Met one of "Them" at the range today

T

Tom68

New member
After probably a hundred trips to a public range, I finally encountered my first significant encounter with an individual who does not view safety with the same regard as most of us on this forum.

I had just got set up, with no more than one round downrange, when this fellow shows up, with two boys who were apparently his grandchildren. I immeditely thought, "great deal, dude bringing his grandchldren, teaching them how to shoot."

After providing them a few minutes of time to set up targets, he indicated they were ready for the range to go hot. I watched them carefully before I started shooting, and proceeded to put a few rounds downrange. Imagine my surprise after shooting two rounds, and looking up from my scope, to see this fellow out of the corner of my eye, walking downrange. By the time I had figured out what was going on, he was 25m downrange: I immediately safed my rifle, and then bee-lined myself to his position.

I didn't want to make a scene in front of his grandchildren, so I made it a point to confront him as far downrange as possible. I told him, as quietly as possible..."Sir, please, don't EVER go downrange until you have ensured that the range is cold"...and he chose to make a scene about thinking that I was finished shooting and such....and proceeded to raise his voice and make it a larger issue. Keep in mind, they guy is easily 20 years older than me, and I'm trying to pay him the proper respect and defer to his seniority...and keeping my voice quiet...but, right is right, and safety trumps seniority.

a few minutes later, when they are finished shooting, he calls out to me to ask if "I have his permission to go downrange", in a really derisive manner. My perspective is that the guy was simply being a jerk to cover up for his shame for bad range discipline; fact is, he was providing a poor example for his grandsons, and he resented me for calling me on it. Perhaps they had a meaningful discussion on the matter on the ride home: I certainly hope so.

My point on all of this is: we all have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a responsible manner. When any of our members gets out of line, we have a responsibility to apply corrective action, in a respectful manner. If someone gets their feelings hurt, then that's too bad; age and experience does not matter. Setting a proper example for younger shooters is paramount for our favored pastime.

I don't think I'm being unreasonable...23 years of experience of operating US Army small arms ranges may make my standards a little higher than the average joe, but there are some minimums to which we all must adhere. NOBODY should ever go downrange until they have verified that all on the firing line are committed to "going cold".

I know I'm preaching to the choir here--but the field grade guy in me just can't help but share this with others to make this an appreciable "after action" moment. Thanks for the opportunity to share my experience. I'm sure many of you have other teachable moments you'd like to share...
 
I know you realize this, but even though many of us grow wiser with age many young jerks just grow up to become old jerks. The sad thing is they often pass the “jerk gene” to their children.
 
You would think an older person would have learned to be more cautious, or he would not have made to that age, based or Darwinism.
I rarely see stupidity at my range, but once in awhile you see the mall ninja who can be very annoying.
 
Wow... Sorry dude. Some people just don't get it. You were right on all accounts. Had a guy pull a similar stunt on the shot 25 yard pistol range which sits right next to our 100-200 yard rifle range. The difference was the guy was cool about it when we let him know the rules, and we had his saftey first and formost in our minds. Had on of the older board members from our range club been present, they probably woul have ripped him a new one.
 
I swear, some folks would rather die than be proven wrong.

I try to admit it when I'm wrong or don't know, loud and with a smile. Makes life much more pleasant, and you learn some stuff too!
 
most of the folks I encounter at ranges are the nicest people, but I guess every so often one of "them" has to show up. But like I said, the guy probably was more angry at himself for acting stupid but was trying to save face. I was quite happy that they didn't stick around long.
 
After providing them a few minutes of time to set up targets, he indicated they were ready for the range to go hot.
Click to expand...

In the future, perhaps a verbal acknowledgement from all shooters that the range is hot/cold would prevent this kind of problem from ever happening again.
 
I had to double-take on your thread title,,,

Because just this morning before work,,,
I watched the movie "Them".

I thought maybe you did battle with a 12' ant. :eek:
But then I had a cup of coffee and now all is good with the world. :)

251921.1020.A.jpg


Interesting movie for weaponry by the way,,,
Great shots of James Whitmore with a flamethrower,,,
As well as James Arness with a Garand and a Thompson SMG,,,
Plus some nameless GI going after the ants with rifle grenades from a Garand.

