No class friends

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Regardless of attire, these people showed up not 15 or 20 minutes late, but FOUR HOURS late. In a world where everyone has a phone (and even those who don't typically have one within 5 feet @ any given time) there is no reason to assume this was some sort of misunderstanding, or that they really DID intend to work (on their own schedule, no less), but were just running "a little late". While talking to them may be the best route, under the circumstances, I'd be surprised if he got anything but excuses. I just don't understand people sometimes. Maybe it was being raised in the manner I was, but when you give your word to a friend, you all but kill yourself to keep that word. If you agree to be @ a jobsite@ 8AM, that doesn't mean 8:30, or whenever I decided to finish my coffee and get there. I see it all the time. Even jobs with scheduled, posted hours are fair game for abuse. I know of MANAGERS who don't think twice about being 20 minutes late.....when, for me, as an employee, I'd feel like utter crap for simply expecting someone do to the job i was SUPPOSED to be doing for an extra 20 minutes. And yes, circumstances change, things come up, etc.....thats inevitable and to be expected....but maintaining communication is ALSO expected, and if you are goingf to be four hours late to a meeting with ME, I'd darn sure like to be aware of it ahead of time and not informed later....like 4 hours beyond our SUPPOSED meeting time. I don't CARE if you show up to work cattle in khakis, loafers and a shirt and tie, so long as you actually WORK like you made the agreement to. Rips, tears, and stains aren't my responsibility.....
 
I helped my own brother about 25 years ago with some pretty hefty work, every day - ALL DAY, for about a week, he didn't have money to pay me and I had just purchased a parcel of land and wanted to clear a road. I just needed some help pulling the trees so they would not drop across the adjacent paved highway.

Well, the next morning, I was there on my property when I said I would be there and I was waiting, waiting waiting. I started sawing one tree, but it started to lean towards falling in the road. I was totally frustrated to say the least.

Then he pulls up, opens the window of his pickup and asks what am I doing? I told him that it must look pretty clear what I am doing, I have a chainsaw in my hand and there's the rope and this tree has rope around it high up, I need a hand helping to pull the tree.

He basically sat there with his 16 oz. Miller beer, sipping it and told me "I don't feel like doing that, I've gotta go!":fire:

He has done this same kind of thing more times than I can even write about. :banghead: After many years, I have basically dis-owned him as my brother.:rolleyes: Brothers don't treat brothers that way (at least in my book). My other brother would have been there in a heartbeat.:) Not to mention, this was going to be a trade-off for the full week I got him going and excited about getting all this work done on his new (old) place!


I trust people's word and I trust they will do as they say they will do. If, after so many times, I have been lied to, it finally gets to the point where I simply do not trust them anymore, at all! From then on, in my book, they need to earn their trust and respect back from me. To this day, he has yet to earn my trust back. As far as I am concerned he is evil and everything is always his way or to his benefit.
 
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You gave these guys an opportunity to enjoy their firearms and they didn't have the decency to stick to their word so I would agree with everyone else... Range is closed. If they can't keep their word then I wouldn't trust them. Someone else mentioned the liability and a leach would be the first one to sue you if they hurt themselves on your property.
 
I've learned the hard way, to put your faith in any other human is a set-up for disapointment, at the very least.

Mike
 
Real friends don't act that way.
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This in spades. You are right, there was never any intention to work. Personally, I've given far too many second chances and simply been further disappointed. My neighbor is going through this right now, he's simply a nice guy and can't see it. A one-sided friendship is always doomed to eventual failure. Save yourself some grief and your land for your own family.
 
Several folks here mentioned being members of a public gun club and having selected "work" days. Let me get this straight...you guys pay for a membership and then are expected to work also? I don't understand that. If I'm paying for a membership, I'm not working. If I was using something for free I wouldn't have a problem working for it.
 
I'm with Geoff. Talk to them. maybe give another chance.

a good point was also made with the legalities of it. if you don't know these people well, and are unaware of their shooting practices, it may be wise to put the kibosh on the whole thing. especially if there is a free public range down the road. I wouldn't feel bad about doing that at all. save your land for the enjoyment of you and your fam!!!
 
I agree...friends don't treat friends that way. You gave them a chance, kept your word and they broke theirs. If they want a second chance, I'd let them come and ask and then perform......first.



