Man Killed at Carlisle State Game Land Rifle Range..

[nerfsrule2]

...The coroner has been called to the scene of a shooting accident at the Pennsylvania Game Commission rifle range at the 900 block of Enola Road in North Middleton Township.
Dispatch reports at 2:09 p.m. said a man had been injured in a shooting accident at a rifle range. Dispatch reports later said the man had been shot in the face. District Attorney David Freed did not confirm either report during a 5:30 p.m. media briefing at the site.
Freed confirmed that police are treating the case as a homicide investigation.
Freed said the victim was shot "multiple times." While the shooter is believed to be armed, Freed said there is no reason for the community to be concerned.
Freed said the identity of the victim is being withheld until family members are notified. Police believe the shooting took place today, he said, and the body was discovered by someone on vacation in the area who was at the range for target practice.
At 2;19 p.m., the coroner was called to the scene. As of 3:45 p.m., a reporter was at the scene of the rifle range. Police were still on scene, and dispatch reports called for more police help at the site.
As of 4:04 p.m., a police spokesman said they would have an update for the media later this afternoon. No other information is available.
Check back to Cumberlink for updates on this story as they become available...This range is Located in Carlisle Springs Pa..

 

[nerfsrule2]

http://www.cumberlink.com/news/loca...cle_495dc3ac-94f5-11df-af9f-001cc4c002e0.html

 

[alsaqr]

It is very sad that a man was murdered at a firing range.
This is a conflicting article. First there is this:

District Attorney David Freed said the public has no need to be worried after a shooting death at a Pennsylvania Game Commission rifle range Wednesday in North Middleton Township.

Then there is this one:

Freed said he learned Wednesday afternoon that, within the last month, someone reported the theft of a gun at the same range. No one has been charged for the theft.

"Anybody going out to the gun range to take practice needs to take extra care because we at least know that there is somebody out there that was willing to steal a gun and somebody out there that apparently was willing to shoot someone today," Freed said.

 

[Blue Line]

Seems to be a new trend, if you want to steal a gun, go where there are some. There was a guy killed by two idiots AWOL from the Army at a public gun range in southern WV a year or two ago. Took his guns. Bad guys are also targeting police cars to break into to get guns and gear. You cant be too careful these days, can you say BUG?

 

[BADUNAME37]

It is very sad that this happened. My prayers go out to family and friends of this man.

This goes to show that no matter how much registration and licensing there is for guns, OUTLAWS, convicted felons, etc, will always have guns available to them pretty much whenever they want them.

Instead of imposing new laws and tighter restriction, why not ENFORCE the laws we currently have?

Also, as others stated, have a concealed weapon on your person whenever you are at the range. I've been alone at the range various times when some hoodlums show up, and I often wondered how safe I was! I will definately be MORE CAREFUL in the future! I don't feel like dying just because someone had to have my gun that they see and want.

 

[nerfsrule2]

District Attorney David Freed said the public has no need to be worried after a shooting death at a Pennsylvania Game Commission rifle range Wednesday in North Middleton Township.

I shoot there every weekend for about the last 2+ years... Nice range..Very clean and well kept.. Most people there are very nice..(I have run into some with a tactical attitude who get a little upset when they do something stupid) Like walk down range while the line is hot..or try and shot from behind the Line.. With these errors in mind i would still give the range an A..I do CC there everytimee I shoot there..

 

[Sam1911]

This is pretty much right in my backyard. Ironically, I shot an Sanctioned IDPA match last weekend and one of the stages was an attack by criminals at a shooting range looking to steal guns.

It is becoming more and more often-discussed in my circles. I forwarded this to my shooting pals.

Be vigilant!

 

[nerfsrule2]

The Dillsburg range while very well kept.(About 20 miles away)...Concerns me a lot more about this type of crime because of its proximity to York..and some of the things that I have witnessed at the range when I used to shot there...

 

[Sam1911]

Actually I live closer to that range, but never use the state ranges. I don't know that proximity to York is more important than to Harrisburg. Or, really, that proximity to either is a significant risk increase. It isn't like an extra 20, 30, or more miles is much of a deterrant to a violent criminal with a car.

Reality is, using a public range is dangerous for a number of reasons. Fortunately, we have so many great private clubs to choose from there's little reason to expose yourself to those risks.

Always carry and always be politely watchful of what's going on around you. Think defensively. You might be able to avoid being shot -- whether intentionally or not!

 

[Onward Allusion]

The trend is a little worrisome. Thoughts and prayers to the family.

There's a public archery range that I frequent and it's usually quite dead. Lots of times I'm the only one there. I also know that some other folks who frequent have bows that run close to and well over $1,000.

 

[Runningman]

That sucks, hope they catch those responsible soon.

Around 1996 we had two people murdered at a public shooting range/rock quarry at Larch Mountain Oregon. The persons responsible did it for a "thrill killing". What a waste of life.

 

[jojo200517]

Damn it always makes me nervous when I go downrange to get my target during the cease fire at my public range. I usually try to go when the place is empty of others and take a friend that will gladly sit at the firing line while I go walk 200 + yards to get both our targets. I have always had the thought that someone could easily steal my gun if I was alone, I never thought about someone using it or any other gun to shoot me purposely at the range. I am always sure to make sure everyone is away from the firing positions to reduce the chance of me becoming an accidental shooting.

I guess from now on when I'm alone and its time for a cease fire I'll lock load and sling my rifle up before I head down range. I dunno what the range officer will say, guess I'll find out. If they don't like it I'll find another place to shoot.

 

[ny32182]

When I used to shoot at completely empty public ranges (No one else there, no RO), I would take my rifle with me down range to change targets/etc. I'd heard rumors of people in the woods who would wait till you were 100yards downrange, and then run out, grab your gun, and run off.

