Suicide at Public Range

[ratcatcher55]

I have to say that I learned a lot while working at the range about firearms.  Ninety five percent of the folks were great and the boss let us show the other five percent the door. He never second guessed us in front of the customer. 

One life member showed up drunk and wanted to shoot.  When he refused to leave the owner reached into his pocket, paid him back the membership fee and then called the cops.  It is easy to work for somebody like that.

We had two ND’s outside of the range, both by LEO’s. One skipped a round off the floor into an employee; one cop shot the cash register.

One Philly cop had a malfunction on the range and carried his pistol into the store. Officer O then points at my buddy and says something like my bang stick no go boom.  My friend sweeps the muzzle from his face and tells him to let go of the gun.  Officer O thinks he is getting disarmed and starts wrestling for control of the pistol.

This goes on for several seconds before the light goes on in Officer O head that he is waving around a loaded pistol and about to get lit up by a very angry range officer.

Officer O was severely embarrassed and realized what a bonehead move he had made.  Range officer gave him a 30 day time out and mandated he take an in-house training class before he was allowed on the range.  Officer O was a completely different guy after that and ended up a competent gunman.

[Pathfinder]

Zero tolerance ?  

Let's see -
1. Violates a posted rule, a rule that he had to read and sign before joining the range
2. Disobeys a direct order from the RSO to case his weapon
3. Disobeys another direct order to case his weapon
4. Violates another basic gun safety rule by sweeping the RSO (twice) and the range
5. Lies to the RSO about not knowing the rules
6. Fellow RSO fails to back the primary RSO up

Zero tolerance? Damn straight in that circumstance. I do like ratcatcher's ideas of additional options, such as suspension, etc., I may have to factor those in. But the primary line RSO should have the final authority on what constitutes safety on the line and compliance with the rules.

[r_w]

The range is not a democracy.  The RSO IS THE LAW!!!

Just remember "Those that enforce the law must obey the law."

[fightingquaker13]

The range is not a democracy.  The RSO IS THE LAW!!!

Just remember "Those that enforce the law must obey the law."

My favorite range makes things easy. It has two rules. Actions open until at your station, and no rapid fire without permission. It has two commands: The Range Is Hot. The Range is cold.
Easy, idiot proof, and good RSO's. Everyone knows what the deal is, and no excuses. I've never been uncomfortable there.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Path, I was just yanking your chain, Safety is about the only time Zero Tolerance actually makes good sense.
But I had to get in the dig since we have ALL commented/ranted, about how ZT removes the need for thought.

[Sponsor]

[PegLeg45]

My favorite range makes things easy. It has two rules. Actions open until at your station, and no rapid fire without permission. It has two commands: The Range Is Hot. The Range is cold.
Easy, idiot proof, and good RSO's. Everyone knows what the deal is, and no excuses. I've never been uncomfortable there.
FQ13

Nothing is idiot proof....except maybe death....and even that is sometimes sped along by idiots.      

[bloodfarts]

great posts-
I have had one situaion with suicide on a range.
No warning signs, guy was friendly but not overly friendly.
Had new and old gear, ( only one gun)
After it happen I would have bet my life it was an accident.
I shit in my pants when I watched the video.

Use your situational awareness, your training will kick in.
If you train like shit, you may be screwed.

Take a class. any class.
 

[billt]

Unfortunately, this has happened several times, at our local indoor range, always with rented pistols, makes a kind of sick since, if you don't own a firearm, spend your last 20 bucks to take your own life. I hate to imagine anyone that was there and witnessed it.

Same story here in Phoenix. We've had multiple suicides at all 3 of our public indoor ranges. They try not to publicize it too much for obvious reasons, but word always gets out among the shooters. It's one of the reasons why I won't shoot at indoor ranges anymore. That, along with the "Gangsta" idiot's that always manage to show up and act stupid, waving their guns around. I was muzzle swept twice at the range I used to attend. After the second time I complained to the clerk behind the counter. (They have several closed circuit cameras to monitor the range). He simply shrugged his shoulders and gave me this blank, "give a $h!t" look. After that I said no more and joined a private club. It was something I should have done years ago, and am glad that I did.

The only problem is that it gets way too hot here in the Summer to shoot outdoors. The range I quit going to has been taken over by new owners, and they've even expanded it, opening up another store closer to me. But I'm still a bit apprehensive about going back. For some reason I'm noticing an increase of idiot's with guns. Perhaps it's just like everything else in society that has been undergoing a "dumbing down" process over the last several decades, I don't know. But it's a shame to see it. Between all of the mall ninjas with their AR-15's, and an over abundance of the "Gangsta" types, it seems firearms ownership has taken a turn for the worse. There are still a lot of super people in the gun game, it just seems you have to look harder to find them.   Bill T.

[fightingquaker13]

Quoth Billt.
" For some reason I'm noticing an increase of idiot's with guns. Perhaps it's just like everything else in society that has been undergoing a "dumbing down" process over the last several decades, I don't know. But it's a shame to see it. Between all of the mall ninjas with their AR-15's, and an over abundance of the "Gangsta" types, it seems firearms ownership has taken a turn for the worse. There are still a lot of super people in the gun game, it just seems you have to look harder to find them."   Bill T.

There is a silver lining here. Its that guns are becoming more popular again. I think a lot of the problem is that it skipped a generation or two. Its no longer a case of a family tradition of hunting handed down from granddad on down. Now folks who's parents and grandparents didn't hunt and were too Pc to own Sd guns are buying range toys or getting CCWs. You can't assume the same level of education.We have to step up. Its why I'd love to see more ranges sponsor clubs, either sponsored by the NRA or other goups to stress safety and low level, low dollar competition. Things like "reloading for dummies clinics" and as 'practical' a competition as you can get indoors would help draw a lot of these folks into a group of experenced and safe shooters. Its also a good idea to wecome the non-traditional shooters. Don't assume you are a conservative if you own a gun. Women, minorities etc should feel they are joining a club, not a political party. Its some work, but a great opportunity as well.
FQ13

[jaybet]

I agree with FQ. (No,  really!)
More gun owners is good for us in numbers but basic math means more boneheads along with that, My wife and I quit our in door rnage for a better (and cheaper) local club. The reason was because of the high probability of being killed by an idiot.
I also disagree that the SD and CCW crowds represent a "dumbing down" of the gun community. I don't hunt these days but I have seen a lot of hunters that are as dangerous as any newbie pistol owner. Idiots are idiots.

The more people who value gun ownership, the better. Safety will always be an issue.