Local Gun Club Post New Rules II

[BlkHawk73]

After reading the other post about a THR member's range, I had to post one of my own. The club/range I belong to recently re-worked the rifle and handgun ranges. The idea came about a couple yrs ago after a member insisted that we needed to be in strict compliance with NRA range specs. Keep in mind that this person knows squat about firearms/shooting/ballistics etc. New rules were developed and adopted. This particular person still insisted that the ranges had to be re-worked. Well, I got fed up with it all and quit the committee handling this project.

Fast forward...

A proposal was presented to the club members at a meeting and an expense budget was allocated. The ranges were closed "indefinately" two months later and an extra $3-4000 the rnages were done.

Outcome...

before...dedicated handgun range with 4 shooting spots. Steel silouettes, falling plates, 3-4 movale target boards out to 25 yrds. .22 rimfire rifles allowed.
after...handgun/rifle range (any cartridges), 4 shooting spots but each is only for a specific shooting position, only stationary target boards @ 30yrds. No other targets allowed. :banghead:

before...100 yrd range with stationary targets @ 25, 50, 75 & 100yrds. 4 shooting spots. Any cartridges allowed as well as shotguns
after...100yrd shooting only (stationary target board) with specifics for each shooting spot. No shotguns. No other targets allowed. :banghead:

After we had a "safety refresher" I asked about how turkey hunters could pattern thier guns? How do new shooters work up confidence with fixed distances. How do handgun hunters sight in at intermediate distances? defensive shooting practice as proper distances? Falling plates? Each was answered with a "NO" :banghead:

Think they'll be surprised when myself as well as a few other members don't re-join next yr? I've already got my application to another range.

 

[DeputyVaughn]

I had to quit a shooting club in 1996 because it was an NRA affiliated club. They required NRA membership to be a member. In 1996 I gave up on the NRA and had to find a new place to shoot. This is the price of principle. Eventually everyone must make a stand though.

Scott

 

[md2lgyk]

What a waste of money. Unless the club is running NRA sanctioned or registered matches, who cares if the ranges are NRA-compliant? My club is NRA affiliated and has put a lot of money into the ranges over the past few years with nary a thought of what they would think about what we're doing. We've ended up with a lot better facility than we had.

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

NRA compliance gets 'em cheap insurance. Without it, insurance is a nightmare.

- pdmoderator

 

[md2lgyk]

Really? I was a board member of my club for many years and know we never have had any problem with cheap insurance. And we have several ranges (steel plate, bowling pin, PPC, etc.) for which there aren't NRA specs.

 

[Futo Inu]

A. Did you first make your views well-known BEFORE quitting the committee? If so, bravo. If not, you're partly to blame, no?

B. I have no problem with a range that makes mandatory membership in ANY ONE of the following: NRA, or GOA, or SFA, or JPFO (unless the membership dues are simply used in part by the club to donate "x" amount to the NRA for each member each year, as a substitute, of an amount at least equal to the yearly membership dues). If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem. But requiring just NRA is too limiting, this day and age when NRA has arguably been taken over by compromisers.

C. Be glad you have a choice of ranges, in order to vote with your membership dollars. Some places have just ONE range choice within reasonable driving distance.

 

[BlkHawk73]

A. Did you first make your views well-known BEFORE quitting the committee? If so, bravo. If not, you're partly to blame, no?

Yes, I attempted to explain more than once the un-neccessary work that was being proposed. What finally put me out was that At first I was not going to even be allowed as a member of the committee. I think partially because of my age (28 then) and that I had only been a member a couple yrs then also. The then committee chair had to argue for me to get me in. Not bragging but I have quite a bit more experience in this area than the other club members. They're more than happy to ask about firearms and such, but for some reason, the then president didn't want me in any position. When a discussion arose, I would carefully choose my words to explain any forseen problems or dispell any that really didn't exist. I would present written articles and documents to back myself up, yet no-one seemed to believe me. Once again, I believe it's an age issue. They can't believe that the "new, young kid" can know what he's talking about. guess who they still ask for answeres though?:banghead:

C. Be glad you have a choice of ranges, in order to vote with your membership dollars. Some places have just ONE range choice within reasonable driving distance.

There's actually 5 or 6 clubs within a reasonable driving distance. One is almost all big $ shotgunners. The one I'm joining is an all-around facility with multiple ranges on the premises.

The club I'm leaving doesn't demand NRA membership but tries and tries to pursuade members to join so that the club insurance is less expensive.