Gun Range Weirdness

[HANDLOADER]

Hello eveyone I have begun to notice that I get more and more looks when I go to the range. Nothing on the negative side or anything but it is just strange looks. I follow the saftey lines to the dot. And it is defintifly not the hardware I bring which are all stock grade with a little touch of amatur gunsmith on them some where. But I am thinking that it is the body style. I only stand 6'2 and weigh 225 but the one thing that sets me apart from the rest is the fact that I have sever nerve damage. I will admit that this causes me to twitch and shake and look like a fool sometimes but I don't think anything about it due to the fact I have had ever since I was born 30 years ago. But I just have begun to wonder do people think that just because you have somthing wrong with you physicaly and you use a firarm that there is somthing not righ about you. There are people I never have even met before on my range and when they see my shaking spell they always give me the look of "OH MY GOD RUN FOR YOUR LIFE" So I would like to gather everyones though on the question does having a physcal problem put you out of place on the gun rang?

GOD BLEES

Handloader

 

[Double Naught Spy]

If you shake and twitch like you described, my guess is that their fear isn't that there is something amiss with you as much as your condition will result in an unintentional discharge in an unsafe direction. Simply put, they don't understand your condition and the visual clues are frightening to them.

 

[twoclones]

Well, it's their problem. I once took a friend, who is totally blind, to the range. We had a great time! I stood behind him saying, "A little higher" and "little more to the left" and "Now!"

Can you believe that they didn't ask the blind guy to sign their standard release?

 

[WNC Seabee]

Educate

If someone gives you a goofy look, just tell them what's up. A simple, "Hey, no worries, I've got <insert neuro-muscular issue> and it causes some twitching, but my trigger control is just fine."

Someone will say, "It's nobody's business, they should just deal with it." If you're out walking the dog or at the mall, I'd agree totally. But at the range, I closely eye ball everyone on the line. Mostly I'm making sure to steer clear of the tacti-cool kids bump firing their AKs. But if I see someone that I suspect is drunk, on drugs, not right, whatever I'm packing up and leaving for the day.

I've got to believe that a quick word of reassurance will make everyone's day (yours included I suspect) more worry free.

 

[GlowinPontiac]

Well if I saw someone holding a loaded gun and twitching and shaking I would be a bit nervous as well.

 

[Mickstix]

Reguardless of the reason, if your shaking and twitching about with a gun in your hand, your gonna get some strange looks.. People are only human, we have no way of knowing if it's a medical condition or if (as you said) your a fool getting ready to shoot yourself or someone.. I imagine if you went to the golf range you'd not get nearly as many strange looks..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

jhco50, my pop is a recovering alcoholic.. He claims that when it was his turn to talk in AA, he would introduce himself as "Ho Silver"...

 

[ljnowell]

I guess I am the annoying guy but I like to introduce myself to people right around me at the range. I think that it helps for everyone to feel comfortable with everyone around them when shooting. If I introduced myself to you I am sure I wouldnt have much to worry about after that. More people should be kind to fellow shooters. Getting to know people at your local range can lead to having new range buddies. Cant have to many of those.

 

[funkerbunny]

I have really bad hand tremors myself, so I kinda know how you feel (People usually think I'm on drugs or afraid). I rarely have issues with other people at the range though. But if I do notice someone looking at me funny I try and strike up a conversation and sneak in a comment on my "Intention Tremors", folks usually seem a bit less worried after that.

 

[ants]

Maybe you're selling them short. Maybe they are worried about your health and welfare. I know that would be first on my mind.

An older handicapped gentleman at our range started to shake while shooting his 45. Six of us stopped and stared at him. Then he fell down, with the loaded pistol in his hand. All of us went to his aid. We were worried that he might be having a seizure, a stroke or a coronary episode. We weren't staring at him because he was weird, but because we cared.

By the way, while falling down the old coot kept his finger out of the trigger guard, kept the pistol in front of his 180, and kept the muzzle downrange. He may have been old, but a lifetime of safe gun handling took over automatically when the chips were down. We made his pistol safe, loaded him up in his truck, and took him to a hospital. He had some sort of episode, but was back at the range after a few months. Now we always keep an eye on him. Not because we're worried about his gun handling, but because we care about him.

 

[Zedo]

Troll --

 

[Loosedhorse]

He brings up an important point: how does one address the possibly hnadicapped, possibly unsafe shooter at a public range.

The PC thing to do, of course, is ignore and go about your business: the "differently abled" have equal rights! Thankfully, most gun-owners don't "do" PC.

If this was a public range, I'd pack my things and inform the owner or range master that I'm leaving because I feel unsafe (if that's how I felt). In fact, when I used to go to public ranges, I made it a habit to wear a bullet resistant vest (after I'd been barrel-crossed by various idiots).

If your at a members-only range, where the person responsible for range-safety is YOU and every other member, I'd suggest walking over, introduce yourself, and politely ask, "Hey, I've never met you before, so excuse me if I'm rude--can you fire that gun safely with all that twitching?"

Frankly, if YOU have something about you (besides an evil grin ) that would make the guy next to you get worried at the firing line, I think it's up to YOU to introduce yourself to some of the other shooters, and say something like, "You might notice that..."

That would make ME think: "Someone considerate enough to make sure he doesn't cause a stir here is probably smart enough that he's not doing anything he oughtn't."

So, Handloader--start introducing yourself (or stop trolling).

 

[Zedo]

ADA says you can't inquire into the nature of a person's disability.

HOWEVER -- if that person's disability creates a reasonably apparent unsafe situation IN THE VIEW OF THE PERSON RUNNING THE BUSINESS . . . or is disruptive, the business has the right to reasonably limit access to the person in question.

