Have you ever been turned away at a range

[Mark_T]

Hi
I work on the road testing software. Currently I'm in Columbus, OH and I wanted to go shoot. I called a range last week and the guy gave me a glowing report about the facilities, I told the guy I was a road warrior and he said no problem.

So I drive 30 minutes to the range after work, the place looked great. I asked to sign up for the range and they told me that I could not shoot. They have a rule stating that solo shooters must bring their own guns. I was dressed business casual, khakis and a polo shirt. I don't think I look like an axe murderer, but who knows.

They told me to bring my coworkers next time. I don't think Vimal and Prasana are into guns. They are nice folks but I don't think a group outing to a gun range is in our future.

Has anybody else been told that their money is no good at a range? Do you know why they turn people away?

Thanks for listening
Mark

 

[HCD]

Unknown stranger? Out of state? Range policy? No documentation? Wrong kind of gun? Never been in that situation but I also have my own range so I don't get too many.

By the way is your software for use on the road? Or do you travel for the sake of going places to test it?

 

[DeathGrip]

If they don't know you....We had a string of suicide at gun ranges in the last couple of years that fit your profile.Guy walks in and next thing you know he's blown himself away.

 

[dmar]

If they don't know you....We had a string of suicide at gun ranges in the last couple of years that fit your profile.Guy walks in and next thing you know he's blown himself away.

I've heard/read about similar situations, very sad, and must be pretty rough for the folks at the range...

 

[Mark_T]

I work for Accenture and I'm testing software for a large bank here in Columbus. I won't bore you with the details.

I had my drivers license with me, heck I had my passport in my briefcase.

A disappointing evening

 

[HCD]

If they don't know you....We had a string of suicide at gun ranges in the last couple of years that fit your profile.Guy walks in and next thing you know he's blown himself away.

As I said I dont get to very many public ranges so I had not heard of that, but that is strange. I dont understand the mind set it would take to commit suicide. But that is the strangest thing I've ever heard, go to a gun range and give yourself a case of lead poisoning. Why? man o man what will they think of next.

 

[Mark_T]

OK now that makes sense. I did not think I fit a profile for a potential suicide.

We live in strange times.

Thanks

 

[Smith357]

I've never been turned away for the reasons you were, I have been turned away because they won't let me shoot my home made .38 target wadcutters. Actually I guess I turned myself away because I refused to buy their over priced range ammo. If you are still in Columbus I suppose I can buy a box of factory ammo to go shooting with you.

 

[BuckeyeChuck]

I just visited the web sites for Aimhi (the New Albany Shooting Range), Blackwing Shooting Center, and The Powder Room. None of them list this rule. I belong to Aimhi, and I never read that rule there either. Of course, they reserve the right decline service to anybody for any reason they see fit, but it would have been nice had they told you of this rule before driving there, and/or posted it on their website.

 

[HCD]

I work for Accenture and I'm testing software for a large bank here in Columbus. I won't bore you with the details.

I had my drivers license with me, heck I had my passport in my briefcase.

A disappointing evening

For what it's worth, if on your way home you have to travel thru or spend the night in Indinaplois there are quite a few indoor pay ranges. Good Luck.---- And a public range off I-65 in north west Ind. near the small town of Winamac.

 

[David LaPell]

A local range that I used to belong to had a club house next to it where they held hunter/trapper safety courses. Well, over the last couple of years on the weekends they would rent out the range and that clubhouse for weddings, birthdays, anniversary's, and even a yard sale. The trouble is most guys work Monday through Friday and they have a hard time getting to the range to shoot. I remember one year from late August until right into hunting season in October every single weekend that clubhouse and range were booked so you couldn't shoot. There was no notice or warning, and quite a few people were upset because no one could get in on a weekend to sight their guns in. I was turned away several times. We were all paying members and it really didn't sit well to not be able to use the range.

 

[5906fan]

not by a person present at the range.
a nephew and me drove a good ways to a F&G range here in WNC on a Sunday late a.m. once there I wondered about nonone around but we shot some THEN I noticed a sign says 'NO SUNDAY USE'. we hauled bun outta there. can't see the harm in it myself but it's likely a $$ racket with a Warden w/in short distance or Natl Fst Ranger. so didn't press our luck.

