What do you do if there is unsafe behavior on the range?

D

Doug.38PR

Moderator
I know, the obvious answer to above said question by itself is "tell the range officer" or "owner" and he will come handle it.

BUT, this weekend, I drove 4 hours up to NE Texas to shoot with some people out on some property. It wasn't a gun range, we were just shooting at some clay disks leaning upward on the ground on a hillside. There was nobody officially in charge there. There were about 10 of us standing around, about 6 of us taking turns shooting.
Then another car of guys pulls up next to mine. The two men get out and they are other guests attending the party who have just arrived to shoot. The driver gets out, introduces himself, opens his SUV gate, reaches in and pulls out his XD 9mm. He walks up to everybody TWIRLING HIS GUN ON HIS INDEX FINGER :eek: like a cowbody WHILE FACING AND TALKING TO US :eek::eek:and then racks on in the chamber and starts popping away down range.
A few minutes later he asked if he could shoot my AR. I loaded a magazine up for him, he turned and started to shoot. There was already one or two other guys on the firingline (well there really was no official firingline), but he was shooting from behind them. They were to his right and left but his firingline was behind theirs. I politely put my hand on his shoulder and said "why don't you move up so you are even with those two guys." He complied.
I wasn't in charge out there. Nobody was really, it was just a bunch of guys out there shooting. I arrived kinda late and just followed everybody's lead as to what to do and practiced good gun safety. I'm glad we all had a good time and I'm glad I was able to share my guns with others and they with me. Glad nobody was hurt. But what this comes down to is this, if nobody is in charge and somebody is behaving in an unsafe manner (unintentionally) what do you do? What should somebody do? Who should do it? Now the safety issues, fortunately, didn't go much beyond the two incidents I just described (except for the fact that most people out there didn't have eye protection and only a handful had ear protection save and except their hands over their ears). If you are there as a guest, it's not really your place to jump in and say "hey you know what we need to do this and that and this and that" and tell so and so how unsafe they are being.
 
1. There are people that will graciously accept you input on safety issues and comply to make the range experience better for everyone...They may complain about all the rules and rib on you about being a range nanny but they will comply with your requests.

2. Then there are people that won't even follow a few simple rules on a regular basis, and will tell you where to go when you make a reminder to them about safety.

After a day shooting with them, please decide for yourself if they are in the first group or the second group.

If they are in the first group then go shooting with them again and set a few ground rules before anyone starts shooting.

If they are in the second group then find new shooting partners.

Good luck and always act in the best interest of the safety of everyone, especially yourself!!!!
 
Best to report it to a rangemaster,caretaker or whoever is in charge first.
Not really a good idea to have a confrontation where everybody is armed and you don't know the other party.There have been days when my wife and I looked over the folks at the range and left waiting to return another day.
I am currently looking for some private land with a good backstop to lease by the year just to get away from the "club",with it's politics and occasional idiots on the range.
I take my shooting seriously and derive great pleasure from it at the same time. Just tired of dealing with dopes who ruin an otherwise good day with their ignorance.
 
Well, see I am the type of person who doesn't have a problem stepping in to ensure everyone else's safety. But that's me.

I would just sort of make it into a joke so as not to seem pushy but I would get everyone to stop shooting and say "hey, I don't want to be THAT guy but I have seen a couple of things here that could get someone seriously hurt or killed. Can you guys please ensure that you do this and that .......".

I don't know many people who want to get shot so most of the time everyone will comply....they didn't mean to violate safety but sometimes the fun of the moment takes over. If someone gets pissy or continues, I will just say "hey folks, that's it for me....THIS GUY or GAL....is really making me nervous by doing such and such....I am out of here". That way everyone else is aware of who and what you are talking about.

New
 
If he was already handling a handgun in an unsafe manner, why did you give him a rifle?

Not the best judgement there?
 
^
because 1) he asked and we were all there to have a good time and I didn't want to spoil it for anyone. He wasn't a dangerous pychopath or jerk. He was actually a very nice fellow who was just as enthusiastic and excited as the rest of us (just picked up some bad habits) 2) if he was handling MY gun I would and DID see to it that he handled it as I prefered.

I leave...but that's just me.
Click to expand...

After driving 4 hours to be there?


Best to report it to a rangemaster,caretaker or whoever is in charge first.
Click to expand...

That's the point, there really was nobody "in charge"
 
Right, that's when I leave or take over.

Let me ask you this, would you drive 8 hours to avoid being shot and/or killed? Of course you would. So why would you stay and chance being shot by some idiot just because you drove 4 hours?

New
 
Trust your instinct. If you didn't feel safe around these guys, say something firm, but friendly. Maybe one of the other guys was feeling the same way. If anyone gave you a hard time about your concerns, I'd leave. Why compromise your rules about firearm safety for someone you, who isn't considerate. I know, it would make for a long po'd (4 hr.) ride home. Just my 2-cents.
 
