Bass Pro Shops is anti-gun

[Juna]

Thanks for the replies! Glad to hear most of you are on the same page as me. Gotta love THR.

"Oh my God!!! He has a gun!!!"
"It's a gun range, isn't it?"
"Security!!!!!!!!"

Yup. That about sums it up. I was like, "This is a shooting range, right?!"

if you haven't already tried it, target sports in royal oak

Yup, I shoot there a lot. There, you just walk in, say you want a lane, pay the guy, he asks,

"Ammo?"
"Nope."
"Eyes & Ears?"
"Yep!"
"How many targets?"
"Ok, you're on lane #9".

Done deal. That's how it should be. No disclaimers. No licenses. No searches. No trigger locks. No tethers. No, "OMG this guy has a gun! Security!!"

That's the same Bass Pro I called to ask if they allow Wolf ammo an their range, guy asked "is it full metal jacket?" I said yes. He says "we don't allow full metal jacket."

Yeah, on their legal disclaimer page there are some absurd caliber rules, too. Also, no firing from holster, no "rapid fire", no firing from a drawing position... only slow isosceles fire. More rules than I have ever seen at any range (so many I can't remember all of them). The only sign we saw at the entrance was, "All firearms must be in a case" (which ours was).

What you want is the pit. Its an absolutely free range on state land

Yeah, I'm thinking that'll be one of my ranges of choice from now on. Free and no stupid range rules.

 

[Loucks]

I thought that was pretty common. I have to check in my guns for gun shows and the city indoor ranges require DL to use the range (EDIT) and I have to sign a waiver too.

That's been the case for me too, but if I check in a gun at a show around here they just open the action and slip a plastic zip tie through. I can't imagine allowing someone to put a lock on any firearm of mine.

Of course, I would've walked when they first started freaking out. I don't need that kind of hasle. Sorry the OP had to deal with it.

 

[71Commander]

I shoot at the Auburn Hills store a lot. I have never had a problem either at the door while checking in or upstairs at the counter. I have shot my UZI, FAL, and AR without problems. In fact, they sell AR's now.

If you don't have a CCW, they will put a lock on the gun downstairs and take it off at the range. If you do have a CCW, they do nothing. You can carry it loaded through the store. I have shot with no bag. Walked in the range, pulled my carry gun and shot. Loaded it back up and left.

It does get busy so a reservation is suggested. Cost is 10.00 per hour.

Every person that I have met at that store is pro gun and CCW.

 

[Molon Labe]

Yet another justification for joining a private shooting club.

Yet another justification for buying 20 acres of land...

 

[2400]

So, I go back there, and the guy tells me to empty out my range bag, and he starts rummaging through it messing everything up. Then he starts taking inventory and telling me that this is no big deal... it's just so that I don't steal anything.

First, he takes out my gun in the middle of the entry way with people walking inches by through the turnstyles as he's muzzle flashing everyone in the store!

the door guy, who unlocked all the crap he put on, and finally we got our gun back and left. He tries to play Mr. Niceguy and say that he doesn't agree with the policies

When you write your letter be sure and mention how much you liked be thought of as a thief. Don't forget about you and the rest of the store being swept by their door/security guys poor muzzle control.

You might also mention their door/security guy doesn't agree with their stupid policies.

Leave out "So I tell him his anti-gun violations of my privacy and blah, blah, blah, I'm a criminal for bringing in a gun" crap. You'll probably get a better responce that way.

 

[Mannlicher]

Juna, sounds like somebody needs to grow up a little.

 

[I LIKE IT!]

TO HELL WITH IN-DOOR RANGES....ENOUGH SAID.

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

There is a Bass Pro coming up across the state line and I'm gonna have to see what their policies are and if they have a shooting range. I certainly hope they don't have any stupidity like what you're talking about.

 

['Card]

Somehow I think we may be going just a tad overboard calling a business that sells guns and ammunition "anti-gun".

They may be lousy at running a range, and they may have to have jumped through all sorts of insane hoops and had to agree to some idiotic things to be allowed to put a range in a mall, but that doesn't make them "anti-gun". It just makes them bad business owners.

