Well spaceman, you make a very reasonable valid point. All I can say to that is the RO would be an idiot to admit that some people don't adhere to the rules. It would set them up for the fall.
Realistically though, One can seldom pick up a gun without violating a rule. "Dont let the muzzle cover anything you're not willing to destroy", period. Range tables, flooring, whatever. Something that would not be acceptable to shoot is covered with muzzles daily. If a RO wanted to be technically honest answering that question, he would have to say No one does.
But in a practical sense, most are safe and the RO could say "Everyones as safe as can be here", which would be a realistic statement that does not scream 'sue me'. A RO is kind of like a cop. He can enforce the rules all he can and yet many violations will occur that day. Its impossible to be everywhere at once. Getting technical over practical is plain dumb in reality.
I am as safe as safe can be on the range (almost robotic (No ED209 jokes please)) and yet still I violate the rules, technically speaking. When you take practicality and common sense out of the rules (you start sounding like a cop), you take away the intelligence and human responsibility that we all should have.
So Cooper needs his skills more than his telly. Well I need my property to stay put more than I need adherance to a liability / conformity rule. When I choose to holster that pistol rather than lay it down, I holster the responsibility that goes with it.
they are very strict about ensuring EVERYONE follows the range rules ALL the time.
I wouldn't go to a range I've never been to before and try to shove anything down anyones throat. Bad form. I'd go with the flow and politely voice my concerns, and give them a chance to become at ease with my level of demonstrated safety and go from there. WADR, you may be going a little too far with the what if's on this issue. I see your point but its just a wee bit farfetched I think.
We could what if anything to death. What if I layed down a full mag next to my pistol at slidelock on the table, and someones 5 yr old wandered in while I'm downrange changing targets and knew enough to insert mag and drop slide but not enough to not point it at his face and squeeze? Who'd be at fault then, me or the range? If my pistol was holstered on my person this wouldn't have happened. See what I mean?
Sorry so long.