food....and if he thought he'd be able to after he called my father that filthy name again.....
alligator94
Member
I shoot primarily on a public uncontrolled range. For the most part, the people there are nice. I have learned a lot from some of them and shot quite a few different guns. (I.E. "try this one out") That said I do bring my rifle with me most of the time to check targets now. I was shooting with a friend and we were replacing targets at 200yds when some kids pulled up and started pointing our rifles at us! They put them down and drove off before we ran up there.
Geronimo45
Member
This is true. Sometimes, there's a brawl... between the parents, naturally.
Poor East Texan
Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2008
- Messages
- 366
Takes ALL kinds of people to make a world but some of these that y'all have talked about are just wasting my air!
There are two ranges that I know of within 50 miles. I know at one I'm pretty much on my own. I kinda figure since the other one is a much bigger/nicer store they probably have a range cop.
There are two ranges that I know of within 50 miles. I know at one I'm pretty much on my own. I kinda figure since the other one is a much bigger/nicer store they probably have a range cop.
bogie
Member
Yeah - I shoot at a private club, but if I'm the only one there, and I'm changing targets, I'm definitely armed. We've got video cameras, etc., etc., with the computers in a safe, but... I don't wanna be "Exhibit A."
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