I remember reading on here about incidents at gun ranges where shooters are stalked/confronted/robbed etc. when alone at a gun range. I have Googled but can find no news accounts of this sort of activity. Anyone know of a news source that I can link to that speaks to one or more of these kinds of incidents?

There was one local here. I believe it happened at Busch Wildlife Area and someone was ambushed and then his gear was stolen. Ironically, I always maintained a sidearm at these outdoor ranges that never got used at practice. Although the above instance would have been to no avail, I have met some seedy cats at these places.

__________________
James L. "Jim" Rhiner

not a good place to rob people i wouldnt think?

__________________
WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

I have no first hand knowlage of such an event here locally. But I have had some run in's with some unsavory characters now and again. I always keep my carry gun on me like anywhere else and keep a close eye on folk just in case.

__________________
Stay safe people!

Whenever I shot at the clay pits outside of town in college or when I used the Ft. Knox public range, I was always armed, over and above whatever I was shooting.

I cant. However I do know of a unreported case. It happened many years ago to my best friend. It wasnt a bonified regular range, but just a popular spot for many shooters in the boonies. My friend and his wife were just out to plink with a revolver he just bought. Now that I think about it, I belive it was one of those old .38 s&w breaktop enfields he got from me. Some guy yelled at him that at first he couldnt see from a long ways off. Bill yelled back what do you want? The guy yelled back, "I got a rifle, and I want the woman to take her cloths off! With that bill sprayed the area he thought the guy was in! Sounds like the guy was over a 100 yards away in small hills and ran off. Like all incidents, we all can pick this apart as what should have been done, but thats the way he told it to me. Let me add, bill was ex leo, and could get madder, quicker than anyone I knew before or since, and I had been in some bad incidents with him and witnessed his actions before that! He was a good friend!

If I recall correctly, the two offenders in the FBI Miami shoot-out obtained at least one of their weapons by murdering an individual who was shooting at a well known public shooting area, although not a range.

Never heard of anyone being robbed on a firing range...
But, did hear of some guys gettin' robbed on a tee box at a golf course a time or two.


Su Amigo,
Dave

__________________
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

This confirms my long-held belief that one meets a far better class of people at shooting ranges than on golf courses. If the shooters don't have more money than the golfers, they dang sure are a heckuva lot more honest.


Bullseye

__________________
Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.

IMHO- Never target shoot along at an outdoor range. You shoot while your buddy observes, and then buddy shoots while you observe. Always have at least one weapon loaded.

Actually, it'd be a great place. Think about it. You shoot your rifle. Lay it on the bench and go downrange to check your target. When you turn back, you see some scumbag standing there, with your rifle, which he has just loaded. He takes your wallet, car keys, guns and anything else of value you have. Because you gave the unarmed robber your gun.

I have no knowledge of this happening. I also have no knowledge of people getting robbed in the parking lot of a bar (where is should be safe to mug, as it is illegal to take your gun into the bar - leastways it is here in Florida). But I can sure see it happening easily.

__________________
I always take precautions

Well the few times I went to a public range.. I didn't make a habit of leaving my guns unattended... I hope most people don't either.

Man.. reading some of these posts makes me even more glad I've been blessed with plenty of acreage for shooting at home.

__________________
- The Federalist #46 -

and your wearing ear plugs, i guess it could happen, you just got to be carefull all the time!

__________________
WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

A range is a great place for an ambush. Nobody pays any attention to the shots.

There was a case in PA about 3 or 4 months ago where a shooter was ambushed and killed for his high end AR and silencer. It turned out that the killer was a State Prison Guard.

Personally, for me the range itself isn't a concern, I'd have to drive at least 40 miles to get to an outdoor range in my area. Meanwhile there is an excellent 50 yard indoor range only 9 miles from my house.

What is a bit concerning is the parking lot, it's close enough to Detroit that it could be a target for an armed robber. However, at least 50% of those who use these ranges have a CPL and practice with the carry gun is routine. As a result, robberies in the parking lot haven't happened at this point. However, I never leave the shop without a good look see for lurkers and always have my P239 fully loaded and handy.

