parsimonious_instead
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- Joined
- Apr 1, 2010
- Messages
- 791
Disclaimer: I don't have a dog in this "fight" but I did observe an interesting conflict between two people at the range.
I'd like to know what you folks think.
The players: "Joe" - an old-timer who's belonged to and shot at the range for a very, very long time. At times he can be a "busybody" going up to people and talking to them about their guns (range has a supposed "no magnum load" rule for noise reduction), trying to remind them about rules and laws, etc.
"Jim" a much younger fellow who is a certified NRA instructor, who I believe was simply shooting there as a paid guest.
Neither man is a friend or a shooting buddy of mine.
Note that we have a rule here that I'm sure a lot of ranges have, as well - when people go out and change/setup/break down targets, everyone steps back from the firing line and no weapons are handled.
"Jim" seemed like a perfectly fine fellow at first. When I greeted him during target setup, we talked about the guns we brought with us. Everything seemed OK with the guy, although he answered my questions with a slightly unusual degree of zeal.
Once our targets were set, we took up our guns and shot them. During another break, I heard "Jim" say something like, "OKAY! I Got IT!" when "Joe" most likely reminded him about the "step away" rule.
That seemed to be the end of it, and during another break I wandered over to the stall "Jim" was using. "Joe" approached, and asked the man about the woman he was shooting with. "Oh, that's my ** yr old daughter"
"Oh, she's not under 21? Good for her, looking so much younger then her age." "Joe" replied. "Well, then, according to NY State law she shouldn't be shooting your guns." Joe added.
That really seemed to ruffle "Jim's" feathers. Suddenly very agitated, "Jim" dug into his range bag, and with rapidly rising anger unfolded his NRA certification and said, "This piece of paper says that I can teach anyone of any age how to shoot pistols!" "I can let anyone shoot any gun I have!" He replied.
"I'm just saying what the law says, "Joe" answered back.
That made "Jim" really blow his stack.
"This (expletive) piece of paper is my way of telling (expletive) like you that I can do whatever the (expletive) I want."
"Joe" who was probably about to leave anyway, took his stuff of the bench and went home.
"Jim" seemed to cool down about 50%, but I overheard a few minutes of complaining to his daughter about what "Joe" had said.
Here's my opinion - they were both very wrong. "Joe" shouldn't be such a busybody - he has every right to point out a safety violation, but the finer points of NYS handgun law should be left to police and the courts.
But "Jim" needs to chill out a bit, and see a talkative old man for who he is, and simply "yes" him until he goes away.
"Joe" didn't say anything suggestive, didn't touch anyone or anything that he shouldn't have.
I was brought up to respect one's elders, you DO NOT yell and curse at an old man unless they've put hands on you or your property, or started in with a verbal tirade.
I'd like to know what you folks think.
The players: "Joe" - an old-timer who's belonged to and shot at the range for a very, very long time. At times he can be a "busybody" going up to people and talking to them about their guns (range has a supposed "no magnum load" rule for noise reduction), trying to remind them about rules and laws, etc.
"Jim" a much younger fellow who is a certified NRA instructor, who I believe was simply shooting there as a paid guest.
Neither man is a friend or a shooting buddy of mine.
Note that we have a rule here that I'm sure a lot of ranges have, as well - when people go out and change/setup/break down targets, everyone steps back from the firing line and no weapons are handled.
"Jim" seemed like a perfectly fine fellow at first. When I greeted him during target setup, we talked about the guns we brought with us. Everything seemed OK with the guy, although he answered my questions with a slightly unusual degree of zeal.
Once our targets were set, we took up our guns and shot them. During another break, I heard "Jim" say something like, "OKAY! I Got IT!" when "Joe" most likely reminded him about the "step away" rule.
That seemed to be the end of it, and during another break I wandered over to the stall "Jim" was using. "Joe" approached, and asked the man about the woman he was shooting with. "Oh, that's my ** yr old daughter"
"Oh, she's not under 21? Good for her, looking so much younger then her age." "Joe" replied. "Well, then, according to NY State law she shouldn't be shooting your guns." Joe added.
That really seemed to ruffle "Jim's" feathers. Suddenly very agitated, "Jim" dug into his range bag, and with rapidly rising anger unfolded his NRA certification and said, "This piece of paper says that I can teach anyone of any age how to shoot pistols!" "I can let anyone shoot any gun I have!" He replied.
"I'm just saying what the law says, "Joe" answered back.
That made "Jim" really blow his stack.
"This (expletive) piece of paper is my way of telling (expletive) like you that I can do whatever the (expletive) I want."
"Joe" who was probably about to leave anyway, took his stuff of the bench and went home.
"Jim" seemed to cool down about 50%, but I overheard a few minutes of complaining to his daughter about what "Joe" had said.
Here's my opinion - they were both very wrong. "Joe" shouldn't be such a busybody - he has every right to point out a safety violation, but the finer points of NYS handgun law should be left to police and the courts.
But "Jim" needs to chill out a bit, and see a talkative old man for who he is, and simply "yes" him until he goes away.
"Joe" didn't say anything suggestive, didn't touch anyone or anything that he shouldn't have.
I was brought up to respect one's elders, you DO NOT yell and curse at an old man unless they've put hands on you or your property, or started in with a verbal tirade.
