Sounds like good ole Mel needs an IRS and probably ATF investigation.

I've been to Dragonmans about a dozen times to shoot, all before more options became available. I can't say I always felt in danger, but I never felt safe on his ranges except the one time a group I was with got the use of a private range and, thanks to members here who served as RSO's. I haven't been back since his wifes death.

Out of all of my visits, I had perhaps one interaction with Mel that I could call cordial. The rest of the time he was an ass.

Because there are better, safer, options available for shooting locally, and because I dislike being swept by other firearm owners live muzzles, hate getting pelted by their brass because we're packed in too tightly, and don't care to he yelled at for picking up my own brass, I haven't and will never return to his range.

Sure, I'm impressed by his military vehicle collection as well as the wonders he has in his museum, but I can't help but consider all of the people he screwed over to acquire that stuff.

As to his wifes death, he apparently won a nice settlement from the TV network. Funny thing is, the devices used that killed his wife were supposedly produced by a combination of his own lawfully certified/trained people as well as a few others he allowed to help produce those explosives (unlawfully).