Four killed. Murderer executed.

Missouri's Death Row: State of Missouri v. Donald E. Reese

A man I was acquainted with was a Bullseye shooter. He practiced at a local range in Colorado early in the morn before going to work. Very seldom was anyone else there that early. He was doing his thing when two men walked up to him and started a friendly conservation about shooting in general and his guns specifically. One of the men said something about owning a revolver just like his and asked if he could look at his target revolver. The guy handed it to the man with open cylinder and not loaded. The guy was knowledgeable and while looking it over reached down and picked up two .38 special rounds off the owner's bench. The owner tried to stop him, but before he knew it the stranger dropped the two rounds in the chamber, indexed the chamber and shot him high in the left side of his chest. The two then took all three of his guns, wallet, equipment, ammo and car keys and left him to die. They were laughing all the time while doing that. Fortunately he was still alive when the next range shooters arrived. He survived with a shot to the upper lobe of his lungs. He was never quite the same after that. The two strangers were caught about a week later. They were convicted felons that were supposed to be incarcerated in State Prison but no beds were available, so they were being farmed out to a local County lockup. They had escaped that morning and knew where that range was. They went directly to that range in a stolen car. It was found near the range out of fuel.

I NEVER go to a range without carrying a sidearm that is not shot in that particular session. I have observed other shooters leaving all their firearms and ammo on a shooting bench while they go down range to check targets. I always take the time to contact them and tell them this story. ............. Big Cholla

Not at the range but in the gun store parking lot.
Man robbed outside gun store The Commercial Appeal

Class III

this was a chilling thread, that I can honestly say I have never thought of. you'd think multiple armed men practicing would deterr(sp?) a criminial, but wow. I wil surely remember this thread, and share the story of the missouri incident

Between scruffy characters and shoddy gun handling, I'll head for the sagebrush every time. Ticks and rattlesnakes are just minor annoyances.

They thought they had murdered him. He lived. Took his car, too, I think.

...whoa, thanks, this is beyond an article or two I thought I would get for credibility on this issue. One fellow here goes to an outdoor range with his wife and they shoot up all the ammo they take with them before leaving. They are the only ones there.

Norfolk, Beach chasing leads in officer's death | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Unfortunately, this very incident happened here last week. Victim was an off duty LEO leaving a benefit in a restaurant/bar.
No one has said if he was armed, but since VA has a similar gun in a bar law, he may not have been, or he may have had it taken. Nothing but good things said about this officer and hopefully they will solve it soon.

I've been a member of three different gun club/ranges here in the Great State of New York over the past thirty years. I've NEVER heard of anyone being robbed at a range and I don't ever expect to. In my experience, the criminal element avoids law-abiding gun owners. Maybe that sounds naive, but I'd never worry about getting robbed at the places where I shoot.

__________________
'Merica!

Crazier things have happened, but I always stay armed at the range. Not that something couldn't happen, but it won't be easy for them...........If my pards and I are shooting at more than 100 yards, one of us stays at the benches while the others change targets, pull them in, or put them out.

__________________
Go big or stay home

I wonder about the security apparatus at the ranges where these things have happened. I belong to a hunting and fishing club in which the range is at the rear of a large fenced-in property, and the only access is through an electronically-controlled gate which can be opened only by those who know the numbers to punch on the keypad(i.e, members of the club).

Andy

Not a range, but some druggies tried to rob 2 guys at a hunt camp nearby several years ago. They cased the area offering firewood for sale.

Came back at night with a shotgun. Got met with a mini-14. IIRC, it didn't end well for the druggies.

Try seaching reports in the early to mid 1990's around Anchorage Alaska. There was a group of three dirt bags waiting for people to stop shooting and while they were packing their vehicle they would rob and beat the people.

It didn't happen at established ranges but there are alot of places around Anchorage were people go to shoot.

