Range officer questions

S

Steve Smith

New member
Imagine you are a member of a private shooting range, and once a year, for two weekends (just before hunting season) the range is open to the public for "sighting in days". Our range usually does not have a Range Officer, and it's a really safe place, but here comes the riff-raff.

Also imagine tat you are an instructor for an NRA class, and are familiar with range commands, but that is much better used with students (following your every command) than this, a non-classroom environment.

Imagine again, that you are asked (as several members were) to be solo Range Officer for one shift. I don't want to be a jerk on the range, buit at the same time, I don't want any negligent crap going on.

BTW, the firing line has about 20 or 25 positions that according to old timers, will be full.

How would you handle the firing line?
 
If you are the only person working, it sounds like a bad scene.

One local club that has sight in weekends posts several members in the parking lot entrance to explain required safety rules to each car as it enters. They also have large signs posted in the lot instructing people that all weapons must be unloaded with the action open.

At the entrance to the range, an experienced member examines all the guns being brought in for safety and function. He then reinforces and explains range safety and commands.

On the firing line, there is an RO and several other members who assist in the sighting in and ensure that proper safety practices are followed at all times.

If you have a good team of people to back you up, it should work well. If it is just you trying to control 25 clueless yahoos...
 
Well, the signs are there, and I get the impression that the front office will be handling perimeter defense (telling FNGs to obey me and be safe, not loaded guns behind firing line, blah, blah, blah.) At least I hope so. I figure I'll still use the "Cease Fire" "Range is Cold" commands every 10-15 minutes, and then "Range is Hot" "Commence Firing" after everyone gets back. After the ceasefire, I'll check that everyone has their bolts open and that they're not fooling with their gun.
 
An excellant idea when having to watch over such a large line is to have everyone step back 5 or more feet from the shooting benches during cease fires. No fiddling with the sights or anything. This will ensure that if you have checked to make sure everyone has unloaded and otherwise made their weapons safe that they stay that way until the range is hot again.
 
Not a good situatiion, Frontsight!. When we decided to have a sight-in day for the public each year at our local private outdoor range, we knew that one person couldn't be expected to handle all possible contingencies. You just don't know what you may have to deal with. It turns out that, so far, the people that have shown up at our range have been safe and obedient to range commands and we haven't had a problem.

We do brief them individually prior to approaching the benches and we get them to sign a liability release form (for what good that does).

I darned sure would not be comfortable running a firing line by myself with twenty plus shooting positions in use by people I didn't know. You need some backup (observers) for safety enforcement.

You could brief each relay, as a group, on the commands you will be using and what they mean. Lay down the law before each group gets to the benches. If you can spot an experienced shooter or two, you might ask for volunteers to help manage the line. I think you need to do something to get help.

[This message has been edited by sensop (edited September 10, 2000).]
 
No, no, no!

That many "unproved" shooters is w-a-y too many for a single RO!

Here, I would insist on one RO and at least 2-3 Safety Officers (Assistant ROs).

We also wear lightweight day-glo orange vests with RANGE OFFICER emblazoned across the back. It's amazing what "authority" that little vest delivers :)

The rule here is actions open at all times except when told otherwise by the RO on the firing line -- no exceptions. Handguns are holstered and remain so except on the firing line under direct instruction.

When the range is "closed" (i.e. I guess, "cold"), it is forbidden to even touch a firearm on the firing line, let alone sit behind one.

And if you're not sure they're going to understand your range commands -- improvise. "Commence fire", "Cease fire", "No firearm is to be removed from the firing position without being checked and cleared by the RO or A/RO" and "Unload your firearm and step back two metres from the firing line", will take care of most issues. But tell them before they start shooting!

Oh yeah -- at the risk of offending some people, I usually tell 'em to start, "See this orange vest? See these words? Know what they say? Out here, I am God!!". Generally gets their attention.

No-one should be asked to shoulder that responsibility, Frontsight. I don't know about there, but if something goes wrong here, the first person the authroities come gunning for is the Range Officer!! CYA!! (That's "Cover Your A$$" -- not "see ya")

Bruce
 
What Bruce said, "No, No, No". Not by yourself anyway. If someone gets hurt while you are running the show, who do you think they are going to take to court? And it will be a very good chance that you will lose. The case will be made that you were negligent in not having enough assistants to ensure safety at all times. Tell them you will not do the job unless sufficient people are there to help. Also check out the club's insurance to see if you are covered. It is good to encourage the shooting sports, just don't put yourself into needless legal jeopardy. CYA
 
Very first thing is to have every shooter present sign a hold harmless liability release for the club and participants, especially inclunding the RO. I would certainlly raise this issue the board members to make sure you are covered by the clubs insurance, and that the board approves you as an RO in this case.
 
