Out Of Control Range Officers

Good Ol' Boy said:

You walked up to watch a hot range that just had a cease fire but apparently you weren't aware of the particulars for the cease fire. It could be the RO was trying to keep the area clear (you safe) or maybe not.

I think I would have just left and shrugged it off.

If you want to pursue the issue further well, there's always that....

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Sounds like they were OUTSIDE the range area and should have been safe till next week unless someone swept em. Talk to someone about the guy.

If it was the local police training, let em rent the WHOLE thing and block the roads if it is that important.

You have no extra holes? So you have nothing to complain about.

Safety can be rude sometimes. That RO may have did you a favor.

Sometimes it appears that we have become a country of the easily offended.

This would be the main reason I got some property. I simply got tired of
coffee-soaked RSOs, and the obsessive rules at most public ranges, which
simply ruin the ride. Now I have my own range, and I decide what I am
going to shoot, and when, and how.

^^^^^^^^
The best way to go if you can.

I am wondering just how well those folks that say "no big deal", would practice what they preach.

Yeah, I'm not sure I'm buying this rudeness under the guise of safety idea.

ColtPythonElite said:

Sometimes it appears that we have become a country of the easily offended.

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I've also found that we have become a country of rude rectal orifices too. Thing is, from the little bit of explanation given in the OP, it's hard to tell what direction it was. We have only heard one biased side of the story. Hard for me to jump on a one wheeled band wagon.

buck460XVR said:

I've also found that we have become a country of rude rectal orifices too. Thing is, from the little bit of explanation given in the OP, it's hard to tell what direction it was. We have only heard one biased side of the story. Hard for me to jump on a one wheeled band wagon.

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I agree 100%

The idea of putting up a fence is to control what is inside of them. If you want to control what is outside them, you should move the damn fence.

State range in MI a 18 year old RO was screaming at me when I opened my rifle case.
"YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME.
I opened the case flat on the bench & the barrel was pointing toward the yellow line.
No one ever told me in almost 65 years that the gun can't be aimed at the yellow line when you open your case.
I told her maybe you should not stand directly behind me when I open my case.
I have never seen her there again.

The range I shoot at is a municipal facility, and the stated policy is if a shooter argues with an RO over range procedure, the police are automatically called. From there things start getting serious for mere words and hurt pride.

readyeddy said:

the stated policy is if a shooter argues with an RO over range procedure, the police are automatically called.

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What's the complaint to the police? Trespassing? Disorderly conduct?

I bet that sucks for unruly patrons, but will suck far worse for an out of line RO who summons police because of his own idiocy.

Well, if a RO disagrees with me at my range, I'm calling the police, too.
(Because he's trespassing...)

Wisco said:

What's the complaint to the police? Trespassing? Disorderly conduct?

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If the RO is the authorized rep of the land owner, and asks someone to leave, and they don't... that's going to be trespassing in most states, even if the RO had a stupid reason in the first place.

Arguing with RO's is like arguing with cops. You can discuss things with them. You can try to explain why you think they're wrong. But if you argue and refuse to do as instructed, it's unlikely the next thing that happens to you will be a lot of fun.

mnrivrat said:

I am wondering just how well those folks that say "no big deal", would practice what they preach.

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Haha. You could come to my range and I can yell at you. Not sure what it would prove other than me being ok about a loud safety guy.

I'd love to hear the other side of this story. There may have been weirdos hanging out at the fence the day before or something.

HOWARD J said:

State range in MI a 18 year old RO was screaming at me when I opened my rifle case.
"YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME.
I opened the case flat on the bench & the barrel was pointing toward the yellow line.
No one ever told me in almost 65 years that the gun can't be aimed at the yellow line when you open your case.
I told her maybe you should not stand directly behind me when I open my case.
I have never seen her there again.

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So, the yellow line is in the safe direction of downrange? Or it was pointing backwards? You mention maybe her not standing behind you as if it were pointing at her. I'm confused. I will say all the ranges I frequent have rules that you open your case with the gun inside pointing downrange.

readyeddy said:

The range I shoot at is a municipal facility, and the stated policy is if a shooter argues with an RO over range procedure, the police are automatically called. From there things start getting serious for mere words and hurt pride.

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Wow, that sounds like a super friendly place, seems like you'd have to walk on eggshells as not to have your conversation with the RO considered "arguing".

I don't know what the potential charge would be for an argumentative range user, but I've seen one instance where the police were called. The range user packed up and left before the police arrived.

I've been ROing for about 10 years, and have never even seen an RO kick someone off the range. There was once I was quickly headed toward sending a shooter home for maliciously damaging the range equipment, but he was saved by a shooter that needed minor first aid. I couldn't attend to both.

If someone does refuse to follow an RO's instructions, the RO can tell him to leave the range. There is no appeal. If the person becomes belligerent or refuses to leave, our shooting buddies the local LEOs will be there very quickly to escort him off the property.

We rarely get uncooperative shooters at our range. Practically everyone is considerate, and does their best to be safe. If they momentarily forget, the RO will remind them.

Hanzo581 said:

So, the yellow line is in the safe direction of downrange? Or it was pointing backwards? You mention maybe her not standing behind you as if it were pointing at her. I'm confused. I will say all the ranges I frequent have rules that you open your case with the gun inside pointing downrange.

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It's a large alum. case--holds 3 rifles--has no window to tell you which way rifle is pointed.
No one ever told me to put an X on my case to show which way rifle is pointing.
I think she was just waiting to catch someone with rifle pointed the wrong way---

HOWARD J said:

No one ever told me to put an X on my case to show which way rifle is pointing.

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I think that would be a good idea if you shoot on busy commercial ranges, though.

I belong to probably the largest private gun club in Pa (6,000+ members) with 11 separate ranges. High Power, black powder, smallbore, pistol, trap, skeet, table trap, air rifle, air rifle field, archery and archery field.. All are run by volunteers. There is a chief RO for each range that reports up to the Chief of Ranges, who reports to the elected executive committee. I've been there since 1969, and have seen it all...
Some guys that have absolutely no authority on their job (& probably with their wives) all of a sudden, get to be "boss", and it goes to their head.
Fortunately for us, ALL our rules are published, and there is a 2 hr indoctrination you must attend before you can become a member. ( a tour and review of the safety rules)... Additionally over the years, the club has learned to properly vet any prospective RO candidates, and try them out for 6+ months or so before they become official. All except the pistol range... There a re a couple guys there that like to "interpret" the written rules.. I know its for safety sake, but it does piss people off..
That all being said, I won't be visiting any public ranges anytime soon..

HOWARD J said:

It's a large alum. case--holds 3 rifles--has no window to tell you which way rifle is pointed.
No one ever told me to put an X on my case to show which way rifle is pointing.
I think she was just waiting to catch someone with rifle pointed the wrong way---

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Jim Watson said:

I think that would be a good idea if you shoot on busy commercial ranges, though.

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Yeah, the reasoning behind it is people love to bring loaded guns to the range, so when you reach into the bag/case to grab the gun out that's a moment where you can have an issue. What I usually do a peek in the bag before I head in then just carry it where I know the muzzle is down range.