Some people do not belong on the range

[yhtomit]

Drinks are a lot easier to justify than a finger-licking food like a hamburger. Like Springmom says, sometimes it's too hot to *not* have a drink on hand! Keeping it in a covered container under a barrier I think mitigates enough of the danger to make me feel just fine about it, really. (I would not want to eat fried chicken from a bucket I'm using as a forearm support while firing, though )

I think you did the right thing there, though. You said your piece politely, and he took it poorly. I agree with your assessment -- some people shouldn't be at the range. (Many of the people who I mean by that could be fine at the range with minor training in safety, courtesy, etc -- like the fellow who inadvertently swept me a few times with his .44 magnum. Not malice, just not thinking hard enough.)

timothy

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

lonegunman,

You don't know me at all "pretending to be friendly" as I said for me the range is a place of camaraderie and brotherhood. I understand that does not mean everyone feels this way, but it was far from pretending and being nosy. As a matter off fact at first I thought the guy was trying to initiate conversation having stood behind me in my lane watching me put rounds down range with my ruger 4 inch 44magnum. I find it amazing that few here think oh such a jerk got the guy kicked off the range when he is the one that did not obey the rules. Now had I walked out and got the range officer and said look this guy is in there eating, then I am sure I would be getting comments like why didn't you just tell the guy.

The professions I have been in through out my life has helped me walk into a room and within a few minutes walk out and remember great details about things, so it was not being nosy at all.

 

[lonegunman]

I'm sure you are a wonderful guy, I mean what says wonderful like marching into a parking lot with two loaded concealed guns to confront a guy for eating at the range? Then calling the cops on him because you heard him complaining about you to his buddy. To me that just does not seem,,,,,,,,well "friendly".

I guess you consider shooting "camaraderie" calling the cops on guys for eating at a range? I'm just saying in my part of the world, simply pointing to the signs and offering a polite word is more along the lines of "friendly".

Between you and the RO the guy must have been interupted four or five time in thirty minutes and then finally driven off the range for the crime of "eating". What was it about this guy that set you off? Was he fat? Did he look different or maybe he was a little to low class for your type of shooting?

I just think it is odd to go to such an extreme for a guy who was "eating".

 

[JWarren]

Chuck Dye wrote:

Quote:
JWarren wrote:
I have been shooting for 30 years now, and probably handled more cartridges than 75% of the people on these gunboards. So far, I am healthy.

Unless you have undertaken lead specific tissue assays, how would you know? Indeed, given that cognitive impairment is one of the symptoms of lead poisoning, without those tissue assays, mightn't you be even less likely to recognize your own early symptoms?

Chuck, I understand what you are saying-- but its not something I am going to worry myself with. You see, I've watched FAR too many men who are old men now hold lead 22 cartridges in their lips as they loaded tube magazines. Somehow the majority of them lived into their late 80's and mid-90's.

No, I am not suggesting that lead isn't actually a threat. I am putting it into perspective.

Frankly, there are TONS of things that compete every day to make us ill or outright kill us. Considering some of my habits, I think betting on lead to do me in is a long shot. There's WAY better choices.

I am far more concerned about the benezene we routinely inhale as we are filling our vehicles with fuel. That causes cancer, you know. Yet, I've watched several people use it to clean their hands of paint, etc. and they still became old men.

Trans fatty acids are gonna do us all in-- that's for sure.

This again reminds me of a guy I knew who was a health-freak. He ate right, he watched his weight and cholesterol, and ran a few miles a day. Then he fell over dead from a massive heart attack at the age of 38 years old. Damn those congenial dispositions. No seriously.... damn them. Because of family history, I have the wonderful experience of having a polaroid camera shoved up my rear sometime this year-- and then once every 5 years after that.

But I digress...

If we really worried about all the threats we have to our health to such a degree, we would all walk around in CBN suits. I am not saying that we shouldn't take reasonable precautions, however. I am saying that we should put it into perspective.

Have I been exposed to lead? Sure. So have the rest of you. So far, I am making it. So are you.



-- John

 

[Lonestar49]

...

Ya tried, but some people refuse education in any form..

Once in a blue moon, there will be some ya-yoo's within my indoor shooting lanes, and I usually wait outside and watch thru the glass until either the range master corrects the problem, and they seem to learn, or just wait until they have finished firing all their ammo, fast-like.. and they leave.

Ya can't take your own safety too lightly, especially at the range, as one way or another, stupidity, rudeness, coupled with the power_trip, make their way there..


Ls

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

lonegunman,

No one kicked him off the range. I am not sure what was said but as the range officer told me he just pointed the signs out to the guy and asked him to step out to finish up his food. And supposedly thats when the guy got pissed packed up and left. So he left under his own power, no one got him kicked off at least no one but himself.

And I know this must be a joke leaving with two concealed weapons to confront a guy in the parking lot for eating LOL. One is my off duty weapon and the other is my backup something that is carried 24x7. I think you need to reread the post, again no one kicked him out of the range he left under his own power.

