Some people are just stupid and bullheaded to have a firearm

[George Dickel]

Today I went to local indoor range to pop off a few rounds. At the front door of the gun shop/range there is a very prominent sign that says no loaded firearms. The owner was checking ammo and guns when shooters were paying to shoot on the range. The guy ahead of me had brought in a loaded handgun in it's box with steel case ammo which is verboten to use also. The owner was asking if he saw the sign at the door and the idiot said that he couldn't see a problem as he was going to shoot on the range anyway. He had an attitude of "don't bother me boy" I'm an expert. The owner explained that that they have had people bring in loaded guns and then take them out of it's case showing it to other people sweeping other customers. The owner unloaded the gun and allowed him to go into the range area. There is a counter at the back of the firing line where you can put your equipment on and there are very visible yellow lettering on a red background signs stating that you cannot load magazines at that table, only in the shooting stall. I looked over at the jerk and he was loading magazines at that counter and then inserted a loaded magazine in the pistol sweeping me and a couple other shooters. I was finished shooting and as I was leaving I informed the owner that Mister Can't Read Signs was loading magazines and his pistol at the counter. He cussed a bit and grabbed a pair of ear muffs and headed to the range area. I didn't stick around but as mad as the owner was I'm willing to bet he had the idiot leave.

 

[Ravenworks]

I don't think I would want to shoot at a range where there wasn't someone on the line watching things.
Anywhere I go there are no warnings,you don't follow the rules your out no questions.

 

[jamesjames]

Stupid and bullheaded are not disqualifying attributes for a constitutional right. If my right to swing my fist ends at the tip of your nose, then a stupid and bull headed person’s right to own a firearm ends when he negligently discharges it resulting in assault, manslaughter, or murder. He can be asked to leave a private business if he does not comply with safety protocols. Calling him too stupid to have a firearm short circuits his rights and due process. Rights are significant attributes of citizenship. As annoying and disturbing as his actions were, they weren’t sufficient to take his gun or his right to bear one, which is what “too stupid to have a gun” implies. Rights are hard. Freedom is hard. Living together in a constitutional democracy is not for the faint of heart.

 

[GBExpat]

<sigh>

 

[George Dickel]

Oh, give it a rest james, talk about over reacting! I in no way stated or implied or think that his rights should be taken away. But the guy is too stupid and bullheaded to own a gun, maybe he should realize that and not endanger other people with his total disregard for gun safety.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Another reminder of how great it is to have my own shooting range.

 

[Riomouse911]

I had some newbies in the lane next to me today: an inexperienced male shooter with a laser equipped .40 cal Glock and a pump 12 gauge. He was teaching a very inexperienced female shooter.

They were trying, I’ll give them that. She had the limp-wristies a lot, and at one point shot the cable down that pulls the target holders in and out causing a brief line-break, but she was a trooper and hung in there.

(Kinda hard to shoot for record when your target is regularly being dotted by the next shooter over, but I shrugged it off. )

Once the guy fired one shot that peppered everything in sight with #8 birdshot, the range guys came in and asked them to stop.(buckshot and slugs only for this reason)

Their buddy one lane over was a hoot. Once he bragged that the ammo he had saved in his 1911’s “spare clips” were “mercury-filled Black Talons” that had been banned, I tuned them out completely.

Since I can’t shoot at home (my acre is in town) and the nearest desert open shooting area is at least an hour and change away, I’m doomed to go public/indoors to shoot when I want to.

Stay safe!

 

[rpenmanparker]

Stupid and bullheaded are not disqualifying attributes for a constitutional right. If my right to swing my fist ends at the tip of your nose, then a stupid and bull headed person’s right to own a firearm ends when he negligently discharges it resulting in assault, manslaughter, or murder. He can be asked to leave a private business if he does not comply with safety protocols. Calling him too stupid to have a firearm short circuits his rights and due process. Rights are significant attributes of citizenship. As annoying and disturbing as his actions were, they weren’t sufficient to take his gun or his right to bear one, which is what “too stupid to have a gun” implies. Rights are hard. Freedom is hard. Living together in a constitutional democracy is not for the faint of heart.

You are wrong. Rights carry responsibilities. If you are irresponsible with regard to a right, you risk losing it. No right is absolute, even the 2A.

 

[MEHavey]

... the guy is too stupid and bullheaded to own a gun...