It can be done. Remember, you stated that most of the time, your range has NO R.O. What is required is total cooperation on the part of the shooting line. That means that the guys on your line are part of your eyes and ears.

You MUST have something that I.D.'s you as the R.O. Orange vest, yellow had, pink sash; whatever. EVERYONE must know that YOU are "The Man In Charge."

EVERYONE must know the range commands. I STRONGLY suggest that you post them if possible, or even photocopy a large-printed list of the simple range commands to hand out to each station. Those waiting to shoot are to study the range command. No one approaches the line without knowing them.

Have a whistle. Bring a spare.

When you are RO, you are not training during live-fire. If you're looking at one person and their weapon, you're missing 20 other people's actions.

I've been on open ranges where this type of criteria was followed, and it was pretty safe. Frankly, I get the shivers about shooting at ANY public range. I'm happy to see other people with guns... holstered. ( :))
 
While maintaining a vigilant regard for safety, let's try to be nice to each other. We don't do our cause any good when we treat each other like potential criminals right out of the gate. Anyone who feels that they need a sidearm to feel safe at a shooting range should stay home.

Some times I wonder if many of us really believe in RKBA, or if it only applies to US and not THEM.
 
This is where you call range members in to act as ROs for the day. You want about a 5/1 ratio of shooters to ROs if they are all green horns.
 
Is there not some "Range Officer's Operations Manual" available? I know the Army had one (of course -- they have a 120-page manual for a tootbrush!).

I second the notion that you will need a group of assistant ROs for a large and inexperienced group. Make sure they are ready and willing to put people off the premises for safety violations. In fact, if you want to get your message across, send in a "ringer" to do a violation early in the game, and let everyone see the RO send him off.
 
I agree with Bruce: 20-25 is way too many shooters for just one range officer. You need several deputy range officers to keep an eye on people. You need one person to give a standard range safety/range rules talk to each new shooter before they can approach the range.

We also use the orange vest thing. It definitely helps. Be firm, serious, and professional. No one chats with the chief range officer -- you cannot afford to be distracted.

Also, when you call a cease fire, EVERYONE STEPS BACK FROM THE FIRING LINE AND NO ONE HANDLES A FIREARM WHILE THERE IS A CEASE FIRE. Many ranges have a yellow line painted 6 feet behind the benches. During a cease fire, everyone must be behind the yellow line or down range. Don't just tell them not to handle their guns. Make them get up and step back, otherwise THEY WILL HANDLE THEIR GUNS.

M1911
 
Scary. First there is no way you can control 25 unknowns by yourself; none at all. With adequate assistance (and some luck) you have a chance of getting away with it. The minimum ratio of 'instructor' or safety officers to shooters should be no less than 1:5. With some people it ought to be reversed: 5 range officers standing over the shooter with clubs. Most of the suggestions here are very good, especially as regards sufficient help, marked vests, etc. Unfortunately, most of the people you will see are almost totally untrained and will resemble the 5th grade at recess. Unfortunate but true.

I realize that clubs do this to be civic minded, raise funds, and recruit members; but unless this is done right you have your neck stuck out a million miles. If SHTF (Murphy's Law) guess whose name goes on the lawsuit...

Actually, I don't do these anymore; got tired of looking down gun muzzles. Also it turned out to be a favor for outfitters and their out-of-state hunters, hunting on private lands I couldn't get access to on a bet. They'd drive in with their fancy new rigs, blast off a few rounds from the bench, call it good, and go hunting. $2500 to shoot a mulie is a lot of college tuition.



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You should tell your club "no way." Once a year I do the RO stint during sight-ins, and it's scary. Even with three to five RO's there's some pretty dangerous mistakes. Remember, a lot of these guys only shoot once a year. Some are shooting for the first time.
You or someone else could get hurt, and that's a big price to pay because the club couldn't get volunteers. Our club makes a lot of money from sight-ins. It's the club's responsiblity to have more than one RO out there.

Dick
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