Eye and ear protection "recommended"

[SC Shooter]

All ranges thatI have ever been to require eye & ear protection. If you don't have your own, they will provide it, but it's mandatory

 

[oneounceload]

The PRIVATE ranges/club require eyes and ears, but the PUBLIC ones do not

 

[Tom609]

A public club in my area was closed two years ago when a round allegedly escaped the range. The club got assistance from the NRA to make improvements and eventually reopened. One obvious change was that the signage no longer said that ear and eye protection was "required." Instead it said "recommended." I was told that this was one of the recommendations made by the NRA Team. I never could get an answer as to why.

 

[barnbwt]

I could see such definitive language as "required" placing an implied burden of enforcement on the range, as compared to "recommended." Sort of like the "at your own risk" signs in nature areas put up because there's no way the park could actually enforce safe practices effectively or guarantee the safe travel of visitors.

"Grey" is gold in legal matters

TCB

 

[tuna]

I'd offer my spare sets. The father just to be nice, but I'd probably be a little pushy about the kid taking them.

I read an article when I was 13 about tinnitus in the American Rifleman. I realized that the ringing that wouldn't go away was an actual problem and have worn them ever since, but the damage was already done. My father had never worn hearing protection, and yelling was his standard volume. Not in anger, just being loud enough to hear himself. Despite wearing protection since age 13 (30 years ago), my hearing has deteriorated significantly (being in the Air Force may have something to do with that, too).

As for eye protection, when I first started wearing glasses, it was an off / and on thing as a kid. (Around 14 - 15) One day when out shooting, I had a .25 Bauer that my dad had. When I fired it, I felt something hit me in the face, and a piece of the casing (as far as I could figure) hit me in the lens. By chance, I had worn eyeglasses, and it probably saved my eye. I've had other hits to the glasses - maybe not all of them would have hit my eyeball, but its cheap insurance.

 

[Yetiman]

All indoor ranges I use and most (but not all) out door ranges do also.

I admit that if I am alone at the range shooting match grade .22LR ammo in a rifle I won't wear ear protection, and I am pretty adamment about wearing it.
The gun is so quiet that I want to be able to hear if someone drives into the lot.

 

[stonecutter2]

Are you guys aware of any other public ranges without mandatory eye/ear protection?

We don't have public ranges here in Illinois, that I know of at least. They're private ranges you pay to shoot at (maybe that's the kind of place you're talking about).

That said, i'd expect it to be a requirement for everyone's safety to wear eye/ear protection.

If anyone isn't wearing eye protection and catches brass in their face or eye, muzzle control can get lost and endanger others.

I've been saved by eye protection a couple of times. I've forgotten to put in a plug or put on my cans a couple of times - I wasn't happy with the results. I wear it all of the time. I treasure my eyesight and hearing.

Keep some cheap plugs and glasses in your range bag...offer it to those less wise. Tell them to keep them. I get the cheapo Lowe's eye protection in various shades and buy plugs by the bunch.

 

[stonecutter2]

A public club in my area was closed two years ago when a round allegedly escaped the range. The club got assistance from the NRA to make improvements and eventually reopened. One obvious change was that the signage no longer said that ear and eye protection was "required." Instead it said "recommended." I was told that this was one of the recommendations made by the NRA Team. I never could get an answer as to why.

My guess is this:

Legally, if you say it's required and they don't wear it and get injured - you're on the line because you didn't enforce it and allowed an unsafe environment.

If it's recommended, and they get injured by not wearing it, hey you recommended it and they assumed the risk of injury by not heeding the recommendation.

 

[purple82]

I guess the RO didn't say anything since the rule book said "strongly recommended" and not "eye and ear protection required." Maybe next time politely just recommend or suggest the dad and son to wear the protection.