Range Idiot's

[Ohio Joe]

I just got back from my local range... Again, twice in the same month I have had to point out range safety to idiot's who have their freind stand off to the side of their target about 20 feet while the other idiot shoots at it! The idiot at the target end reports back to the idiot who is pulling the trigger letting them know where they hit! :youcrazy: Than they think your out of line for saying something??? :curse:

Thank god I was born in Ohio and not here among the Northwest Nebraska range idiot's who seem to be popping up everywhere. It's no damn wonder there's more cows than people out here???

Does this venting make me feel any better? Hell no! The stupidity of people never ceases to amaze me!

The time has come to move the family where intelligent people dwell, or buy some land for my own private range? I'm leaning towards the first idea!

Feel free to pass this on to anyone. The world needs to be warned of, "RANGE IDIOT'S"...... :curse: :youcrazy:

 

[musketman]

And to think they have guns...

Where was the range master when this was going on?

The bad part about this is it set the wrong example if any kids were watching, as for the people doing this, they have to understand that ALL gun shooters will be judged by their actions...

They'll eventually stop doing this when one of them gets killed by a ricochet or a direct hit...

 

[Claude Mathis]

I just got back from my local range... Again, twice in the same month I have had to point out range safety to idiot's who have their freind stand off to the side of their target about 20 feet while the other idiot shoots at it!

Who owns this range?

 

[robinghewitt]

Twenty feet off to the side at 50 yards sounds safe to me, can't really say it would be a problem at 100 yards with rifles, (not recommended for Bess though) ::

 

[bob1961]

and think that these people may be reproducing .........bob

 

[gordy]

Joe: Did You point out that a spotting or telescope might be a wise investment? Even a cheap binoc. would do the trick.You might all so suggest they sign up for the NRA saftey corse.I don't think the problem is unique to Nebraska,Most of thease people are not well informed in range rules and common sense.It's always been a wonder to me that more accidents don't happen on unmanaged ranges.Just hang in there and try to steer them in the right direction without putting Yourself in danger. :relax:

 

[BrownBear]

That's putting a lot of faith in the person behind the gun, as well as in the mechanical reliability of the gun- without regard for the potential for ricochets.

I would expect both the shooter and spotter to have mental accuity about like one fellow I watched at the range shooting a large caliber cartridge gun with a short-eye-relief scope. Blood dripping out of his eyebrow he praised the caliber and gun, all the while continuing to shoot and open more wounds in his head. Talk about an idiot!!!!!!!

 

[Claude Mathis]

and think that these people may be reproducing .........bob

Actually, this might be a good way to get stupid people out of the gene pool. I think we should encourage them. Perhaps suggest that they test the accuracy of hand grenades. :crackup:

 

[Ohio Joe]

Unfortunately this kind of stuff has been going on for a long time at this range. There is only a handfull of us who actually put forth the effort to try and make this a quality place to come and shoot and teach the young ones gun safety... Membership is open to anyone who pays their dues. I for one have paid my last dues at this idiot hole...

I do have some other options open to me and I think I will pursue them... There are a few of us in this club who have discussed a private range and I think that is going to become a reality in the near future...

Better to have five good members pay $100.00 dollars a year then to have 50 poor members pay $10.00 a year... Least that's how I and four other's feel...

 

[Ohio Joe]

Claude,

I really like your idea! :hmm: :redthumb:

 

[Zonie]

Ohio Joe: Does your Range have posted Range Rules on a big sign, and a Rangemaster? If not, it should.

I haven't shot at very many ranges outside Arizona, but the ranges in Arizona and the few I've been to in other States all had Posted Rules, and a Rangemaster to enforce them.

One of the rules is
NO ONE IS ALLOWED DOWNRANGE WHEN THE RANGE IS OPEN TO SHOOTING!!!!

Other rules include
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO TOUCH A FIREARM FOR ANY REASON WHEN THE RANGE IS CLOSED TO SHOOTING. (Some require that all people not downrange to change targets/retrive shot patches etc shall be behind a red line about 4 feet behind the shooting benches).

WHEN THE RANGE IS CLOSED TO SHOOTING, ALL GUNS ACTIONS SHALL BE OPEN AND ALL MAGAZINES SHALL BE REMOVED FROM FIREARMS ON THE SHOOTING LINE.

These are IMO just common sence rules which keep people from being accidently shot. Duh.

I think it's great that your taking some leadership in this, but really YOU shouldn't have to.

You might suggest (if your range doesn't have clearly posted rules) to the club officials that they have some rules made and posted so you don't have to point out the obvious to the idiots.

 

[Ohio Joe]

Couldn't agree more with you, Zonie. Myself and the other four good member's I spoke of earlier have posted range rules that evan a blind person couldn't miss. It simply does no good out here, and I kid you not! The five of us can not continually police the range day in and out.