My buddy and I had a run in with them but they didn't get anything. They saw us packing up the pistols and shotguns as they were driving by but did not see me take out the boltguns. When they went to make their move my buddy was at the truck by himself and I was up on the high ground getting the rifles ready. When they didn't see me they stopped their attack before it got started and they took off. When we got back to the barracks and told someone about it was when we found out about the other attacks. This happened during the summer of 1993.

One more story to illustrate the OP's point; I was patrolling the desert south of LV one summer day in an unmarked Jeep. I was on a remote desert two-track that wound and twisted thru some low washes. I came over a ridge and found a SUV parked on the next ridge with a shooting bench beside it. No one was around. On the bench bedded in sandbags was a Barrett 50 BMG semi-auto. I parked and walked to the bench. The bolt was locked back and live rounds gleamed up from the magazine. I looked in the direction the rifle was pointed and saw two older fat men running in my direction from about 700/800 yards away. I waited for them. They were almost joyous in relief when they started recognizing my uniform. I kidded the heck out of them about both leaving a functioning 50 BMG semi-auto on the bench. Then I chewed them out for the stupidity displayed in doing just that. I then asked how was the rifle shooting? They didn't know as it was brand new and they hadn't got it on the 4'x8' target as of yet. I left them a little chagrined, but a lot safer. ......... Big Cholla

I thought I read about a pastor that was killed while shooting out East somewhere a few years ago. Some hoodlums did him in while he was at a range shooting. Just keep a reasonable guard up is all I can say.

I usually shoot out in the sticks on private land.

99% of my shooting is preparing for specific hunts, so I shoot in the hills. I wear a 1911 or a Model 29 in case sketchy people show up. At my spot, I load my 308 and put a handful of ammo in an outside pocket. My rifle and binos go downrange with me. When I'm downrange, muffs come off, other guns stay cased and unloaded, and I keep an eye on the truck.

Being attentive and packing a loaded rifle during summer range chores helps immensely on Opening Day. And with binos, a serious handgun, a scoped 308, and a pocketfull of shells, I feel pretty confident about returning fire or bugging out on foot should the need arise.


Okie John

The range I shoot at is in a secluded location. I always keep one magazine loaded and keep a gun on me all the time. I always watch the driveway and other vehicles that might pull in.

This has been and interesting and eyeopening thread. The local range where I shoot is at the end of a mile and a half of ragged dirt road and I have never encountered anyone but members (the range is fenced and gated and all traffic in or out must go by the office that is always staffed), but....I often go early in the morning to get some alone time on the pistol range which is located at the far north end about a hundred yards from the office and rifle range. I realize now that all to often I have gone downrange, unarmed, 15 to 25 yards to change targets and left several pistols lying out. It won't happen again I can assure you and from now on at least one loaded pistol will be holstered on my hip at all times.

When we go out to the backside of the mountain to shoot we are several hundred yards from the nearest dirt road and no one can approach within 150 yards without being seen. Out here I always have a loaded gun on my hip, usually one of my 357's. Since most folks have no idea about this location we have yet to encounter anyone else though we have had spectators stop up on the road to watch us blow up clay birds. Great thread and I guess the message here is you can never be to too careful when it comes to guns and shooting.

I carry when I play golf.

__________________
Proverbs 14:7

Tragedy is Picasso imposed over Norman Rockwell.
No one expects a peaceful park where children play and laugh to suddenly turn into a blood soaked nightmare.

perhaps that is part of why it happens ... no one ever sees it coming.

__________________
it just needs more voltage

snopes.com: Gun Shop Robber

Moron attempts to rob gun shop after walking by a police car parked outside.

__________________
TomD

A few years ago, there was a preacher in my area that was murdered and his guns stolen while he was shooting at an outdoor range. The perps turned out to be two AWOL soldiers.

I always have a loaded handgun on me while at the range.



ETA: sourdough44, we're probably talking about the samething.

The closest outdoor range here is a Wildlife Management Area range a couple of miles down a dirt road out in the woods. It always seems to have at least one or two people around, but I do keep an eye on things just in case. I also don't go alone. There is a State Prison about five miles or so through the woods; I guess I had thought (before this thread) that any potential escapee would be stupid to go to the range because, duh, everyone has at least one gun, but perhaps I need to add some extra caution.

