Litterbug Shot at Local Gun Range

[jbeltz7]

Wishful thinking on my part, maybe a few headlines like this and the gun owning slobs would start picking up after themselves.
I just got back from the one public outdoor range in my area and there was garbage everywhere. I always take some garbage bags to clean-up the range before leaving and I filled two 55-gallon trash bags without making a dent in all the trash left by fellow shooters.
I’m not talking about brass or shell boxes; milk jugs, targets, foam coolers, soda cans and bottles, cardboard boxes etc. Who are these morons and at what point did they loose respect for themselves and decide to screw the rest of us?
It is no wonder the non-shooting public looks at the rest of us as Neanderthals that need to be legislated out of existence.
If you see this kind of behavior please let these imbeciles know that their actions will result in all of us loosing the privilege of having a public range. If you are one of the imbeciles, reach down check to see if you’re still a man and cowboy up and go clean up after yourself.

Rant Concluded.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

I too hate people who will not pick up their targets. I try and leave ranges better than I find them by picking up my targets and some of the trash left by others. People need to realize that we create a very bad image of shooters when we turn ranges (many of which are on public land) into garbage dumps.

It is also bad when people leave trash that is difficult to clean up. Like people who shoot TV's. The picture tubes break into thousands of very small particles which are just about impossible to completely clean up.

 

[pyridic]

awesome, i wouldn't mind having him at 50 yards on a post..lol

 

[Justin]

Tragedy of the commons.

 

[wooderson]

At the indoor range I frequent, they ask/require you to police your own brass (within reason) - but I always seem to come in right after a couple of morons who can't be bothered, so I've got to clean up their mess just so I can set my bag down and not walk on empties.

How hard is it to do a minute's worth of sweeping?

(equal fault to the range folks for not keeping an eye on it or sweeping, of course, but it's cheap enough I'm not going to take issue)

 

[Cosmoline]

Brass doesn't seem to be the problem, at least outdoors. These days it vanishes almost as soon as it hits the ground. I have to guard mine if I want to keep it. What makes me mad are people using FOOD ITEMS for targets, which then fall apart and bring the wildlife out, forcing cease fires.

 

[Rico567]

+1

What "Justin" said. I admit that when I was 12 I loved to go to our local tragedy (the nearest open-air dump, infested with rats) with my .22 and a brick of long rifles and see how many rodents I could kill in an afternoon, but those days are gone, and well sped, really. It's a different world, and the quicker some people get a clue, the better.

If you don't know what "Justin" is referring to when he talks about a tragedy of a commons, here's a link. A whole lot of people had better start learning what it's all about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons


Or, if that's too involved for you, just come and look at the roadside ditch in front of my house after a weekend, before I go out and pick up all the trash.

"We are reaching the point environmentally when our fellow inhabitants of planet Earth may be regarded as passengers in a lifeboat. A madman in a lifeboat cannot be tolerated."

 

[marshall3]

Not a problem at Prentice Cooper

I'm happy to report that garbage is no problem at Prentice Cooper near Chattanooga. Probably because no one is allowed to shoot at ANYTHING other than targets. People DO leave their targets on the backboards, but I can handle that. Some of them are still pretty "unholy." Also, people leave their brass behind, but the brass scroungers get that pretty quick! Also, there are convenient trash cans nearby for boxes, bags, etc.

 

[win71]

Not Here

What makes me mad are people using FOOD ITEMS for targets, which then fall apart and bring the wildlife out, forcing cease fires.

Quit complaining, some of the guys up here do it just to get the wildlife out !!

 

[kungfuhippie]

Where I shoot is bubba heaven. I hate it, but it's close and free. Trash? Think tree stumps, couches, computers, refrigerators, aresol cans, casings, waterheaters, you name it. The owner buldozes (sp) the area once in a while but has refused offers to clean stuff and doesn't inforce anything. It's basically a vacant parcel in the middle of nowhere.

I've really put in an effort along with friends to pack out what we pack in, but it's gotten to the point of not needing "targets" because of all the junk there. We're looking for a new palce to shoot for free that's clean and close.

(all that berdan primed brass can be recycled for $)

 

[ChickenHawk]

Unfortunately, inconsiderate SOBs are not even limited to the gun range (where Darwinism may hopefully eliminate them for us).

How about the slobs who take coffee in the break room and leave the pot empty (surely you will be happy to make the next pot for them).

How about all the aggressive drivers on the road these days who certainly have to be wherever they are going before you get to your destination. If it weren't true why would the cut you off or drive around you on the curb?

How about people who park in handicap parking spaces because they're only going in for a few minutes (or worse yet, because the weather is bad!).

Shall I go on? I'm sure there is no real need.

We can only be sure that we exercise better behaviour, and hope our children learn from OUR example and see the benefit of it.

Cheers,
ChickenHawk

 

[bogie]

Idea: Take some trash bags, and before you leave, approach the other shooters, and suggest a short "police call" around the range area. You may be surprised - I've never had anyone tell me to go stuff 'em...

 

[Machete]

Thats what got our local range shut down for awhile. Now you have to have a permit to shoot there and they have all sorts of new rules. The only rule that really bothers me is that guns can only be loaded with no more than 6 bullets at a time. On the other hand the rod and gun club that took up sponsership of the range made it look very very nice. It also is monitered by a camera now, or so the signs claim.

