Ever run into a fake WCO?

[TheLastBoyScout]

There was this one I ran into shooting at a range in Francis Marion Nat'l Forest last year... he went all out--khaki military creased shirt, brown well creased pants, and an official looking baseball cap (that was actually the giveaway--although the crest looked believable enough to an out of stater, I kind of doubt the SC Game wardens wear baseball caps with "So and So Rod and Gun Club" on them)

Anyway, these two old farts took offense that me and my teammates had the gall to bring our black rifles, shoot from positions, and wear our BDUs (our school has a strict uniform policy--you always leave campus in uniform unless you're leaving on furlough, and obviously cammies are the best suited uniform for shooting).

They basically proceeded to ruin our range trip--proceeding to get uncomfortably close while taking digital pictures of our nametapes, faces and weapons, and photographing us as we were firing, as they threatened to report us to everyone from the local PD to the Commandant.

We wrapped up early (1 magazine or so after a 30mile each way drive) because people (including my girlfriend, 2nd time at the range, great PR there old guys) were too uncomfortable to shoot there. We also never got any consequences from that incident.

Probably had something to do with our moderator (a retired Army fullbird colonel) reporting people impersonating LEOs before they could get their own BS in

For the record, our "offenses" were as follows:

1) You military folks aren't allowed to be here on the weekends, thats civilian time to shoot. (Try to get leave from a military college for a midweek range trip... better yet, try to do anything regarding weapons in a military setting with cadet ID)

2) Proning out on the firing line and firing into targets properly sited on the backstop is "unsafe shooting"

3) So is sitting.

4) And standing.

5) Leaving steel cases around is littering (while you can barely walk without stepping on spent cases some days)


Anyway, thats MOST of why I hate old guys who interfere with other peoples' shooting so much.

 

[jefnvk]

5) Leaving steel cases around is littering

I don't care how many cases are on the range, I'll always pick mine up.

Wile I don't agree with pissing people off, gotta not be uncomfortable just telling people to screw off. All you did was to tell them that they are free to intimidate anyone that comes in.

 

[AZ_Rebel]

Anyway, thats MOST of why I hate old guys who interfere with other peoples' shooting so much.

While I regret that you had an unpleasant experience, I believe that this "rant" against "old guys" is unwarranted and against the spirit of THR. I hope the Moderators agree.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Huh. Well, the annoying busybody at the range is almost always a retired age individual for me, so I know where his rant is coming from.

Who cares though. If you aren't doing anything wrong all the guy can do is whine. Rifle reports are always louder than jabber. Carry on.

 

[308win]

Ignoring people like this is always a good strategy; they often step over the line which has consequences.

 

[REOIV]

I just ignore them, or tell them to kindly go the F*** away if they keep bothering me.

Unless they are a range master, owner of the range or law enforcement I could not care less what they are thinking or saying.

Course I think that about most people so old farts at the range are low on the list. Though usually I end up helping people with their guns, jams etc and end up talking about what they are shooting/going to hunt and what animals etc we've seen out and about.

 

[JohnBT]

"Probably had something to do with our moderator (a retired Army fullbird colonel) reporting people impersonating LEOs before they could get their own BS in"

A moderator? You lost me. Are you on a debate team or something?

John

P.S. - Ear plugs and muffs do wonders for tuning out bothersome folks.

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

IPSC/IDPA Team... moderator= liason with school admin/commandant's office and the required "adult supervision" to be a school sanctioned activity.

 

[Ed Wagner]

Had a similar experience a few years ago, firing a .45 handgun and a 12 Ga. shotgun at a local range using techniques Mandated by the Dept. I worked for. I was at the end of the range, 8 lanes away from anyone else, Never went beyond the firing line but switched weapons as was required for our upcoming quals, ( at the same range ). Older gentleman ( I am 54 ) firing a 22 handgun at paper (11 lanes away ) was going to " take me into custody " for " Didorderly and Dangerous Conduct ". He began to stutter and sweat when I showed him my ID,( Deputy Sheriff ). He left the range with great haste.

 

[Hokkmike]

If you represent the Citadel Tactical Shooting team then I would hope that you have learned, first to respect other, and especially "older", shooters. I assume that this range has clearly posted rules and that you were, in fact, following them. In this case I would politely ignore anybody in your face. As you represent something larger than yourself it would be excellent PR to pick up as many spent casing as possible, even if not required.

 

[foghornl]

"Show me your SC 'Game-N-Fish'*** Department ID RIGHT NOW! ! !"

Works well just about anywhere the 'wannabees' show up.

***Sorry, don't remember the correct department name for SC right now....Some states have names such as Game-n-Fish, Dept. Natural Resources, Fish-N- Wildlife, etc.

 

[igpoobah]

Alright, I give up. What is a WCO?

 

[ZeSpectre]

Wildlife conservation officer

 

[bluestarlizzard]

"While I regret that you had an unpleasant experience, I believe that this "rant" against "old guys" is unwarranted and against the spirit of THR. I hope the Moderators agree."

i hate to say this, but being that half the spray and pray thread is busting on young shooters, it would not be fair to have this shut down without shuting that thread down as well.
point is diffrent generations annoy one another on a regular basis, and its not fair if the younger generations can't complain if the older generation is complaining.
besides i think the point here is someone impersonating a government official.

