Range safety office tips and tricks

[huaco]

Range safety officer tips qnd tricks

A local club that has a range within a mile of my house has managed to reopen this range after 18 months of being closed because of side effects of internal squabbles that I dare not detail. The range was closed by a govenrnment agency and reopened by a lot of work by our club leaders and a republican congressman and represents a significant accomplishment according to an NRA wheel who was present at the reopening because the range is in a major metropolilten area. The range has been rebuilt and lead and brass remediation is in place and club dues have about doubled but it's still a bargain. One of the stipulations of the reopending is that there must be an NRA certified range safety officer present when the range is open. Our club has dealt with this by holding a few classes and certifying a number of members as RSOs and working up a schedule of duty. I sat through the class a couple of weeks ago and expect to be certfied soon and on the range on duty shortly thereafter.

The class was not a bad day but as such things go but was about passing the test more than the real issues of being an RSO. We never got around to things like how the rules apply to CHL holders or how to diplomatically tell some idiot with a gun in his hand that he is really endangering those around him. My profession is geophysics and IT and I have no training in either so I have the attitude that experience is what matters. Can some of you with RSO experiece tell me about what matters or offer some tips and tricks?

 

[blades67]

First tip: If you find an idiot with a gun at your range, stand behind said idiot!

 

[blades67]

The best real tip I can give you is to be polite, even when you have to be firm. Most folks don't try to violate the safety rules, they just aren't staying focused.

 

[Sunray]

Hi. The Canadian Forces gave me my RSO's ticket based on my experience with no course just a practical by an old Infantry Sgt. I ran pistol ranges for the club I where used to shoot for 10 years too. That's my background to say the following.
A Range Officer is not the same as an RSO. An RO can run the range, but the RSO is responsible for anything that happens on his range.
Rule number one. The RSO OWNS the range. His word is law. No exceptions.
If a shooter is unsafe, the RSO is well within his rights to kick him off HIS range. The RO speaks for the RSO.
Rule number two. Diplomacy, sometimes, does not work. Sometimes you have to speak harshly to a shooter. If a shooter refuses to listen, then shut the range down until he does, he leaves or you kick him out. See Rule number one.
After that common sense comes into play. No drinking allowed or drunken shooters. No unattended kids, animals, non-shooters. Nada. Stay close to any new shooters and be sure and help if it's just the two of you. If you see a shooter that clearly doesn't know his firearm, on a busy range AND you have an RO. Have the RO help him or tell him he has to wait until you or the RO has time to help him or tell him he can't play until he gets some training or has an experienced shooter to help. See rule number one. Nothing says you can't ask a more experienced shooter to help you. Clubs are like that. Or should be.
I'd also suggest you act as RO with somebody so you can see how it works. However, when all else fails, see rule number one. Common sense is most important. Then you just deal with people the way you expect to be dealt with by an RSO. See rule number one and don't forget it.

 

[C.R.Sam]

I agree with Sunray's post.
RSO is not about popularity.
It is about safety at the moment.
It is about safety over the long haul.
It is about a safe range having longevity.

Sam

 

[El Tejon]

Set a good example and encourage good habits (e.g. pick up trash on range), be friendly, yet have a command presence, get a partner to help you, wear a distinctive shirt, post the Four Rules around the range.

 

[Standing Wolf]

If a shooter is unsafe, the RSO is well within his rights to kick him off HIS range. The RO speaks for the RSO.

Amen! I've been to a few half-baked ranges over the years, and make a point of not going back. I'd be hard-pressed to tell you which I hate more: careless shooters, or range officers who don't do anything about them.

 

[JohnKSa]

Actually, I found the training materials provided with the class to be very helpful and fairly exhaustive.

The best advice I can give is that when you're the RSO, BE the RSO. You're not there to talk about guns, look at guns, see how well shooter X is doing today,find out about so and so's divorce, or whatever.

Don't make a lot of unnecessary small talk and don't engage in activities that don't relate to the task at hand.

It's not a hard job but it takes ALL your time for the duration of your duty.

One more thing.

Treat everyone exactly the same and let it be known that you do.