Range incident (Did I handle it correctly??)

[Huddog]

Nice job. I was at an indoor range a couple of weeks ago. I was about a half hour into a session when a young asian couple arrived at the shooting position beside mine. He had clearly never learned any safety rules. She was impressed by him. I reported it to the management and was told, yeah we get a lot of that here from "them." I packed up my gear and left. Nothing was or was going to be said to the unsafe shooters. I don't believe I'll be returning to that range.

 

[Pat-inCO]

For the person that was told that writing down a license number and then approaching a person constitutes terrorist activity, tell the person that related that mis-information to you that he needs a new loli-pop.

All of this is why I so much enjoy a closed range. I've been a member of one club for over twenty-five years and the activity described to start this thread would have:
1) Gotten a member thrown out and membership canceled, or
2) Gotten a non member a visit with the Police where he could schedule a time in court to possibly get his firearms back and all of that after being thrown out - permanently - from the range. (The range is open to the public one week-end per month)

 

[Wes Janson]

Sometimes I wish that stupidity hurt-- kinda like a headache. That way, those that didn't know they were stupid would have a way of knowing. And those that were REALLY stupid wouldn't come out into society.

It does hurt, but only when corrective behavior modification therapy is applied properly, as it definitely should have been in this case.

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

You were much more "high road" than I would have been.

Frankly, I would have gone to the range master after the "bang, bang" "joke." There's no excuse for that at all. Ignorance on clearing a malfunction is clearly dangerous and ignorant behavior, but intentionally pointing a gun at somebody--even "joking"--is beyond the pale. I blame the "father" on all accounts.

I've had several situations at a unsupervised public range (WMA) where people decided to fire while others (including myself) were downrange. Unfortunately, people that are that unsafe are usually very un-open to any criticism and behave like the "father" guy in your situation--or worse. In my experiences at the unsupervised range, I just pack up and leave after others start getting unsafe, or when I suspect things are about to get that way. You really never can be too careful.

At least there was a range master to throw them out. At the unsupervised range, the biggest jerk seems to rule. Some people just seem to enjoy confrontation.

 

[N1150X]

You handled a situation well. Some people just dont get it :banghead: I wish more guys like you went to my range.

 

[TEDDY]

bad gun handling

I only once had to tell some one about his bad gun handling,and he understood and corrected it.but what you discribed I would have handled different.but you did right.one act like that and I would have had the RO there to watch.I have been RO in gunnery range and in my club.errors are one thing deliberate acts lead to tragerty.----

 

[mgregg85]

You showed some good restraint, especially when the kid was pretending to shoot you.

To be quite honest, if I saw something like that out of the corner of my eye, my first reaction would be to duck behind something and draw.

There is no excuse, none at all, to point a gun at someone. You not calling the cops/telling the RO immediately when the kid did that showed a good bit of restraint.

 

[The Unknown User]

I think you handled it like a gentleman and an adult. Maybe an armed citizenry really is more polite.

It's a shame I can't say the same for those teens' father.

 

[bsf]

OP, I cannot find fault in how you handled the situation. There is more than one “correct” response. Sounds like you remained calm and remaining calm is a powerful component of successful problem resolution.

I am so happy the club I joined is comprised of members who apparently never visit the range. Prior to joining this club, I shot on private land. That was nice, but muddy, and I was beholden to the landowner. I prefer to shoot alone, and I think it would suck to deal with some of the stuff that gets posted here.

 

[possom813]

You handled it pretty well actually, me, not so much.

 

[Treo]

The only thing I would do different is report them immediately when they aimed a rifle at me.

For the people that would have drawn on them, If you really saw them as a threat would you be confident in you ability to hit THEM instead of the people behind them? If you were doing it to "teach them a lesson" you're no better than they are.

I'm very glad I go to a private range

 

[cowssurf]

I have to echo what a lot of others have said: Why did you even have to tell the rangemaster? The rangemaster was not doing his job. At the municipal range in Miami that I used to shoot at, those rangemasters were hawks. First off, we had to schedule and sit through a range safety class to obtain a range pass for future use. Then, while we were shooting, the rangemasters were eyeing everybody and constantly reminding people (in a friendly and professional way) of any range rule infractions. That does not sound like a safe shooting environment if the rangemaster had to be alerted to such overtly reckless behavior.

 

[HK G3]

What's wrong with firing whole mags off from the hip?