__________________
"... shall not be infringed."

Wow I didn't know about this. I have shot at this range many times. I lived four or five miles away from it for a while. Its way off the beaten path back in the woods in the middle of nowhere.

I did have one morning shooting session where I could swear that there was someone in the woods watching me shoot. It really creeped me out so I left quickly with a 9mm on my lap locked and loaded.

It was at the Beech Fork State Park shooting range in Wayne County, WV. Absolutely horrible what happened.

I'm in the area, too.

We may be in the most danger where we think we are safest. I have heard of people being attacked at gun ranges and in the parking lot of gunshops and outside gunshows to name a few unlikely locations for criminal attack.

__________________
too TOO young!!

When I was growing up it was common to go down to the Railroad tracks and shoot. I spent many days there shooting off the bridge into the Mahoning River or just shooting the huge icicles that formed in the tunnels that the trains ran through. I always had one handgun that was there for protection, just protection and nothing else, even at 12 years old. You tend to meet some very undesireable people on the tracks.
Fast forward to now and I still use that same strategy when on the Range at my Club. If shooting my bolt guns, I always take the bolt with me when going down range to check/change targets. Same applies to any other type of rifle, I take the AR bolt if I go down range etc... and I always have my 1911 on, just in case.

When I was a teenager back in the 50s I would/could shoot right behind our house into a open field with a slight hill and trees behind. One day I was shooting occasionaly with a 22 rifle at dirt clogs or stones. I took aim and saw a head comeing over the hill right into my front sight. A neighboring farmer walked into view with his small daughter looking for a calf that got out! He seemed to have never heard me shooting, maybe I was shooting shorts. It made me more carefull forever! Never told anyone before, even my dad.

at the range I go to I always carry my model 10 with 4 speed loaders and 5 shells in the holster loops and that never gets shot it is for defense only.but another good advice tidbit is if shooting bolt guns just take the bolt out and carry it with you down range. Im kinda lucky the range I go to is gated and only members go there.

__________________
God save the SOUTH

When I was liveing in california about 35 years ago, some guys were in the boonies shooting near where I lived near bouquet canyon towards acton. Two or three white guys were killed while shooting. Later it was traced to some black gang.

I shoot at a private range. Nothing fancy at all, just a locked gate out in the middle of dismal seepage nowhere. Backs up to thousands of acres of wildlife refuge.
It has 3 shooting areas. I am frequently there alone or maybe one or two other folks.
I always have my carry weapon 9mm just as anywhere but if someone comes out of the woods with a rifle or shotgun while I am changing targets I guess I am doomed.

I am more afraid if I injure myself or get bit by a snake or have a heart attack. I file a "float" plan with my wife.

"Gone to the range, if you see vultures in the NE sky it's too late"

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

I shoot at a private club, and it is sometimes uninhabited....except for a shooter. Most of the time there are at least three or four people present.

We all have keys and people are coming and going all the time. I always leave the gate open when I go in....however.....others lock it behind them.

It is close into town and not really isolated, however I'm always carrying concealed.

__________________
G.P. Charlie

TRUE STORY

__________________
N.R.A. BENEFACTOR Member

This is a good thread. Normally I shoot at a small private range just outside of a nearby town. I always call the owner (friend of mine) the night before to be sure no one else is hooting, as I like to shoot alone. I always take three or four guns, and have them on a bench next to me with plenty of ammo on the side of the bench. I normally go to check my targets with the empty gun I'm shooting with, and my hearing protectors on; I now realized that is not a good practice. From now on I am going to strap at least one loaded handgun, maybe two, and secure the other guns in my car, which I park near my shooting spot. Also, I'm going to invest on good electronic ear protection muffs. Thanks for posting tis eye-opening topic.

Pete

When I go to the range alone, all firearms and ammo except for my carry gun stay locked in the vehicle while I am setting up targets.

__________________
Proverbs 14:7