Why Are Range Officers Armed?

[Lonestar]

One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, Three Mississippi, Four Mississippi, Fire...One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, Three Mississippi, Four Mississippi, Fire...

HOW IS THAT FUN???? I have been at ranges with a 2 second rule (basically no rapid fire), but FOUR??? With a .22 rifle, shooting at that pace it would take you an hour to blow through $1 worth of ammo .

I don't know why but some Gun Store Clerks and RO get a holy-ier than thou attitude. Usually they never had any police or military training and they are wannabes. He should have NEVER put his hand on his weapon in a situation like that, tell the owner.

 

[Deanimator]

HOW IS THAT FUN???? I have been at ranges with a 2 second rule (basically no rapid fire), but FOUR??? With a .22 rifle, shooting at that pace it would take you an hour to blow through $1 worth of ammo .

At that 4 second pace, it would be literally impossible to shoot an NRA Conventional Pistol match. I guess this guy would consider the competitors at Camp Perry wildly irresponsible and dangerous...

 

[carterbeauford]

Ranger Officer: "If I witness you rapid firing again, I will remove you from the range" tenses up and steps back a little and un-snaps the thumb strap on his holstered pistol, then rests his hand on it.

Wow. That is sad. Using you weapon to intimidate makes us all look bad. Wonder if he open carries in public and acts like that.

I do not patronize ranges. Last thing this world needs is more people trying to impose authority upon one another.

 

[Wesker]

Thats brandishing all right. Florida prohibits the 'use of a firearm to gain the upper hand in an argument'. Thats exactly what this twitchy, walking catastrophy did.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

You should have told him that you have a hard time concentrating on shooting and counting to four, so to better help you enforce the rules, would he, the benevolent Range officer kindly stand next to you while you are here and after every shot kindly say, "one one thousand, two one...".

I'm sure he would take kindly to such an arrangement..the putz.

 

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

Range Officers are for SAFETY

Every good range officer who has been properly trained and certified knows that his or her Number One Job is that of safety at the range. No need to be a range nazi. Your RO may not even be a certified RO....Might just be "some guy" who looks out for the range.

Definitely speak to management and have him removed for the implied threat and for "over-doing it". He owes the shooter -- and the club -- an apology.

 

[yongxingfreesty]

HAHAH 4 seconds ? i would never go back there, my range allows 1shot per second here in houston, tx.

 

[carterbeauford]

What I wouldn't give to see someone walk into that range with an M16A2. "I can't help it!"

 

[lamazza]

I'm an RO -but not armed. That situation sounds like you are talking to a moron RO who is trying to be important.
On the other hand...when you politely try to enforce the range rules and the SIQ(shooter in Question) starts "ya ya ok" and then continies to violate rules anyways it would be nice to be able to pistol whip then at least
The truth is that RO's don't know who is experienced or not and after several hours of keeping your eye on shooters -noobies and pros alike-it very annoying to find a violator who ignores you.

 

[JonP]

I have to ask - I live in San Antonio and frequent a range that has a 4 second rule on some of its lines. Which range was this, and could you describe the RO? I'd just like to be aware when I go again....

 

[Powderman]

I think that there is one point that some of the participants of this thread are missing.

This point--and it is extremely important--is that the Range Safety Officer's primary job on the range is SAFETY. Nothing else. RSO's are the monitors of the firing line to ensure that shooting is conducted safely; that no one conducts themselves in a manner that will cause danger to another shooter; to ensure that all rounds fired impact the backstop and do not leave the range, and to coordinate times that targets are changed so that it is done safely--no firearms handling, cleaning, boxing, casing or uncasing when shooters are downrange.

The RSO is NOT a guard, police officer, sentinel, or whatever. Chances are that the range nazi referred to is wearing his pistol on his own, without the approval of the range owner.

 

[hso]

How do these people open carry without the proper LEO, or equivalent, licensing?

It's not needed nor should it be. If you're in your place of business, personal property or at the range there's not reason not to open carry. If you're in a state that allows open carry, there's no need to get permission. Keep in mind that our "local reality" isn't the whole of the world and that there are plenty of places out west where wearing a gun is openly is completely normal to society.

As to drawing on this idiot? Of course not. Just letting it slide, no. What he did was irresponsible and probably illegal. He was attempting to intimidate with a firearm when there was no threat of violence. People like that belong in rubber rooms or jail.

 

[Dirk Pitt]

I say we jump him, take away his toys, tie him up and make him WATCH us all shoot very fast (but safely) there seems to be a trend in ranges and gun stores that for the most part they are all rude and "experts".

