I walked into the Bellevue range in time to catch their second suicide out of the corner of my eye. I was standing at the counter doing a rental when it happened.
Yes, it is a horrendous mess to clean up. Not to mention watching other shooters come out of the range covered in bone, brains and blood. The aftermath of such a shooting is beyond belief. I should have left immediately but was in such shock that someone would do this I stayed too long. I, along with everyone else there that day, was questioned three times by three different people. You would have thought one of us pulled the trigger the way we were treated. What was going to be a quick trip to try a couple of different guns turned into a ten hour ordeal.
I'd been in many times before and, prior to my move to MO, many times since this event. I understand perfectly why they do this and respect their policy. Its their business; they rent and allow the use of weapons on the premises. They run a very nice, upscale, clean, well ventilated range and cater to everything from Microsquash millionaires to Joe Blow. They intend to stay in business and have done this to protect themselves.
To call the clerks idiots for following the policy of the owner says something about you who are doing the name calling. Put yourself in the owner's shoes. If you would like to run a range, and let people indiscriminately come in and cap themselves, just how long do you think you'd be in business? Or out of jail maybe?
As a side note, I was in there about a month later over lunch to shoot. I was by myself and hadn't thought to bring a gun with me. The guy behind the counter was someone I'd talked to many times both at the Range and at WAC (Washington Arms Collectors) shows. When I asked to rent he asked if I was alone, and when I responded yes, asked how my mental attitude was that day. I was a little confused and then
. I had no problem leaving without getting to shoot.
I personally have seen the aftermath of three suicides in my lifetime. One with a shotgun and twice with a handgun. A girlfriend's father ate a 12 ga. and we found him on the stairs upon returning her home after a date. Fortunately she was behind me as I opened the door. I was able to quickly get her back outside and the door closed before she saw very much. For some reason she lost all interest in me after that. No one ever figured out why he did either. No note and no reason that anyone could ever come up with. Total mystery.
Second time I was a newly minted EMT and we were called to a "shooting". We get there, start grabbing gear, when one of the cops present told us to take our time as there was nothing we were going to do that would be of any help. We get upstairs to the apartment and find two plainclothes cop looking around at things, everything except the body in a chair with a handgun on the floor. I noticed two clean bullet holes in the spray with a third very jagged hole close to them. Since we were locked into being there until the ME office arrived I asked what they were looking for so diligently. One of the cops said "suicide note". My partner and I exchanged looks and I said but there are three bullet holes isn't that more like a murder. Cop shrugs his shoulder and says, "flinch marks". It took me a moment. I sat there and wondered just how determined you have to be to kill yourself to miss TWICE and then pull the trigger a third time.
I can tell I'm not suicidal I never even thought of people renting a gun and shooting themselves at the gun range.