This place out here where I live simply has very few folks with any responsable attributes that can contribute to a quality community, yet they are some of the nicest folks you would ever meet???

They honestly but stupidly believe they are not doing anything wrong when they pull stunts like this. Most likely that's how their parents did it, and they mimic what they conceive to be right because of their up bringing. When people are 30 and 40+ years of age and still living with mom and pop, you gotta wonder???

I would venture to say that all the jobs that are filled here where I live except for maybe 25% are filled by transplant's like myself. It's not that these folk's are lazy, they just lack the common sense and motivation to advance to a higher more intelligent way of thinking and understanding.

The more I talk about this the more I think it's best to just relocate. I don't want my kids turning out like these folks, and as long as my wife and I parent them correctly, they'll be alright in life.

Well, enough babble... Everyone here isn't like I just described, but this area sure has its share...

 

Last year I joined a STATE (Ohio) range and was very impressed with the way it was regulated.
When a shooter calls a time out to check targets ALL shooters must unload, open the action, rack the weapon and stand BEHIND a yellow line away from the bench with NOTHING in the hands, or do all the above and walk down to check targets also.
There is a range officer present at all times and they aren't one bit bashfull about letting you know if you violate a rule.
Unfortunately there aren't many State ranges and this one is now a 2 hour drive for me.
Luckily I have a 75 yard range in back of my house.

 

[Xtramad]

and think that these people may be reproducing .........bob

It dosn't take much intelligens to reproduce, in fact educated people have less kids. Looking at all the trouble I've had with my two kids I'd have to be dumb to want more.

Another way to look at it: Statistically, half of all the people you meet are less than average smart. :youcrazy:

 

[Keith]

They could even get an award. The Darwin Award, :crackup: given to idiots who take themselves out of the gene pool in the most creative way. Bonus points for taking a fellow idiot along. :thumbsup:

 

[Deadeye]

OJ, Thanks for reminding me what a wonderful place I live in, where in 5 min. I can be in a place where no one bothers me and I can shoot any distance I choose, any guns that I choose, for as long as I choose. If your a shooter you just gotta find a better place, it takes some research but there are places.

 

[bob1961]

these are ranges that are not public ranges????....here in PA we have ranges that are open to the public with no range masters ....it's like after a round or two of shots you have to yell out going down range then make sure all is clear and everybody knows it....then all goes down range to reset targets :results:.........................bob

 

[Zonie]

Joe: Maybe you could talk "Pat" into moving back there and being the Range Master.
Pat was a former Military Shooting Instructor who served our military in countries all over the world and who didn't take no sh*t off of anyone, and I mean ANYONE.

He ran the range in the strictest, no bull, "you don't listen and obey and your A$$ is OUT OF HERE!" attitude, but he would help anyone with anything no matter how small and we all loved him for it.
We even got regular laughs out of him looking downrange and seeing a shot out of the black and saying to the shooter (in jest of course) "DOWN AND GIVE ME 10!! (pushups) NO ONE IS GOING TO SHOOT THAT POORLY ON MY RANGE". ::

Last year, he retired from the job of Rangemaster but still comes around to say hi and give help if it's needed.

It seems to me that relocating your family is a rather drastic thing to do and from what I see, your kids will turn out fine just because of the parents they have.

Good Shooting to you!

 

[Ohio Joe]

Thanks Zonie, and thanks to all who have commented. It does show that there are sensible people in the world, and this forum is a good place to talk to sensible folk's.

Saying and doing what a person would like to do, and actually doing it is different, I know. It wouldn't be fair to the good members to abandon them to existing problems that need attention at our local range.

We are going to send out required safety rules that must be read, signed, and returned with membership fee, and a copy of saftey rules/range rules for all members to keep.

The local newspaper has agreed to print the range rules and safety rules as well. The local police chief told me yesterday he would have his people patrol out by our local range and make sure the No Trespassing signs, and Member's Only signs that are posted are being abided by. If nothing else, just seeing the patrol car present at the range may make some folk's think twice.

Again, thanks for everyone's input...

 

[roundball]

SAFETY and RULES & REGS

I've belonged to a Trap / Skeet / Sporting Clays / Pistol club for 15 years...excellent structured environment, with laminated membership badges that must be worn visibily at all times, and we change the color of the badges every year.

You CANNOT use the club unless you have a current, visible, membership badge clipped on your shirt, jacket, etc, and the climate is encouraged for everyone to ask /remind / challenge anyone who does not have a badge displayed.

When annual membership renewal time comes around at the first of the year, we MUST attend an annual, mandatory safety review class at the club...and we cannot get our new membership badges until we are signed off by the instructor conducting the particular class that we attend.

(Safety review classes are held the first Sunday of every month for any new members joining throughout the year and/or membership renewals)