Attempted gun theft at the range today

[Sebago Son]

A guy shot him twice when he went to check his target and killed him. The guy took his rifle, too.

That's how Platt & Matix got alot of their ordinance.... and look how that ended up.

I always am armed when I'm on the range. But then again, where I shoot, it's rare that anyone else is going to be there too so if I have company, I'm on high alert....

Drew

 

[fat tom]

Glad your friend didn't lose his gun. It's a bad experience to have a gun stolen. I had one stolen from me in my home last year. I'm 99% sure I know who stole it,but didn't see him do it so I'm SOL. I'm a little surprised that I haven't gotten over it yet,but I ain't!
f.t.

 

[jimmyj]

Depending on the value of the missing gun (so as to whether it is petite theft or grand theft), in Florida it might be "possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony", which is a minimum 10 years, under our "10-20-life" law.

In Florida theft of a firearm, regardless of value, is a felony.

 

[Alpo]

In Florida theft of a firearm, regardless of value, is a felony.

Wasn't aware of that. Figgered it would be a "petite theft - misdemeanor, grand theft - felony" thing.

 

[Malysh]

I've always assumed the theft of a firearm is a felony in ANY state.
The dollar value has nothing to do with the legal concept when it comes to firearms.

 

[LOBO]

Glad your buddy got his gun back. Keep your head on a swivel, and always keep your gear in sight. Just because you're honest, don't assume the next guy is too.

 

[HalfStack]

I guess the guns are like children, should be seen and not heard.

 

[J Rich]

Somebody should be beaten with a brick stick.

 

[oberon]

Not hijackin' the thread.
A pair of friends went the extra to nail some thieves who had been operating in one of the downtown parking garages. They left some desirable equipment in plain view on the front seat and parked in the adjoining space in a minivan and waited. Within minutes, dirtbags were on hand getting in to the 'bait' car, and were grabbed, thrashed(read:beaten), threatened with punishment worse than death, and released. Those particular boys never came back.
There is no substitute for a righteous beating.

 

[rustysixgun]

Not hijackin' the thread.
A pair of friends went the extra to nail some thieves who had been operating in one of the downtown parking garages. They left some desirable equipment in plain view on the front seat and parked in the adjoining space in a minivan and waited. Within minutes, dirtbags were on hand getting in to the 'bait' car, and were grabbed, thrashed(read:beaten), threatened with punishment worse than death, and released. Those particular boys never came back.
There is no substitute for a righteous beating.

Yeah man! Too bad the cops can't dispense justice this way rather than arresting, booking, jailing, and finally turning them loose due to some technicallity.

 

[HalfStack]

Yea, that's too bad. Back in the Bonnie & Clyde days the feds just drill 'em full of holes with Tommy guns and shotguns. That's how you stop the criminals.

 

[blujax01]

Let's get 'em, boys!

Whar's my rope!!!

Woo-hoo!!!


... sheesh ...

 

[DCWilson]

When I go to the indoor range that is the only place near enough for me to shoot regularly, I always leave my range bag at my feet under the shelf on the aisle to which I am assigned. One gun at a time comes out, I shoot it, and it goes back in the bag when the next one comes out. I am always surprised that other shooters leave their bags open on the bench while they work with a single handgun. I have no reason to expect criminal activity there, but that's the whole point of caution -- to deal with a problem you don't expect.

 

[Alpo]

Down at the range, one day, with my daughter. Got, oh, 8 or 9 pistols with us, all in their own little hard cases. Fetched 'em all in in a big duffel bag. The range has got two or three of them big, 8-foot long folding tables like they used to have in school lunchrooms. My stuff is all piled on one of 'em - guns, boxes, ammo, markers, targets, etc.

We finish up and leave. When I get home, light is blinking on my answering machine. It's Mark, down at the range. "Uuhh, Ron, Chris said his gun is missing, and you were the only other one on the range."

What?? If I WAS gonna steal a gun, it dang sure wouldn't be no Charles Daly copy of a 1911. But, when I unload the duffel bag, there's a black plastic hard case marked "Charles Daly". Apparently it was on the same table, and my daughter thought it was one of mine.

I called back and said that if he was in desperate need of it tonight, I'd fetch it back, but otherwise I'd bring it in tomorrow. Chris said that'd be fine. Long as he knew where it was.

Oops.

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

...that's the whole point of caution -- to deal with a problem you don't expect.

Herein lies the truth we all need to take away from this. I just love it when an unexpected bit of wisdom surfaces on one of these threads.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Glad that your friend found his revolver. I realize I am not clear about the location of tables, etc. I've been to ranges where coats and other such extra stuff was piled on a table by the window, etc. How the revolver migrated to that table you describe is a real question. Hopefully any security video will show what happened.

Just to clarify things, the table is about 5' behind the firing line and runs the length of the range (14 lanes). Benny was shooting his 9mm and .380 so he left the Model 64 in a zippered gun rug in his range bag on the table. Looking downrange we had the 3 lanes on the extreme left end, the "youths" were 5 or 6 lanes away from us near the extreme right end.

Due to experience, I generally don't trust strangers any farther than I can throw them. Benny learned a valuable lesson yesterday, I'm just glad he didn't lose his gun in the process...

 

[oldman45]

I've always assumed the theft of a firearm is a felony in ANY state.
The dollar value has nothing to do with the legal concept when it comes to firearms.

You may be right, if it is proven to be a theft. Like shoplifting, you have to leave the store with the item. A firearm under a person's coat does not mean the owner of the coat was trying to steal the gun or even put it there.

A lot of stolen guns are recovered. Few of those that stole the guns are charged with the theft. Most of the time, the person in possession of the stolen gun "bought it off a guy on the street." Few will admit to stealing a firearm.

 

[oldman45]

Not hijackin' the thread.
A pair of friends went the extra to nail some thieves who had been operating in one of the downtown parking garages. They left some desirable equipment in plain view on the front seat and parked in the adjoining space in a minivan and waited. Within minutes, dirtbags were on hand getting in to the 'bait' car, and were grabbed, thrashed(read:beaten), threatened with punishment worse than death, and released. Those particular boys never came back.
There is no substitute for a righteous beating.

That is vigilante justice and while it sounds good in theory and works some times, it is also a crime, possibly a felony. Should one of those beaten have lost an eye, suffered a brain injury or even die, your friends would have been arrested, sued and much more. Had any of those beaten chosen to go to the police, your friends would have faced serious jail time and just suppose one of those guys were armed. He would have been legally within the law to shoot any or all of your friends. The law protects people from intentional bodily harm, especially when the perp lays in wait for their intended victim.

 

[opaul]

The gym I go to, has electonic non-assigned lockers. I put a carabinger on the handle of a free locker so I can remember which one is mine. I've had two carabingers stolen. I suspect what a thief wants they are going to take, no matter the value. Go figure.

 

[williamlayton]

I will bet you a $ to a do-nut hole that is how they got the guns they were shooting.
Blessings