Oh, and let's not forget the Bazooka with phosphorous rounds.

Aarond

.
 
Age is no guarantee of wisdom.
I was nearly a victim of something similar, but in reverse.
An old fellow, with an almost as old bolt action, was at the next bench.
When he had removed the bolt to clean the rifle, I plainly asked if it was ok for me to go down range to change targets.
He said, in plain English, Sure, go ahead.
So I did.
No sooner than I had gotten maybe a third of the way down, there was a great big boom and whoosh.
He had replaced the bolt, loaded the gun and fired a round, right past me.
Missed me by "That Much."
Plumb forgot I was there, right in front of him.
We had some words and he packed up and left, pronto.
 
I wonder if the old guy went home muttering about "range nazis."

For every range that seems to have draconian rules, there's a whole posse of this kind of reckless person reinforcing why those rules are in place. It's a shame folks can't be sensible (or when they fail in that, humble and contrite), but as long as I'm wishing for things I can't get, I'll also take world peace and an Audi R8 V10. :D
 
You did did the right thing at the right time Tom68. If his behavior bothers you. Don't let it. He's old and us old guys get cranky allot and are not on the Ball as we once were. Latter in the day when things around him quiet down. I'll bet that old timers conscience will be full of regret once He gets to thinking about what he said and the dangerous/ foolhardy thing He did. Perhaps the next time you cross paths with him at the Range or on the street. He'll acknowledge you with a smile and or the tip of his head. His way of showing you some {respect} a bit late. But never-less still something your owed._;)
 
TOM68- You conducted yourself in a most appropriate manner. I would feel safe firing next to you at any range. As far as the old guy, if he was embarressd in front of his grand children, maybe it tought the kids something about "range responsibility" and should they ever go to a range with their own guns, down the road, they'll remember you and act responsible towards their fellow shooters, And the safety factor. You taught those kids more than the old man did.
 
In almost every case of bad range etiquette I have seen, it involves somebody bringing a newbie along and showing off ... Been covered by a muzzle while some idiot shows his wife or GF how great a gunner he is; had folks walk to their bench to show their guest something after a cease-fire was called while I was putting up targets ... I'm always more wary of people involved in an education session than I am of one person at a bench firing. Showing off is dangerous to everyone ... if you want to show off for your kids or wife, learn card tricks ... that always impresses me ...

At the range I frequent, there often is no range officer watching the proceedings, so everybody gets behind the line and then visually confirms everyone is on the same page before heading out for target placement ... It isn't a guarantee of safety, but it's better than assuming all is well ...
 
I’m getting too old to worry about this kinda stuff.
You did the right thing … displaying your colors in the process, and that caused him to display his colors.
People that matter, will judge correctly based on the display. There's no need to associate with those that judge incorrectly, so his attempts to embarrass are irrelevant.
Thanks for being one of the guys willing to speak up against a wrong.
 
Range rules, unfortunately, probably came into being like most other rules: b/c people have to be explicitly told what common sense should have told them to begin with...

You didn't do anything wrong in my opinion.
 
I belong to a local gun club and I can be called "overly cautious" - we're talking guns. The range rule is that you cannot bring a gun to the shooting line if the range is "cold." The rule also is that you cannot handle a gun when the range is "cold."

Also, we have no formal range officers. The rule is the first person using the shooting range is the range officer unless they transfer that to someone else at the shooting line.

Fine by me...so, my wife and I go to the range, and there's one guy at the line - no shooting going on - no sound. But, he's bent over (can't really see what's going on), but he's doing "something" at the shooting bench.

Counting rounds? Picking his nose? Looking through his range bag? Cleaning his shooting glasses? Working on a gun? I don't know - I don't have my X-ray glasses on to see through him.

I walk up, say "Hi" introduce myself and my wife and say, "I want to verify the status of the range - is it hot or cold?"

Mr. Snarky snarls at me, "If you knew the range rules you could see I was working on my gun and that makes the range "hot."

...okay then.....I just smiled at him and said, "Thanks for all the help."

I swear...few people have a "nice day" anymore...and are determined to make sure no one else will either...
 
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