ccw at the range?

[MichiganScott]

My club policy is all guns are treated as loaded whether they are pointed down range, placed on the bench, in the rack, in your pocket, or in the back of your car. To consider them empty until pointed downrange invites sloppy gun handling habits and that's why the roofs at so many ranges are perforated. Our roofs remain pristine.

 

[Fred_Ziffel]

Regarding the FBI shootout in Miami in 1986, on two occasions the bank robbers, Platt and Matix, shot men at a borrow pit in the Everglades and stole their guns and cars. They did these dirty deeds at an informal shooting spot out in the boondocks.

Kent

 

[RobzGuns]

Just got back from my local indoor Range & Store.
The Store portion has always had a "Concealed Means Concealed" (don't pull your carry pistol for ANY reason in the store).

I specifically asked the RO about shooting my carry piece and his response was basically, keep it concealed until you reach you shooting position... no Firing from the holster (Drawing & Firing) and make sure it's properly concealed or secured before leaving.
Shot 50 from my (bagged) g26 and 50 from my carry Shield.
They do have video surveillance of each shooting position and don't hesitate to stop you for safety violations.
Afterwards, as I was paying, he asked how I liked the shield. The only way he'd know if I had a shield would be the camera system.

 

[A2 Stippling]

I carry concealed at every range - indoor or outdoor. At the outdoor ranges, like others have said, sometimes strange people show up. I always go with a buddy so one of us an always remain with the "range guns" and the other can go downrange to secure targets. We are both always armed - OWB or IWB.

Now, inside ranges...I follow the rules...most of the time.

 

[NZshooter]

I always CCW at the range, and would never set foot at a range that forbids it.

this, especially after working at a couple of public ranges

 

[Wyo]

In the early 1980's, two friends of mine, young men, were enjoying the afternoon at the local public range. They were approached by an older gent, apparently to visit a bit, as is common. No one else was there that day. As he walked over to them, he pulled out a 38 Super Colt Commander and shot the first young man while he sat at the bench. The second one ran about 10 yds. before he was shot as well. Both men died - killed for their guns. Both left wives and kids. Neither of them was armed except for the empty guns on the bench. "Cold range" ya know. The shooter was an import from Florida. Said he moved out of there because it was too violent. Yeah. I carry at the range and I don't much care about any rules that might say otherwise.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Hate to say this, but is a range really cold with loaded weapons walking around?

Yes, as long as they remain holstered. No different than walking around anywhere else while carrying. When you walk through the door at Best Buy, do you announce The Store Is Hot and make sure everyone stands behind a yellow line while you shop?

Of course the problem at gun ranges and gun stores is that jackwagons get the notion that it's ok to yank their carry gun and wave it around for show and tell. At our club we have a jackwagon prevention program that begins before anyone is considered for membership, including sponsorship by a three year member, interview/approval by the BODs and a lengthy orientation. Cameras and zero tolerance. We do not have on duty ROs. It works.

Now for ranges that allow anyone to shoot as long as they have a couple bucks in thier pocket and don't appear intoxicated.... Is the range ever "really cold"?

 

[Biginge]

Boys, I made myself sleep on it before further comment.

When one carrys concealed, his biggest ally is awareness. What is going on around him, if you will. BG walking towards him with hands in pockets, late night, parking lot of grocery store, condition orange, red, or whatever. Awareness is the key protector in defense. Having the tool to aid us , concealed handgun, then proves to be invaluable when needed.

We give up the awareness factor, the most important one, at a gun range. Everyone out there has a gun, for the most part. We assume they are there for the same purpose we are. Some are not perhaps, but a small fraction of souls here. As soon as "Range is Hot" command is given we grow rapidly accustom to gunfire.

As I said, yesterday, I went to range and shot, and kept my concealed gun in place on my person. I observed other shooters more than casually. I don't care who you are, what gun you have, how fast, accurate, etc. you cannot protect yourself with, or without a concealed weapon if the guy to your left wants to take you out. I did not feel any safer, because the awareness factor is removed at the range and I am willing to accept the fact that all others will not harm me. This is not unlike traveling down a narrow country road and you have to make the assumption the guy coming towards you is not going to swerve over in your lane and try to kill you in a head on collision.

The most troubling part of this post is if the anti's got ahold of it and edit it to fit their agenda. "Look Diane, these nuts are so afraid of each other they are carrying guns for protection at a shooting range." "Your right Barbara, we must take their guns away from each of them before they hurt themselves." Ad infinum.