I am a RO too and at a local range I saw the RO there not just armed but he was all TAC'd out with a vest with and his mags and big knives. I counted he had no less than 10 magazines on him for his .45 (1911 type). Total Rambo idiot, I usualy let them know I am a RO also to help out but this guy was just a big jerk.

 

[outofbattery]

I'm an RO and when I'm at the range I'm armed,because if I'm at the range I'm going to shoot!
My take on rapid fire is :" Is the shooter aiming and in control of his firearm?" Dumping mags as fast as one can pull the trigger will have me asking you to not do that,practicing double taps generally won't.Popping plates,I won't enforce 1 shot per second unless the shooter is being unsafe.If I have to have a word with anyone, 97% of the time it is to ask to watch their ears and eyes and practice proper safety,especially IRT muzzle discipline.

 

[lance22]

Ranges not in touch with why people shoot these days

Range rules were made for your dad's or maybe your grandparents generation. Why did those people own guns? THe range rules reflect the kind and amount of shooting they did. You don't rapid shoot when you are stalking an animal.

The older generation, which shoots their guns only in the Autumn, and only the required three shot sight-in, for whom rapid fire means a few rounds during a ten minute span has not adapted well to a new era. Back in their day it was all about hunting and really, few shooters hunt anymore. The whole range rule thing is built around the hunting scenario.

Fewer people hunt and more people own firearms for no reason other than personal defense or shooting for fun. Both have little use for a four second rule. Once the older people are gone, who like to shoot trap and and see no "need" for AR's, handguns, or semi-autos; once these people are gone I think "range rules" will adapt to the REAL reason why people are shooting these days.

It would be nice to have a place that you could do IPSC or IDPA or Cowboy style shooting anytime you want but unfortunately such a place does not exist and many ranges don't allow these kinds of matches because ... well ... shooting like that just isn't the way things used to be done.

Until then, "range rules" will continue to reflect shooting as it existed in 1949. For what it's worth, I'll be hunting this weekend

 

[cloudcroft]

I never go to a range to shoot...too many damn rules and regulations.

Out here, most of us go to the desert (or woods) to shoot. Very informal and no RO BS...we just need to look out for the 4-wheelers, dirt-bike and ATV guys.

Can't stand being cooped-up at a range.

-- John D.

 

[Joe Sacco]

Sure would like to know which range it was.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I spent some time as a CRO at a local range.

As long as they were keeping the shots on paper, and otherwise acting in a safe manner, let 'er rip.

As for being armed? Absolutely!! This is the one place that if someone "gets stupid" guns are GAURANTEED to be present. Now, if I'm going to be in a location like that- I WILL be on equal footing.

Luckily I never had any trouble at all. Good folks in these parts.

As for the unsnap and aquire grip? Sounds bad. But I wasn't there so I won't armchair it.

 

[No_Brakes23]

Why are they armed?

Seems obvious that they should be. Ever see your local gunsmith or gun dealer carry in their place of business? Same thing.

As for the range, I find 1 shot, 1 second to be a tad oppressive, but not hard to follow. I would not patronize a range that had a 1 shot every 4 seconds rule, that's ridiculous. And I certainly wouldn't continue to put money into the pocket of a man who acted like that RSO.

 

[jcoiii]

State of TN

TCA 39-13-102
(a) A person commits aggravated assault who:
(1)Intentionally or knowingly commits an assault as defined in 39-13-101* AND;

(A) causes serious bodily injury to another, or
(B) uses or displays a deadly weapon.........




*39-13-101
(a) A person commits assault who:
(1)......
(2) Intentionally or knowingly causes another to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury..........


So if the shooter believed this guy was going to shoot him, it's aggravated assault, which is a Class C Felony.

I probably would have asked "are you threatening to shoot me?"

My opinion: find out if the shooter reported this idiot. If so, back him up. If not, let the owner know what this idiot did. Be a witness for any legal charges if the shooter went that route.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Why shouldn't a Range Officer of a shooting range be armed?

 

[SuperNaut]

My range is bad, but I appreciate it a little more after this thread.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Range officer in origional story was a total jerk

 

[XavierBreath]

So if the shooter believed this guy was going to shoot him, it's aggravated assault, which is a Class C Felony.

Only if the events occured in Tennesee.
These events occured in Texas.
Tennesee law is irrelevant.
Please apply Texas law.
Texas law has been posted for your convienence in post #35 and #37.

 

[SoCalShooter]

Hi guys, new here, shooter for a while now though.

In my opinion this range officer should be fired. As for legal aspects I would also consider it brandishing a weapon, personally I would have felt threatened by the range officer. He was definetly overzealous and should not be allowed to work there.

I would suggest that the witness if he does not want to be identified. Place an anonymous phone call or an anonymous letter to the owner of the establishment. This will atleast make them aware that they could have a possible RO who is a potential problem.