"Accidental" Shooting at Local Gun Range

[mbliss57]

This "accidental" (Of course there are no accidents) shooting took place where I usually go to shoot. In fact I was there last night and didn't even know this had happened. You cannot be too careful when using a gun. This is a sad story. I don't quite understand how the gun fired when it was being cleared.. it was a .357 magnum so it had to be a revolver. I will try to get more accurate details.
Eastlake police: Man shot in stomach by friend at shooting range

 

[m1gunner]

Could be a 357 Desert Eagle.

Still, no excuse

 

[moonclip]

Unfortunate, but avoidable accident.

Since the article says .357 with no mention of "magnum" and says he was clearing his gun, I'm guessing it was a .357 Sig.

......moon

 

[Armyphotog]

I'm guessing the answer is much simpler, his finger was on the trigger. Whichever, it's scarry. That what I like about where I shoot, normally I'm by myself. If not, I get a long way away from who else is shooting.

 

[J. W.]

Stuff like that is why I don't got to public ranges. Far too many armed idiots out there.

 

[Time2Hunt]

Stuff like that is why I don't got to public ranges. Far too many armed idiots out there.

+1 on that! Unfortunately many of shooters don't have that luxury...

There is only one indoor range in florida that I have shot at and honestly felt safe. Other than that I have had a few scary experiences.

OP, Does this make you feel any different about shooting at this range?

 

[1 old 0311]

About 20 years go I was at the old Dons Guns range on 96th street. Two young guys, and a girl, were put on the lane next to me. I could smell pot, and alcohol, on them. They were getting real careless sweeping everyone on the line with their guns. After asking them to please be careful twice I told the manager what was going on, and left.
Twenty minutes later the girl dropped a gun, they were shooting mouse guns, it went off, and hit her in the stomach. She bled to death before she got to the hospital. To this day when I shoot I spend more time looking around the line then down it.

 

[mbliss57]

Moonclip: I didn't assume it was anything but a .357 magnum as reporters have little knowledge of gun nomenclature.. but it certainly could be either.

Time2 hunt: I shoot at this range weekly and since I am a member they always give the the lane with the wall to my right. This make me feel 50% safer than if sandwhiched between 2 unknowns. I wish I had somewhee else to shoot. There is another indoor range fairly close by but I feel no more or less safe there. Shooting guns carries with it a certain inherent risk. I am careful there and viligant as to my surroundings. We (I shoot with my wife alot) usually try to go on off hours. Last night there was us and 1 other shooter who was at the other end of range.

 

[Roadranger]

One thing is for certain, the muzzle of the "357" was not pointed downrange. Basic gun safety rule: Don't point guns at people! Bob!!

 

[Steve in Vermont]

I also shoot at a public range (small annual fee). I've found it's a good idea to watch the people around you and assess their level of safety. Any sign of carelessness, or alcohol, or pot, I leave.

 

[Evil One]

Also could have been a Coonan or LAR Grizzly.


Jim

 

[GregG]

The last time I was at the range I was swept with a deer rifle. Next table over. Closed bolt. I just looked at the guy and he looked back at me like *what*?

 

[dant]

sad to hear really, my friend Dennis lost an eye in this same range , previous owners, and that was an "accident"??? BUT avoidable, as to an improper repair to the back stop 'plate' (bullet jacket richocet,BACK towards the firing line) ...last nights was NOT, as the gun was pointed 'sideways',NOT down range and his finger was obviusly on the trigger, see how long they "stay friends"......

 

[Onomea]

One of the comments to the article says that there is no range safety officer there.....

About the guy above who lost an eye, was he wearing shooting/safety glasses? The public range in Hawaii where I shoot will not allow you to shoot without glasses.

 

[Alpha Wolf]

Our public range requires glasses too.. But I have had to "remind" dozens to put on glasses before shooting after seeing them shoot a full magazine. Some refused and I had to get the "official staff" to come and talk to them..

Why would your risk your eyes???

 

[BigBill]

First gun safety never sleeps or takes a day off.

Second its the unloaded gun all the time that shoots for some reason. Not in this case but true in others.

Always point the muzzle in a safe area not at people.


On the last trip to the range with my wife the guy a few benches down was test firing his new 1911 in 22lr right in the ground infront of the benches. If he ever hit my wife i would of done him in with my bare hands i'd a been so mad. After confronting him he still shot near us in the gully seperating the benches from 25yds.

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

Seems to me to be a plain case of ignorance versus stupidity. Just remember... ignorance can be cured - stupidity is forever!

 

[Hondo44]

I dislike shooting on a range with visual barriers between lanes. I want to be able to see what people next to me are doing, not wait until I feel the bullet.

 

[mbliss57]

Follow Up

I stopped by the range tonight and asked about the incident. I also fired 100 rounds of 9mm while I was at it. I have aRuger SR9C and as much as I love S&W... that has one sweet trigger. What a tack driver! anyway...
Seems the round was a 357 Sig.
The guy was clearing a jam, took the mag out, and had his finger on the trigger, rack slams home and POW.... and the gun was pointed directly at the stall to the left. Several errors.
Apparently the guy in the hospital is expected to live. That at least is good news. As for range officer.. there are "Range Officer" monitoring CC TV's right behind the wall with a door leading to te center of the range. Either way with the stalls for protection it is hard to see what everyone is doing anyway. Whether right behind the wall or inside the range. They hold a "New Shooters" training every Wednesday. The alos do CCW classes.. etc. "You can't fix stupid." You can fix ignorance. They ask new people if they have shot before but there is no way for a public place to know the level of expertise of everyone who rents a lane. I do wish there was a private club I could join or several acres i owned but...

 

[bitstream]

I stopped by the range tonight and asked about the incident. I also fired 100 rounds of 9mm while I was at it. I have aRuger SR9C and as much as I love S&W... that has one sweet trigger. What a tack driver! anyway...
Seems the round was a 357 Sig.
The guy was clearing a jam, took the mag out, and had his finger on the trigger, rack slams home and POW.... and the gun was pointed directly at the stall to the left. Several errors.
Apparently the guy in the hospital is expected to live. That at least is good news. As for range officer.. there are "Range Officer" monitoring CC TV's right behind the wall with a door leading to te center of the range. Either way with the stalls for protection it is hard to see what everyone is doing anyway. Whether right behind the wall or inside the range. They hold a "New Shooters" training every Wednesday. The alos do CCW classes.. etc. "You can't fix stupid." You can fix ignorance. They ask new people if they have shot before but there is no way for a public place to know the level of expertise of everyone who rents a lane. I do wish there was a private club I could join or several acres i owned but...

Thanks for the update.

So, he violated two rules?

1) Don't point it at anything you don't want holes in
2) Keep your finger entirely out of the guard area unless you're in the act of firing.