405FileFound
New member
Ok here's the deal. I served in the Army from 1996-2000 and never had a safety issue with my rifle. I purchased my current handgun (SW 649) in 2005 and have been to various ranges several times a year since then. Never had an issue. I've witnessed several incidents, from patrons doubling up on a lane, horseplay, picture posing violations, absent mindedly removing ear and eye protection, unsafe acts, aiming the gun unwisely, etc. On one occasion I saw a party of six people escorted off the range.
Two weeks ago I went to the range for my birthday with 10+ people. Assembling a dozen people, some coming in from various parts of the state, taking fone calls from those who were on the way or stuck in traffic, arranging to pay for the lanes, having to keep an eye on a friend who was "acting up", etc, in a busy and crowded gun range on a Saturday morning, two novice shooters in the bunch... it was a handful to organize. Ive never gone to that range with more than three people.
We got onto our lanes and everything went fine. When we finished, I directed my buddies (Some of my buddies aren't 'gun guys' so they were just standing around) to help me throw out trash, empty boxes, and pick up shells. We were all running late for the dinner afterwards, so time was getting crunched. I boxed up the rented Ruger .22 pistol and turned it back in to the front desk---
I forgot to inspect the Ruger 22 to make sure it was totally empty. Im a revolver guy, and unloading and inspection is easy. The employee politely indicated that there was a round still in the magazine - at least it was unchambered. He pretended to take a round in the stomach and said "Make..sure...the gun is..unloaded...when you turn... it in..Sir.." and slumped across the counter all dramatically.
It was embarrassing, but he dint make a stink about it. Theyve seen me at the range over the years and Ive always heeded every rule. I did feel like crap days after, knowing that all I needed to do was to check the Ruger and remove the magazine before turning it in. I just boxed it up when finished and headed to the counter. It was the only safety violation Ive ever had in all my years of shooting but ive been beating myself up over it since then. Plain and simple I was distracted with the whole birthday operation but it shouldn't have happened.
Has anything like this ever happened to you at the range? Backing into parked cars, leaving the stove on, forgetting appointments, its happened in some form to all of us. Thoughts, comments, criticism?
Two weeks ago I went to the range for my birthday with 10+ people. Assembling a dozen people, some coming in from various parts of the state, taking fone calls from those who were on the way or stuck in traffic, arranging to pay for the lanes, having to keep an eye on a friend who was "acting up", etc, in a busy and crowded gun range on a Saturday morning, two novice shooters in the bunch... it was a handful to organize. Ive never gone to that range with more than three people.
We got onto our lanes and everything went fine. When we finished, I directed my buddies (Some of my buddies aren't 'gun guys' so they were just standing around) to help me throw out trash, empty boxes, and pick up shells. We were all running late for the dinner afterwards, so time was getting crunched. I boxed up the rented Ruger .22 pistol and turned it back in to the front desk---
I forgot to inspect the Ruger 22 to make sure it was totally empty. Im a revolver guy, and unloading and inspection is easy. The employee politely indicated that there was a round still in the magazine - at least it was unchambered. He pretended to take a round in the stomach and said "Make..sure...the gun is..unloaded...when you turn... it in..Sir.." and slumped across the counter all dramatically.
It was embarrassing, but he dint make a stink about it. Theyve seen me at the range over the years and Ive always heeded every rule. I did feel like crap days after, knowing that all I needed to do was to check the Ruger and remove the magazine before turning it in. I just boxed it up when finished and headed to the counter. It was the only safety violation Ive ever had in all my years of shooting but ive been beating myself up over it since then. Plain and simple I was distracted with the whole birthday operation but it shouldn't have happened.
Has anything like this ever happened to you at the range? Backing into parked cars, leaving the stove on, forgetting appointments, its happened in some form to all of us. Thoughts, comments, criticism?