Case in point, businesses cannot refuse service to a disabled person with a "Service Dog" -- despite "no pets" rules or even Health Department rules about animals.

Nonetheless, if the animal becomes "threatening" or "disruptive" it may be barred from access to the business. The example cited by the ADA is a Service Dog barking in a theatre.

So, yes -- Someone at a gun range with visible tics and tremors might legally be barred from access to firearms for the safety of the public, and the integrity, functionality of the business.

As a disabled person myself -- with a Service Dog -- I'd be anxious about a range allowing firearms access to someone with visible tics and tremors. I might make a "reasonable accomodation" for the person if they're accompanied by an "aid" with some specific skills and the ability to ensure safety at the range -- But it'd still be the option of the Range Officer to determine the specific skill set of that aid and the ultimate safety of others at the range.

In any case, the range is liable for accidents, and accordingly has the legal obligation to ensure safety.

 

[Funderb]

Unless you are mentally deficient to an unsafe degree or have huntingtons chorea, you are probably okay to shoot. There is no "nerve damage" to speak of that is capable of causing complete loss of bodily control that isn't a genetically inherited disease.
If you twitch, you may not shoot well, but a twitch isn't going to make you shoot 90 deg. to the left of right.
If it does you may not have long to live.
just being honest.
I hope you are well and can continue to shoot.


that sounded a bit more harsh than I intended it to be, and by a bit, i mean what was I thinking, I'm such a jerk.


It sounds like you are comfortable with what seems like a minor issue in the grand scheme of things.
Just try to be friendly with those who may give you a stink eye. A little chat can go a long way!
Happy shooting!

 

[scrat]

Handloader hang in there. I get looks all the time. I like to go shooting and i dont believe in taking 1 or 2 guns. Yep last time i went shooting i took 8 guns with me. A combination of handuns, shotguns, rifles. My son and i had a ball however guys were looking at us all day as if we were nutts with that many guns. I dont care never have. I take what im in the mood for. Same time i do have a lot of guns. I have never just taken 1 gun to the range. So ya i get looks may be differnt types of looks. I just dont bother anymore. I go do my thing. People look then they look. Some times i take a bunch of black powder revolvers with me. Its kinda fun to go up to then bench with 2 or 3 or even 4 of them loaded up. Then i cap them all. People tend to notice when you walk up with 4 revolvers when they are only shooting one. So take it with a grain of salt. You like shooting i like shooting. Thats all that matters. Go with what we have and enjoy the moment.

 

[vtoddball]

Waco Kid: *holds up steady hand* "Look at this."

Sheriff Bart: "Steady as a rock."

Waco Kid: *other hand flopping around* "Yeah but I shoot with this hand."

I think I may have to watch Blazing Saddles this weekend.

 

[Funderb]

hahaha, I'm going to watch it right now.

 

[KiltedClaymore]

let them give their looks, what others think doesn't matter.

 

[gripper]

The extent of my range wierdness wasshooting a Mosin Nagant M44 with the bayonet extended ( sight regulation) well my spotter had Rammstein's "Mutter" and the Misfits "Evil Live" playing on a portable stereo...loudly.
Hey,it DID get he range to ourselves for a bit

 

[NonConformist]

I just send a nasty or 'what are you lookin' at' look back their way if I have that issue. usually its because I have (or used to be) ARs

Now I see more EBRs than hunting rifles at the range!

 

[XDKingslayer]

Well, put yourself in their shoes. I'm always a little jumpy at a public range because you never know who's going to show up.

Then you have a big twitchy dude show up with a loaded gun...

The first thing that goes through their mind isn't "I wonder if he's a really nice guy".

I'm not saying it's right, but it's the way it is.

 

[NonConformist]

accidental post :banghead:

 

[rfurtkamp]

Before my health worsened, I was a freak with a FAL.

Now I'm a cripple with a MP5k.

Glare at me all you want ;0

 

[jonmerritt]

My wife has tremors too, constantly. Some days are worse than others. I like to watch her shoot. She has her shakes sighting down the pistol, just befor she pulls the trigger, she is perfectly still, for that split second. I have watched her drill many targets dead center. And she has to take her shot right at that moment, or the tremors set in again, and she has to start over. Even with her tremors, her aim is enough to fill a BG with holes at 30 ft. He may look like a strainer after she's done! I have had people come up and inform me that she shakes, I say" Yes she does" and leave it at that.

 

[Floppy_D]

I shake too. I kicked around posting about it but never did. I can't hold m hands still, they tremble constantly. Has nothing to do with diet, as I've tried adding and removing all sorts of stuff. My dad is the same way. My hands started shaking around second grade (at least that's when I noticed it, likely due to handwriting and all). Some days are worse than others. It's a bummer because I can't shoot bullseye for squat.

The recent innovation I've discovered is the Ruger Blackhawk Hunter in 44mag, 7 1/2" barrel. It weighs so much it acts as a buffer, and reduces the noticeability of my shakiness. I manage to put 6 44spl loads on a 3x5 index card at 25 yards, which for me is a personal best. (They were all over the card, but all on it, at least).

My buddies give me flak about it, but it doesn't bother me. It does irk me when I shoot with somebody who has stone-still hands, because they can group like I'll never be able to.

 

[NukemJim]

6 44spl loads on a 3x5 index card at 25 yards, which for me is a personal best. (They were all over the card, but all on it, at least).

If you can do as you say above I'd say you are doing better than the vast majority of handgun shooters. Defenetly better than me.

Congrats

NukemJim