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Sad Accident at CA shooting range.

6K views 45 replies 19 participants last post by  TAC 
#1 ·
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#2 ·
I read that it was his first time there and saw him "fumbling" with the firearm... My question is did they look over him for the safety course or what??? Thats too bad :?
 
#3 ·
Not sure what the range policy is there - the article said that they give all shooters a safety briefing of some kind.



The range I go to will never let an inexperienced shooter on the line without having an experienced partner with them or until after a safety course is completed.
 
#4 ·
The indoor range I used to frequent when I lived in Kali had several suicides take place on the firing line using rented guns. For some reason it was usually oriental women. Weird.



 
#5 ·
That's about 50 miles from me and where I usually go to shoot. It's your basic budget indoor range. There is a guy upfront to take your money and check for the dreaded hollow point or Wolf ammunition. Both banned. And usually an instructor in the office should you want one or have a question about your weapon. It's air conditioned and $15 for all day and totally unsupervised except that slow (1rd/sec) fire is loosely enforced. It's actually one of the nicer/better if unfancy indoor ranges, with a fully stocked free weapons cleaning table. You see a lot of prison guards practicing and qualifying there, the occasional off duty LEO and families. I've never seen more than 6 of the 20+ lanes in use but I'm retired and usually go weekday mornings when I usually have the place to myself. When I have seen people there the weapons handling has been very safe.



I'll take it over the next closest indoor range (Evans) which is 70+ miles away and who IMO will try their best to bend you over at any opportunity.



It's pretty hard to accidentally blow your brains out. I'd be surprised if it wasn't a suicide.
 
#6 ·
M47_Dragon said:
P.S. went to an IDPA match today and was swept by a new shooter. Yikes!
Freaked me out a little since I read about this story before heading to the match.


Went shooting with a "friend" who mentioned that he would like to go out shooting. Our afternoon was cut short about 5 minutes into it when he pointed his gun at my chest to demonstrate his laser. No matter how many times he told me there was nothing in the gun, I was packing my stuff and going home. Blows my mind how some people act.
 
#7 ·
I can see this happening easily at some of the ranges I have been too, to many times have I had to yell at someone to keep the loaded gun with their finger pointed down range. Sad to hear, and maybe its time to change policy, but this can only hurt us experienced shooters overall.



An instructor told me to wear a vest whenever I go shooting "just in case", I think I'll try that, I need the practice with it own either way.
 
#8 ·
MP40Fan said:
Went shooting with a "friend" who mentioned that he would like to go out shooting. Our afternoon was cut short about 5 minutes into it when he pointed his gun at my chest to demonstrate his laser. No matter how many times he told me there was nothing in the gun, I was packing my stuff and going home. Blows my mind how some people act.
wow that is grounds for an immediate beat down I am glad everything turned out.. I would venture to say maybe an ex-friend...
 
#9 ·
M47_Dragon said:
Wow. What a shame...



http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ra...ines-california





P.S. went to an IDPA match today and was swept by a new shooter. Yikes!
Freaked me out a little since I read about this story before heading to the match.
I hope you reported this, or at least went over and talked to the person who did that, it's unacceptable behavior.
 
#12 ·
my 9 > your 9 said:
I was gonna ask what's "getting swept" but it sounds like it's having a gun pointed at you either intentionally or unintentionally, right?


Yeah, I used 'swept' because the poor girl advanced to a new shooting position before she was supposed to. Realizing her mistake, she did a 180 to head back to the previous position and in doing so, swung her gun around in a sweeping motion at the people standing behind her. The SO gave her a command and physically made her gun go back downrange all in one motion. I felt bad for her boyfriend, who was standing there with us. He apologized emphatically for her mistake. I think he was embarrassed.





I was at a charity shooting event a couple of months ago and while a new shooter was getting ready to go on the firing line (obviously with little or no safety training) and he pointed an empty gun at my chest. Again, the SO jumped on him right away. I looked up at the guy's face so I could give him my best evil glare ( :wink: ) and realized he was my high school auto shop teacher who I hadn't seen in 20 years!



And this is the worst: years ago, there was an open outdoor "range" with no supervision. Just a dirt road with clearings every so often for setting up bottles, TVs, whatever. This was out near Palmdale, CA. It was called the "Kentucky Shootin' Area." Used to see gangbangers practicing drive-by shootings! It was the kind of place where you never had an empty gun. If you were shooting one gun, you had another on your waist ready to go.

Anyway, I was out there with an LEO friend of mine one time and actually saw (and I sh*t you not) a guy scratch his head with the barrel of a loaded revolver!!!!
 
#13 ·
M47_Dragon said:
[quote name='my 9 > your 9']I was gonna ask what's "getting swept" but it sounds like it's having a gun pointed at you either intentionally or unintentionally, right?


Yeah, I used 'swept' because the poor girl advanced to a new shooting position before she was supposed to. Realizing her mistake, she did a 180 to head back to the previous position and in doing so, swung her gun around in a sweeping motion at the people standing behind her. The SO gave her a command and physically made her gun go back downrange all in one motion. I felt bad for her boyfriend, who was standing there with us. He apologized emphatically for her mistake. I think he was embarrassed.





I was at a charity shooting event a couple of months ago and while a new shooter was getting ready to go on the firing line (obviously with little or no safety training) and he pointed an empty gun at my chest. Again, the SO jumped on him right away. I looked up at the guy's face so I could give him my best evil glare ( :wink: ) and realized he was my high school auto shop teacher who I hadn't seen in 20 years!