 

[Snipe315]

Has Patrick Swayze said...

"Be polite. Until it's time to not be."

I don't give a rats a$$ if its an old guy or young punk. If they bother me at the range for no reason they are:

1. Extremely stupid to mess with a person firing or handling a loaded weapon.

2. Too stupid to mind their own business.

3. About to earn a world of hurt if they don't piss off.



If I was acting like an idiot or some noob bonehead, I'd understand someone asking me what the heck I was doing. They really should go to the range personal first to complain but I'd understand taking the bull by the horns so to speak.

If I'm following all range and safety rules (which I always do) then these idiots should LEAVE ME ALONE.

People (young and old) too often bring their pre-conceived notions and prejudices with them to the range.

 

[armedandsafe]

You attend a military school. You were in mandated uniform. You are training for military service.

"Sir, I am going to protect your right to say what you are saying and act as you are acting. If that bothers you, perhaps you should take it up with the authors of the Constitution for the United States."

Yes, I AM an old fart. Old enough to have been taught manners.

Pops

 

[WildcatRegi]

May you be so lucky to one day be an old fart

I'm an old fart if you don't mind; I've earned every day of it.

May you be so lucky as to enjoy the firearm sports long enough to become an old fart, of course then you'll probably be complaining about the young-uns who disrespect you.

 

[RPCVYemen]

1. Extremely stupid to mess with a person firing or handling a loaded weapon...
3. About to earn a world of hurt if they don't piss off.

To my mind, not a good attitude to have while in possession of a lethal weapon. Are you going to deliver a "world of hurt" because of the what someone says to you?

If you think that a legal and ethical use of firearms is to control how other people speak to you, maybe you need to dig a little deeper.

Mike

 

[RPCVYemen]

There was this one I ran into shooting at a range in Francis Marion Nat'l Forest last year..., I kind of doubt the SC Game wardens wear baseball caps with "So and So Rod and Gun Club" on them)

Actually, you may be wrong here.

While the SC Game Wardens may not wear that kind of hat, there are public facilities (in North Carolina) that are administered by local gun clubs. I think that there is a National Guard range in Butner operated on weekends by a local gun club. I know it is true in NC for at least two city/county municipal ranges I shoot at. The Outer Banks Gun Club administers a public range near Manns Harbor, and some offshoot of the Sir Walter Gun Club operates "public hours" at the Wake County range.

In some cases, the gun club is paid to administer the range, in other cases, I think the local gun club actually rents the range. They are both vehicles to permit these kinds of facilities to be open to the public. Note that - at least when I have shot at these "public but administered by a private club" facilities, the club gets to set the safety rules.

Are you 100% sure that you did not stumble into that kind of arrangement? Could the guys who you ran into have actually been doing their job?

It seems like a local club administering a range is a more likely situation than a some guys just deciding to dress up as "fake WCOs". Did the range have a name?

If it was a local club who was actually doing what the were supposed to be doing, it seems like you owe someone an apology. If so, I hope you do the right thing - we don't want to lose access to these facilities.

Mike

 

[mpmarty]

This old fart was born in January 1939 and I still enjoy spray and pray as I chase bowling pins up the hillside with my AK. I don't do this at the public range where I'm a range officer. There is a time and a place for everything, and the time and place to keep your fat lip buttoned is at the range when the folks around you are not causing any danger and are not disrupting other shooters.:banghead:

 

[Crimp]

I don't typically join bitching threads,
(deleted)
and I guess I won't join this one either...

 

[ilbob]

maybe I am more tolerant then others but i don't have it in my heart to be rude to old timers.

that does not mean i will let them hassle me, but there is a polite way to point out the folly of their ways, if indeed there is a folly.

 

[Average Joe]

give the old farts a break, it took a lifetime to get there.

 

[BobMcG]

I don't give a rats a$$ if its an old guy or young punk. If they bother me at the range for no reason they are:

1. Extremely stupid to mess with a person firing or handling a loaded weapon.

2. Too stupid to mind their own business.

3. About to earn a world of hurt if they don't piss off.

Wow. You may not realize it but you come off as a quite a hot head or at least someone with a chip on their shoulder. Try one of these...

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

Mike:

Given that local LE/ DNR personnel were VERY interested in these two men (i.e. "they may have good intentions, but they sound like they are on the wrong side of the law re:impersonating officers"), I doubt they were there legitimately.

Besides that, I've used that range 2-3 times a semester for the past 2 years (typically during high-traffic hours as those are the only times I get leave) and only ever saw them there once.


Yes, policing up my spent cases would be good PR (which I guess makes it worth doing on its own), but at that range one is ahead of the curve by retrieving whatever it was you were shooting at and putting it in the trash when you're done. Picking up brass for cleanliness purposes there seems kind of like trying to pee on a forest fire... My bad.