 

[plexreticle]

If it doesn't affect my safety or use of the facilities I could care less if some idiot wants to chew a hamburger on the range.

Now if I were chewing a hamburger on the no food and drink range and someone mentioned it. I would say my bad and either toss it or go outside and finish it.

Some people just look for reasons to get bent out of shape.

 

[Sam1911]

I'm sure you are a wonderful guy, I mean what says wonderful like marching into a parking lot with two loaded concealed guns to confront a guy for eating at the range? Then calling the cops on him because you heard him complaining about you to his buddy. To me that just does not seem,,,,,,,,well "friendly".

I guess you consider shooting "camaraderie" calling the cops on guys for eating at a range? I'm just saying in my part of the world, simply pointing to the signs and offering a polite word is more along the lines of "friendly".

Between you and the RO the guy must have been interupted four or five time in thirty minutes and then finally driven off the range for the crime of "eating". What was it about this guy that set you off? Was he fat? Did he look different or maybe he was a little to low class for your type of shooting?

I just think it is odd to go to such an extreme for a guy who was "eating".

Reading comprehension not your strong suit? Seems like you skipped, lets see...one, two, three...ALL of the pertinent plot details of this little story. But you made up for that by adding a few yourself.

There might be a decent way to play devil's advocate here -- but you didn't find it. Try again?

-Sam

 

[Lonestar49]

What are the chances?

...

Maybe the 2 of them are one in the same.. ?


Ls

 

[silverlance]

OP is right. gunowners should watch out for each other, like brothers in any sport. ive done many things for complete strangers on the range that i woiuldnt do for other folks. jump starts, lessons, help with a gun, advice, etc.

that said, i would not leave my guns unattended on the bench while i went to take a pee break.

my point? do what you can for your fellow gun owner - after all, we've got enough enemies in common. but if the guy gives you attitude, etc... fine, apologize even if you've done no wrong and walk away. the high road demands this type of acceptance. BUT if you see something that can be dangerous for the shooter or for others, by all means you should, nay, must report it to an RO. if it is REALLY serious, you have to take action yourself.

half a year ago i was shooting on a weekday. few people at the range, this was 11 in the morning. in the of the gun fire i see an idiot start walking down range to his target as i'm shooting. he's carrying his target out!

no time to run to the RO in his shack. I immediately clear my handgun and yell, COLD RANGE, COLD RANGE! For some stupid reason, in the heat of the moment i meant to say CEASE FIRE but instead COLD RANGE came out. between my yelling and arm waving the other shooters stopped; several bewildered shooters looked up from their scopes.

the RO came out, took one look, and yelled, CEASE FIRE, CEASE FIRE. Then he yelled at me, THE RANGE IS NOT COLD! STAY BEHIND THE BENCHES!... at that time he hadn't figured out what was going wrong. The idiot was still standing out downrange; the RO made him come back, and all he could say was, "Was I not supposed to do that?"

If i hadn't yelled and stopped everyone from shooting, it could have been unpleasant - especially if one of the scoped guys had hit him by accident.

 

[subierex]

I plan on changing to another outdoor range this spring because of such shenanigans. The range I have been a member of is closest to my house, but is also very popular due to its low price (state run, $25 a year). Don't want this to sound bad, and maybe I'm wrong, but I think you get a wider cross-section of people at this range because of the low entry fee. Not only do you get serious shooters who take shooting very seriously, I think you tend to get the, uh, more casual shooter. There are rangemasters, but it's a big range and they can't be everywhere all the time.

Long story even longer: This past year I saw no less than 3 or 4 times when someone has covered someone with the muzzle of their gun. Last time it was a guy shooting an AK next to me. He lays the gun down on the bench so that the muzzle is aiming right down the shooting line away from me but right at a group of three guys next to him. Of course he had just loaded a fresh 30 round mag. One of the three guys eyes went saucer shaped and they packed up and left. I kindly reminded the guy about range safety. He was apologetic , but I packed up and left too.

A guy I work with suggested his range. It sponsors SASS events and is ruthless about range safety. Gonna try it this year.

 

[LeonCarr]

If I ever own a public range, I will keep the book Gunshot Wounds by Dr. Vincent DiMaio (Retired Chief Medical Examiner for Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas) behind the counter. Every person who comes in to shoot will have to look at this book and see what high speed projectiles do to the human body, and get a wake up call to why the range safety rules must be followed.

If anybody gets a chance, take a look at this book, but don't do it while eating a meal.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[bikerdoc]

god must love stupid people he made a bunch of em

at my range hourly rentals are give a list of rules - including not eating- and the R/O watches them pretty close

 

[firemanjohn]

I'm sure you are a wonderful guy, I mean what says wonderful like marching into a parking lot with two loaded concealed guns to confront a guy for eating at the range? Then calling the cops on him because you heard him complaining about you to his buddy. To me that just does not seem,,,,,,,,well "friendly".

