priv8ter
Member
Well, stuck in San Diego for a month for my job, my wife dropped our daughter off at my parents and came down to visit me from Seattle for a few days.
I could only weasel one night off by calling in sick, and what did my wife want to do? Not see a movie and a romantic dinner: she wanted to go shooting. So, luckily I had planned in advance and found out about a few places in the area. We ended up going to Discount Gun Mart, because, well...it was discount!
What's the old saying? You get what you pay for...
Things weren't bad to start...kind of small selection of guns, but a fellow High Roader warned me about that. Wife ended up wanting to try a Beretta 92FS, so, we bought a hundred rounds of ammo, and went inside after paying $48(discount indeed).
Things were good at first, because we were the only ones on the range. One thing I did notice though was that the window looking from the store onto the range was totally covered over with ammo boxes...although there was a small camera that looked over the range...safety officer coverage looked scant.
After about 5 minutes, this older lady came in. She said it was her first time at this range, and she needed help mounting her target. Being younger and a nice guy, I helped her out. As I was helping her, she pulls out what looks like a Colt Police Positive...a common sence kind of gun for an older lady to keep around for home defence. I go back to paying attention to my wife.
A few seconds later, I look over at the new lady. She is standing about two steps back from the firing line, with the gun pointed down in front of her at a 45-degree angle, with shells quite visible in the chamber. And OH MY GOD, HER FINGERS ON THE TRIGGER as she works on her grip!!!!!!!!
Here is where I failed the first time...instead of going outside and talking to the 'Range Safety Officer' working the front desk, I decide to approach the lady myself. Asked her if she needs a hand, and kind of reach down to direct the barrel down range. She says know, she's just trying to remember how she was taught to grip the gun. Well, she kept it pointed down range after that, so I went back to my stall, and fire off my first magazine for the day.
As I finish, and pop out the magazine, my wife is tapping me on the shoulder, motioning her head towards the older lady. Sure enough, she is back in the position I saw her in the first time, loaded gun pointing towards the ground with one hand, as her other hand moves the target out. Folks...I wish I could say I went and complained, but I didn't. I choose instead to mind my own business, and use up all of our ammo as fast as I could.
My wife took her turn again as the place started getting crowded. Within the space of 5 minutes, two groups of late teens, early 20's guys came in, 3 guys per group. At first, they seemed okay, and then: BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG. I look to the right just in time to see the last two bullets chip the concrete floor UNDER the target, which was only 7 yards away. And NONE of the 9 other people on the range seemed to notice. Did I mention we had to sign a piece of paper saying "No uncontrollable rapid fire'?
I waited a few seconds, and finished off our last few rounds. My wife and I had discussed renting a Para Ord .45, because I wanted to check out the LDA...but, just looked at each other and decided to leave before one of us got hurt.
On the way out, a serious looking guy was heading in to do some shooting. Nice looking range bag, two nice aluminum boxes...I told him he was a braver man than I. He was only on the range for about 2 minutes before comming back out to complain to the manager.
I myself...well, I believe there is a saying: Evil thrives where good men do nothing. In this situation, by just ignoring the issue, I guess I allowed some evil to thrive...but, it didn't seem my place to complain...if I was a member, or even a repeat customer, then maybe.
I am hoping that I saw the place at it's worst, and if I went back tommorrow, things would be different, but I thought I would come on here and warn folks anyways.
Greg
I could only weasel one night off by calling in sick, and what did my wife want to do? Not see a movie and a romantic dinner: she wanted to go shooting. So, luckily I had planned in advance and found out about a few places in the area. We ended up going to Discount Gun Mart, because, well...it was discount!
What's the old saying? You get what you pay for...
Things weren't bad to start...kind of small selection of guns, but a fellow High Roader warned me about that. Wife ended up wanting to try a Beretta 92FS, so, we bought a hundred rounds of ammo, and went inside after paying $48(discount indeed).
Things were good at first, because we were the only ones on the range. One thing I did notice though was that the window looking from the store onto the range was totally covered over with ammo boxes...although there was a small camera that looked over the range...safety officer coverage looked scant.
After about 5 minutes, this older lady came in. She said it was her first time at this range, and she needed help mounting her target. Being younger and a nice guy, I helped her out. As I was helping her, she pulls out what looks like a Colt Police Positive...a common sence kind of gun for an older lady to keep around for home defence. I go back to paying attention to my wife.
A few seconds later, I look over at the new lady. She is standing about two steps back from the firing line, with the gun pointed down in front of her at a 45-degree angle, with shells quite visible in the chamber. And OH MY GOD, HER FINGERS ON THE TRIGGER as she works on her grip!!!!!!!!
Here is where I failed the first time...instead of going outside and talking to the 'Range Safety Officer' working the front desk, I decide to approach the lady myself. Asked her if she needs a hand, and kind of reach down to direct the barrel down range. She says know, she's just trying to remember how she was taught to grip the gun. Well, she kept it pointed down range after that, so I went back to my stall, and fire off my first magazine for the day.
As I finish, and pop out the magazine, my wife is tapping me on the shoulder, motioning her head towards the older lady. Sure enough, she is back in the position I saw her in the first time, loaded gun pointing towards the ground with one hand, as her other hand moves the target out. Folks...I wish I could say I went and complained, but I didn't. I choose instead to mind my own business, and use up all of our ammo as fast as I could.
My wife took her turn again as the place started getting crowded. Within the space of 5 minutes, two groups of late teens, early 20's guys came in, 3 guys per group. At first, they seemed okay, and then: BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG. I look to the right just in time to see the last two bullets chip the concrete floor UNDER the target, which was only 7 yards away. And NONE of the 9 other people on the range seemed to notice. Did I mention we had to sign a piece of paper saying "No uncontrollable rapid fire'?
I waited a few seconds, and finished off our last few rounds. My wife and I had discussed renting a Para Ord .45, because I wanted to check out the LDA...but, just looked at each other and decided to leave before one of us got hurt.
On the way out, a serious looking guy was heading in to do some shooting. Nice looking range bag, two nice aluminum boxes...I told him he was a braver man than I. He was only on the range for about 2 minutes before comming back out to complain to the manager.
I myself...well, I believe there is a saying: Evil thrives where good men do nothing. In this situation, by just ignoring the issue, I guess I allowed some evil to thrive...but, it didn't seem my place to complain...if I was a member, or even a repeat customer, then maybe.
I am hoping that I saw the place at it's worst, and if I went back tommorrow, things would be different, but I thought I would come on here and warn folks anyways.
Greg
