i may be sleeping under one of those tarps myself, once the gang arrives...

So back on topic, I shot today at a public, state-owned park. It's self policed, and normally pretty decently behaved.

Today, some genius brings his two kids. Both shooting .22's. No ear protection, or eyes, on any of the three. Mind you, there's black powder rifles, a couple AR's, and some older guns (looked like Mausers and Mosin's) being fired on the line.

Later, their 10/22 jams. First older son tries to rack the bolt and release the round. Then younger son tries, after pulling it off the line and flailing it about everywhere. BOTH had fingers on the triggers the whole time. Then Mr. Bright Guy takes a knife out and tries using it to pry the round out. Once it's out he proceeds to shoot 8 rounds through it. Yep, the whole time it still was a hot weapon.

The ONLY reason I didn't say anything is because he was in lane 3, I was in lane 2, lane 1 was open, and the kid was flailing that direction. I was well behind his line of idiocy. (edit: aka, line of fire)

Those private ranges look better all the time. I was waiting for the kid to shoot his dad, a la Blackhawk Down.

one of the primary reasons I shoot organized competition... in USPSA matches, the range officer is 1 on 1 with the competitor, you load, shoot, and unload only under the command of the range officer..

Wow, what a bad experience, MDinana!

The public range near me is very strictly policed by range officers. They have no qualms yelling at people or ejecting safety rule violators from the range. Even when you're the only one on the line, they still police you. I'd prefer that to getting shot accidentally.

The private range I go to is self-policed. You're often alone if you go during work hours.

I've shot on many ranges and also just out on the "back-40" so to speak. I've been an RO and would leave an uncontrolled range with people who are unsafe. Just pack up and walk away.

At one of the clubs here in SOCAL where I shot years back the RO's were much like what Bingley describes. If you are shooting on their line, you follow the rules even if you are the only shooter. If you don't like the regimen, you can leave or be told to leave. Their way or the highway.

MDinana ... public gun ranges are an exercise in high-risk disorder. If that stuff was going on near me - I'd just leave. Go have a cup of coffee and a snack. come back when the looney-tunes are gone.

just my $0.02

Pete2