ken grant
Member
L.E. Range Use
Do not let them put public tax money into the range. If they do,it means the public can use it.
Do not let them put public tax money into the range. If they do,it means the public can use it.
Cops at the gun club
- Thread starter ebd10
- Start date
- Status
Lupinus
Member
I'd go with let them in, maybe have it sectioned off from them at certian times preferably the slower ones like middle of the day durring a work week, but most of the time let them pick a lane like everyone else had too, last time I was at the range I waited a haf hour for a lane, ranges get packed as it is.
geekWithA.45
Moderator Emeritus
COOL! That means I can drive a tank and borrow an M-16!
We give free range time to any of the local departments that want it.
They show up very rarely, usually only to qualify, hardly ever to practice, so they have a very limited impact on the other users. (The typical pattern is that a Sgt. brings 2 or 3 to the range in the morning, has them shoot whatever course of fire they use for qualifications. They don't qualify. Sgt. hollers at them a bit, then goes to lunch while the 2 or 3 officers practice for a few hours. Sgt. returns in middle of the afternoon, and then the officers "qualify". And a good time is had by all!)
The biggest advantage we get is that when they bring out their Full Auto stuff, we can usually get a little trigger time in on them.
They show up very rarely, usually only to qualify, hardly ever to practice, so they have a very limited impact on the other users. (The typical pattern is that a Sgt. brings 2 or 3 to the range in the morning, has them shoot whatever course of fire they use for qualifications. They don't qualify. Sgt. hollers at them a bit, then goes to lunch while the 2 or 3 officers practice for a few hours. Sgt. returns in middle of the afternoon, and then the officers "qualify". And a good time is had by all!)
The biggest advantage we get is that when they bring out their Full Auto stuff, we can usually get a little trigger time in on them.
MrTwigg
Member
At the club I belong to
I was told we let the local P.D. use the range. Sometimes it's just one or two, at others it's a whole class. No problems I'm aware of.
I was told we let the local P.D. use the range. Sometimes it's just one or two, at others it's a whole class. No problems I'm aware of.
Let's change things around. There is an LAPD shooting range, in San Pedro, CA, that is also open to the public. The rangemasters are LAPD officers.
There are 2 sections of shooting ranges....one specifically for LE and the other for the public. Both sections are about the same size.
The LAPD officers are REQUIRED to qualify, so their section is never opened up to the public. If the LEO section gets crowded with officers needing to qualify, the public section is NEVER opened up for them. So far, does that sound fair enough? I'll add that, if the public section is crowded, they are NOT allowed to use the LEO section for any over-flow.
The range costs are QUITE reasonable for the public, and the range is VERY popular. For that matter, there are probably more shooters per day at the public section than there are at the LEO side.
Trash? Oh, my! The PUBLIC section has at least 5 times the amount of trash, but that may be due to the amount of shooters on the public side. I'll have to add that the LEO side is "policed-up" by the officers who shoot. For the most part, the public side isn't THAT trashy at the end of the day, but it only takes a few irresponsible people to make things look bad.
ALL shooting ranges need to have liability insurance! In the case of the LAPD San Pedro range, the insurance is "bonded" by the City of Los Angeles. The public section is also "bonded", but you can be sure that the City of Los Angeles would go after a negligent, irresponsible shooter!
Overall, the "blend" of the LEO and public using that range has been VERY positive. The LAPD officer rangemasters are relatively low-key, but they keep the range going smoothly, and it is usually a very comfortable atmosphere for both the LEO's and the public.
I'd suggest that you try to "contract" one section of your gun club range to your local police agency.
It might benefit your club AND the police agency!
While you're at it, you might want to try to get an officer assigned as an additional rangemaster, to have the "authority" over the LEO's that would use the range. Heck, you'd have your own police officer on the premises if something happened!
You just have to set up some RULES, for both the LEO's and the public!
There are 2 sections of shooting ranges....one specifically for LE and the other for the public. Both sections are about the same size.
