Buddy system for range rental

[M1A]

Went to the range today. Brought a Chief for practice. I asked to rent a Model 10 and was told not without a buddy. Seems if you have a buddy or staff member you are not going to commit suicide. Now, I don't rent since I have enough to keep me happy. I was surprised, but gave no argument. Their rules.
Since I don't rent, I have no idea how common this is. I am in Cook Co. IL, so that may be a local thing.

 

[xray97]

The range I volunteer as range officer at doesn't rent to lone shooters either. You can bring your own gun and shoot but need a partner to rent.

 

[jkhouw1]

I understand the lone gunman rntal policy but it seems odd not to rent to someone who also brought their own gun even if they are alone.

 

[ordy]

The range I sometimes go to has the same rule. They will not rent you a gun if you are by yourself unless you already have your own gun in your bag. In the past few years (before the rule was in place) they have had four suicides with rental guns.

 

[Hunter8282]

Our LGS has the same rule on their range. However, they have let me rent when I brought other guns and because I have a CPL. I guess they are really just trying to stop the non-gun person from walking in off the street to commit suicide.

 

[otisrush]

I've never heard of policies like this and, in a certain way, it makes me really glad.

Oftentimes we hear people say "Mainstream Christians need to speak out against extreme Christianity." and "Mainstream Muslims need to denounce radical Islam.". As a gun owner I want to see gun deaths reduced and I would like to see the gun owning community take more steps to help reduce the suicide rate.

There is absolutely no question that suicide is the single largest segment of gun deaths. ~18,000 die from guns via suicide vs 12,000 that are killed by someone else. Recently I've been thinking about what gun owners might be able to do to promote people getting help and not using a gun to kill themselves. What I think could be really cool is some sort of gun owners network that would be willing to temporarily store guns for people if they want to get them away from a loved one who may be having trouble.

OR

 

[vytoland]

ive rented several guns at illinois (not cook county) gun ranges and never been questioned or denied.....but, then again, it may be a sign of the times.....

 

[glenwolde]

What I think could be really cool is some sort of gun owners network that would be willing to temporarily store guns for people if they want to get them away from a loved one who may be having trouble.

OR

I have been called to disarm a household, more than once. Not part of a network or anything but everybody knows I shoot so when trouble comes, I get a call.

I don't really like it. But I do it. On their request I have also sold most of the confiscated guns and returned the money.

 

[rwsmith]

Now that makes sense....

The range I sometimes go to has the same rule. They will not rent you a gun if you are by yourself unless you already have your own gun in your bag. In the past few years (before the rule was in place) they have had four suicides with rental guns.

If you've got a gun already, you don't need to rent one to commit suicide.

 

[rwsmith]

My range....

Walk in and ask for a lane and they ask, "Need to rent a gun, glasses hearing protection? Do you need to buy ammo?

The only thing is now they have these styrofoam board target hangers that you'll need to hang your target on and they'll lend you one for free, if you don't put any holes in it, then you have to buy it. It seems I have several of these around the house.

 

[Kinman]

We don't rent pigs or guns...
Seriously, with the new state laws we had to check into how difficult it was going to be allow the parents of our Junior Rifle Team to check out our high end .22 target rifles. Most law enforcement has given up trying to negotiate the terrible wording of the new law and consequently no one has been prosecuted for any violation. It almost sounded like you would not be allowed to loan a rifle to a friend or give your firearms to your kids without jumping through a bunch of hoops.
We have a number of firearms that belong to the club, they are kept in a safe and can only be checked out for use by a "qualified" member. There is a match quality M1, a number of AR's, etc. I've never checked into using one but was told I was qualified. All that is required is that you do not use anything but factory grade ammunition and clean the weapon when finished.
Some recent concern has been raised about how much research goes into accepting new members. I am not a paranoid individual but some people are concerned that a Syrian refugee could become a member and shoot everyone on the range. This town loves to bring in refugees, we got a ton of Vietnamese boat people and more than our fair share of Eastern European/Russian.

 

[ordy]

If you've got a gun already, you don't need to rent one to commit suicide.

I guess that's the point. If you already have one, they figure you are renting to trial a gun before purchase instead of using it to do yourself in.

 

[Arik]

Nothing like that here. The only one place that does have an employee accompany you is if you rent a machine gun

 

[5Wire]

The Manchester Firing Line has a similar rule (italic emphasis added):

ONLY if you are alone AND need to rent our firearms,

you will need to present a certificate showing you have completed a course or have a LTC/CCW from a state that requires a course completion prior to certification.. If you bring a friend with you to the range, these restrictions do not apply.

The Manchester Firing Line is as much a museum as a shooting range. Worth a visit if you're in the area...

Check the pricelists.