There's a car dealership down the road from my house that has a hideous reputation, lousy service department, lots of high pressure sales tactics that scare people off, and their cars are over-priced. Does that make them "anti-car"? No. It just makes them a bad car dealership.

 

[Dorryn]

TO HELL WITH IN-DOOR RANGES....ENOUGH SAID.

Easy to say if you live in Arizona.

 

[Evil Monkey]

Oh you guys are talking about Target Sports now? They don't let you bring your own rifle ammo! And they overcharge for theirs!!! Damn, they don't want you to bring AP ammo? HOW HARD IS IT TO GET A MAGNET!

You see the guns they carry? They are all set at MSRP and up. They have a bunch of ninja AR15 rifles for $1200.........and then you see plain jane 16" AR's for.........$1200!?!?

They got 2 Yugo AKS rifles from Century. They usually go for $450-550, Target sells theirs for $700.:banghead:

Their website says that you have to buy their rifle ammo because of the many types of foreign ammo in circulation (some might be AP). OK then, go and get the same rifle ammo they sell to you from some where else that's cheaper and ask if they will let you use them, since it's "for the safety of the surrounding community of Royal Oak". Let's see what happens.

 

[ezypikns]

Juna, do you want to report a personal experience....

which I agree, was unpleasant at best, or are you just looking for folks to agree with your postion versus Bass Pro Shops?

I'm going to copy my previous post here in case anyone who was so consumed with outrage might have missed it.

I shoot at the Bass Pro out by DFW Airport regularly.

I have always been treated courteously, and my guns have never been mishandled or my range bag searched. Yes, they do ask that you stop at the entrance and if your pistol/revolver is not open, they will check the action to make sure it isn't loaded before they put a gun lock on it. I have personally seen the store employees check two UNLOADED weapons, only to have a live round eject from the chamber. They lock EVERY firearm coming into the store, including rifles or shotguns going to the gunsmith or rifle range (yes, they even have a single bay rifle range). Evidently the management at my store carefully trains anyone who is going to handle a customer's firearm, and insist on safe handling as well.
The only exception to the locking of weapons is their policy towards concealed carry licensees. I was told by a manager at MY store that I did NOT need to check my carry weapon, and that the store PARTICULARLY welcomes those who carry legally. I only check weapons in my range bag. I NEVER check my carry weapon.
It sounds as if you had a bad experience, and the employees made it worse by being incompetent. I would definitely talk to the manager. The only way they know that they've screwed up is to let them know.
I don't think any store that welcomes concealed carry can be called 'anti-gun'.

 

[ceetee]

I've only shot at the Bass Pro in South Florida once. My experience was similar to Juno's except... I was shooting a .22 rifle I had just bought at another store, and I figured I may as well run another hundred through my CCW. When I got up to the range, all the girl said was, "Nobody checked you in? You're supposed to get checked in at the front door." No hollering for security or anything. I can see as how they would want you to have a zip tie or something closing up your range bag, though. Not calling YOU a thief, but as long as everybody's range bag gets a zip tie, then nobody gets called a thief, eh?

Oh, and after she checked in my rifle, she asked, "Where's your pistol?" I just patted my waist, and she said, "Oh. Ummm.... oh. I see."

Not an unpleasant day at the range, but it could've been better. If I was gonna build the range, I would've given it an entrance right to the outside, where you could come and go without traipsing through the store. Cut out all the "shoplifting" talk right there. One good thing was you can leave your guns with their staff, and go on downstairs to pick out a variety of ammo to try out. That's a bonus. I also bought a sling to hook up to the rifle while I was down there. I prolly won't ever go back there, but I'll never say never.

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

I shoot at the original Bass Pro in Missouri, and have never had any problems. Over the years they have had a few of not the brightest employees but nothing like the hassles you went through. Several of those stupid rules they have are due to accidents on the range and a couple of the big ones were their own employees screwing up big time on the range. The reason for trigger locks is because you have the gun out of its holster and are walking through a store, not everyone has a range bag or a case for their firearm and they will let you carry them through the store not in a case, they just want trigger locks on them. If you have a ccw they assume it will stay concealed and not be played with.

