There was another suicide at my local gun range this week. That is a total of seven suicides at that range since 1982. Is was a man 57 years of age , divorced with two kids ages 15 and 18. The man was a friend of the range owner for over 15 years and when he came in this time they chatted for about 20 minutes and the man went to his car to retrieve a mutual friends phone number for the owner. Then he went inside the range area and proceeded to shoot of a few rounds at a target with a .22 , then put it in his mouth and pulled the trigger. Sad that it had to come to that for the guy to find peace of mind. I wish first that it did not half to be done and he would not have chosen to do it at the range. That range has to many suicides and has changed the publics outlook on that range. The owner is a great and very knowledgable guy and its sad that so many people look to that range to end there lives. I had changed memberships to a different range a few months ago because of that problem and all the other problems it has and am glad I did cus I was at my new range that day around the time it happened.
gun range suicide
- Thread starter SNEAKS
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phoglund
Member
I guess by the time you have decided on suicide such things don't matter but I have to wonder why this guy who was a friend of the range owner would chose to show so much disrespect to his friend by bringing his suicide to his doorstep.
No freakin' kidding. I can understand a person suffering from a terrible disease wanting to end it quickly, and doing so in an appropriate way. Affairs are set in order, necessary people are notified, and the final act is done in a private way that causes minimal trauma to those involved.
Walking into a range and shooting oneself in front of a friend traumatizes the poor fellow who has to watch, damages his business, and puts him through further trauma when the authorities come to investigate. And that's all before he has to clean his friend's blood off the floor. That's a pretty awful thing to do to somebody.
RedAlert
Member
Why there?
Well the post said he had two teenagers.
Perhaps, he chose the range so his kids wouldn't be the ones to find him after his death.
Is a gun range any worse a place than in a parking lot, or in a movie theater, or any other public place? I'd have to say no. At least he was reatively assured that no other person would be injured by a bullet.
There really isn't a good place to commit suicide. You always leave the mess for someone else.
RDF
Well the post said he had two teenagers.
Perhaps, he chose the range so his kids wouldn't be the ones to find him after his death.
Is a gun range any worse a place than in a parking lot, or in a movie theater, or any other public place? I'd have to say no. At least he was reatively assured that no other person would be injured by a bullet.
There really isn't a good place to commit suicide. You always leave the mess for someone else.
RDF
Cosmoline
Member
Oddly I know of no such incidents at any gun ranges around here in Alaska, but they seem to happen on a regular basis in the lower 48. Maybe it's more common at indoor ranges or something. If you want to kill yourself here you just pick a direction and start walking.
WinchesterAA
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Maybe he wanted to go out in a place he loved?
Jim March
Member
Siiiigh.
At least he was only after himself.
Very, VERY rarely one of these clowns wants somebody ELSE to shoot 'em and turns violent to cause that.
At least he was only after himself.
Very, VERY rarely one of these clowns wants somebody ELSE to shoot 'em and turns violent to cause that.
MountainPeak
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Sneaks, where is this gun range located? I don't mean to be skeptical, but hey, I'm that way!! I'm sorry about the guy's family, and what they must be going through.
It is located in Agoura Hills , Southern California. There are alot of suicides in that area because it is a wealthy place and rich peolpe lose there money and go crazy thinking its the end of the world. There even was a suicide last year were a guy drove his BMW straight into the local church at 90mph. What a place to end it.
OpFlash
Member
I don't get the whole "suicide at a gun range" thing. Is it because these guys don't own any guns of their own and they have to rent one? Why not go out in the woods somewhere?
Erebus
Member
Ever heard of suicide by cop? It's seems to be getting more and more popular.
I this was a place that he went often it may have just been a comfort thing.
Jim March
Member
I know exactly what suicide by cop is.
My point is that "suicide by fellow shooter at a public range" is (THANK YOU JESUS) far less common. Close to unheard of but not entirely
.
My point is that "suicide by fellow shooter at a public range" is (THANK YOU JESUS) far less common. Close to unheard of but not entirely
.Don't Tread On Me
Member
What a jerk. Actually, all of these people are jerks. If you want to kill yourself - no problem. You own your life - go for it. Don't ruin someone else's business. They probably have kids to feed.
I'm not a fan of lawyers and the "system"...but the owners of ranges should be able to sue suiciders or their estate for damage done to the business.
I've heard that some ranges REFUSE to rent firearms to anyone who comes in alone. They will only do it for 2 or more people.
I'm not a fan of lawyers and the "system"...but the owners of ranges should be able to sue suiciders or their estate for damage done to the business.
I've heard that some ranges REFUSE to rent firearms to anyone who comes in alone. They will only do it for 2 or more people.
That's interesting since there are more suicides per capita in AK than anywhere else in the US.
My son works in a range part time here, in San Diego.
http://www.gotammo.com/
Suicides are rare here at ranges, too. They don't allow single (alone) people off the street to rent a gun there as they've noted suicides at other ranges have walked in alone and rented guns for that purpose. If you bring your own gun, it's OK to shoot there ... and so far, for years, they've had no one do themselves in with their own gun!
