public range safety

[spencerhenry]

i have seen quite a lot of unsafe gun handling at public ranges. today was no exception. there were the usual point the gun sideways across the range while trying to unload a live round, the loading of guns while people are downrange, and stuff like that. when it was time to leave i loaded all my stuff in the truck and got in. there were 3 guys at the pistol range where i was parked, as the one guy got done shooting he did the usual swing around with his gun pointed the opposite of downrange. i rolled down my window and said "could you please point that thing somewhere other than at me, like downrange not opposite downrange." he says back "what thing?" i respond with "THE GUN IN YOUR HAND". the slide was locked back, but he still had his finger on the trigger and was not paying any attention to where he was pointing his pistol. i think he got the point, or i at least i hope he got the point.

[cstone]

Which range?

It would be so easy for me to become a range Nazi. Safety is the first lesson that needs to be learned with our hobby and there is little to no room for leniency. People can very easily be hurt or killed.

The balancing part of the equation is the method you use to communicate the point of the lesson.

Public ranges, with lots of people of varying degrees of experience and training makes for a difficult problem on how to keep everyone safe, while not turning the "enjoyable" part of the hobby into a block of instruction in boot camp. Added to this is the fact that while everyone at the range may be responsible for safety, in reality, no one is responsible for anyone but their self and the two or thee people they are directly observing. Unless the shooters have a good deal of experience and a common training background, range officers are hard pressed to directly observe more than four shooters at a time. Even watching four shooters can sometimes be difficult, especially if they are all firing different weapons.

I'm glad you pointed out the unsafe handling of the firearm to the man as you drove by. Maybe the lesson will sink in and it won't happen again. Some sponges soak up more information at a faster rate than others. Some sponges never learn

[ray1970]

The general public are pretty much idiots. That is why I won't go to a public shooting range. Not to say this kind of thing can't happen at a private facility, but usually if a member is shown to be habitually careless he soon finds he is no longer a member.

[Mazin]

I agree with ray, i avoid public ranges as much as possable because of the unsafe practices of people. But im lucky since my brother in law sits on 40 acres in hudson. Even on private land though in our sport safety has to be number one.

[alxone]

you guys wouldn't believe the things i have seen being out at the open space ranges this year. hell last week a damn dirt shooter decided to unload pretty much right at me (about 10 feet or less) and even after i yell "STOP SHOOTING! " he took a pause and began blasting away !!!! he was not shooting at the back stop witch in this case was a damn mountain but was shooting across the firing line into the trees (where i was ). i guess he thought i was a deer with a rifle and a trash bag .stupid dirt shooters !

[Byte Stryke]

The general public are pretty much idiots. That is why I won't go to a public shooting range. Not to say this kind of thing can't happen at a private facility, but usually if a member is shown to be habitually careless he soon finds he is no longer a member.

granted not all, but most private places will jump you pretty quick and show you the door.

[Mazin]

you guys wouldn't believe the things i have seen being out at the open space ranges this year. hell last week a damn dirt shooter decided to unload pretty much right at me (about 10 feet or less) and even after i yell "STOP SHOOTING! " he took a pause and began blasting away !!!! he was not shooting at the back stop witch in this case was a damn mountain but was shooting across the firing line into the trees (where i was ). i guess he thought i was a deer with a rifle and a trash bag .stupid dirt shooters !

Man it would have been hard for me not to beat some sense into him, well when i had use of both arms. Thats why i love it when im around like minded shooters, just because we are not at a official range does not mean all saftey needs to be put into the wind.

[stevelkinevil]

you guys wouldn't believe the things i have seen being out at the open space ranges this year. hell last week a damn dirt shooter decided to unload pretty much right at me (about 10 feet or less) and even after i yell "STOP SHOOTING! " he took a pause and began blasting away !!!! he was not shooting at the back stop witch in this case was a damn mountain but was shooting across the firing line into the trees (where i was ). i guess he thought i was a deer with a rifle and a trash bag .stupid dirt shooters !

I hear ya there man, thats why I always go out on a Monday, and even then I am hesitant to take my sons with me. it never ceases to amaze me that folks will go buy a deadly piece of hardware and not bother to take the time to learn how to properly and safely use it. Had that happened to me and especially with my sons around im not sure he would have left there under his own power. Was this at left hand or south site?

[alxone]

I hear ya there man, thats why I always go out on a Monday, and even then I am hesitant to take my sons with me. it never ceases to amaze me that folks will go buy a deadly piece of hardware and not bother to take the time to learn how to properly and safely use it. Had that happened to me and especially with my sons around im not sure he would have left there under his own power. Was this at left hand or south site?

unfortunately it was squaw , a bunch of dirt shooters showed up and one was a leo !! it just goes to show that even alll the training in the world does no good if you dont use it .

[StagLefty]

Being an NRA Instructor for 17 years has made me extremely uncomfortable on public ranges where too many folks have no idea about muzzle discipline. The few I've tried to talk to just look at you with a blank look on their face and will probably never understand the concept of gun safety or why.