Also the owners name is Johnny Morris.

 

[EricTheBarbarian]

Ive never been treated at a range that bad but buying ammo at stores like wal mart and miejer ive had some aggravating instances. Having to be escorted out of the store and treated like a criminal. treating me like a criminal is something that really pisses me off. The lady at the register asked me what i was going to shoot with the ammo i was buying. I told her the aliens were attacking tonight, she didnt say another word.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Free and no stupid range rules.

Well, there's always the Four. But that should be all that's ever needed.

 

[Super Trucker]

Sounds like a bad experiance. I have been to the store but not the range. Just about every indoor range in SE MI I have been to does require a DL while you shoot though.

 

[Juna]

I was looking to see if other people thought this was just me or whether the store's policy is bad. Sure, I was probably venting a bit with my original post, but having had some time to think about it, I'm still very much against their policies. I don't think I overreacted a bit. I'm a pretty level-headed guy, and it takes a lot to rattle my cage.

Somehow I think we may be going just a tad overboard calling a business that sells guns and ammunition "anti-gun".

To those who think that my stating that this BPS is anti-gun is overboard... Isn't it these kinds of "common sense" gun restrictions that have infringed our IIA rights more than anything else? These fallacies that somehow putting a trigger lock on my guns is going to stop me from shooting someone if I were so inclined? The idea of being treated as a potential criminal simply because I'm in posession of a firearm? How are these policies NOT anti-gun? If they were more pro-gun, they'd have decided it wasn't worth putting up a range in a mall to jump through these hoops, and they'd have put up a free standing store, instead (or built a separate entrance, at least). IMO, they fall under the category of pro-hunting, anti-gun for all other purposes. I'm not fooled.

I mean, I got by the guy TWICE with a whole range bag. I could easily have CCW'd in there (legally or illegally) and gone nuts (though that would be extremely stupid). A determined criminal will find ways around Brady-type restrictions like this. Regulating inanimate objects doesn't make up for personal responsibility and human actions. Isn't this why we're against anti-gun laws like this? I mean BPS is the one who was determined to put a shooting range IN A MALL. It would have made more sense to put up a free-standing store. There are tons of other huge stores around GLC, anyway, and they'd have had far fewer hoops to jump through themselves in building it.

I realize that they sell guns and have a shooting range. But, selling guns and having "common sense" anti-gun corporate policies are not mutually exclusive. Secondly, for those of you who think I'm overreacting, wouldn't building a SEPARATE ENTRANCE FOR THE RANGE be a MUCH better idea than muzzle flashing everyone in the store (or not putting a range in a mall in the first place)??

Juna, sounds like somebody needs to grow up a little.

Opinion noted, but I honestly fail to see how I'm being juvenile about this. I really found their policies (in addition to being annoying & offensive, blah, blah, etc.) to be UNSAFE! My gun would have been much safer in its closed case in my closed range bag until I got inside the range itself (not muzzle flashing people in a mall).

The more I think about it, allowing corporations like this to make us jump through hoops just to shoot is telling them that it's OK. If we stood up in unison against policies like this, perhaps we'd get somewhere. Most people tend to be complacent, though. I can't say that I didn't used to be complacent, but the more I age, I find blind complacency to be juvenile and dangerous. It how Brady-type "common sense" gun laws are whittling away our IIA rights and attempting to equate "gun owner" with "criminal" such that we're treated like BPS treated me.

Oh you guys are talking about Target Sports now?

I like their range, but I don't buy guns there. As you said, they're WAAAY overpriced, and I find their sales people to be difficult to deal with (i.e. used car salesmen). But they've always let me use my own ammo as long as it's not in their guns (rentals). I've never had to give a DL there to shoot, nor have I at another local range I frequent (except when renting a gun, which I can understand). Their range policies are much more sound, not to mention safer. I wish Midwest Ordnance had a range, cuz they're the best shop around, IMO.... Pretty good prices, and great guys to deal with. I've never been disappointed there.

 

[ezypikns]

I like them, you don't.

That's fair. You had a bad experience. They handled the situation badly, and treated you badly and embarassed you too.

