Gun in the face at the range

[4D5]

Well I was at the range today and shot some but didn't do too well after having an 8 year old three tables over turn and hold a pistol at me where I was sitting way back of the line loading magazines, stupid parents, at least I think parents as there was a man and woman there with the kid. The dad was busy shooting and the mom? was not paying much attetion. And she was the one who the kid turned around to talk to and she didn't do anything until...

In a really strong voice I commanded him to point the gun down range. I was afraid to yell because he might have got excited and pulled the trigger. All I could see was the HUGE end of a .22 that looked like the size of a Howizer.

I'd already heard him get chastised by someone on the other side of him about keeping the gun pointed down range. That same stranger gave the kid some eye protection which he wasn't using at the time and shortly after didn't use that given to him. I should have packed up and left right then and there but I didn't.

When I do go I always get at one end of the bay so I only have to watch to one side. Today that didn't make a difference.

This range is county maintained but no RO and is pretty much open for any and everything. It's a nice place too shoot but not to die.

A few months ago I was there (I don't go there very often) and there was a cease fire to check targets, two wanta be gang bangers were there with an AR, one changing targets and the other at the line. Guy on the line starts screwing with the AR and I said you shouldn't touch guns during cease fiire, is that thing clear. Well he pulls the bolt back, out comes a round and in goes another. I packed up my stuff and left because I didn't want to see anyone get shot that day at the range.

Anyway that will be my last trip to that range. I've seen too many of the 4 rules violated too many times and unsafe range procedures occur.

Eventhough I will end up by myself, I can get to BLM in 10 minutes from my house and shoot. All I need to do is get the shade structure set up for the back of the truck (was made for previous truck) and I'll have all the same setup as the range without the fear of death. That way there's no need to drive 30 min to the range and always have to be watching the line and wonder if you'll be shot today.

 

[loneviking]

Wow! Which range? Douglas or Carson? I've not had a problem yet at Carson, but Douglas has gotten a bit iffy a time or two.

 

[Regolith]

Eventhough I will end up by myself, I can get to BLM in 10 minutes from my house and shoot. All I need to do is get the shade structure set up for the back of the truck (was made for previous truck) and I'll have all the same setup as the range without the fear of death. That way there's no need to drive 30 min to the range and always have to be watching the line and wonder if you'll be shot today.

That's what I do when I'm down there. That way I don't have to worry about crap like that.

 

[bobbarker]

I am so damn glad that I've never had to go to a public range to shoot. With lots of property and fields around us, I've been able to shoot with friends and family only, don't have to worry about a bunch of idiots.

 

[COMPNOR]

Eh, depends on the range I guess. I find it hard to believe that ranges(and i mean ranges, not empty fields) where there is no range official in sight. Seems like too much of a liability for me.

The public range I'm at is very safety conscience, always has someone watching(not always on the line, but watching), and individual booths.

 

[Win75]

I shoot at a private range/gun club and still have idiots to contend with. I have had several incidents with kids and adults that are too lengthy to get into here. I have reported these to the board.

 

[Jeff F]

4D5, my buddy told me there have been like six killings at that Flint Rd range over the past five or six years and they were not accidental. Best to not go there by yourself.

 

[Bud Tugly]

I own 80 acres of remote wooded land where I can go out and shoot whenever I want. I've never shot at a range, and I feel bad for you folks who have no other options.

Sounds like a very scary situation.

 

[762 shooter]

When I see unsafe conditions at my public range I first work my way to the offender by staying clear of any dangerous areas, then start up a conversation about what type of gun they have, then as nicely as possible explain what safety rule they are breaking. I would expect that most of them have never had simple safety procedures explained to them and the reasons behind them. Yelling and calling them unsafe idiots, shuts down any receptiveness. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the younger ones "got the gun bug" from the TV or Internet. How many places are available to the newby for human to human safety instruction?

I may have been lucky, but every one I have talked to in this regard has shown appreciation and a willingness to abide by the rules. My results may be skewed because I try to go during a weekday and never on the weekend.

The OP tried to save them. Some shooters would leave. In my younger days I would hesitate to comment because I wasn't confident in my expertise or I thought the offender probably knew more than I did. Safe is safe.

YMMV

 

[scrat]

Wow so you have been to Burro Canyon too. i think we all have ranges like that. its sad they really need to be monitored correctly. last think we need is more ranges closed

 

[jackstinson]

This is why I was happy when the local state park range hired a full time RO and changed it's rules. Sure, we give up being able to dump a 30-round magazine as fast as possible....but we gained a lot more in everyone's general safety. No more bozos launching practice grenades at old TV's or popping tracers into gas cans.
About the only rule imposed which for some folks might be considered hard to follow, is the 3-rapid-shots maximum. But this still enables one to practice double and triple taps.

 

[PirateRadio]

I once turned around at a local indoor range and was looking down the barrel of a .50AE Desert Eagle. Unpleasant...

 

[nambu1]

All the public ranges in my area have closed. I belong to fantastic private on with 3 ranges for rifle, 1 for pistol, and a trap range.

 

[jrfoxx]

That type of thing (although I have never personally ever seen it at a range) is why I suck it up and drive 1hr each way to a nice spot I found in the middle of the national forest. Free, always open, no one else to worry about, and I can shoot/practice whatever I want, however I want. Couldnt be better. I'll admit, with the high gas prices, I dont go as often as I'd like, but thats life.