Sure, it doesn't help improve your shooting skills at all, but damn if it isn't fun (of course, one needs to have more cash than I to even attempt this)!

Other than that one comment, I'd say you handled it perfectly well. And this is coming from someone who is often referred to as a "kid" by most shooters

 

[coloradokevin]

I think you did well on this incident...

I hate stupid people.

 

[qajaq59]

I think you did great and showed real restraint. Obviously your Dad taught you how to behave at a range. It's too bad someone like him isn't raising those other kids.

 

[Lupinus]

To play devils advocate for the RO-

I've been to a range before where there was one RO for the whole place. Some outdoor ranges are kind of spread out and you can't see every shooting bay. The range I go to only has ten bays but would need at least 5 or 6 RO's to monitor everything if all bays are full. So while there may be an RO on site it may be that he is there to listen to and see what he can and be availible when other members see trouble, as in this case.

 

[wristtwister]

My reaction would have been to draw my weapon and counter the person pointing a gun at me while loudly announcing "Drop your weapon"...

"Don't worry man, it isn't loaded" doesn't cut it... and getting away with having a weapon pointed at somebody will only make them think it's okay to do it again. The "adult" with the crowd would probably had to carry his teeth home in a bag too.

We live in a society that is now fraught with dangers... not just from stupid people, but from real threats, and a weapon pointed at you isn't imaginary. If we have learned anything from incidents like Virginia Tech and the high school shootings, it's that you have no idea what's in somebody's mind that is holding a gun and pointing it at you.

Kids today are playing video games and "killing off people" all day long, and it isn't much of a transferrence for them to act stupid and not relate the actual danger of pointing guns at people in the real world. Talk doesn't stop bullets... and as a self defense instructor, I teach students that you're obliged to defend yourself first, and talk things out later. With firearms, it is entirely possible you won't get the chance to talk.

At a public range, I would have put the guys on notice... and found out why the rangemaster wasn't keeping up with what was going on... but luckily, you didn't get buzzed while this "empty" gun was pointed at you.

Years ago, I had a friend who took his guns to the range and blew a hole in the roof of the shooting stand with an "empty" gun. He had left a round in the chamber and simply decocked his pistol when putting his guns away on his last trip. In attempting to take out the magazine, his finger pushed down on the trigger, and the rest is history...

I handle guns all the time... and the FIRST rule is "don't point them at anything you don't want to shoot"...

Rule two is that "stupid comes in all sizes"...

You were lucky... and those guys SHOULD have been thrown off the range. I'm sure they would have been "sorry" if they had accidently shot at you. When people "flip me off" like that, I always blow them a kiss... They were just lucky you didn't draw down on them and put a few rounds in their direction.

WT

 

[woodybrighton]

you did well
they were dangerous idiots and the dad with them was frankly scum
guns are weapons dangerous ones in the hands of the clueless

 

[Deanimator]

My reaction would have been to draw my weapon and counter the person pointing a gun at me while loudly announcing "Drop your weapon"...

I would have called the police. Several discrete crimes were committed against the OP, including assault.

As I said previously, those morons are going to end up killing somebody if they aren't stopped, especially the father.

 

[ravencon]

You handled this with maturity and more patience than I probably could have mustered. Well done.

I am so glad that I can shoot at private membership ranges.

 

[Hokkmike]

Well done! As a person 3 time your age I would have handles it the same way!

 

[Waitone]

Part of the first response you received MAY have been related to your age. A "teenager" telling a group of "teenagers" what to do may not have set well with the local "adult". Maybe next time the oldest looking of your groups should do the front work.

Idiots like you described do not need to be around firearms.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I carry a digital camera with me (itty bitty little thing)
I also often set up a camcorder on a tripod and let it run while I'm shooting. It's great for observing my own technique and it's amazing how many people stop screwing around when they realize they are on camera.

Of course I often shoot at an "open/public" range that has no RO or any other official present.

 

[CountGlockula]

Good point Z.

What about another twist here...

If those "kids" or anyone at a public range, points a gun at you (not knowing if it was intentional or deliberate or accidental) do you have a right to point back for self defense?

If you point back, THAT would cause greater attention and to teach those "kids" a life lesson.

Or maybe, we should expect getting swept because other shooters on the range are not so well in the area of muzzle discipline.

 

[357-8-times]

I would have just left the range and complained to the range master and let him deal with it. If you had not noticed the kid with shot gun you may have been shot, nothing is worth that. Ruining your day is a fair trade off for knowing there will be a tomorrow.