I don't mind adhering to their policies, especially the store which I patronize. They are courteous and have never mishandled my firearms or behaved in an unsafe manner. It costs me 8.00 to shoot for a couple of hours in a clean, well lighted range. I can shoot my reloads there. Most other indoor ranges in my area charge 15.00 an hour. Several won't allow me to shoot reloaded ammo. A few are filthy with awful lighting. If you'll read my previous post, you'll see that I don't have to check my carry weapon there, and that they welcome concealed carry folks. Sure, you don't have to jump through any hoops to shoot at our outdoor ranges here, but once again, the range fees are about twice what Bass Pro charges.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but to make the blanket statement, 'Bass Pro is Anti-Gun', seems a little extreme to me.

 

[71Commander]

In all fairness to the Auburn Hills store, I have shot there about 50 times and 99% of the time, there was a lady at the check in counter as you walk in the store. She is nice. You may have had her lunch replacement.

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

To judge a corporation by one store is like judging all gun owners by a couple of gun owners. To get a better feel for a corporation, go to stores around their headquarters and take a look at them because that is where you will see management enforce company policy.

Go to a Wal Mart in north AR or southern MO and you will see that Wal Mart is not anti-gun, I may not agree with everything they do but they are not anti-gun, the same with Bass Pro, you do not have to like everything they do but that does not mean they are anti-gun.

 

[GarandOwner]

I can understand that it is a hassle, and Im sure the fact that it was your second time trying to go there had alot to do with adding to you aggrevation.

But Im sure most of their policies have to do with the INSURACE they have for the range, thats where most "lame" rules come in. More-so because this one is a shooting range inside a shopping mall. Usually the insurance companies have strict guidelines the companies have to follow in order to keep insured.

A few posts seemed to not like that they "require" you to unload your firearm prior to entering even if you have a concealed weapons permit......this goes for just about every gun store I have ever been in, you have to enter with your gun unloaded. If there is a sign that says "no loaded wepons" your concealed weapons permit doesnt make you above the policy. If you dont like it.

 

[carterbeauford]

What do you guys think of all this?

I was hoping it was some sort of cruel joke.

Would you shoot here?

No. I would not have consented to a search, grabbed my stuff and **** of there by any means necessary.

 

[pete f]

I shoot at a couple of local ranges, Every time i go, it is hand over the license, sign a copy of the rules and pay the lady. A buddy asked once why they collected the license when they paid up front. She said it was to have a way to ID the body if you pop yourself. She said it had happened twice in the first couple of years the place was open, People walk in, buy ammo and go end themselves. Both times the body had no ID, so she started to collect ID. I have no problem with that. For a while they were on a "no steel or aluminum" cases kick, but that has stopped.

I would never shoot at a place where the RO or anyone feels they have to handle my guns, They want to Zip tie my bag shut, that is fine, but a loaded gun in holster in a zipped up gun rug inside a range bag does not need to be handled. And yes I often carry loaded guns. There is no way in heck some minimum wage flunky at the front desk is going to slap a one size fit all trigger lock on my Python, pre war Colt or registered Magnum S&W. If BPS wanted to run the show better, give the range a private entrance, easy enough to do if they planned better.

The Cabela's and Gander's here have a sign at the door. All firearms must be cased and checked at the front door, however this does not apply to weapons carried under a carry permit. The intent is to prevent joe hunter from wandering in carrying his broken A5 under his arm and having a mistake happen. Lets face it, we have all been in gun shops when a guy who handles the gun twice a year brings it in and starts covering everyone with the muzzle while describing that he can not get the safety off and there is a shell stuck in the chamber. We all just about die when we see that, imagine the poor girl at the front counter. just put it in the case and let the Gunsmith take a look at it.

 

[Juna]

Being inconvenient is not the same as being anti-gun.

I beg to differ. The Brady laws, AWB 10 round only mags, waiting periods, purchase permits, CPLs, quotas of guns bought per month, etc. are all inconvenient AND infringe on our IIA rights (hence, are anti-gun). These things get passed along & sold to the public as "inconvenient" by the antis, but before you know it, guns will be illegal if you allow "inconveniences" to be imposed on your rights.