By the way, I shoot my concealed gun at every range session. It is the gun I shoot the most. I just put it in the gun box with the others I will be shooting.

I don't know if Kyle ??? the poor soul that was trying to help a vet in Dallas was carrying or not, but the nut took out Kyle and the other gentleman.

Concealed carry on a range is a moot point in my estimation. I entered this discussion from a safety standpoint. From Pete showing John his new Kimber 123 while unloading it at the bench and sweeping the guy on his left. Seen it too many times. It bled over into protection, which I believe is virtually impossible at a gun range if an individual wants to do YOU harm.

 

[Donn]

My LGS/range allows concealed carry, (leave it concealed till on the range), but prohibits open carry under any circumstance. No range officer, but numerous cameras monitored at all times, as well as audible muzzle reports. Anybody gets careless or starts to cowboy it up, they get lots of attention in a big hurry and are "encouraged" to leave ASAP.

 

[Waywatcher]

Boys, I made myself sleep on it before further comment.

When one carrys concealed, his biggest ally is awareness. What is going on around him, if you will. BG walking towards him with hands in pockets, late night, parking lot of grocery store, condition orange, red, or whatever. Awareness is the key protector in defense. Having the tool to aid us , concealed handgun, then proves to be invaluable when needed.

We give up the awareness factor, the most important one, at a gun range. Everyone out there has a gun, for the most part. We assume they are there for the same purpose we are. Some are not perhaps, but a small fraction of souls here. As soon as "Range is Hot" command is given we grow rapidly accustom to gunfire.

As I said, yesterday, I went to range and shot, and kept my concealed gun in place on my person. I observed other shooters more than casually. I don't care who you are, what gun you have, how fast, accurate, etc. you cannot protect yourself with, or without a concealed weapon if the guy to your left wants to take you out. I did not feel any safer, because the awareness factor is removed at the range and I am willing to accept the fact that all others will not harm me. This is not unlike traveling down a narrow country road and you have to make the assumption the guy coming towards you is not going to swerve over in your lane and try to kill you in a head on collision.

The most troubling part of this post is if the anti's got ahold of it and edit it to fit their agenda. "Look Diane, these nuts are so afraid of each other they are carrying guns for protection at a shooting range." "Your right Barbara, we must take their guns away from each of them before they hurt themselves." Ad infinum.

By the way, I shoot my concealed gun at every range session. It is the gun I shoot the most. I just put it in the gun box with the others I will be shooting.

I don't know if Kyle ??? the poor soul that was trying to help a vet in Dallas was carrying or not, but the nut took out Kyle and the other gentleman.

Concealed carry on a range is a moot point in my estimation. I entered this discussion from a safety standpoint. From Pete showing John his new Kimber 123 while unloading it at the bench and sweeping the guy on his left. Seen it too many times. It bled over into protection, which I believe is virtually impossible at a gun range if an individual wants to do YOU harm.

I agree with you mostly; if someone is planning well and planning on killing you, there's not much that can be done except luck.

However, most criminals do not plan well, which is why they are criminals in the first place. The average criminal is not a movie villain, the average criminal is why there is no shortage of "stupid criminal" videos and stories.

 

[S&W45Colt]

Boys, I made myself sleep on it before further comment.

When one carrys concealed, his biggest ally is awareness. What is going on around him, if you will. BG walking towards him with hands in pockets, late night, parking lot of grocery store, condition orange, red, or whatever. Awareness is the key protector in defense. Having the tool to aid us , concealed handgun, then proves to be invaluable when needed.

We give up the awareness factor, the most important one, at a gun range. Everyone out there has a gun, for the most part. We assume they are there for the same purpose we are. Some are not perhaps, but a small fraction of souls here. As soon as "Range is Hot" command is given we grow rapidly accustom to gunfire.

As I said, yesterday, I went to range and shot, and kept my concealed gun in place on my person. I observed other shooters more than casually. I don't care who you are, what gun you have, how fast, accurate, etc. you cannot protect yourself with, or without a concealed weapon if the guy to your left wants to take you out. I did not feel any safer, because the awareness factor is removed at the range and I am willing to accept the fact that all others will not harm me. This is not unlike traveling down a narrow country road and you have to make the assumption the guy coming towards you is not going to swerve over in your lane and try to kill you in a head on collision.

