Would I be rude?

[Cougfan2]

When I went shooting at Brown's camp with Jeepmor this weekend, there was a group of about 5 adults with about 10 kids. Might have been a scout group, but not sure. The adults were supervising the kids and letting them shoot some rifles and shotguns. I watched them for a while and noticed that only 2-3 of the kids had eye and ear protection. The more I thought about this the more it bugged me.

I am thinking about buying one of those bowls of cheap foam earplugs and a couple of cheap pairs of shooting glasses to give to kids I see that don't have them. Here is the question. If you were one of the adults, would you be offended if I came up to you and said "hey, it looks like you might have left your hearing and eye protection at home, I have some earplugs I could give you and a couple of sets of shooting glasses I would be willing to loan you".

 

[Wayne G.]

That's a mighty-fine gesture and handled with dignity. I appreciate it. However, someone somewhere WILL be offended, so just be prepared.

 

[Omaney]

Not rude at all. A damn fine gesture. Anyone taking offense is probably doing so because they're defensive.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

You would be justified in pointing out the need for hearing and eye protection. I see folks at the range without hearing and eye protection all of the time. Last time it was people shooting flying clay targets with shotguns. They seem to leave really quickly after I touched off a round from my MAS 36.

 

[Evil Monkey]

No it wouldn't be rude.

I, however, would add that they were idiots for not bringing proper eye & ear protection.

Who let's kids shoot without E&E protection? It's bad enough they don't listen at home!

 

[kurtmax]

I've found the types that don't bring eye or ear protection are the same people that don't practice safe handling of firearms. I've even seen some of the 'more smarter' ones pick up old, crusty earplugs from the ground and use them.

I'm thinking of buying an M44 for the sole purpose of clearing out the earplugless people from the range when I go

 

[ambush]

I look at those situations as an opportunity to educate the kids, and I do it whenever I see it at the range, rudeness be damned. If the adults that are with the kids won't teach them, someone has to. If the adult has anything to say to me other than "thank you", I deal with that too.

 

[peyton]

No, it would be the proper thing to do, I always have extra foam ear plugs for the blackhawk helicopter rides. I get turned down by GI's sometimes then I tell them it would be good for them to be able to hear their children later in life. The most grateful bunch was Iraqi government people, I gave them the boxes and very slowly showed them how to roll them up and how to put them in. After we landed, and were going our seperate ways, the intepreter stopped me and passed the thanks of the group to me for being considerate.

 

[strat81]

It sounds courteous to me, not rude.

 

[Walkalong]

I've even seen some of the 'more smarter' ones pick up old, crusty earplugs from the ground and use them.

I saw a guy pick up cigarette butts and stick them in his ears.

You may piss off the adults, but you would doing the children a big favor.

The adults are on their own, P*** on them, but we need to look after the children.

 

[RKBABob]

I'd think "Wow, you really meet some nice poeple at this range!"

 

[Mr White]

Not rude at all as long as you don't make the offer in an arrogant way or a way which might compromise the kids' respect for the adult, which it doesn't sound like you'd do.

But like someone said, you're bound to run into that 1% who will take offense at your gesture. A simple "Sorry, just thought I'd offer" should take care of them.

Young kids' ears should be cared for... so that they can ruin them on their own when they're 16 at a rock concert. I rarely wear HP if everyone at the range is shooting .22s. I make my kids wear them though. I've had people say something about it to me and my stock answer is "When I was a teenager, I always tried to be the kid closest to the big speaker towers at concerts (think Kiss, Cheap Trick, Rush, Molly Hatchet, ...) Those little .22s aren't gonna ruin my hearing any worse than it already is."

 

[qajaq59]

Rude would be saying, "Hey Dummy, get them some ear plugs."

However, I can't see how buying them some could be considered anything but helpful.

 

[Beatnik]

Who let's kids shoot without E&E protection? It's bad enough they don't listen at home!

I dunno, when I took rifle& shotgun merit badge, I don't remember having protection, at least not for the rifles. That was 20 years ago, though, and things SHOULD have changed since then.

IF they're only shooting 22's, and IF they're only shooting long guns, and IF each kid is only getting 10 rounds or so, and IF they're trying to be able to yell commands at the kid if something's up, then I guess you could make an argument against ear protection.

They should still have at least as many glasses as shooters, though.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

"I saw a guy pick up cigarette butts and stick them in his ears."

yeah, sorry about dad *grin* but, hey thats pretty brilliant if you don't have anything else.
second, i think thats a fine and dandy idea. the kids think that some nice person came up to give them a gift, and the adults are appreciative of the help.
if someone gets offended, then just tell them to screw off, you want people to enjoy shooting and hearing protection can go along way.
besides, what do you want to bet that a least a coulple of kids will grow up to love shooting, especially if there first time out someone demenstraighted that there are some really nice people with guns.

 

[Knotthead]

"It's for the children."

Finally that phrase has some sense behind it.

 

[kd7nqb]

I think you would have been fine.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

cougfan2, its never rude to be nice. if someone takes it wrong then they're the ones being rude.

 

[Chrome]

I always carry extras and hand them out to younger kids or those who appear to be newcomers to the shooting world. Only once have I had someone be "offended." She just scoffed and stuck them in her pocket.

10 rounds of .30-06 later and she was digging them out.

Later,
Chrome...

 

[Cougfan2]

Thanks to all. I'll grab me a bowl full of plugs and a couple of extra pair of cheap shooting glasses before my next range trip.

 

[foghornl]

I have a bunch of those roll-em-up-n-stick-em-in soft foamy plugs...work in a metal stamping place. Also have a couple of sets of those glasses big enough to go over regular glasses in my range kit. So, I offer them to those I see without.

Even take a pocketfull of those plugs when I go to the race track...have given out a bunch of sets there, too.

 

[JKimball]

I gave some earplugs to a father & son who were at the range to shoot their .22. I felt bad because what I was shooting was a lot louder. They appreciated it.

 

[cmidkiff]

I keep a handfull of plugs, but I don't carry extra glasses... Never seen shooting glasses at a price that I could afford to toss away. The plugs are a no brainer. Been glad I had extra on countless outings.

I've offered them to people, young and old, without ever having a problem. Had people say no thanks a few times, that's their business, I still felt better having offered.

Folks, we need to make a visit to the range an enjoyable and safe event for all shooters. Many new shooters don't realize just how loud a firing line can be. If my offering them a set of $0.10 plugs helps then to have a pleasant experience, great. Well worth it.

I'll also offer the use of one of my .22's, with a free box of ammo to people who have brought a new young shooter to the range without having an appropriate beginner firearm for them. I figure it's $2.00 well spent.

Once in a while someone will be a bit defensive. No problem, I'll leave them on their own. Still, I'm not going to avoid offering because of the low percentage of people who might take offense!

 

[esq_stu]

I carry spares for just such occasions.

 

[CNYCacher]

I hand out plugs at the range all the time. Usually I put a pair in my hand, extend my hand out open and palm-up and I say "Would you like some ear plugs?" Very rare to have a kids say no, and the one time he did, his dad encouraged him to take them, then thanked me. Never had anyone get upset about me offering them some plugs.
I carry a 200-pair box that I got from Lowes for $12 in my range bag. I usually use muffs.