Agreed.
There is a limit.

 

[Eddietruett]

That is the reason I hardly ever go to an indoor range. I built one in my backyard which is only 20 yards now that my ass neighbor cut me back from 75 yards. Was shooting partly on his property. I used to shoot at an indoor range in Augusta GA which was run as well as any I've ever been to. They watch the shooters carefully and will run their ass off if someone breaks the rules. There is a really nice range here in town where I live in SC (won't call the name, but I should). I went out there one day planning to go ahead and join for a year so I would have a place when the weather was bad. The guy questioned me about training etc and then wanted to know what kind of gun I would be shooting. When I told him there was 6 in my range bag, he did a double take but got over that and then proceeded to ask me what brand ammo I was shooting. I told him it was my brand that I load my own. I was told that I could not shoot reloads that they were damgerous! Now I can sort of see his concern, but a few questions and I can tell you if some one is a careful loader or not but when I ask him to repeat what he said, he said that reloaded ammo was dangerous and not allowed on his property. Now I took offense. I've been loading over 40 years and if anything am probably too careful if there is such a thing and for sure I would not let me kids or girlfriend shoot my loads if I though there was any danger at all. So I posed the question that someone who had never owned a firearm went out to Academy Sports and bought a gun or walked into your place and bought or rented a gun is less dangerous than me just because they are using factory ammo? The only half assed answer he could come up with is that person can be trained. I know the game. He wants everyone to buy ammo from him. If he had just been honest and said you can only shoot here if you buy my ammo, I still wouldn't have used his range but I would not have felt nearly as insulted. I just packed up and left without saying anything else that would not have helped but probably made me feel better. the one thing I did not call on him but should have is some of the ammo he had on the shelf was REMANUFACTORED from a company that I'm sure most of us are familiar with and does produce good ammo, but it is still reloads. I'd rather be outside by myself or with family anyway. My buddy and myself are in the process of building a range behind his gun shop which will give us up to 100 yards and it will be private and it is all going to work out in the end. I won't have to deal with dumb ass shooters or range owners.

 

[jonb32248]

I was recently at a state park unmanned shooting range which I've been to many times over the last 3 yrs. There's three station's 25, 50, and 100 yds. I'm sighting in a new scope at the 100 yd station with 5-6 people next to me at the 50, with two at the 25 yd pistol station. There are all kinds of rules posted behind each place. Now courtesy rules are if you want to change targets you ask for a cease fire and everybody agrees so you go down and change the free targets supplied.
So as I am pausing in between shots I look around behind me and see the two people (a guy and a woman)who were over at the pistol side leaving. The guy is coming over to me and I notice a badge on his belt and he comes over and points to the rules behind me and says do I see the rule that says to not shoot when someone is forward of the firing line. Now back to the unwritten rules that if you want to go up close the target and test let's say anew gun you get every bodies attention and ask, "can I go down close" and always we say sure and wait till he's done. But Mr. Policeman is so important that he doesn't ask or warn the rest that he's going past the firing line but is telling me I violated the rules. So I said to Mr. Policeman "your not supposed to go down there as the rules state". He says I need to be more careful with my weapon and walks away. Dumb cop!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Their buddy one lane over was a hoot. Once he bragged that the ammo he had saved in his 1911’s “spare clips” were “mercury-filled Black Talons” that had been banned,

That’s so cool. I’ve gotta get some.

<sigh>

Uh huh. My thoughts also.

The real inherent problem with know it alls is that typically their ego precludes listening to others and learning. How do you fix that?

 

[Mn Fats]

The guy ahead of me had brought in a loaded handgun in it's box with steel case ammo which is verboten to use also.

Im fortunate enough to have my own range and haven't been to an indoor range in years. So I have to ask, why isn't steel case ammo allowed?

Sorry if im off topic.

 

[Bill Raby]

Shortly after last olympics there was a girl, about 18 to 21 I would guess, at shooting range with her parents. She had a very expensive looking olympic style target rifle and all the fancy shooting gear. Even one of those target shooting jackets. No idea why you need a fancy jacket for target shooting, but she had one. All looked pretty impressive. But she was very frustrated and her shooting was terrible. Parents looked a bit concerned. Turns out she was was watching olympic shooting on TV and thought it was really neat. Talked her parents into buying her all the top of the line shooting stuff and this was her first time ever shooting. She thought her fancy gun was broken and did not realize that it just takes lots of practice. A little help turned from a terrible shot into a bad shot. But she did smile a few times towards the end. You could tell that she spent a lot of time studying up on gun safety and knew all the shooting range rules. Saw her there again a few weeks later. Still was not shooting very well but she was having fun.