 

[chris in va]

I took a friend's kid out to the local outdoor range last year. We sat him down and gave him the 4 laws, explaining why and how they work.

He really enjoyed my HiPoint carbine 9mm, but got a little carried away so his dad had him do something else the remainder of the trip.

I always be sure all my guns are unloaded after the session is over.

So we get home and I'm putting my various range gear away in my shed, turned around to find my carbine pointed at me with accompanied "BANG BANG" sound effects from the kid, and a big grin.

I about lost it. That kid got a good talking to from me and a spanking from his father.

 

[ceetee]

Let me be the first to say, "I wish I had your problems." Where I live, every range within a reasonable driving distance is owned by the attached gun store. Not only do you have to put up with their rules (like "one shot every three seconds"), you have to buy your ammo from them, at their (horribly inflated) prices.

Either that, or you have to drive over 90 minutes (each way) to an outdoor range, still put up with their odd rules ("we don't allow any of them commie rifles here"), and you still have to watch your back for all the safety violations. I think I'd rather have it your way, and just always remember to bring along a shooting buddy.

 

[g.willikers]

They're everywhere:

At public range -
Guy next bench over has bolt out of his deer rifle. I ask if it's safe to go down to put up a target. He says ok, puts bolt back in and fires one off when I'm about 1/4 of the way downrange, right past me. Very breezy.

Another "Is it ok to go downrange" - Guy puts a round from a 30-06 into two targets from mine - when I'm down at the target patching holes.

At private club -
Father and son on the rifle range. Son is competent with fast shootin' carbine. Father wants to do it, too. His rounds go up and over the backstop, into the river behind that's full of boaters. Almost got the club closed down.

At a steel match - sign clearly says "No jacketed bullets on steel targets!"
Guy uses jacketed bullets, one piece of jacket comes straight back and imbeds itself in the bridge of my nose, about a fraction of an inch from the left eye. Required pliers to get it out. Lots of blood and lucky to have my sight.

Range officer duty at practical match. Guy runs past target by mistake, retreats, goes behind me and sweeps my back with 1911. Didn't notice if he had finger on trigger. Too busy ducking.

Lots more, enough for now.
They are everywhere.

 

[SFvet]

Well when my friends and I go shooting we just take turns being the RO - whoever is not shooting. Having someone watching also helps the shooters out by seeing something you dont.

 

[JWarren]

They're everywhere:

At public range -
Guy next bench over has bolt out of his deer rifle. I ask if it's safe to go down to put up a target. He says ok, puts bolt back in and fires one off when I'm about 1/4 of the way downrange, right past me. Very breezy.

Another "Is it ok to go downrange" - Guy puts a round from a 30-06 into two targets from mine - when I'm down at the target patching holes.

At private club -
Father and son on the rifle range. Son is competent with fast shootin' carbine. Father wants to do it, too. His rounds go up and over the backstop, into the river behind that's full of boaters. Almost got the club closed down.

At a steel match - sign clearly says "No jacketed bullets on steel targets!"
Guy uses jacketed bullets, one piece of jacket comes straight back and imbeds itself in the bridge of my nose, about a fraction of an inch from the left eye. Required pliers to get it out. Lots of blood and lucky to have my sight.

Range officer duty at practical match. Guy runs past target by mistake, retreats, goes behind me and sweeps my back with 1911. Didn't notice if he had finger on trigger. Too busy ducking.

Lots more, enough for now.
They are everywhere.

Holy crap...


You seriously need to get a second mortgage and buy your own land to shoot on. The universe seems to be out to get you!


-- John

 

[Zip7]

Holy bejesus at all that...

I live near a really great outdoor range - It's in the middle of nowhere, and while you can only go 100 yards on the rifle range, it's very safe, no nonsense, and the RO's are friendly and competent.

Pistol range is separate - 25 yards, falling plates, and a separate rimfire section with some silhouettes. And you can bring your own 22 spinner targets or whatever.

There's a not so great privately owned range right around the corner from me. But the good one is run by a non profit org and is about 20 miles away

 

[siglite]

I had a guy trying to deal with a malfunction on a .45 about four benches down. Swept me a couple of times and I didn't say anything. But when he was messing with it, and I could steadily see down the bore, "Hey buddy! I'd feel a lot more comfortable if that thing wasn't pointed at my head!"

Guy was embarrassed and got things pointed downrange real quick.

I wish people would think.

 

[VARifleman]

Range officer duty at practical match. Guy runs past target by mistake, retreats, goes behind me and sweeps my back with 1911. Didn't notice if he had finger on trigger. Too busy ducking.

That guy was out of line, but so were you by not anticipating the moving back and getting out of the way. I'd have pushed you back with my shoulder and demanded a reshoot.

 

[Defensory]

Most public ranges suck.

I belong to a private range and I shoot on weekdays, when there are usually very few people there.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Generally speaking I almost never see those problems and when I do the military in me comes out. "Do me a big favor sir and point that weapon up and down range" as it is laying on the firing line.
For the ranges I belong to we nip it in the bud.

 

[bannockburn]

SFvet

That's pretty much the way my buddy and I do it. When he's shooting, I spot for him and watch the firing line. He does the same for me when I shoot. It's a public range, no RO, but so far everyone observes the safety rules (at least when I've been there), and there haven't been any incidents. Still it's always a good idea to have someone else along to watch your 6.