BetaShooter
Member
I was at the range today with my son today and we witnessed the following exchange which made me wonder why ranger officers are armed. This takes place at the 50 yard rifle range.
Range Officer: "SIR" 1 second pause "SIR" shouted VERY loudly
Shooter: Was shooting a 10/22 roughly one shot every 2 seconds, stops shooting and turns around
Range Officer: "We have a 4 second rule between shots"
Shooter: "Okay, I'll slow it down" turns around and resumes shooting - with a notably slower pace
Range Officer: "SIR, SIR I SAID 4 SECONDS BETWEEN SHOTS"
Shooter: "Look, I'm concentrating on hitting the target, not counting between shots, I'm not shooting rapidly by any means"
Ranger Officer: steps toward the shooter, who was still seated "You are shooting faster than once every 4 seconds we have rules here and they need to be followed"
Shooter: now stands up "Are you timing me? For chrissakes, it's a .22 and I'm not being unsafe, I'm taking controlled shots"
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.
Shooter: "Give me a break, are you serious?"
Range Officer: "I said 4..."
Shooter: interrupting "I know what you said, and I heard you the first. Good day" turns around and sits down and begins reloading his magazine.
Ranger Officer: still standing with his hand on his gun, waits for a little while and walks about 10 yards away.
For what it's worth, the shooter was a very safe guy. I was next to him for about a half an hour and he practiced excellent gun safety and seemed to be a personable fellow. He was a roughly 50 year old man, not a punk kid by any means. The whole situation worried me a little. I had my 10 year old son with me. I have been to several ranges and most range officers seem a little "odd". So why are they armed? I could see if they wore kevlar vests or something similar, but why do they need to openly carry?
Range Officer: "SIR" 1 second pause "SIR" shouted VERY loudly
Shooter: Was shooting a 10/22 roughly one shot every 2 seconds, stops shooting and turns around
Range Officer: "We have a 4 second rule between shots"
Shooter: "Okay, I'll slow it down" turns around and resumes shooting - with a notably slower pace
Range Officer: "SIR, SIR I SAID 4 SECONDS BETWEEN SHOTS"
Shooter: "Look, I'm concentrating on hitting the target, not counting between shots, I'm not shooting rapidly by any means"
Ranger Officer: steps toward the shooter, who was still seated "You are shooting faster than once every 4 seconds we have rules here and they need to be followed"
Shooter: now stands up "Are you timing me? For chrissakes, it's a .22 and I'm not being unsafe, I'm taking controlled shots"
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.
Shooter: "Give me a break, are you serious?"
Range Officer: "I said 4..."
Shooter: interrupting "I know what you said, and I heard you the first. Good day" turns around and sits down and begins reloading his magazine.
Ranger Officer: still standing with his hand on his gun, waits for a little while and walks about 10 yards away.
For what it's worth, the shooter was a very safe guy. I was next to him for about a half an hour and he practiced excellent gun safety and seemed to be a personable fellow. He was a roughly 50 year old man, not a punk kid by any means. The whole situation worried me a little. I had my 10 year old son with me. I have been to several ranges and most range officers seem a little "odd". So why are they armed? I could see if they wore kevlar vests or something similar, but why do they need to openly carry?