The LAPD officers are REQUIRED to qualify, so their section is never opened up to the public. If the LEO section gets crowded with officers needing to qualify, the public section is NEVER opened up for them. So far, does that sound fair enough? I'll add that, if the public section is crowded, they are NOT allowed to use the LEO section for any over-flow.
The range costs are QUITE reasonable for the public, and the range is VERY popular. For that matter, there are probably more shooters per day at the public section than there are at the LEO side.
Trash? Oh, my! The PUBLIC section has at least 5 times the amount of trash, but that may be due to the amount of shooters on the public side. I'll have to add that the LEO side is "policed-up" by the officers who shoot. For the most part, the public side isn't THAT trashy at the end of the day, but it only takes a few irresponsible people to make things look bad.
ALL shooting ranges need to have liability insurance! In the case of the LAPD San Pedro range, the insurance is "bonded" by the City of Los Angeles. The public section is also "bonded", but you can be sure that the City of Los Angeles would go after a negligent, irresponsible shooter!
Overall, the "blend" of the LEO and public using that range has been VERY positive. The LAPD officer rangemasters are relatively low-key, but they keep the range going smoothly, and it is usually a very comfortable atmosphere for both the LEO's and the public.
I'd suggest that you try to "contract" one section of your gun club range to your local police agency.
It might benefit your club AND the police agency!
While you're at it, you might want to try to get an officer assigned as an additional rangemaster, to have the "authority" over the LEO's that would use the range. Heck, you'd have your own police officer on the premises if something happened!
You just have to set up some RULES, for both the LEO's and the public!
Pilgrim
Member
My former department does not have a range. The department contracts (pays money) with two gun clubs in the county for range usage. It is a business relationship. There are no 'freebies'.
Pilgrim
Pilgrim
The club I belong to....
used to let the local police depts use the range for training, etc. That did not last long because of the damage to the range caused by the shooters. There are/were holes shot in the benches, roof, supports and baffles, destroyed target frames and zero housekeeping, aka pick up brass and trash and store away equipment used......chirs3
used to let the local police depts use the range for training, etc. That did not last long because of the damage to the range caused by the shooters. There are/were holes shot in the benches, roof, supports and baffles, destroyed target frames and zero housekeeping, aka pick up brass and trash and store away equipment used......chirs3
the benefit depends on the circumstances. if the local law enforcement agencies dont have a range of their own then letting them use yours can pay dividends when anti gunners try to shut down the range. this is the situation in my area. anti gunners have tried to get our one and only gun range shut down for many years and the only thing that has really prevented them from doing so is neither the city nor the county want to spend the money to build LEO only ranges.
Nathaniel Firethorn
Member
Too many clubs go under when suburbs are built around them, and the suburbatronic units are shocked, SHOCKED! to discover that they've moved in next door to a... a... a GUN CLUB!!! Where people SHOOT BULLETS out of LOADED GUNS!!!!!! 
OTOH, if it's a police range, the eloi dare not interfere.
I'd say do it, but get an agreement from the municipality that said municipality will be equally liable for damages arising from nuisance suits.
- NF
OTOH, if it's a police range, the eloi dare not interfere.
I'd say do it, but get an agreement from the municipality that said municipality will be equally liable for damages arising from nuisance suits.
- NF
PaulBk
Member
LEO
A number of different LEO agencies use our range for practice and quals. When they are done, the range is spotless. Much cleaner than after our 'regular' sessions.
-PB
A number of different LEO agencies use our range for practice and quals. When they are done, the range is spotless. Much cleaner than after our 'regular' sessions.
-PB
Crosshair
Member
Been there, done that, need to buy a gun chambered in 40 S&W so I can use all this "free" brass.
Mabee a 4095 Carbine.Meplat
Member
Optical, we may have actually agreed with one another.
The range I used to belong to didn't have a separate area for LEO's, but did have qualifiying times set aside for them, as well as qualifying times set aside for National Guard informal competition teams, security company training, as well as events just for pistol, rifle and shotgun.