 

[Caimlas]

One of the things my dad taught me when I was growing up was to leave every place better than when you got there. That means picking up trash, wiping the toilet seat, adding a new roll of toilet paper, doing the dishes - anything and everything. Usually, it requires

Does this public range have trash barrels or anything else to aide in easy disposal of material? That might be part of the problem if they're not there. A half dozen 55 gallon barrels/drums with signs that say "put your shot-up targets and trash in here" would likely attribute to most of those litter bugs throwing their trash away - provided you don't live in a state like NY or CA, where people in general have a fair amount of contempt for the outdoors.

 

[The Rifleman]

Caimlas, you are welcome to shoot at my range anytime you want.

As for the rest of ya, If someone has to tell you not to do something - then you are better off to stay where you belong.

My rule of thumb is don't break anything. Don't leave your garbage on my property. Don't shoot up my back boards with all your silly guns and don't leave your spent cases, shot gun hulls and wads, half broken clay pigeons that just dull the blade of my tractor on the ground.

If you take more than you leave, sooner or later my range will be the best in the country.

Please leave the shooting bench and the backboards.

A $5 or $10 bill to help pay the expense of cutting the grass and maintaining the range in the summertime would be awesome also!

Anyone with any brains would not load more than one round into a gun at a time at a shooting range. It is not safe!

You are there to sight in your rifle, shotgun, pistol and practice - not sound like WW 3!

 

[Monkeybear]

Anyone with any brains would not load more than one round into a gun at a time at a shooting range. It is not safe!

Please explain.

 

[frostbiker]

My high school football coach had a sign posted over the urinals in the bathroom: "Your Momma and Daddy ain't here to wipe your butt for you. Clean up after yourself!"

I think of that sign every time I see a mess that needs cleaning.

 

[Rev. DeadCorpse]

You are there to sight in your rifle, shotgun, pistol and practice - not sound like WW 3!

Actually, I'm there to shoot. Sometimes, that means mag dumps, target walk ups, double taps, mag change drills, holster draws, ect... If it sounds like WW3 to you, maybe you are at the wrong range.

As for cleaning up after yourself, it's common courtesy. Police your brass, your boxes, soda cans/bottles, cigarette butts, ect... It just makes for a better environment for all. Especially if you are shooting on someone else's property. Don't leave your garbage all over just because the owner is a "buddy". They'll be much more inclined to have you back if you pick up your junk when you leave.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Leaving an area a better place than when you left it makes you a better person. Carry on THR

 

[kungfuhippie]

provided you don't live in a state like NY or CA, where people in general have a fair amount of contempt for the outdoors.

So were making blanket statements about states! Very THR. People need to quit blaming CA for every problem. We're a bunch of Mexicans, Okiees, and New Englanders thanks to all our historic migrations. So your calling Oklahoma, New England, and Mexico dirty too.

People in general are lazy slobs. Most people today avoid responsibility for anything, including their garbage. Putting out trash cans will work. In my office I put up a sign in the bathroom that has detailed instructions on how to replace an empty toilet paper roll. I got sick of being the one to always do it. That was a great hint, and it prevented having to point fingers. I haven't had to replace a roll I didn't empty in 6 months. SIgns and trash cans should help people be responsible.

 

[MrDig]

Take only pictures leave only footprints... is the mantra of many wilderness parks. It is a good policy to live by no matter what.
I will take game and don't mind it or letting other species feed off my field dress. That to me is different from leaving Every scrap of fecal matter you shoot at the range for someone else to tend to.
I do leave brass for the brass fairies as I don not reload. I call them Brass fairies because my casings magically disapear not for any other reason. but I usually sweep it into a pile away from my lane for the next shooter.There is a gravel pit I shoot at when the weather is nice. If we left every stinking piece of garbage we shot behind I'm relatively certain the owner would put gates up and stop us from shooting there. Why in the H@%# would I abuse his generosity by littering his property?

 

[mpmarty]

Rifleman

How am I supposed to verify the function of my semi autos if I can only load one round at a time? That is just false security and too often the "one round" in the firearm is the one that ADs and causes all kinds of trouble.

 

[kungfuhippie]

How am I supposed to verify the function of my semi autos if I can only load one round at a time?

Now, why would anyone want one of those semi-auto assault rifles That's what terrorists use

Good reason to not visit his range. If I ever own enough land that people can make use of a range, it will be open as long as people keep it clean and act responsible. I think I'd put the benches on top of a large steel crate so all the brass falls through the cracks and I get it Oh and I'd encourage hi-cap-mags and rapid fire.

 

[sidewinder517]

The range that I ONCE shot at was a disaster area. some people don't know what a target is. They would use old signs, old furniture, just junking general.

my father in law and I would try to keep it clean but, it was to big of a chore for us. so, when the owner of the land got sick and sold his land. the new owner shut it down for no other reason than the trash issue. as for the brass there was so much on the ground it was like gravel and would keep your feet mud free.

luckily my father in law has about 20 acer with a big canyon on the place. He hired a bulldozer to clear us a range in the canyon. plus a couple loads of gravel. and now we have a clean range to shoot at. and the only people we allow are a few close friends and a couple of LEOs. we are not giving any warnings if they trash up the place they will not shoot there any more.

 

[kungfuhippie]

sidewinder 517,
Do you have a single sister in law about 25 years old?

That's great. I was at the range today. Just keeps getting worse . I think I'll be looking for a new place to shoot at.

All us dang Californians are trashing the place, maybe we should break off into the sea