[Black92LX]

Well i took two of my buddies (non-shooters) to the range today. We took a couple shotguns pump and semis. .22's, and my Sig. All is well having a good time. Well i figured i would have them shoot my Sig from 10 yards (being non shooters). At the particular range we were shooting on they have support poles every 5 yards out seperating lanes. About 3 months ago a RANGE SAFTEY OFFICER showed me to run a string across the lane from the 2 poles and hang the targets from there. but only form the 10 and 15 yard poles and not the 5.
So that's what we did and i have done numerous times in the past. Well when we are about 50 rounds or so thru i here, a very upset voice hell NOW WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE. So i turn and noticed the the comment was aimed towards me. I said ohh they don't have badges (private club) because they are my guests. And he says no you can't hang targets like that from the poles and that targets could only be fully against the backstop. I informed him that a SAFTEY OFFICER had shown me this. But to appease mister here i said i would take it down. (he had a range officer tag on his bag but never said anything about it) no big deal really. just frusturating when to saftey officers tell you conflicting things.
Ok so we call cold range and i take my stuff down. We were just going to shoot at the VCR and box we had setup for the .22's at 25 yards. Next thing i know mister is carrying my box and VCR back to the firing line (removed from MY LANE!) He got back and i said what are you doing those were in my lane and we were going to shoot at them. He said ohhh didn't know anyone would shoot at this stuff. (we were at the plinking range:confused: where the rule is anything but eplosive and glass materials can be targets.) he says sorry and puts them on my table. So I can go set them up. As i set them up i took some clay pigeons up as well to give a fun reactive targets. The line is hot again and my buddies shoot at the VCR first. I then notice that my clays are breaking. THIS GUY IS HAVING HIS WIFE SHOOT MY CLAYS FROM HER LANE!!!!!:fire: :cuss:
Well you think it ends there. NOPE. Well my buddies are shooting and no they don't have the greatest technique but they were hittting a VCR at 25 yards on their first time out. And over comes mister's friend and says hey let me give you all a little help and just pics up my Sig and starts going to town giving us inferiors a lesson.:what:

I am sorry and maybe it is just me but i have a HUGE problem with someone just picking up my gun (without asking) and going to town! I was extremely pissed off but listened politley.

Well that was my frusturating day at the range. Though all is well as we were drining home i asked my buddies which gun they liked best and both replied. Hmm I'll take one of each.

Sorry it's kind of long just needed to rant!

[Shovelhead]

Sounds like he's a legend in his own mind. :rolleyes:

Showing off for his wife. :rolleyes:

Glad he wasn't next to me. :evil:

Shovelhead

[DorGunR]

I am sorry and maybe it is just me but i have a HUGE problem with someone just picking up my gun (without asking) and going to town! I was extremely pissed off but listened politley.

Black92LX.....you're a better man than I.............cause I would have exploded a long time ago.:fire:

[spacemanspiff]

i dont like it when people pick up my guns without my approval either.
and i'd raise hades on idiots like that who shoot at targets i set up.

[Standing Wolf]

...i have a HUGE problem with someone just picking up my gun (without asking)...

I'd have cleared leather and ordered the individual to put it back down real gently and real fast.

[Josey]

Private or public range? Membership? I would have found out who he was and complained to the management ASAP. If anybody picked up a loaded weapon of mine, they would find themselves in the next world. NO excuse for that. You were escorting guests. That is a poor example of sportsmanship from a agent of the club management. That is not a safe place. I would request replacement of my ammunition. UNinvited is UNwelcomed.

[scout26]

Sounds like you need to talk to the club president or senior range safety officer about this guy.

[Jim K]

I have fired on quite a few ranges and have never had a range officer pick up one of my guns (or anyone else's that I saw). That is a very dangerous practice and cannot be condoned.

Please complain to whomever is in authority. Have the name, date and witnesses as to what happened. That kind of behavior cannot be allowed to continue.

Jim

[P95Carry]

I hope very much this RSO was not a certified one ... (certifiable maybe! :p ).

Incredible behavior ... sounds more like an RO wannabee with a bad case of megalomania. Any range with one of them needs to sack him ... quick!

[pittspilot]

That's akin to climbing on and firing up someone's motorcycle without asking.

Or firing up someone's aircraft without asking.

I believe that is extremely rude. I would have become extremely rude back.

[Bruce H]

That is why you should always take a SKS to the range. There is no way to hurt the wood when you butt stroke an idiot that desperately needs it.

[JohnKSa]

If the guy has really been through RO training then he knows he should not touch another person or their shooting equipment without first asking and receiving permission. The ONLY exception is when immediate action is required to prevent or end a dangerous situation.

If he's not a moron then he knows he shouldn't shoot someone else's targets and that unasked for advice is virtually always unwelcome.

You should have said something.