Sometimes I loaded up and headed out without first consulting my calander, but in most cases, far from being disappointed at not getting to shoot, I was able to mill around behind the firing lines, make new shooting acquantances, and just generally soak up the atmosphere.
Was fortunate enough to meet a couple of world class LE competitors who shared some darn good shooting tips, a couple of class III tax stamp holders who delighted in initiating someone into "rock and roll" fire, wingshots who helped me improve my odds on the dove field and in the quail coveys...what a list.
I never once saw a problem with these events in terms of damage to property, uncivil behavior, or any of the fears cited above. Then again, most of the LEO's were trained under the watchful (and sometimes baleful) eye of the range owner during his (long) stint as the firearms instructor at the police and Highway Patrol academies. Kind, gentle old guy who made his former trainees quake. lol
The range I belong to now has no separate facilities either, but chances are that if you have any company at all while there, those chances are good that it is going to be either a local LEO or the Chief of Police (a man who I like immensely, and one who treats my son with respect and dignity). He even lets the boy shoot his highly modded .38 Super from time to time. And he treats the range like it was his own living room. What's not to like?
Our club allows many different law enforcement agencies the use of range facilities.
They don't bother anyone. And, as far as I know, there haven't been any problems with them being there. I have heard one person complain that they don't police up their brass after they shoot however.
But, our club is plenty big enough that they can do this and it doesn't interfere with anyone else's enjoyment of the facility. Other than the fact that they are driving through the facility in marked patrol cars, you wouldn't know they were there.
They don't bother anyone. And, as far as I know, there haven't been any problems with them being there. I have heard one person complain that they don't police up their brass after they shoot however.
But, our club is plenty big enough that they can do this and it doesn't interfere with anyone else's enjoyment of the facility. Other than the fact that they are driving through the facility in marked patrol cars, you wouldn't know they were there.
Lobotomy Boy
Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2004
- Messages
- 2,449
Yo, 444, check your messages and email.
XDKingslayer
member
Hopefully I'm getting this in before the vote...
I can tell a lot of people here at THR are against this. I'm for it. And because of one reason and one reason only. The Sheriff's Dept. down here in Ft. Myers just built a new indoor range. One of the best ranges in the area. Although it is theirs, and their property, they have opened half of it to the public.
Why not do the same for them somewhere in retribution?
I can tell a lot of people here at THR are against this. I'm for it. And because of one reason and one reason only. The Sheriff's Dept. down here in Ft. Myers just built a new indoor range. One of the best ranges in the area. Although it is theirs, and their property, they have opened half of it to the public.
Why not do the same for them somewhere in retribution?
Guy B. Meredith
Member
Several local ranges have considerable LEO participation. The LEOs rent range time and schedule special sessions when needed like everyone else and are no problem. We have not found it necessary to dedicate any particular property for LEO use, all share IPSC/IDPA/PPC facilities.
The Richmond range offers 10 yd action pistol practice and one practice stage for public use every Saturday and many participants are LEO, whether local, state or Fed.
Chabot has PPC sessions for LEO and non-LEO participation once a month, many groups rent time through the week when the public ranges are closed.
On the other hand, the public has been able to use the Orange County California Sheriff Dept range for as long as I can remember. Took my first shooting lessons, NRA Hunter Safety course there about 48 years ago, dropped in to the now indoor range a couple years back with my revolvers on a visit with my daughter.
The Richmond range offers 10 yd action pistol practice and one practice stage for public use every Saturday and many participants are LEO, whether local, state or Fed.
Chabot has PPC sessions for LEO and non-LEO participation once a month, many groups rent time through the week when the public ranges are closed.
On the other hand, the public has been able to use the Orange County California Sheriff Dept range for as long as I can remember. Took my first shooting lessons, NRA Hunter Safety course there about 48 years ago, dropped in to the now indoor range a couple years back with my revolvers on a visit with my daughter.
- Status