Combined with the amount of badly unsafe (though not aggressive) behavior I've seen at the same type places, I'm glad to be at a private club now. They don't allow taking guns down range, nor CC, but, at least there are two layers of security gate between the range and the outside. And most people willing to pay a non-negligible membership seem to have their general gun handling habits a level up from what is average at the public range.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I have heard stories of guns being stolen when the range is cold. Someone leaves their guns on the bench to tend to their target and someone grabs them and drives off.

 

[Oyeboten]

Yeahhhh...worse with Rifle of course, the going down range to check one's Target.


Pistol, usually, one does not have to walk as far..!

I always try to continue my CCW Carry when at the Range...and to leave no Loaded Arms at the Shooting Station when I go downrange.

Usually there is no one anywhere near close...shooting Bays are far apart and isolated by tall Earth Berms, but, you never know who can show up out of no where, or with what in mind.


Very sorry to read of this unpleasantness...hard to guess what had occurred, or at what distance.

 

[Cosmoline]

There was a guy killed by two idiots AWOL from the Army at a public gun range in southern WV a year or two ago. Took his guns.

The victim was a pastor and a member of this forum.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=373815

Just the sort of fellow to trust a few young men coming over for a chat. There's no circle in hell low enough for the criminals who did it. Unfortunately they didn't get death. Not even sure if that state has it.

 

[MinnMooney]

I can't think of any good reason why a person isn't allowed to carry his/her handgun (holstered) anytime/any place within a shooting range. Safety certainly can't be the reason. My range has no such rule. I wouldn't be a member of a range that enforced such a rule.

 

[Sniper X]

The whole thing about not being able to wear a holstered loaded weapon at a public gun range has ALWAYS freaked me out just for this reason. I always keep a CCW 1911 fully loaded and ready for when I have to walk away from my firearms to the targets. I even have if i see someone questionable, let my partner walk to the targets and stay at the range safe line ready for anything. Shoot, there is probably a five MINUTE chance for someone to just walk up and steal something at every public range in existance when we are out at the targets!

Now I only take one or two guns to the table at a time and usually only one for safeties sake.

 

[Sniper X]

just remembered a story that happened to me and my buddy once while we were out shooting. We were not at a sanctioned range, but well away from any people. We were up in the foothills outside Albuquerque shooting against a very large high backstop. We had been shooting for about an hour when (btw this was in about 1973) a bunch of what looked like bikers puled hurredly up in a old beat up pick up truck and demanded our guns. I was about 14 at the time but my buddy was 21 and a Ranger in the Army. The biker looking guys were screaming they were working ata house about a mile away and we were shooting at them! We weren't and they were lying because the nearest house back then was at least 5 miles away. We were shooting my Marlin golden 22 and I had my Diamondback in a holster on my belt. My buddy Blake, the Ranger had a 1911 in a holster and was shooting his marlin 22 as well. They didn't see our side3arms and took our rifles away temporairly. When they were told by Blake they had no right to confiscate our weapons and there were no houses within 5 miles and put his hand on his 1911 they quietly gave our weapons back and left.. We heard about a month later a buddy say he was up at the same shooting place and they came and took about 9 guns and drove off. I guess basically they were out to steal unknowing peoples guns and use them for crime or sell them.

 

[SSN Vet]

After hearing similar stories, I now carry a side arm whenever I go to the range. And if I'm alone and need to leave a weapon on the firing line while I go down range, I disable it if possible (i.e. remove bolt or remove mag and put in my pocket).

Cold range rules leave me feeling quite vulnerable

 

[SleazyRider]

Ditto, and great idea removing and carrying the bolt/magazine. I always CCW at the range, and equally as important, I never shoot up all my ammo, no matter how enticing it is to shoot that last clip. Always stay armed.

 

[Palehorseman]

The Wife and I live in a small unincorporated retirement community and are lucky to be able to leave our backyard and be out into the open desert to go shooting. We have a hard and set plan, if we see strangers approaching, we put the ATVs between them and us with cocked and locked long guns in our hands and holstered sidearm's ready at condition one. We give no encouragement for strangers to linger about for a chat, paranoid, maybe, but at our age we refuse to be caught unawares.

 

[Ky Larry]

Hopefully, these people will choose the wrong victim and save us taxpayers a lot of money and the police a lot of time and effort.

 

[Airman193SOS]

I shoot there every weekend for about the last 2+ years... Nice range..Very clean and well kept.. Most people there are very nice..(I have run into some with a tactical attitude who get a little upset when they do something stupid) Like walk down range while the line is hot..or try and shot from behind the Line.. With these errors in mind i would still give the range an A..I do CC there everytimee I shoot there..

That is the range I go to as well, albeit the pistol range most of the time. I would say that you need to be careful about carrying a concealed weapon there as it is posted that you're not supposed to do so, though.

The lesson? when you're going downrange to the long-range target areas, bring your weapon with you. I was there with my shotgun when a guy with a beautiful M1 Carbine was doing some 1000-yard shooting, and he carried it the whole way downrange muzzle first over his shoulder to prevent someone from stealing it. I think that's a very smart idea if you're doing distance shooting. It's much less of a concern with handguns at the short-range pistol targets, though.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Our local range had a farm type gate secured with a chain and big padlock. Members were given keys. We had a strict rule that while you were using the range you must close and lock the gate behind you. Sadly the range closed due to development so now I shoot at the local sand pits near home. I make it a point to never leave the range empty. I always have a magazine full of whatever I am shooting left as I walk out just in case. If I am working with a long gun I keep loaded a pistol in my back pocket in case "visitors" drop by.