I would say this proves his character, he had the weapons, but chose to avoid potential confrontation all together. It sounds like the guy was somewhat disruptive when asked to leave for a good reason, so calling LE was justified. I would say this was handled very well by both revolverguy and the range staff. I know the folks at my local range make no bones about booting people who don't follow the rules exactly, and they aren't out to make friends when they deal with violators.

 

[Charles Foxtrot]

Mr. Revolverguy;

Well played, sir! We should all hope to be as situationally aware, efficient in employment of available resources, and wise in your tactical choices.

Let's hope the aggressive dummy learns. But the stupid seem to be the most persistent of all.

 

[Frog48]

Eating at the range is definitely strange, but if the guy wants to potentially poison himself with lead, thats his decision (and subsequently his problem)... not yours or mine. If its against the range rules, let the RO speak to him about it. You shouldnt have nagged him about such an inconsequential thing.

And the "situation" in the parking lot... unless the guy directly confronted you in a hostile manner, calling the cops was a little overboard.

 

[The Annoyed Man]

I've had bottled water at an outdoor range on a hot day a number of times. But I would never eat greasy food around my firearms. I wouldn't want to get hamburger juice all over one of my guns.

PS, the guy in question was a jerk, no doubt. If a range has rules, it's their sandbox and their rules. You should either follow them, or get out.

 

[biscuitninja]

Wow, talk about Mr. Whiney Pants.... None of us are perfect, and if its not a Range we own, then we follow the rules. He had a choice to follow the rules, he decided not to and left of his own accord. Even worse he was looking for a confrontation.
Unless they are improperly handling the weapon, I say, let them be. Being nice is good to people who only need and or want help. If they don't, well its not your job and people are just to dumb to know the difference. Good luck and keep it safe....

-bix

p.s. Private ranges are AWSOME because usually it weeds out the ignorant real fast.
good luck

 

[bogie]

Guns can make people stupid.

Yup. Very true. Airborne lead poisoning is kind a hard on the ol' brain...

 

[Soybomb]

Sounds like you tried to be a nice guy and warn him of some serious dangers he might not have known about it. Its a shame he couldn't have just as politely said "thanks but I'll take my chances" but thats people today.

At the indoor public range I don't bother trying to be polite to any other shooters if they're being unsafe anymore. I've found they often continue to handle their loaded guns behind me and behind the stalls. I'd rather just let the staff know and they can just keep an eye on the careless shooter so I can enjoy my time without worrying as much about them doing something to endanger me.

 

[yenchisks]

I think your just a nosey bizzy body, looking for some one to correct~!

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

You are not going to please a crowd. You cannot possibly say anything to anyone all of the time without offending someone some of the time. IMHO the guy was a bit on the mental side. I would just chalk it up as a learning experience and move on. Next time you see him, you will know better. "hello and get lost."
If I was there I probably would have sided with you. I wasn't there to see it but if you have a feeling about people, if you get a hunch about people just tune them out.
You have a defensive tool in your head and your gut. You decide who you talk to and you decide who you don't talk to. You will always redefine that hunch about people. What you went through IMHO wasn't a waste of time, it was a learning experience for you and the THR. Thank you.

 

[yhtomit]

I'm sure Mr.Revolverguy can deal with some of the critique being dished out here (I haven't counted to see which way the Approval Rating leans ) by people who think he was a busybody or tattletale or whatever. As I said before, I think he was in the right and in the clear -- and definitely didn't deserve a resentful pointing-out in the parking lot. (Creepy!)

It seems the actions of Mr. Hamburgereater invoked the application of one of the world's many useful double standards. Be polite, but don't expect politeness in return. Try to be safe, but stay alert to the fact that others may not be. The Golden Rule and all that

Hamburgereater just hasn't decided to seek full enlightenment yet, and wants to have the range, and eat it (the hamburger), too -- and then grouse when other people aren't happy with his breaking the range rules. He seems to have demonstrated being worth (based on the described story) a shrug and some caution. Maybe he'll grow out of it.

timothy

 

[sandwich]

dang...there'd have to be some GREAT perks to that range to make me deal with ONE round in a rifle mag at a time....(we're going to ignore the fact that I've been shooting single-shot rifles lately...but still.)

Well, if you like it, I guess it's alright though.

Lol, well it is a great range. As for the rule, it was put into effect mostly to weed out the idiots who were shooting apart the mounts for the targets with their AK 47s or other semi automatic weapons. I was told this was happening a lot before I joined, and that in the time before I joined, the club started to weed the idiots out. As for the rule now, the unwritten rule (at least what I have seen so far) is that as long as you're not being stupid, you can load your rifle with more than one round.

 

[Leitmotif]

Hm. Well, calling him on eating at the range is all well and good, but I reckon you went overboard by calling the cops on him just for pointing you out. Sure, if he was waiting in your driveway or if he was following you in traffic. But standing out in front of a range chatting with a buddy? How does that justify calling the police?

I'd rather have ignored them, let them be, and gone home.