GCBurner said:
Not to mention the liability issue if someone gets hurt or killed shooting on your property by your permission. People like your "friends" would be first in line to sue you.
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oneounceload said:
Unfortunately in today's litigious society, this has now become a major factor for consideration.
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Fortunately, here in Wisconsin, landowners are protected from people recreating on their land as long as there is no unreasonable risk(such as a mean bull or other known dangers the land owner does not inform them about) and they are allowed access for free.
 
and they return the kindness and favor to me by helping me clean my firearms.
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Call me picky but nobody cleans my firearms but me. :eek: I'd much rather that they clean up after themselves and maybe help out with range maintenance chores.
 
I'd make a point of calling the friend, and let him inform his friends that he invited. "Sorry, man, but I've still got too much work left to do on the property to let everyone keep coming over." Leave it open for a second chance at work - if they can't show up ready to work and on-time, that person is uninvited.

I still can't get over the gall of an invited friend bringing others along. And seriously, nobody was prepared to cut trees and logs in slacks and loafers four hours late. Jeans and steel-toed boots are my uniform for that.
 
You said land was cheap near you so Im guessing your no where near DFW. Too bad. I would give alot of my time and efforts towards maintenance for a place to shoot freely. Some people dont realize what thats really worth.
 
I prefer to over-repay the favor. Show up on time to a work crew, and do a little something every time I'm using somebody else's property. You know, leave it better than you found it kind of thing. It's just how I was raised.
No excuse for what they did. If they were really good friends, it might be a different story. But friends of friends? Nope.
 
did they all ride together? why did they all show up at the same time?

I'd be wondering if there was one or two guys that were running around trying to get the gang of deadbeats going and 4 hours late was the best they could do. Maybe they're not ALL deadbeats. maybe one of them is ok.
 
Wow. I'd be disappointed and PO'd and I'd sure as hell tell them all in exact mano e mano terms they clearly understood. Probably too much alpha male in me, but it's your land, your liability.

Second chance? Only after two or three work days with no shooting whatsoever. Make them earn it with sweat and blisters, dressed however they want, with safety in mind (a lot like shooting safety preventions in that regard).

And a few new hard & fast ground rules. Or they can use the public range, right?
 
You're being completely reasonable. If they want to use your land, then they need to pitch in and help. Hell, if someone told me I could use their land to shoot and set up a private range, I'd be there almost every day doing as much as I could to make it a nice place to go.
 
Thanks everyone for all the input and perspective.

I think that when they call to see if they can go shoot, I will simply say that it isn't a good time, I have too much work do do on the place, and I cannot get much done when folks are shooting. This will open up a huge chance for them to make an effort, or allow them to close the door completely for future shooting at my place.

I have a feeling they have done their last shooting on my place. No skin off my back, and I walk away a little smarter for the experience.
 
No class is right. I had this happen to me years ago. Brought some "friends" to my property and how do they say "thank you"...????? They bring their drunk friends back when I'm not there. They'll be spending time in jail the next time. Get some new friends and a big lock for the gate.
 
I'm casting my vote with the "keep them all off your property" crowd. But my guess is that now you're going to have people using your property without your knowledge.

And since you've already given your permission, if anyone gets hurt, you're liable.
 
No, people wont be out there without my permission more than the guy that poaches deer out there and access it through the neighbor's place. My family lives nearby, and the local sheriff goes out there to hunt and look for morrels. These guys wont be back without permission.
 
inclinebench said:
Sure enough, I am out there with chainsaws, bow saws, clippers, loppers, chains and cables etc. I work my butt off solo untill lunchtime, then as I am leaving they show up. None in boots, all wearing nice clothes, obviously no intention to help work.
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So what happened after that? Did they end up working, give you an excuse, what was said between you all etc.

Big part of the story missing here.
 
I am with the OP. When someone is doing you a favor and you get the chance to repay it you do so.

I would love to have a private place to shoot, if I ever find one, and the person providing it needs help maintaining the property, I am there 15 minutes before he is waiting with extra coffee. It is simply a matter of consideration. Yeah, let them go to the public range a bit. You stuck you neck out in letting them shoot there in the first place.
 
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