Ranger Roberts
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- Joined
- Jan 3, 2012
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- 1,091
It's not often that I go to a range and this weekend reminded me why. Typically I shoot at my house (I am fortunate enough to have the property to do so), but my wife/in-laws and I belong to a private range as well. We typically go up there to throw clay and occasionally we bring clients (my wife and her dad own their own business). This weekend my wife asked me to go up to the range with her, my father in-law, a client and his son. I'm always happy to oblige to such a request, especially when we can write off the ammo!
Let me describe the set-up of the range for you before I get too far ahead of myself. Imagine cutting a baseball diamond (infield) in half, the side furthest to the left has 3 benches where you can shoot 100, 75 and 50 yards. The side furthest to the right has 2 benches to shoot 25 yards, if nobody else is at the range you can walk up closer to shoot pistol. If there are other people there, there is a pistol range a short walk away.
My wife and I got up there a bit early and after a few minutes of waiting we were met by her client and his son. We grabbed a bunch of rifles and headed up to the benches. We set up on one that wasn't occupied and hung out while waiting for her father. There were to younger guys (early 20's) shooting an AR and a few pistols. They told us that they were all done shooting pistols and were just going to use the rifle range. Both were real nice guys and were handling their firearms safely.
This is where it gets bad. As we are waiting a guy (I'd say around 40) and a young girl (I'd say between 8 & 10) walk up to the benches. While the other guys are shooting their rifle (hot range, with active fire!), the guy walks onto the range and heads over to hang up a target at the 25 yard mark. The guy with the AR immediately stops firing, points the rifle in a safe direction, unloads and unchambers. We were all in shock. It literally happened so fast we didn't even have time to yell. The guy holding the AR looked at us in complete disbelief. He sets the gun on the bench and says "uhh, what should I do?". I don't think he wanted to start any trouble or be rude so he just stood there. I yelled out to the guy and his daughter "Hey man, this was a hot range, what the heck are you doing?". At this point he's done hanging up his target, walks a few yards away and unholsters a revolver. I yelled over again and he ignores me again. After he fires his 6 shots, he turns to all of us and says "You guys don't have to stop shooting. Just keep it aimed to the left." ??? Not only is he down range, but he's asking us to shoot over his and his daughters heads!!!
Well, the 2 guys with the AR immediately packed up and started to leave. I excused myself from the client and his son and walked up to the club house to see if any board members were there. There was one guy there and I explained what happened. He walks out with me to confront the guy. Here's the kicker... the guy is a board member!!!!!! He gets all insulted about being confronted and started to get a little belligerent. He eventually huffs and puffs and marches himself and his daughter to the car and leaves.
I am a police officer. I am a NRA certified rifle and pistol instructor. I was in the army for 10 years and did 3 tours overseas. I have never, in my life seen anything like this before!!!
Sorry for the long post guys. I had to vent!
Let me describe the set-up of the range for you before I get too far ahead of myself. Imagine cutting a baseball diamond (infield) in half, the side furthest to the left has 3 benches where you can shoot 100, 75 and 50 yards. The side furthest to the right has 2 benches to shoot 25 yards, if nobody else is at the range you can walk up closer to shoot pistol. If there are other people there, there is a pistol range a short walk away.
My wife and I got up there a bit early and after a few minutes of waiting we were met by her client and his son. We grabbed a bunch of rifles and headed up to the benches. We set up on one that wasn't occupied and hung out while waiting for her father. There were to younger guys (early 20's) shooting an AR and a few pistols. They told us that they were all done shooting pistols and were just going to use the rifle range. Both were real nice guys and were handling their firearms safely.
This is where it gets bad. As we are waiting a guy (I'd say around 40) and a young girl (I'd say between 8 & 10) walk up to the benches. While the other guys are shooting their rifle (hot range, with active fire!), the guy walks onto the range and heads over to hang up a target at the 25 yard mark. The guy with the AR immediately stops firing, points the rifle in a safe direction, unloads and unchambers. We were all in shock. It literally happened so fast we didn't even have time to yell. The guy holding the AR looked at us in complete disbelief. He sets the gun on the bench and says "uhh, what should I do?". I don't think he wanted to start any trouble or be rude so he just stood there. I yelled out to the guy and his daughter "Hey man, this was a hot range, what the heck are you doing?". At this point he's done hanging up his target, walks a few yards away and unholsters a revolver. I yelled over again and he ignores me again. After he fires his 6 shots, he turns to all of us and says "You guys don't have to stop shooting. Just keep it aimed to the left." ??? Not only is he down range, but he's asking us to shoot over his and his daughters heads!!!
Well, the 2 guys with the AR immediately packed up and started to leave. I excused myself from the client and his son and walked up to the club house to see if any board members were there. There was one guy there and I explained what happened. He walks out with me to confront the guy. Here's the kicker... the guy is a board member!!!!!! He gets all insulted about being confronted and started to get a little belligerent. He eventually huffs and puffs and marches himself and his daughter to the car and leaves.
I am a police officer. I am a NRA certified rifle and pistol instructor. I was in the army for 10 years and did 3 tours overseas. I have never, in my life seen anything like this before!!!
Sorry for the long post guys. I had to vent!