And this is the worst: years ago, there was an open outdoor "range" with no supervision. Just a dirt road with clearings every so often for setting up bottles, TVs, whatever. This was out near Palmdale, CA. It was called the "Kentucky Shootin' Area." Used to see gangbangers practicing drive-by shootings! It was the kind of place where you never had an empty gun. If you were shooting one gun, you had another on your waist ready to go.

Anyway, I was out there with an LEO friend of mine one time and actually saw (and I sh*t you not) a guy scratch his head with the barrel of a loaded revolver!!!![/quote]I've heard alot of people use that term and never knew what it meant until now.



That's crazy what happened with your old teacher, did you guys have a long conversation about range etiquette after that?



The stupidity of people never ceases to amaze me.
 
#15 ·
MP40Fan said:
[quote name='M47_Dragon']

P.S. went to an IDPA match today and was swept by a new shooter. Yikes!
Freaked me out a little since I read about this story before heading to the match.


Went shooting with a "friend" who mentioned that he would like to go out shooting. Our afternoon was cut short about 5 minutes into it when he pointed his gun at my chest to demonstrate his laser. No matter how many times he told me there was nothing in the gun, I was packing my stuff and going home. Blows my mind how some people act.[/quote]



That would earn the "friend" a slap in the chops. When he got up he would be given another one for wasting my day... :roll:
 
#17 ·
M47_Dragon said:
Not sure what the range policy is there - the article said that they give all shooters a safety briefing of some kind.



The range I go to will never let an inexperienced shooter on the line without having an experienced partner with them or until after a safety course is completed.


More than likely, the Riverside Magnum indoor public shooting range will start doing the same.
 
#18 ·
Steelshooter said:
Sheesh. I have seen so many unsafe things at so many ranges.


I have too. The one that scared me the most involved the group shooting right next to me. One of them had loaded up and was about to start shooting. Someone in the group behind him started to talk to him. This idiot turned around with the loaded gun in his hand and pointed it right at me. I really gave it to that guy and I bailed.



Now. I ask to shoot as far away from other people as possible. If I sense that there are sketchy people inside, I just forget it now.
 
#19 ·
Not a friend anymore....................



I usually go to the "pits" with a loaded mag of JHP in the back pocket at all times. If someone else comes to shoot and I am alone I will observe them and their range manners for a few minutes before I continue. If I am with my kids (11 and 6) I leave. No waiting, no questions, no second thoughts. People are idots.



Talking about idiots........

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312779,00.html
 
#20 ·
MP40Fan said:
[quote name='M47_Dragon']

P.S. went to an IDPA match today and was swept by a new shooter. Yikes!
Freaked me out a little since I read about this story before heading to the match.


Went shooting with a "friend" who mentioned that he would like to go out shooting. Our afternoon was cut short about 5 minutes into it when he pointed his gun at my chest to demonstrate his laser. No matter how many times he told me there was nothing in the gun, I was packing my stuff and going home. Blows my mind how some people act.[/quote]



Damn! That's not good! Gotta nip that one in the bud!
 
#21 ·
MP40Fan said:
Not a friend anymore....................



I usually go to the "pits" with a loaded mag of JHP in the back pocket at all times. If someone else comes to shoot and I am alone I will observe them and their range manners for a few minutes before I continue. If I am with my kids (11 and 6) I leave. No waiting, no questions, no second thoughts. People are idots.



Talking about idiots........

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312779,00.html


Yep, some bigger than others... :roll:
 
#23 ·
medic1971 said:
[quote name='Steelshooter']Sheesh. I have seen so many unsafe things at so many ranges.


Yea at the local indoor range here you can look straight up (when you walk onto the range) and see where people have shot into the ceiling tiles. I always try to keep an eye open when I go the the range...[/quote]



You got that right! I try not to go during peak time. My problem is that the local range is the only one around and is only open from 12-8 and they're closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
 
#24 ·
I'd wait for a police investigation into the guys past before they deem it accidental.



I work at, and know of a few other ranges where people have gone to kill themselves. Sometimes its because they can't clear the background check to purchase, so they rent.



The guy who did it on our range shot a few boxes in control (on target) then waited till the RO stepped out to empty the trash, then turned the gun on himself.



I guess it could be accidental...but who really loads up a gun, then points it at them self (finger on the trigger no less)?



I wonder if in a few days it'll turn up that he had a history of metal health issues.
 
#26 ·
synergy said:
I'd wait for a police investigation into the guys past before they deem it accidental.



I work at, and know of a few other ranges where people have gone to kill themselves. Sometimes its because they can't clear the background check to purchase, so they rent.



The guy who did it on our range shot a few boxes in control (on target) then waited till the RO stepped out to empty the trash, then turned the gun on himself.



I guess it could be accidental...but who really loads up a gun, then points it at them self (finger on the trigger no less)?



I wonder if in a few days it'll turn up that he had a history of metal health issues.


There are ranges that really look out for incidents like this, and for good reason. Target Masters in Milpitas, CA has some rules regarding gun rentals that address this issue. If the workers there don't recognize you, in order to rent a gun you have to either be with another person or bring your own firearm. The only way they will rent a gun to someone who is alone is if they know him or her. While this is not a foolproof way to prevent suicides, it is a step in the right direction.
 
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