Very polite:

Please stop shooting at the targets that I paid for and set up myself.
Please do not touch my shooting gear without permission.

Not so polite:

Those clays cost me X apiece, and I charge $1 a target that I set up for other shooters.

Whoa there, chief. You must have mistaken this gun for one of yours.

If you want to practice your teaching technique on me, I charge $50 an hour--written critiques are extra.

[Black92LX]

sorry i didn't explain it clearly. the guy that repremanded me for improperly hanging targets never said he was a Saftey Officer he just had a tag on his bag. so i am making the assumption considering it is the same as the other saftey officers. Also the guy who grabbed my gun was not the (assumed RO) but the guy that he came with.

I saw him shooting a Storm a little later and thought about taking the curtosy he took with me on with his gun. i have always wanted to try out a Storm.

I am going to make a phone call tomorrow to the president of the club. i wish i could have gotten names. but they were both hand written on the badge and were not legible. unlike my badge which was gicen to me with label tape on it.

[P95Carry]

never said he was a Saftey Officer he just had a tag on his bag ''Tag'' .. I am not sure what this may or may not have signified but anyways ... this guy was a grade A1 jerk ...... and even if not there in any capacity as safety officer etc .. was strictly out of line in many respects regardless.

I'll hope that a description of the two will help in I/D'ing them so you can make it very plain that his behavior was totally inexcusable and that he should most likely be banned from further range use.

The NRA promotes ''attitude'' with regard to shooting ... correct attitude that is. This guy it seems had attitude - but not the sort required!:p

[Black92LX]

I doubt the higher ups will do anything considering i haven't even been a member for a year and am only 21.
They are a very snide group and have no problem showing that in some of their little articles in the newsletter. i do not like the attitude of many of the members there, but unfortunatly it is the best place i have to shoot in the area.

[P95Carry]

''Rock and a hard place'' Black .. all too often the case. I know what you mean and if it's the only facility that's available or easily on hand .. well .... I guess bite the bullet time.

I can fully understand your angst tho .. all too well. Despite being an ol' fart I am still distinctly pi$$ed at people who behave in this manner ... it is unnecessary and despicable. Arrogant too usually.

Good luck.

[raz-0]

Attitude or not, that behavior is downright unsafe and if it was your ammo he hosed down range, basically he stole from you.

complain to the management. Stuff like that can get the club in trouble real fast.

Personally, I'm a pretty friendly and outgoing guy at the range, and I would not have sat quietly through that sort of behavior starting with shooting up my targets. Heck man, that's like someone pulling up at the opposite side of the gas pump, taking the nozzle out of your tank, and filling up their car on your dime without asking.

Very un-cool behavior.

[Dionysusigma]

I'm more of the passive type... I'd still be pissed as hell, but the instant he began shooting my clays I'd take it upon myself to blast each and every single one of them as fast as I could. Picking up my gun, though... *shudder* :fire: I'd take that like an unprovoked slap in the face. Especially after all that.

[Mulliga]

Man...glad my range doesn't have any RSOs. ;)

[Goet]

I'm glad this happened to you and not me.

I probably would have drawn on him for touching my firearms.

Yikes!!!

Grow some cajones and complain.

If the club sides with him, then this is a place you don't want to be a'shootin' at anywho.

[swingset]

I'm getting to be a jerk in my old age, I don't take kindly to being dressed down, spoken to rudely or having my space invaded.

I probably wouldn't have been so civil. I admire your restraint, but trust me when you're older you'll want those moments back to relive - and it won't be such a nice boy in your fantasies.

;)

[Clean97GTI]

I am certainly glad I don't HAVE to go to a range here in Vegas. Miles of desert in every direction make for many excellent places to shoot.
A local indoor range I have visited was probably the reason I don't like going to organized ranges. The staff was unhelpful and didn't answer my questions very well. While this wouldn't bother me now, back then, I was an unexpierienced shooter who could have put people in jeopardy had I not had proper instruction from others. The lack of help and almost snide attitudes left a sour taste in my mouth that still hasn't gone away.

That guy was a jerk and if the range/club won't do anything (or at least issue a good apology) I would never set foot there again.

[yesterdaysyouth]

i'd been pissed about the clays but touching my weapon, uninvited.. that's not a good idea...:cuss:

when you get a chance to come down, i'll leave the RO at the house.... and bring whatever you want to shoot, as long as you clean it up i don't care....

and i'll trade you that sig for the storm that day too....:D

[BluesBear]

Amazing, simply amazing.

I am so thankful this has never happened to me.

And the moron who picked up your Sig without asking is very very thankful he didn't do it to me.

Until he identifies himself as a Range Officer, he is just another guy at the range. His words carry no weight.
Even if he is an officer his friend is still a nobody.

[Black92LX]

Grow some cajones and complain.

