Scared SH!tless at the range

I would contact try to contact the parents first. For several reason.
1) Parental intimidation can at times be more powerful than legal action.
2) Legal action will create more negative press for gun owners.


Ckurts,
Having stupid kids doesn't mean that you are a bad parent. My parents were good and strict, but in my younger days, actually I still, so stupid stuff. I am always hard pressed to blame parents, because I know how I am/was.


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It ain't mah fault. did I do dat?
http://yellowman.virtualave.net/
 
File with the police.

A "friend" of mine molested my sister, nephew's girlfriend and an employee on two separate days. Were not talking anything subtle. One woman reported it to the police and the other two had their own agenda and fears. They made everyone miserable, but did nothing. My "best friend" still maintains a close association with this man. Well, I believe that the women that didn't report the incidents are responsible for the next victim. The police could not act on one report and, well, my "best friend" is history as far as I'm concerned. You did the right thing by not taking their gun. I hope that you have the names and numbers of the other folks. Without full cooperation of at least some of the other witnesses, you should forget the report. Talking to the parents will be a waste of time. The kids didn't get this way on their own. A civil suit would need to show damage. Unless you have been seeing a psychologist over this even, I doubt that this will fly.
 
You were right, they were wrong. It wasn't for lack of trying that you weren't "dead" right.

File charges and get the punks arrested. They have no business touching weapons with their complete disregard for the lives of others.

[This message has been edited by Libertarian (edited June 05, 2000).]
 
You did exactly the right thing, IMHO.

I can't think of any circumstances where I'd advise someone to try and "citizen's arrest" an armed person, or try and take their property. Protect yourself, and be a good witness.

But you should contact the police to ensure that the punks don't go their first, claiming that you threatened them. Yes, I am dead serious. Even if no charges are filed, you should file an Incident Report, with your witnesses statements as well, in case they move away.

The reason is that drawing your gun on someone is a crime itself, and you should document that it was done in self-defense NOW, so it can't come back to haunt you later.

Also, these kids shouldn't be playing with guns; they might get shot. The police can explain this to them and their parents better than you can.

Oh, by the way, way to cheat death, Kevin ;)!

[This message has been edited by Ledbetter (edited June 05, 2000).]
 
I agree you should take further action in this case, otherwise the kids are likely to recklessly endanger someone else.

One fact which the posters seem to have overlooked is that two other people at the range perceived the danger to you to the extent that they two drew handguns; it seems a rather clear cut case of reckless endangerment to me.

Walt
 
Definitely report them to the authorities. To hell with making gun-owners "look bad." If we can't police our own ranks, then others will do it for us. Those kids need to be taught a lesson they won't forget.

If they were my kids they wouldn't be having those guns for at least a year. Of course, you can't count on the parents to do the right thing either. "The nut doesn't fall far from the tree." I would also go so far as to offer to teach them and their parents proper range safety.

As far as drawing on them. I don't blame you a bit. You showed great control in not firing on them, IMHO.

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RKBA!
"The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security"
Ohio Constitution, Article I, Section 4 Concealed Carry is illegal in Ohio.
Ohioans for Concealed Carry Website
 
Absolutely report them. Contact the police. Contact the parents. "Motivate" them in civil court if the parents don't respond with a decorum of understanding.
 
I'm a pretty calm person, but in this case I would have done something less than calm. If it had been me, they would have lost possession of the 10/22. Even if it came down to a fistfight! No way would I have let two kids leave with that firearm. I would have gotten the phone numbers of the witnesses, then I would have turned the gun over to the authorities, and pressed charges. Let the kids parents fight to get the gun back.
 
Chink:

I stand by my remarks about getting the most bulldawg lawyer I could find after those little scoundrels.

That being said, your remark about good parents and bad kids brought back some interesting memories, ones I guess I mostly try to forget. You're 100% right on the money about that , my friend. :o
 
Does anyone know of the term "citizens arrest." They should have been disarmed and detained until the police arrived, in my opinion. Especially since you had witnesses/backup. I don't take kindly to anyone recklessly discharging a firearm in my general direction, then saying, "did you seem 'em duck!?!" Anyway, at the public ranges here, guns are not to be loaded until at the benches. And I believe it is law here. Still I always have my .32 or .40 on me concealed legally.
 
Kevin,
IMHO you showed great restraint. However, they still pose a threat as long as they are still running around acting stupid and people are unaware. I would file a police report and get in touch with everyone who I knew uses that range. Let them know what happened and to be on the lookout for the morons so they don't end up downrange unawares. It only takes one stray (?) round.

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Those who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules.Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
 
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