The most troubling part of this post is if the anti's got ahold of it and edit it to fit their agenda. "Look Diane, these nuts are so afraid of each other they are carrying guns for protection at a shooting range." "Your right Barbara, we must take their guns away from each of them before they hurt themselves." Ad infinum.

By the way, I shoot my concealed gun at every range session. It is the gun I shoot the most. I just put it in the gun box with the others I will be shooting.

I don't know if Kyle ??? the poor soul that was trying to help a vet in Dallas was carrying or not, but the nut took out Kyle and the other gentleman.

Concealed carry on a range is a moot point in my estimation. I entered this discussion from a safety standpoint. From Pete showing John his new Kimber 123 while unloading it at the bench and sweeping the guy on his left. Seen it too many times. It bled over into protection, which I believe is virtually impossible at a gun range if an individual wants to do YOU harm.

Your post has some excellent points in, especially in the awareness theme.

I do want to make one counterpoint, when we start reacting to and gearing our behavior towards what the "Anti's" think, the debate is lost.

 

[Biginge]

Colt,

I'm not advocating gearing our thoughts or actions to "give in" to them at all. Ain't nothin ruins a duck but his bill. Kinda like being audited by the IRS. A smart taxpayer answers only the questions asked of him and VOLUNTEERS no additional information.

I never have been an advocate of bringing gasoline to a pep rally bonfire. I would assume it would accelerate the incindenary position?

 

[Smithbrother]

I've been an FI for many years instructing various LEOs. With one exception, shooters must always clear their weapons before entering the range and load only when instructed to. This is simply because no one should be standing behind another person at the range with a loaded weapon, period. The exception is the rare occurrence where students upon arrival are asked to qualify with their assigned weapon and equipment the way they arrived in their vehicle. No warm up, no grabbing extra mags, right from the vehicle after a safety briefing.

I can understand the concerns at a public range where attendance is not as controlled and the folks next to you give you that bad gut feeling. My opinion is still that no one should be standing behind another person at the range with a loaded weapon and that all loading and unloading of weapons should be confined to designated areas with unloading barrels. You should not be loading and unloading weapons in your vehicle, in the parking lot, or any other place that is not designated. It's the only way to be safe. Believe me after all these years I still make mistakes. Fortunately I have friends who are forgiving and not afraid to stop me in my tracks if I screw up. Check it, check it twice, be safe.

 

[blujax01]

What is this "Gun Box" you refer to?

We are required to have our guns holstered or in a case until we reach the actual station where we do our shooting. Most people take their range bag into the bay and put it on a stool beside them. Pistol magazines may be removed from the firing line and loaded in the rear area but the pistols themselves as well as revolvers must be kept on the firing line unless they are holstered or cased.

And since Ohio allows open carry in public, open carry in a controlled environment among other gun enthusiasts is not a big thing at all. Not considered "cowboying it up" in the least.

Note that the two shelves are removable so a person can practice drawing, with permission, of course!

http://nasr.com/ranges.htm

 

[Biginge]

Blujax, I have an old bullseye box with tray, shelves, spotting scope mount, etc. I am old and ,if ya'll haven't noticed , resistant to change in a couple of areas only.

 

[AZretired]

Yes. I always have a concealed firearms on me at the range. If I decide to shoot it I replace it with another loaded one. Our public range has no RO, no attendant and no rules other than common sense. It's open 365 days a year sun up to sun down, rain or shine. I usually have 3-4 guns at the range and one is always loaded. You never know what can happen, even at the range.

 

[Capt.Jim]

This may shock most of you but even in my great state(!) of CA I was able to obtain a CCW and it is legal for me to carry.
My shooting range has a sign at the door saying " No loaded / holstered guns because of their distance is closer than 1000 yds from a school.
But as CA law indicates, I am ok to carry even into a school. So I ask the manager at the range if I have to disarm when I come to shoot and told by him that I was ok to carry as usual.

It is a pleasure to feel the freedom as a law-abiding citizen!

 

[Long Barrel]

I'm the Range Manager where I shoot. I wrote our rules which prohibit CCW and OC at the range. Reason: way too many infrequent shooters and way way too many brand new shooters to control on the line. We got enuff problems with just regular shooting.

 

[GLV]

I carry moew than

one gun, and my bug is never exposed.

 

[Smitty357]

There is a huge sign on the front door of our shooting range. All firearms must have an open chamber and magazines removed until you enter ur firing lane.

Pretty simple, it means u cant enter the building with a loaded weapon. I guess if u have a CC weapon that isnt loaded, then u should be ok to enter. But whats the point in that.