new to gun club-2

[Axis II]

I new to a hunt/gun club and was up there today shooting just me and another guy. we were in the shoot house and my buddy came to shoot with me and another car pulls in behind him. A guy gets out and gets set up and all is well. a few minutes later he asks how long I have been a member, I didn't pay any attention to it and answered.

well when the guy that I was shooting with who was there before me goes to sign out he says hey that guy didn't sign in. signing in is a must as I was told during orientation. we were also asked to wear our club ID tags which this guy didn't have on. the other guy says well I don't want you to leave and him not be a member or leave the gate unlocked and the sign in shows your the last one.

I hung out for about 40min while the guy shot his guns and was contemplating asking him to sign the book but didn't because I'm the new guy and didn't want to start issues. the guy comes and says are you still shooting and I said no, you didn't sign the book I just didn't want to leave and have me as the last person here incase something went wrong. the guy says oh its okay go ahead and leave I will lock up and goes about his business. I say in the car for a couple more minutes and he says well we are leaving I guess I should sign in and out. when I signed out he put his member number and time in and out but didn't mark if he was using the range or what. just scribble name, time and left.

just wondering what you guys would do in this situation? I was going to walk over and ask him to sign in but didn't want to be the new guy enforcing the rules. we were told that non members do try and sneak in and that if we leave the gate unlocked its on us.

 

[SwaneeSR]

Ohihunter -

It is obvious you are "geared up" over this. I would let this incident go and see how things work over the next five or six visits.


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[GarySTL]

My club has cameras on all ranges as well as the buildings. We also have keycards for in and out access. Guests must be signed in. It greatly reduces these types of problems.

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[thump_rrr]

We have a locked gate with a combination lock.
We unlock the gate and drive the vehicle through then lock the gate behind us.
It doesn't matter if others are on the range the gate must stay locked.
If someone who is not a member somehow gets his vehicle locked in and doesn't know the combination he will need to call the state police who also use the range to get him out.

 

[old heeler]

Gun club I belong too has locked gate and we have to wear current badges as gate lock is changed every year and we have to lock gate after we enter. Were pretty well known club as we open club to the public for sight-in before hunting season.

I think at some point were going to have code access gate in/out as that does help if permit for range includes shooting hrs.

 

[Axis II]

I was just wondering should I report it to someone to cover my rear end?

if this guy was a member he should have know to sign in IMO.

I stuck around cause he didn't sign in and didn't want to leave a possible non member inside with me being last on the list.

we also have a gate with combo lock on it but it doesn't have to be locked behind us when on range just when we leave for the day and no one else is there. in orientation they told us there was issues with people sneaking in.

 

[Scooter22]

At this point I wouldn't worry about it. Next time there lock the gate behind you. That way a non member won't get in so anyone showing up after you arrived is a member. Then you won't have to worry about them when you leave.

 

[CCWdownrangeP2]

I would probably speak with someone on the board of directors. Let one of them confront this member about not following proper procedure and in so doing placing a new member in an uncomfortable situation, not to mention the inconvenience of having to wait until this member was done shooting since the new member was uncertain as to whether the shooter should be there in the first place. I'd also take note of this person's license plate number so, if not a member, the trespass could be reported to the authorities. If that was a member, how rude and oblivious can they be to put an apprehensive, new member in such a position? All this said as one who is somewhat of an introvert when in new surroundings and people, later, not so much! CCW

 

[TomJ]

At our club we lock the gate upon entering and leaving. This keeps non members from entering, and if they do get in somehow they're locked in. If someone is waiting outside the gate while we're coming in or out we ask to see that person's badge. No badge, no admittance.

 

[SSN Vet]

We never had sign-in, sign-out at the RNG club, however you are required to display your membership card. Used to have padlocked gate that was locked behind you, except for open trap range events and club meetings, where it was left open. There is also a locked gate at the handgun and rifle ranges.

After having some incidents (mostly property damage), we invested in a swipe card gate system, which replaces the old paper membership card with a photo ID swipe card. HUGE IMPROVEMENT!! Now every one is logged in and out, and the gate is quick and easy to get in and out. Members that go in arrears on their dues get their gate card de-activated.

The swipe card gate system cost a pretty penny, and each member has to pop $15 for their photo ID. But it has virtually eliminated unauthorized access and provides a record of who was there and when.

My recommendation to the OP is to get to know a few of the club officers and tell them about any such weird incidents... they should want to know and will provide you with guidance about what to do. Get their e-mail addresses or cell phone numbers and it will be easy to keep in touch.

My guess is that this guy was a former member who stopped paying his dues and didn't want his name in the book.