Ohh i am complaining no doubt about that one. i just highly doubt anything will be done. When i describe the type of folks that are the higher ups of this club Snide is really not a strong enough word. Problem with not going back is that leaves me with no place to shoot locally. The only place i would have to shoot whenever i so chose is 3 hours south of me. so i kinda just need to suck it up if i want to have a place to shoot.

yesterdays youth just let me know when you guys go again. give me a little heads up and not a holiday and we should be all good. Looking forward to shooting that storm:D

[Gus Dddysgrl]

I'm glad you had to deal with that not me. I would have been much more verbal and active towards them. I would not have kept as quiet as you did. I am 21 too, but I sure wouldn't let anyone walk all over me like they did. I would have been just as snide as they are and given it back to them to see if they like it. If I had been in a good mood I would have been polite and said something nice to explain who I was and who was with me, but the minute he touched my gun without asking I would have taken him out. I'm a bit protective of my baby.

Hopefully your next trips won't be this bad.

[Rabbi]

Isn't picking up your pistol without permission considered theft in Ohio?

I too admire your restraint and would not have come close to being as polite and patient as you were. At a minimum he would have heard a LOUD, profanity laced order to "Put my pistol down NOW! Do you hear me? PUT IT DOWN!!!" This behavior would be totally unacceptable from the RO himself, but much worse from his bunkmate.

A formal complaint, both written and telephonic is definitely in order to the governing board of the club. Give date, time, detailed report of the incident and inquire of them whether this conduct is acceptable. As long as you are more or less at their mercy to avoid a three hour drive, I'd be polite and sincere in your contact with the board/officers, but I would damn sure let them know what you think of this episode.

It sucks when gunners mistreat each other, especially in front of the uninitiated. Any piggish or unsafe behavior reflects badly on all of us.

Rabbi

[keyhole]

Bummer when stuff like that happens. It can really sour first time experiences for newbies, and gives all of us a black eye. We have inducted a couple of members as RO's, and told them the basic thing to remember was not to be degrading, and get on a power trip when dealing with other members.

Since we are a "members only" range, there are no RO's there, except during matches. Makes it a nice, and informal place to play.

Hope all gets better as time goes by, but we all have to deal with jerks from time to time.:banghead:

[Guy B. Meredith]

Speaking as a person with range safety officer and RO experience, I feel this individual has extremely bad range manners and should not be allowed to work there. I would talk to the management.

[Cyberdyne systems]

I had a guy at the range come over to my table a couple times and pick up my AR15 without permission and he grabbed it by the buttstock and dragged the flash hider on the cement as he picked it up twice! leaving my muzzle with permanent scratches! he didnt even ask, he just starts picking up my rifle asking questions? some people think if your talking to them it's OK to handle your guns? then when I tried to take it back he kept holding on to it and didnt let go, I noticed he and his buddy were drinking beers.

a few months later I ran into the same guys at the range and comes over again and I cant believe he picked up my AR again! and scratched the muzzle as he pulls the rifle off my table! for the second time!

Some people think when you leave your guns on the shooting table, it's like a gunshow, no the shooting range is Not the gunshow you should never ever pick up another man's guns without permission.:mad:

[larry_minn]

Nobody touchs my guns without permission. Sometimes a comment like. "how would you feel if I grabbed your wifes (floatation device)?" THAT is how I feel when you grab my gun without my permission. And if you do it again I will act the same way you would.
Have always gotten apology.
Kinda along the line. "you can ask about using my truck when I can ask about sleeping with your wife"

[R.H. Lee]

We are fortunate to have a polite, low-key, but observant and careful RO at our local range. He is always very courteous to everyone, and takes time to explain the rules to newcomers. Stories like this remind me how lucky we are.

[P95Carry]

I posted earlier but this just kept me thinking .. still almost in disbelief that such conduct could occur. Regeretably tho even in our ranks at the ranges .... jerks happen!! As for Cyberdyne's incident (both of em!!!) ... hell, that's an invite for more than even harsh words ... sheesh . Hardly credible it's so extreme.

Some words/phrases come to mind at the range ... ''please'', do you mind'', ''is it alright if ....... ''. And when it comes to trying to give advice ... for altruistic reasons .....''May I suggest'', ''you may find'' etc .... these are all things that comprize politeness, courtesy and thoughtfulness ... and cost nothing.

This Saturday gone I finished my NRA Instructor's Course ... the last thing being RSO ... and as far as I am concerned that gives me no rights for bad manners or blatent authoritarianism ....... it is simply something that I would do as a ''coordinator'' such that safety is paramount. Plus, I would no more think of grabbing someone's gun without permission than I would think I had any rights to shoot their ammo.

Some people on this lil' rock of ours take some tolerating ..... that's for sure.

[loose cannon]

i keep a smith642 offside pocket just for the fool who would attempt grabbing my glock anyone who lets someone take his weapon will someday end up shot with his own gun if he grabs your gun he is bought and paid for