Okay, let me explain the situation in detail.

A friend of mine from church is about to get married. I'm not oging to be able to come to the wedding as it is out of state. He was being thrown a batchelor party up at this property all weekend. I wasn't able to come for the weekend, just the afternoon on saturday. I brought all my guns and got there as they were walking down to the shooting area on the property. I was invited as a guest to celebrate and congradulate him.
This one person comes up and does something flippant and careless. We are all having a good time at this point. I am not in charge. I am a guest. Person in question has made one move that made me uncomfortable, I don't even know if anyone else noticed it in all the excitement and conversation out there among 10+ men. Person in question is not a bad guy, he seems a very friendly sort who is just as enthusiastic and glad to be there as the rest of us.
Having said all that, if any of y'all were in my place, would y'all consider jumping in and inturrupting everything and pointing out what this guy did wrong and/or packing up right after getting there and leaving a considerate and polite thing to do?
 
I didn't want to spoil it for anyone
Click to expand...

The day (and the wedding) would probably have really been spoiled if someone had been shot at the bachelor party.

I would have left, and have under somewhat similar circumstances.
 
Right, that's when I leave or take over.

Let me ask you this, would you drive 8 hours to avoid being shot and/or killed? Of course you would. So why would you stay and chance being shot by some idiot just because you drove 4 hours?
Click to expand...

Exactly. I will politiley ask the first time but in the situation you were in if compliance was not given I would be out of there. You have a moron who started the day by twirling his XD on his finger... there is little chance it is going to get better from there.
 
This one person comes up and does something flippant and careless.
...
Person in question has made one move that made me uncomfortable, I don't even know if anyone else noticed it in all the excitement and conversation out there among 10+ men.
...
Having said all that, if any of y'all were in my place, would y'all consider jumping in and inturrupting everything and pointing out what this guy did wrong and/or packing up right after getting there and leaving a considerate and polite thing to do?
Click to expand...

First he did at least TWO things by your own account. The finger twirl and his handling of the AR. How many more there were that you did not see one can only guess.

There is no need to shut down everyone's fun for one ignorant shooter. Talk to him directly. If he does not listen then leave and let them know why you are leaving. You are not ruining the fun, you are keeping yourself from at the worst being shot. If anyone there cannot see the problem and agree with you on it they are equally as stupid as the culprit.

I cannot believe this is even a point of discussion. Since when did gun safety rules get put on hold if it meant ruining somebody's fun?

Here is a good question... seeing as this was a quasi bachelor party and this guy was already a gun handling disaster do you think he had a beer or two already?
 
^
beer? Hadn't thought of that. I kinda doubt it since he had just arrived.


Anyway, it's not a question of whether or someone having a good time should trump safety rules, it's a question of how to handle it without leaving or making yourself intrusive and presumptuous in a place where you have no authority and are in fact a guest
 
First, I am the range-master at my club's range. If this were to happen at my range, and the shooter is a non-member paying customer, he/she would be ordered to leave the club property immediately, and be placed on our "refuse entry" list. If a club member, he would be brought up before the board of directors to answer a charge of "dangerous conduct". Big fine when convicted.

If I were at another shooting range, I pack up my stuff and leave. If asked why I am leaving, I explain my reasons without lecturing. I just leave. Been shot once, (military) didn't like it, and don't expect to like it any better if it should happen again. If you choose to hang around, that's your choice.
I'm outta there.
 
IMHO, no social details can explain away a dangerous situation.

Like I said, I am direct and the first time he twirled the gun would have evolked a strong reaction from me. Just no excuse. A firm but nice "wow hey don't be twirling a gun like that, it's a good way to get someone shot".

If I didn't want to intervene, I would have told the groom to be "Hey, I am going back up there for safety".

I am not going to let fear of offending someone take my life. No, it is going to be the angry husband of some smoking hot brunette that takes it...as it should be! :D

New
 
I either step up and get the ranges safe or I step out and leave the range area no matter 4 mins 4 hours or 40 hours travel. Bullets passing thru body parts are no way to enjoy the day not to mention the next few weeks.
 
After driving 4 hours to be there?
Click to expand...

Yes, you leave even after driving 4 hours to get there because getting shot by some idiot who can't or won't maintain muzzle discipline isn't a good thing.

Of course if the guy did accidentally shoot you, it would have been one of those things you should have seen coming.

He walks up to everybody TWIRLING HIS GUN ON HIS INDEX FINGER like a cowbody WHILE FACING AND TALKING TO US and then racks on in the chamber and starts popping away down range.
A few minutes later he asked if he could shoot my AR. I loaded a magazine up for him, he turned and started to shoot.
Click to expand...

Why would you give a loaded AR15 to a person who obviously does not understand gun safety?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top