 

[venomballistics]

Hi

They told me to bring my coworkers next time. I don't think Vimal and Prasana are into guns.

Has anybody else been told that their money is no good at a range? Do you know why they turn people away?

Thanks for listening
Mark

A recent trend has been to rent a gun at the range to commit suicide ... hence your grief with this policy and the "odd" requirements that might make sense to you now if you think about it

 

[DeathGrip]

OK now that makes sense. I did not think I fit a profile for a potential suicide.

We live in strange times.

Thanks

Crazy as it might seem and you might not seem so crazy.How do you profile a suicidal?I have no clue in this instance.

We had several threads about this a year or so ago.

dmar got it right,"pretty rough for the folks at the range".

Yes,We live in strange times.

 

[DeadAye]

...I don't think I look like an axe murderer, but who knows...
Mark

The thing is - Axe murders look just like everyone else.

 

[mountaingun629]

Mark_T -

I live in the Columbus area, and I thought that the New Albany range and the Powder Room both rented guns. There was an incident lately at the Powder Room because a guy borrowed a gun and walked out with it and used it in a crime. Big trouble for the range, so maybe that is the reason they won't rent a gun, if that was the range you went to.
I don't know, because the few times I get out to shoot I use the ODNR outdoor range at Deer Creek (Mount Sterling area). Only costs $5.00 for a day permit or $25.00/annual. The bad part is that it closes during the winter, and is subject to flooding after heavy rains.

Myron

 

[sgms]

I live in the central Ohio area and shoot at a couple of the ranges that have had suicides. In both cases the people have rented and shot there before. In the last one the guy rented a pistol, bought a box of ammo fired 49 down range and the 50th in the mouth. I also can't wrap my head around doing that. I can't even imagine getting depressed enough to even think about it.

 

[jag312]

I have never been turned away at a range, but I was once told that I could not shoot my rifle at the range. My rifle; a .50 caliber muzzle loading Hawken-style rifle. The rationale: muzzle loading rifles are dangerous because you can't tell if they are loaded just by looking at them. My mother told me never to waste my time arguing with stupid people, so I left.

I had fired that rifle at that range before, and I have fired that rifle at that range since that time. I don't know what the problem was that particular day. I guess some people don't understand muzzle loading firearms.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I showed up at a now closed (alas) range here in NJ, they wouldn't let me fire my SKS with FMJ ammo, the girl said softpoints only ? I visited another range 2 years ago or so with my 22, had to fill out a form saying I wasn't undergoing treatment for mental problems, not on any medication, not suicidal, etc.

 

[bitstream]

I understand the policy if they are worried about suicides, but I'm not sure annoying 99.999% of their customers in an attempt at saving 0.001% is a good idea. If a person has already decided to commit suicide, I doubt a little range policy is going to stop them. They need friends and/or relatives to notice the signs and intervene. A policy like this will only cause them to change their method, not the outcome.

The lesson for all of us is to watch your friends and family. If you see the signs, don't ignore them! Be a good wingman and intervene. There are plenty of websites with good info.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I only have one range left in Jacksonville that allows hand loads. So I had to be turned away from several for not buying their overpriced range ammo. I was asked to leave a range for breaking their rule of not shooting at human target pictures. I had hung a Barney the Dinosaur target that was a black and white drawing of it with cross hairs. I didn't think that was crossing the line as I thought the rule applied to the old "Hogan's Alley" type targets where the bad guy is pointing a revolver at you or all the Taliban Osama type targets. So FYI, Barney is people too…

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I understand the policy if they are worried about suicides, but I'm not sure annoying 99.999% of their customers in an attempt at saving 0.001% is a good idea. If a person has already decided to commit suicide, I doubt a little range policy is going to stop them.

I think it is good policy to not rent guns to someone who does not have a gun with him/her. Such policies are not designed to prevent someone from ultimately commiting suicide, but rather to help prevent someone from trying to shoot themself in the station next to you. It also reduces the number of people on the range who have never shot a firearm before without someone experienced with them.

