Are the people at your range nice or mean?

[Gyrene]

I am biased, but the Couny range I work at has a good bunch of personnel. We are County employees, or Volunteers.

There are range rules that everyone must obey, or it is "EXIT TIME"! Firearms are not to be handled when people are downrange posting, patching or pulling targets. We have, and will always ask people to leave when they are putting others at risk, or flatly violating the rules when they have been told not to violate those rules.

I and all of the other Rangemasters have sent people off the range, at one time or another. I see that as a partial failure on our part, failure to get the point across to the violators, that they are not to violate our rules. Still we have an occcasional person who needs to leave (maybe one a month or maybe 3 or 4 in a year). Our rules are for the safety and security of everybody who comes to our range, including we who work there. I try not to yell, because I do not want to upset somebody who just happens to have a loaded firearm in his/her hand. I have raised my voice (I called a CEASE FIRE) and was heard more than 100 yards away on another range (and they ceased firing too), so I can yell.

Children are welcome, as long as they are paying attention, and not running around playing tag or whatever.

We do get large family groups sometimes and they return again and again.

ARE WE MEAN?, Naw, though we usually get respect. ICEMAN66 can verify how we operate, as he uses our range OCCASIONALLY!

Iceman66 where are you?

Gyrene OFC

semper fi

`

[kcw]

Glocke12,
Your problem is a question of club management style and the attentiveness of club officials to "fair play" and harmony within the club. Those things don't just happen, they must be enforced. Failure to do so will eventually kill a club.
I held the positions of range chairman and club president at various times. I strictly enforced the principle that no member was more equal than any other member, this in accordance with the club by-laws. Some of the old timers openly grumbled about my position and tested me repeatedly. I heard about their former service to the club and how important they were, that the by-laws were merely "suggestions" and not written in stone, blah, blah, blah.
One day I got a call that a situation just as you discribe was going down, a number of members already on the range were being displaced by a group that was claiming senior rights. I arrived within about 10 minutes and talked to the affected members, all of whom agreed to sign a written, joint complaint to the club.
When I approached the offenders I was told to kiss off and there was nothing that I, as club president, was going to do about it. With that I envoked a section of the club by-laws which gave any club official the right to immediately eject from the grounds any member/person acting in a disruptive or dangerous fashion. They laughed at me.
I then immediately called the local police, who upon viewing my club credentials and having me sign a complaint form, ordered the offenders to leave and not return until duly notified by the club. Of course I was then threatened with law suits and other forms of retribution, but the group left the premises.
The end result that about half of the bullies failed to attend a required hearing and were, in accordance with club by-law, immediately dismissed from the club. The others all ended up paying a fine, being placed on probation and each made to stand and make a verbal apology to the club at the next general meeting. The end result of this action was that the number number of members dropping out of the club for "personal reasons" went WAY down (no bullies to deal with) and new member applications went up.
The tone of the club is set by its' officials.

[Gary and Karen]

Fortunately Gary and I have never had any serious situations at the range we use. It is a public range in Gardnerville, NV maintained by the Douglas County Sheriff's Dept. No range official on site. Any shooters are expected to maintain protocol on their own and most of the time there is no problem. Usually everyone is considerate of others and breaks are taken to accomodate setting and/or removal of targets.
We did have a small incident the other day. We went to the range early on a Sunday to find one older gentleman at the far left table on the rifle range and two adults and one juvenile on the far right. We set up in the middle and, with permission from the others, went out to set up targets. After a while several other people showed up including one of Gary's shooting buddies. Once the range was declared cold more targets were set up and, once again, shooting proceeded.
Apparently the guy on the right did not like the placement of one of the tagets and made a few rude comments. Upon further inspection it was apparent that HIS target was the one totally out of position. His target was set about 20 degrees off straight which put it about 20 feet to the left of where it should be and in direct line with our friend's target.
Another gentleman politely suggested that he move his target. His response was "Shut the f**k up. It's none of your business!"
That was when we decided to pack up and go home. Our friend left, too.
This was a very unusual situation. Most of the time the people are polite and considerate. We sure don't want to lose this facility.
Karen
OFC

[charles isaac]

I can tell you all kinds of stories about jerks in the gun world and at the range. In my experience, there are jerks everywhere. It must be a very outstanding situation for those of you that are at ranges where the people are just plain old good and considerate people with such nice personalities.

OK, I'll start with this one-
I was on a range with 25 or so firing points, only ONE other person firing and he was at the 25, I was at the 100, on the opposite side from him. I put 2 targets up and the range master waited till the other guy was nearby and could hear and proceeded to counsel me about how I should only have one target in case someone else wanted to use one! And he goes on and on saying the same thing but with different words, over and over like an idiot, pretty much showing his authority, showing off etc. Keep in mind that there were dozens of target stands available, about 25 firing points and there was only ONE other person there firing.

