Gun range safety diminishing?

[odyssey1]

All of my shooting has always been indoors.  Being in Chicago, I don't have access to any outdoor ranges.  The nearest one is at the Wisconsin border and I have yet to go there.

None of our indoor ranges have a range officer, which I wish they would.

On my last visit to the range, I walked into the shooting area to see a guy clearing a jam on a glock.  He had his right hand on the grip with the left hand manipulating the slide, while pointed to the guy in the booth next to him.  More alarming was that this shooter had his finger on the trigger!  The poor guy next to him had no idea.  I quickly went to the shooter and put my hand on his shoulder and asked if I could help.  He had a double feed so I cleared it for him but I also pointed out (in a nice way) the correct way to handle this situation.  I explained how the gun should always face forward, finger off the trigger, etc.  He was very thankful and admitted that this was the first time he had rented a Glock.  He just got his FOID (Firearm Owner ID) card so he went to the range, rented a gun and started shooting.

That could have been me in the booth next to him, is all I kept thinking.  I've been there numerous times when shooters came in and just rapid fired their weapons.  I've notice an increase in the holes in the ceilings and the holders are now trashed from getting hit.  Maybe they've always been there and I just never noticed but I've seen a lot of careless behavior at the range recently.  Am I just being paranoid?

Has the increase in firearm sales brought upon us a new group of shooters who just haven't been enlightened on proper range etiquette and firearm safety?  I've been looking forward to bringing my two younger kids out to shoot a real firearm for the first time but I don't want to be watching over my shoulder the whole time in fear of the shooter next to me.  I've taught all of my kids firearm safety since they were little.  They've fired hundreds if not thousands of rounds of pellets in the backyard and have shown proper safety measures.  They've handled my real firearms and know how to hold and shoot them.  They're ready for the range.  It's the guy next to me who may not be.

Sorry for the rant but I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way.

[Pathfinder]

As a former denizen of the people's republik of illinois myself, I know whereof you speak. The loss of ranges in Cook and the collar counties,with the commensurate loss of training venues, is startling and sad.

Talk to the owner or manager of the indoor range about implementing a gun safety program. If nothing else, put it in terms of economics - they won't have to keep repairing everything! Even volunteer to help them out during busy times and when you can. Maybe a 5-minute gun safety orientation for newbies, plus bring in an NRA instructor for a half-day or 2-hour class.

I used to shoot at Maxon's in Des Plaines, and the people there were pretty decent folks and I think they would have been receptive to this idea.

It's not just Illinois either. Last week, I was at my little rural outdoor range, no RO either. I was nearing the end of my planned shoot when a group of 20-somethings showed up. They commenced to bang away 2 stations down from me. As I finished and waited so I could get the targets, one of the shooters behind the line of benches loaded a magazine, and as he walked around the concrete  bench, racked the slide - - with the muzzle pointing directly at me. I beat a hasty retreat.

This is how dastardly I think the thinkers behind bho and the rest of the antis are - they know that the reduction of training programs, opportunities and locations will lead to more accidents, injuries and death. And this is just fine with them, as each accident gives them more fodder for banning guns, ammo, and shooting ranges.

[tombogan03884]

 I have a 2 part answer for you.
 1) far more people are getting training nowadays than ever before, especially as the number of gun sales went up. This ranges from NRA basic fire arms safety, to high end classes such as at Gunsite or Thunder Ranch.

2) You can lead a horse to water, but you can't MAKE him drink.

Just because they got the training doesn't mean they will use it. It seems to average that 1 out of every 10 people is a blooming Idiot, considering you are in the city where very few people grew up around hunters or shooters the percentage is probably higher. They parrot back what the trainer told them and once they pass the course they go back to doing what they saw on TV. Just keep correcting the ones you see, and explain to them WHY.

[twyacht]

Hey odyssey1, thank you for the intervention.

Here in S. Fl. the indoor ranges are not monitored, and they are willing to rent a gun to ANYBODY with an ID. I too am troubled there is no experience questions in regards to the shooter.

Only, if they have "ever shot HERE before"...

It is an accident waiting to happen, that will fuel a huge anti gun campaign which would LOVE a story of an accidental shooting at a range.

I have had to "intervene" with some young, early to mid 20's, folks that evidently had NOT ONE bit of common sense or training with a firearm, and rented a Glock 22, and a Glock 19, cause they "held a lot of bullets"......

But there they were, boxes of ammo, and a lot of "Hollywood Movie" Training....

Did you mention something to the Range Staff? I did and got kind of the brush off, but you bring up a valid point that was touched on here on a previous post, re: Range Nightmares, or something similar...

New shooters need more than just a "here's your pistol & ammo" have fun attitude from some ranges..

Maybe we can bring this to the attention of someone at the NRA, or gun range operators, that can lead to safer range rules.

Just thinking out loud,

Get to an outdoor range before it gets too cold up there odyssey1.

tw

[1911 Junkie]

I think it's all made up. Everyone knows glocks don't jam.   

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

I think it's all made up. Everyone knows glocks don't jam.   

*cough* limp wrist *cough*

glocks are one of the few pistols out there that will jamb like a SOB if you limp wrist them.,

[r_w]

*cough* limp wrist *cough*

glocks are one of the few pistols out there that will jamb like a SOB if you limp wrist them.,

never accuse a Glock owner of being gay...

[tombogan03884]

never accuse a Glock owner of being gay...

Unless it's pink, or you KNOW he left it home. 

[1Buckshot]

OK! OK! I would not of believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. I am the VP of our local shooting club. I can see the hole range from my front window.I had herd some shooting so I looked down at the 100 yard range and see a man and a boy walk up to the targets. Problem is there was still dust in the air from the last shot. as they walk away, I figured that the kid had shoot from close range to see how he was shooting. ( Yes we have target butts at 25, 50 and 100 yards on the same range). After a wile I decide to Take another look and what do I see. Its the kid standing off to the side of the targets, sooooo I sit and watch for a minute and Booooom. Yap Pa let one fly so the kid could tell him ware he was hitting ( no spotting scope). I just got back from letting them know that they broke about every gun safety  and club rule with one shot, And yes that they were not welcome anymore, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.  Also mom and grandpa were there to. Must be a family brain fart.

[tfr270]

At our indoor range we are watched over by close circuit TV by the rental gun counter. Anyone doing stupid stuff gets a visit from one of the two guys manning that counter. You also can't just come in, rent a gun and shoot.