If 99.999% of the customer base for a range comes in alone without a gun then it would be the last range on Earth I would want to be at....

 

[John Ross]

In 1985 I went to a range with a .577 double rifle originally made for black powder loads, like the Trapdoor Springfield or Colt SAA was originally made for black powder loads. I had some mild loads I'd made up for it with cast bullets and 4759 powder.

Range owner threw me off the range for "bringing a black powder gun to his range and shooting it with smokeless loads."

I asked him what he would have done if I'd brought a Trapdoor Springfield to the range and had purchased factory .45-70 ammo from him to shoot in it. He became apoplectic and screamed at me to get out.

A year later he declared bankruptcy and hung himself.

 

[bitstream]

I think it is good policy to not rent guns to someone who does not have a gun with him/her. Such policies are not designed to prevent someone from ultimately commiting suicide, but rather to help prevent someone from trying to shoot themself in the station next to you. It also reduces the number of people on the range who have never shot a firearm before without someone experienced with them.

If 99.999% of the customer base for a range comes in alone without a gun then it would be the last range on Earth I would want to be at....

I understand what you're saying, but what about a guy wanting to rent a gun (or a few) to try out at a range before deciding which one he wants to buy? I'd far rather have a first time gun owner do that and buy a gun they can handle rather than just pick one out and hope.

Everyone starts with their first gun some time. I see all kinds at my local range. If they seem unsure; I try to lend a hand, not run them off.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I understand what you're saying, but what about a guy wanting to rent a gun (or a few) to try out at a range before deciding which one he wants to buy?

Go to the range with a friend who has guns... then rent. Or... buy a $200 S&W 22A and learn a little something about guns before renting a .357 to see if they can handle it or not. There's lots of options other than just handing out guns to whomever wanders in the door without one.

 

[bitstream]

Go to the range with a friend who has guns... then rent. Or... buy a $200 S&W 22A and learn a little something about guns before renting a .357 to see if they can handle it or not. There's lots of options other than just handing out guns to whomever wanders in the door without one.

Can't argue with that; you're right. I just think there are plenty of scenarios where a single guy walking in without a gun and wanting to rent a gun and shoot isn't really a problem (like the original poster for instance, a traveling worker just wanting to hit the range for awhile).

I guess my point is blanket provisions scoop up unintended people. It's a shame to penalize people like the OP just to catch the ones like you mention. Not sure how to do it right; it might be hard for the range owner to screen everyone properly. Obviously, you're right that handing a newb a .357 isn't a good plan. But denying the OP isn't great either.

EDIT: Just thought of this; how about they allow it if the single guy without a gun of his own has a valid permit/license on his person? If you've got a permit, you've probably got experience and are not as big a suicide threat? maybe?

 

[Maximumbob54]

So while I was active duty USN and couldn't have my own firearm unless I rented a storage unit and kept it there (which I would never recommend for a plethora of reasons) I should have been turned away all the years I went to a range to rent firearms? I sure am glad that some of you guys aren't in charge. I have been told that when suicide has been decided it comes down to where there is a will then there is a way. It's sad when anyone comes to suicide as a course of action and I won't belittle that fact. But if a range wants to deny someone a rental firearm on the ground that they don't want to be liable if they rent it and commit suicide with it at first opportunity… How far does logic like that work for you? So he can't rent one but if he then decides to buy one, what then? You won't let him rent but then you turn around and sell him one? Or do you start telling someone that they have to first have a gun to come buy one from you? This kind of logic in this situation fails me in a huge way.

 

[feralmerril]

Somehow this thread reminds me of a old, rough but funny quip I heard. "He couldnt make out in a cat house with a fist full of twentys"!

 

[Andy Griffith]

The problem is, things have changed- most prominently the fact that people do and have gone to ranges and rented firearms to commit suicide. Although only a very few have done this, it makes the ranges go on the defensive in order to protect their business. Unfortunately, the unintended consequence is not allowing someone that didn't bring a gun is a person that cannot shoot. I honestly don't think I would rent guns on a range if I had one.

However, I would keep all the lead.

The reloaders I'd let have their own brass back.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

At the one range a lady when in rented a gun and killed herself on the line, and if I remember right she was out of state.