 

[Tactical Lever]

Shortly after last olympics there was a girl, about 18 to 21 I would guess, at shooting range with her parents. She had a very expensive looking olympic style target rifle and all the fancy shooting gear. Even one of those target shooting jackets. No idea why you need a fancy jacket for target shooting, but she had one. All looked pretty impressive. But she was very frustrated and her shooting was terrible. Parents looked a bit concerned. Turns out she was was watching olympic shooting on TV and thought it was really neat. Talked her parents into buying her all the top of the line shooting stuff and this was her first time ever shooting. She thought her fancy gun was broken and did not realize that it just takes lots of practice. A little help turned from a terrible shot into a bad shot. But she did smile a few times towards the end. You could tell that she spent a lot of time studying up on gun safety and knew all the shooting range rules. Saw her there again a few weeks later. Still was not shooting very well but she was having fun.

Always looks easier on TV. Particularly if you are watching an action movie.

All you need is one a them there sniper rifles, and it's not even fair!

 

[Pat Riot]

I guess I am lucky lately. I have been going to indoor ranges for the past couple of years and for the most part all has gone well and the dipstick factor has been low.

I have witnessed some pretty idiotic things in the past at various shooting venues and matches but lately things have been good.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Im fortunate enough to have my own range and haven't been to an indoor range in years. So I have to ask, why isn't steel case ammo allowed?

Sorry if im off topic.

That’s usually coupled with a rule that says all brass left behind is the property of the range. Especially indoors, they’ll sweep it up and sell as scrap or sell to some remanufacturer.

 

[GBExpat]

That’s usually coupled with a rule that says all brass left behind is the property of the range.

I have read (on several occasions) that some ranges insist, by printed range rule, that you must leave your fired brass.

I do not personally know if this is true, but it would be an immediate Deal Killer for many of us.

One more reason to be very thankful for my backyard range and our contiguous ancestral farm.

 

[FL-NC]

I don't think I would want to shoot at a range where there wasn't someone on the line watching things.
Anywhere I go there are no warnings,you don't follow the rules your out no questions.

I know how you feel. I'm fortunate to have been successfully vetted to one of the better "shooting clubs" in the US. Members must be sponsored by another member, and they research your shooting background. The reason is that there are no "range safety officers", only big boy rules everyone is expected to follow. Members share the complex with US mil Special Operations, law enforcement officers, and world class competitors. On occasion, air operations with helos are conducted on site. No room for "experts" too cool to follow safety guidelines.

 

[2ndtimer]

Im fortunate enough to have my own range and haven't been to an indoor range in years. So I have to ask, why isn't steel case ammo allowed?

Sorry if im off topic.

My guess would be that steel case ammo usually also has steel (bimetal) bullets which are damaging to indoor backstops. Steel bullets are allowed at my gun club outdoor range but are not to be fired at the steel gongs as they do too much damage to them and present a potential fire hazard in the dry summer.

 

[doubleh]

I agree the guy was stupid and bullheaded. That doesn't affect his right to own a firearm. What is does do is affect his right to be stupid and bullheaded at the range in this case. A stern lecture on following range rules at the first infraction and then shown the door never to return at the second. Someone else will have to deal with him at other places.

 

[Dibbs]

<sigh>

Another reminder of how great it is to have my own shooting range.

Two things I intensely dislike at public ranges.
1. Coffee saturated RSOs sucking all the oxygen out of the county-
2. The careless shooters which make them necessary.

 

[ford8nr]

My take has always been
Everyone has a right to own a gun, some people just shouldnt.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Everyone has a right to own a gun, some people just shouldnt.

Same as voting, driving, having kids, opinions..........

 

[P5 Guy]

I don't think I would want to shoot at a range where there wasn't someone on the line watching things.
Anywhere I go there are no warnings,you don't follow the rules your out no questions.

St Pete Police Pistol Club.
I used to shoot there and was a non-police member until the anti-gun mayor and police chief closed it to the public. The clerk was also the RSO and couldn't be torn away from the TV. Only interested in taking the fee and assigning a shooting lane.