I remained polite and cordial throughout the entire evolution, but had evil thoughts. Who wouldn't?

This was at "Flatwoods Gun and Country Club", near Camp Lejeune. I had been a member there off and on for years, and the range master idiot was new to me.

I have plenty of these tales, and they get better.

[Bill H]

I live in eastern PA, and I guess I am lucky, as there are several club ranges and one public range run by the conservation dept, all within 10 miles of my home.

The one I belong to has about 5,000 members, and ranges from 25 to 300 yards. There are no "range officers", everyone just get along, and I have never seen anything approaching a safety problem.

The fish and game range is sometimes a problem, as it gets some rather ignorant, as far as gun safety is concerned clientel, and since we are probably the closest ranges to NJ, some real rambo types.

The club has had to make a big effort to keep out non-members, but other than that, no problems that I know of.

[BruceV]

People are people. Some are nice. Some are, well, people. I am a member of the Marion Road Gun Club in Macon, GA. There are a little over 200 members who participate in a number of scheduled matches as well as simply enjoying using the facility. I live 133 miles from the club, but I drive up at least once and sometime twice a month to participate in various rifle matches. There are likely clubs closer to my home, but I maintain my membership and continue to participate in the activities of the MRGC because I very much enjoy the shooting sports and because I very much appreciate and enjoy the fellowship and comradeship that is shared among the members. In the few very isolated incidents where there has been friction, I have found that a polite, kind response has been helpful. I do try to be mindful of our club rules, understanding of those who need information and thoughtful of those who are just having a bad day. Sincerely. Bruce.

[Gyrene]

Infantry Marine - The Rangemaster who called you out about multiple targets is a CONTROL FREAK! Often times we will have only a few shooters present and offer them the option to post multiple targets so they do not have to wait for a cease fire to post fresh targets. It is one of many options that generate good will and quality cooperation between our customers and us, the Rangemasters.

[MIKE33]

I don't care if people on my range are nice or mean,as long as they are safe shooters I go to the range to shoot and not worry who is mean or nice

[charles isaac]

Infantry Marine - The Rangemaster who called you out about multiple targets is a CONTROL FREAK!

I agree totally Gyrene.

There was a young Marine in his mid 20's sighting in a Mossberg slug gun-railed, scoped out and the whole thing, even the sling, was real tree camo.

He was having trouble adjusting the scope and commented on it so I walked over and politely had him do 2 miss drills into the dirt berm. I spun the adjusting screws and talked to him a bit about his new gun he paid $600 for.

Now I don't really like gee-wiz fudd guns, but was cordial and did not state that deer are color blind etc.

Had him fire another miss drill and it was good enough to go back to paper so I explained again how to work the adjustment screws and proceeded to my bench and broke out a rack grade M1A.

His eyes narrowed when he saw the evil 20 shot mag and he asked in a snotty tone, "Do you use that to hunt with?"

I remained polite, although he probably read my disgusted facial expression, and told him "no" that I use an M1, 03 or Krag for deer, all the while thinking how I just helped this "black gun hating" "why do you need an assault rifle" puke excuse for a real Marine and he makes a snide comment about one of the finest combat rifles ever fielded by the military.

Semper Fi

[Louis of PA]

I held the positions of range chairman and club president at various times. I strictly enforced the principle that no member was more equal than any other member, this in accordance with the club by-laws....

... I then immediately called the local police,

...The end result of this action was that the number number of members dropping out of the club for "personal reasons" went WAY down (no bullies to deal with) and new member applications went up.

The tone of the club is set by its' officials.

KCW, I commend you for the example you've set for leadership. It's fortunate for those put-upon members that they had a president ready, willing and able to bite the bullet and act.

My club, about 35 miles southwest of Philadelphia, is rather informal. No range officer, in fact when my brother and I shoot there, we are often alone whether using the three rifle or two pistol ranges. Other times, only a few guys are there.

All I've been exposed to have been polite, willing to help the other guy if need be, by lending a tool, a scope, or letting him try their gun. One man offered to let me shoot his BAR, an offer I quickly accepted, and I've had similar offers from others. In turn, I've let some of the younger folks try my M1s; when I rapid fire, it brings them over from the other ranges.

On Wednesday, under special rules, a fellow comes to unleash his jeep-mounted .30 caliber BMG. He's got several of the .30s, plus an assortment of Gatlings.

When other shooters are there, we adhere to the standard safety rules.

On the down side, the ranges have experienced some yahoos damaging the backstops by careless shooting. They might be some members but most likely are young people, non-members, who sneak in after hours.

As a result, the club has installed concealed cameras on the ranges, money they could otherwise have used for improvements.

Regards