Go figure.
silverlance
Member
i hope
i hope the guy pointed the gun downrange, so at least the round won't go through the back wall / glass and hurt someone else.
very sad, and if i owned a gun range i would post signs everywhere to the tune of
"Please don't commit suicide - help is available"
and then the phone numbers of say the crystal cathedral in anaheim or the buddhist temple or synagogue. suicide prevention hotline of course.
then also something like
"When you commit suicide here it hurts us very badly - we are forced to spend over $20,000 in legal and biohazard fees and we must live with the memory for the rest of our lives. Please do not kill yourself in a place we love."
i suppose there really is no correct and pleasant way to state this.
i hope the guy pointed the gun downrange, so at least the round won't go through the back wall / glass and hurt someone else.
very sad, and if i owned a gun range i would post signs everywhere to the tune of
"Please don't commit suicide - help is available"
and then the phone numbers of say the crystal cathedral in anaheim or the buddhist temple or synagogue. suicide prevention hotline of course.
then also something like
"When you commit suicide here it hurts us very badly - we are forced to spend over $20,000 in legal and biohazard fees and we must live with the memory for the rest of our lives. Please do not kill yourself in a place we love."
i suppose there really is no correct and pleasant way to state this.
Tom Servo
Member
Happened at my local range a few years back. It was a woman in her late 20's. Fortunately, she chose to do it in the last lane to the left, so the bullet and debris hit a cement wall.
The owner cleaned it up but did not patch the hole. When someone asked him about it, he said it was the "Ms. ___ Memorial Hole." When he was accused of being "insensitive," his response was, "hell, I'M not the one who did this in front of children and left the mess for someone else to clean up."
I remember reading that most suicides are actually hostile acts against someone else, ie. a way of saying, "so there, you #$&*&." It's usually a horribly selfish, craven and chidlish act. A friend's father once walked into the bathroom and shot himself after an argument over dinner about bills. My friend was in the next room with his wife and 2-year-old daughter.
That said, there are some cases where the person taking his own life may calmly decide that such a thing is neccessary. Those folks usually handle it in a much more dignified and responsible manner, though.
The owner cleaned it up but did not patch the hole. When someone asked him about it, he said it was the "Ms. ___ Memorial Hole." When he was accused of being "insensitive," his response was, "hell, I'M not the one who did this in front of children and left the mess for someone else to clean up."
I remember reading that most suicides are actually hostile acts against someone else, ie. a way of saying, "so there, you #$&*&." It's usually a horribly selfish, craven and chidlish act. A friend's father once walked into the bathroom and shot himself after an argument over dinner about bills. My friend was in the next room with his wife and 2-year-old daughter.
That said, there are some cases where the person taking his own life may calmly decide that such a thing is neccessary. Those folks usually handle it in a much more dignified and responsible manner, though.
Kruzr
Member
As a range officer who has been "through" a suicide, the answer is yes, it is worse, much worse. There is more harm done than just the bullet and to the shooter. Every person in the range is affected. You never forget something like this. Some never come back.
When it first happened, I felt badly for the person and the fact I rented them a gun. Then I got angry when I saw the affect on others. I have no sympathy for someone who wants to impact people he or she doesn't know so profoundly for their own selfish act. He could use a garden hose in his tailpipe if he want to kill himself or shoot himself when he is alone. Let his "estate" give the interviews to the police and clean up the mess.
Jim March
Member
We were speaking of H. Beam Piper the science fiction author not long ago.
He ended his life at a time when he was dealing with both health and financial issues. Wouldn't have been my choice, but I have to respect the fact that he was in a house alone, nothing nearby for the bullet to hit - and he hung tarps first.
I am quite sure that wasn't a "pissed at anyone else" situation.
He ended his life at a time when he was dealing with both health and financial issues. Wouldn't have been my choice, but I have to respect the fact that he was in a house alone, nothing nearby for the bullet to hit - and he hung tarps first.
I am quite sure that wasn't a "pissed at anyone else" situation.
rustymaggot
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a good friend of mines husband commited suicide with the intention of messing her up as bad as he could. she comes home in the evening and all the lights are out inside. a note is on the door from the garage going into the house says 'im on the balcony'. she goes out there and sees a rope hanging down over the railing. it messed her up pretty badly. i really look down on those who do it to mess up loved ones.
if someone is really gonna do it and doesnt want to screw up anyone they should rent a cheep motel room and leave a huge sign for the maid on the door to the can that says whats in the bathtub. then do it there. the maid can just call the police and keep the therapy bills to a minimum.
if someone is really gonna do it and doesnt want to screw up anyone they should rent a cheep motel room and leave a huge sign for the maid on the door to the can that says whats in the bathtub. then do it there. the maid can just call the police and keep the therapy bills to a minimum.
Range
Its odd that people would choose a range in which to commit suicide. I have met so many friendly and interesting people at the ranges I have gone to over the years. If non-shooters knew how pleasant most shooters are, I think nearly everyone would take up the hobby!
Its odd that people would choose a range in which to commit suicide. I have met so many friendly and interesting people at the ranges I have gone to over the years. If non-shooters knew how pleasant most shooters are, I think nearly everyone would take up the hobby!
carnaby
Member
Wow, a .22 doesn't seem like enough gun. I wonder if he was worried at all that he'd just injure himself.
My mom knew a woman like that. She tied up all her loose ends over a couple weeks, then drove out to the country and shot herself. Sad.
The only person I ever knew who killed themselves was recent. I didn't know her really well, only having met her a couple times. Denise Denton, our former Dean of Engineering at UW jumped off the top of a 20 story building in San Fran a couple months ago. It even made CNN.
My mom knew a woman like that. She tied up all her loose ends over a couple weeks, then drove out to the country and shot herself. Sad.
The only person I ever knew who killed themselves was recent. I didn't know her really well, only having met her a couple times. Denise Denton, our former Dean of Engineering at UW jumped off the top of a 20 story building in San Fran a couple months ago. It even made CNN.
sfhogman
Member
Damn. The same thing happened 8/31 here in the Bay Area. Actually, I thought that death was the one referred to in this thread.
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