A death at my local indoor range.

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Exposure

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Went to go to the local indoor rifle range today only to find out it was temporarily closed. Reason being, someone rented a gun yesterday and shot themselves with it. :( It is being listed as an accidental death right now. I don't know much of the story other than what a gentleman in the parking lot told me.

What really stinks though is that I was meeting two friends there and one of them had never shot a high powered rifle before. He has been itching to get his hands on my M1 and I was so looking forward to him banging away with it. He doesn't get the chance to get out of his house a whole lot so it was a major disappointment.

We ended up going to local indoor pistol range where we put a fair amount of rounds through my WWII P38 and my friends Ruger .45 It was fun but the news of someone dying where I shoot on occasion put kind of a black cloud over the rest of the afternoon.

Anyway, just wanted to share this with fellow shooters.
 
I'm sorry to hear about the guy...it's never good news when it comes to that.

:(

On a related note...I don't know the actual figures on how much this happens, but I could see things like this leading to NICS checks and/or waiting periods before even renting handguns.
 
I think there are a few other threads over time that had the same thing happen at a range near them. Last year there was a suicide at an indoor range up north of here. It's an unfortunate event but hopefully things will get back to normal.
 
The very same thing happened back some years ago at the indoor range I shoot at now. The publicity wasn't as bad as it probably would be now. I think the guy was some knd of LEO but not sure. Sad thing but it still gives the antis something more to work with against gun owners.
 
My local indoor range had a bathroom suicide using a rental about two years ago. They have since stopped renting to anyone who didn't bring either a friend or a gun :confused:

-PB
 
Hey Rusher-

It was Shooter's.

Keep in mind this is only the account I got from a guy in the parking lot. But the folks at Firepower confirmed there had been a death there. I wish I knew more of the details.

Shoot safe.
 
WOW....I just a little bit on the news about it.....1st I feel for the mans family..... 2 weeks ago I found my little brother (32yo) in his room and had beed deceased for about 12 hrs so I feel their pain......2nd I hope this doesnt close them down as the are the only game in town near me





Rusher
 
a nics check wouldn't have prevented this. the Firing Line in Denver had this happen twice over a short period of time. they stopped renting guns. this has been a number of years ago so they might be renting again but I don't know about that
 
That's awful, Exposure. :( When I saw the title of this thread, I was really hoping it wasn't a rental suicide. I just don't think there's any way to prevent this. Even with a range officer at every stall, someone could shoot themselves much faster than anyone could react.
 
I believe that's been implemented in one or two places already. Yet another example of the few ruining things for the vast majority.
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Well forget about the handgun portion of that argument, this is where it gets even scarier.

This guy supposedly rented an AK47 and was on the rifle range at the time of his demise. Will rifle rentals be outlawed, or subject to waiting periods next? I certainly hope not.

I was the first at the range and had to break the bad news to my friends when they showed up.

One of them commented, "Can't these type of people kill themselves with a spoon? Or maybe jump in front of a semi?" As morbid as it sounds he has a good point. Sad that the few must ruin it for the masses.

I have been feeling weird about this all afternoon. All three of us work together and had been amped up all week for today, we had talked almost nonstop about this trip to the range. The non-shooter we were bringing was super excited. But even more sad was the fact that my shooter friend and I had planned to rent the full auto MP5 and buy 200 rounds of ammo for our other friend to blaze away with. I know this is a selfish rant but the whole situation just really sucks. I really hope the range doesn't shut down over this.
 
You know, if I ran an indoor shooting range, I'd be tempted to have an advert behind the counter for a "suicide special."

If you plan to commit suicide, we'll rent the lane to you at a reduced price, and only charge you the cost of one bullet, as well as a reduced price on the rental of a particular gun, too.

Of course, anyone who rented the gun wouldn't be told that the firing pin had been removed.

"I tried to kill myself with this gun, but it didn't work."

"Huh. That's never happened before. Must be a miracle. The big guy upstairs must not think it's your time yet."

:D
 
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Bill's in Minneapolis requires a carry permit, a purchase permit or a buddy. If it covers their legal exposure, I can hardly fault them.
 
This isnt nearly as rare as it should be. It has happened at least once at most (if not all) of the ranges in this area. I don't know what has been done about it, i *think* some of the ranges are adopting a policy of only renting to persons in groups of two, or those who brought their own guns. I dont know for sure though as I always bring at least one of my own, and the guys at the counter usually remember me.
 
I think there are a few other threads over time that had the same thing happen at a range near them.
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+1

Exposure, I don't think you're selfish for thinking the way you do. Suicide is an extremely selfish act, and the responsibility of the act falls solely on the person who carried it out. Certainly a tragedy, but at the same time, too bad they had to take down a piece of the BOR with them.
 
My usual indoor range had this happen about a year ago;

Their policy was not to rent to anyone unless they had a friend with them, brought a firearm of their own, or were a member of the range.

A 20-something Asian wmoan came in one Sunday about noon and asked to rent a pistol; they advised her of the rule and she apparently left. People later recalled seeing her hanging around the parking area acting oddly (talking to herself, gesturing wildly, etc. but apparently her general appearance (well-kempt, had a car, etc.) didin't prompt anyone to either call 911 or mention it to the range personnel - after all, these days she was peopbably just talking to soemone on a cell phone with ear bud.

The range closes at 6PM on Sundays, no rentals after 5PM, and the staff starts closing up procedures around 4PM. The same woman came in at 4PM, and the guy on the register had not been present when she had been in earlier; those who had did not see her at the counter.

This time whe filled out the forms and paid cash ($225) for a new range membership, then took a rental 9mm pistol and a box of rounds into the range. She had a lane next to a guy shooting a .45ACP and he noticed she seemed unfamiliar with her gun, so courteously gave her some instruction and assistance; she even fired a few rounds from his pistol. All very friendly and reasonable.

The guy inj the next lane turned to the bench behind him to start putting his gear away; when he turned back, he found she'd leaned over the shooting bench on her lane, put the muzzle of the 9mm in her mouth and fired.

I won't go into detail, but the cleanup took longer than the police investigation.

Turned out the woman's parents and family were opposed to her wish to marry someone they considered inappropriate, and were coming back into town that evening after a trip; the argument/confontation was about to escalate.

The range's new addendum to its rental policy is that new members are subject to the same restrictions as nonmembers for two weeks after they join.

Every range I know of has had at least one such suicide, which is why the rental restrictions are pretty universal. I believe several locally are adding the new member 2 week waiting period as well.

FWIW.

Tara
 
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