Question for Range Owners...

[JohnKSa]

I'll be in CA briefly next month. Long and short is that I'll have some spare time and there's a rental range near the hotel...

Problem is they won't rent to anyone who's unaccompanied. I understand the reason for the rule--a friend of mine is a range owner and had to clean up after a suicide on his range. And I don't mean just the physical mess either.

Anyway, I can show my NRA instructor credentials (Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Safety, Personal Protection) and also my TX CHL (irequires passing background check indicating a clean criminal and mental history).

Would that be enough for you or would I be out of luck?

I sent an email to the range asking them the same question (no answer yet), but it made me curious as to how hard and fast the rule is.

Thanks!

John

 

[silverlance]

john

if you are near my part of CA just call my cell phone and I'll go shooting with you.

You can shoot any of my guns and any of my ammo on the condition that shoudl I ever get to go to Dallas you'll let me play with your toys too =)

(disclaimer guns are not toys, just like pussies are not always cats...)

 

[JohnKSa]

You anywhere near Forest Lake & free on the 3rd or 4rth of Dec?

Edit--> "Forest Lake" should be "Lake Forest" and "3rd or 4rth" should be "2nd or 3rd". Sheesh!

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Hello,

If things don't work out for you with regards to being able to rent a gun unaccompanied, I'd also be glad to meet up with you to assist. I've learned quite a bit from reading your posts here and would love to return the favor. I only have a few handguns and while they aren't anything special, you are certainly welcome to try them out. BTW, I am near Los Angeles.

Either way, good luck!

edited to add Forest Lake looks to be a bit north of San Francisco. Now if you were gonna be in Lake Forest in Orange County. . .

 

[heypete]

If you're going to be in the San Francisco area, the range I know that rents pistols is Jackson Arms just south of the airport.

Their policy is that they will not rent to unaccompanied people unless that person also has their own firearm. So, for example, if I brought my XD-45 in, I could rent whatever I wanted. But if I came alone and unarmed, I would not be able to rent.

You might try calling ahead and explaining your situation, and you may be granted some sort of dispensation.

 

[JohnKSa]

Thanks for the offers and the kind words.

I will actually be in the Lake Forest area--NOT Forest Lake--sorry about the confusion. That's almost as bad as my grandfather who could never tell the difference between Whiteface, TX and Hereford, TX. (That's a little livestock humor there for you city folk.)

So far no reply from the email I sent to the range--I'm guessing that's not a good sign. I was looking at the On Target indoor range, but that's based purely on their proximity to where I'll be and what I found on their website.

I'd take my own firearm, but I don't want to even start thinking about the issues involved with transporting a handgun to CA via airline...

 

[heypete]

I'd take my own firearm, but I don't want to even start thinking about the issues involved with transporting a handgun to CA via airline...I'd take my own firearm, but I don't want to even start thinking about the issues involved with transporting a handgun to CA via airline...

As a former California resident, it's really not that bad. Residents of California are required by law to register their handguns, but visitors are not. I suspect that those moving to California frequently do not consider that aspect of the law when moving, and there's quite a few folks without registered handguns.

Transporting the firearms is simple too: handguns must be unloaded, in a locked container (even a backpack with a padlock is ok), preferably in the trunk (though if you have a hatchback or vehicle without a proper trunk, keeping them out of the driver's immediate reach is suitable).

That's pretty much it. Traveling with guns at the airport is not a big deal either -- just be sure that you're following the airline and TSA-required procedures for declaring an unloaded firearm in your checked baggage, and it won't be a hassle at all.

It's really not as bad as you think.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

The story is continued here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=238783

 

[swampgator]

Cool. I like it when new friends help each other out!