True story

A few months ago everyone was "yelling" at the RO because he gave the "range is hot" while I was still at the 100 yard line.

I didn't mind since no one started shooting.

"Running" back to the tables I was worried about taking a tumble in front of everyone.

It was kind of flattering to be so "skinny" that he didn't see me.  My wife doesn't believe it.  I can understand why when I look in the mirror

I remember that as well. I kept getting on the RO's about needing glasses.

The worst part is one of our members didn't hear us yelling at him that the line was NOT hot after all. He did sit down at his bench and was getting ready to load his rifle when we finally got through to him. 

^

Call for a cease fire?  hindsight 20/20, but even if the RO and your friend didn't know what was going on, they should respect the cease fire.

That happened to me last year while I was at the 50 yard line. The RO asked if everyone was back and I yelled, "No!"

Months later, a guy ran out to set his target while the range was hot. I yelled "cease fire!" The RO told the guy that next time he does that, make sure to wear a target on your back to make it interesting. True story...

Took a friend of mine up into the mountains on the mainland to shoot clays on public land.  Gave him the rundown on the shotgun, showed him how to load it, operate it, etc... and I bent over to tie my shoe laces, when I stood up, my left eye was staring down the barrel of a loaded 12 gauge, I think I yelled every 4 letter word in the book at him

For a few Sunday afternoons there be some loud announcements “GET BEHIND THE LINE” or “AWAY FROM THE BENCH”

By the RO’s! 

Play Safe!

a couple years ago on the pistol side had a guy lay his target stand on the ground behind the berm and was doing some repairs to it during the cease fire and kneeling down so he cant be seen
everyone was back except him, but couldn't see him behind the berm.  RSO says "line is hot"
then the guy stands up and RSO goes "cease fire!   hey you ****ing dummy.  don't ever bend down behind the berm again.  we can't see you!"
I forget the exact 4 letter words that were used, but the RSO was pissed.

better to be pissed off, than pissed on.  that's what I always say   

Rklapp - damn you must be really skinny if the RO couldn't see you at the 50

Must have been a really slow day for that guy to have thought about walking on to a hot range.  Was everyone else on the other side of the range and no one on his side?
That he had a target stand makes me think he wasn't a completely new shooter.   New guys usually go with old farts to set target stands.

Last month I felt bad about a new guy that was using an uzi.  I guess uzi's don't have a bho ...sounded like another shooter was gassing him for not using a spend case to keep the bolt back....i suspect it was the inspector :-)

I'm glad that guy isn't a RO.  The RO's are pretty nice....even when they have yelled at your group twice for trying to get things on the table during the cease fire.  The RO came by after and calmly said the 3rd time it happens and our group would be kicked out.  (Wasn't me)

Must have been a really slow day for that guy to have thought about walking on to a hot range.  Was everyone else on the other side of the range and no one on his side?
That he had a target stand makes me think he wasn't a completely new shooter.   New guys usually go with old farts to set target stands.

it happens as some people don't read the range rules before setting up
just as some pedestrians don't look both ways before crossing a street

Last month I felt bad about a new guy that was using an uzi.  I guess uzi's don't have a bho ...sounded like another shooter was gassing him for not using a spend case to keep the bolt back....i suspect it was the inspector :-)

I wish I could take credit for it. But it wasn't me. 

it happens as some people don't read the range rules before setting up
just as some pedestrians don't look both ways before crossing a street

Or some just are getting to damn old...

Rklapp - damn you must be really skinny if the RO couldn't see you at the 50
Must have been a really slow day for that guy to have thought about walking on to a hot range.  Was everyone else on the other side of the range and no one on his side?
That he had a target stand makes me think he wasn't a completely new shooter.   New guys usually go with old farts to set target stands.

Um... no. 

It was later in the day and there were just a few of us on the sides. There was a lull in the firing and I guess the guy thought it was breaktime. At other ranges, they have a red flag that they pull out when the range is hot. I can't remember but don't they have it at the pistol range?

How can you tell an RO is an RO?

You mean other than the hi-vis vest? OTOH, Mike is Mike and can wear whatever he wants.

a couple years ago on the pistol side had a guy lay his target stand on the ground behind the berm and was doing some repairs to it during the cease fire and kneeling down so he cant be seen
everyone was back except him, but couldn't see him behind the berm.  RSO says "line is hot"
then the guy stands up and RSO goes "cease fire!   hey you ****ing dummy.  don't ever bend down behind the berm again.  we can't see you!"
I forget the exact 4 letter words that were used, but the RSO was pissed.

better to be pissed off, than pissed on.  that's what I always say   

Wow!  O.o Not sure what I would do in that case, but I don't think I'd stand up.  Maybe wave my target above the berm.   

Haha.  I tell that to one of my buddies all the time.  Usually when he's pissed off (not at me).  He mostly doesn't find it amusing.   

I remember when I got a new shotgun and couldn't wait to show my veteran friend. Pulled it out of the case and turned around an was about to hand it to him. Then he calmly looked me in the eye and said "you just swept me" and a chill rand down through my spine. He could have shouted or cursed, but it would have lost the effect. They way he said it left me cold and I'll remember that lesson for the rest of my life.

Its easy to have a brain fart when your excited

My friend has twice swept me showing the new upgrades on her rifle.  I just took it away and put it on the table.  She was so happy with her upgrades that I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

She shoots with her husband and knows better when she is "normal"

Than you have the Darwin Award nominees.  Im reloading mags...my side facing the range and hear the RSO saying "you might want to point that down range".  I turn around and see a long arm that had been pointing at my back. 

I told my friend and he said the RSO's yelled at the same guy about 1-2 months earlier for looking down the smoking barrel of his rifle....

granted sweeping someone with a firearm isn't good, especially at the range where you're supposed to be facing muzzles downrange only.  But if you're showing a friend a firearm at home or something, and you conspicuously clear the firearm first and lock the bolt before handing over or show them the gun, it's not too bad.  Especially if both of you have the common sense to maintain trigger discipline.

granted sweeping someone with a firearm isn't good, especially at the range where you're supposed to be facing muzzles downrange only.  But if you're showing a friend a firearm at home or something, and you conspicuously clear the firearm first and lock the bolt before handing over or show them the gun, it's not too bad.  Especially if both of you have the common sense to maintain trigger discipline.

Not trying to start an argument here. Nor do I want to get into how one has been trained in safe gun handling. And how one practices safe gun handling. So I will just state how I was trained.

When I was around 8-10 years old (Mid to late 60's) my father took me to a 3 or 4 evening class put on by the NRA that dealt with life safety issues. The class dealt with items like what to do if you get lost while hiking or camping, proper use and handling of knives, how to deal with snake bites and of course how to safely handle firearms. This course also included how to shoot and culminated in live fire and activities for young people.

I was trained that while handling a firearm, you open the cylinder or rack the slide and prop it open so you can see it is unloaded. If it is loaded, unload it. In other words it is not enough to just see an open cylinder and slide I won't get into the specific reasons for why as I am sure some here will want to debate these reasons. However, I was also taught a couple of things. Like never accept a firearm that you cannot visually see has an open cylinder or has an open slide. But the gun is still considered loaded until it is in your physical posession and you visually check that it is in fact unloaded. Another thing they were adamant about was once that firearm left your posession you consider that firearm loaded. Combine this with never pointing a gun at anything you don't intend to shoot then sweeping someone with an unloaded gun is unacceptable. Under any circumstances. Which also means allowing oneself to be swept is also unacceptable under any circumstances IMHO.

I understand that this was a long time ago (50 years) so maybe gun safety rules and training have changed over the years. I don't know. Maybe one of the certified NRA instructors here can update me on the more recent gun safety practices.

Those are all normal firearm safety rules.   Slide back alone isn't good enough if there's a loaded mag.    Slide slams shut accidentally,  gun is now loaded.   One can never be too careful, all I'm saying is that there are degrees to "badness".  A bolt action without a bolt isn't going to fire, nor is a handgun with a lock run through it's slide, etc.  There are a lot of situations id feel more comfortable with than some random guy swinging their firearm around at the range

granted sweeping someone with a firearm isn't good, especially at the range where you're supposed to be facing muzzles downrange only.  But if you're showing a friend a firearm at home or something, and you conspicuously clear the firearm first and lock the bolt before handing over or show them the gun, it's not too bad.  Especially if both of you have the common sense to maintain trigger discipline.

This can create bad habits and second, never trust anyone when it comes to firearms safety, even a good friend.  The only time you point a gun at someone is if you are about to defend yourself or you're practicing self-defense scenarios where you have trained personnel, safety procedures, and safety equipment.

This famous DEA agent made sure his gun was unloaded, then had his partner verify his gun was unloaded.  Then violated all of the safety rules.  Didn't work out.


I've been going to Honolulu Firearms and Range now that I got a membership there.  They seem to allow uncasing and holstering guns in the waiting area.  I see a lot of safety violations.