Old TexMex
Member
Oh, now I get it
That's what's wrong with me too! Age and everything...'cept Elvira and bein a southpaw....
What is wrong with you?
- Thread starter pharmer
- Start date
That's what's wrong with me too! Age and everything...'cept Elvira and bein a southpaw....
Mickey D
Member
You did good under the circumstances.
I think this all comes down to 'common sense' or lack of.
Like any interest, people need to take time to educate themselves a bit before diving in, particularly potentially dangerous activities.
It would have been prudent of this father to have found a friend or someone with a bit of experience to take along for the first outing, to help teach him and his son proper range safety and etiquette.
Common sense.
I think this all comes down to 'common sense' or lack of.
Like any interest, people need to take time to educate themselves a bit before diving in, particularly potentially dangerous activities.
It would have been prudent of this father to have found a friend or someone with a bit of experience to take along for the first outing, to help teach him and his son proper range safety and etiquette.
Common sense.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
That reminds me of way back when my son was about 13-14. We were at the camp and he and his friend were out back shooting the .22 pistol having fun when thy came into the camp and announced that they needed more cartridges. Well, we were out of .22's and the kids still wanted to shoot. The other dad walked into the bedroom and came out with his 9mm and some loaded mags. He handed them to the boys and said "Here kids-go play with this." 
When he said it, we looked at each other and got the giggles so bad we were almost peeing in our pants. We walked outside with them and reminded them "What goes on at the camp stays at the camp". BTW they liked that 9mm a lot better than the .22.
When he said it, we looked at each other and got the giggles so bad we were almost peeing in our pants. We walked outside with them and reminded them "What goes on at the camp stays at the camp". BTW they liked that 9mm a lot better than the .22.
Mickey D
Member
Alcohol, impeding judgement for thousands of years.
David LaPell
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I am 39 years old and have already said my goodbyes to modern society. I have a $10 Tracfone that is all I will ever need. This thing I am typing on is ten years old. I see kids and adults on their phones ignoring the world and more importantly, each other. A couple of weeks ago I watched a woman so engrossed in her cell phone she walked right into the side of a parked car. It was hilarious. But at the same time it was pathetic.
A few months ago I saw something that summed it up for me. My son and I were getting our haircuts and while we waited this woman came out from getting her grey dyed or something and she had three mongrels waiting for her. They were about 4-5, maybe 7 and the oldest about 9-10 years old. As soon as she got within visual range of these three they jumped up and nearly mobbed her. It looked like zombies trying to catch a fat guy in a mobility scooter. She had to practically beat them off with a stick as she handed each kid an I-pad or tablet and then as soon as they were on the kids just drifted off in their own direction totally oblivious to the world around them. It was like a drug to them, and at that moment I got it when they said how addicted people are getting to the technology.
It was better when she left and she told the three brats to give them back. In seconds she had three whining screaming banshees that would scare the Hound of the Baskervilles back to where it came.
I think the world has gotten to tech savvy for its own good but also at the same time parents have now turned into friends instead of parents. They don't want to be seen as their parents, stodgy and mean and keeping them from their fun. So now its give the kids whatever and roll the dice and hope they turn out ok. I think we're seeing its not ok.
Some days I want to see a tech shutdown but know that even for just a few hours our society will be sucked down like Rosie O'Donnell inhaling a chocolate cream pie.
I was a kid and remember playing around with my grandfather's guns while he was around. My stepfather never liked guns ever since one of his ex's put a snub nosed revolver in his face after he hit her. He was never very good with women or kids. My son is a little young yet to shoot guns but he'll get there.
A few months ago I saw something that summed it up for me. My son and I were getting our haircuts and while we waited this woman came out from getting her grey dyed or something and she had three mongrels waiting for her. They were about 4-5, maybe 7 and the oldest about 9-10 years old. As soon as she got within visual range of these three they jumped up and nearly mobbed her. It looked like zombies trying to catch a fat guy in a mobility scooter. She had to practically beat them off with a stick as she handed each kid an I-pad or tablet and then as soon as they were on the kids just drifted off in their own direction totally oblivious to the world around them. It was like a drug to them, and at that moment I got it when they said how addicted people are getting to the technology.
It was better when she left and she told the three brats to give them back. In seconds she had three whining screaming banshees that would scare the Hound of the Baskervilles back to where it came.
I think the world has gotten to tech savvy for its own good but also at the same time parents have now turned into friends instead of parents. They don't want to be seen as their parents, stodgy and mean and keeping them from their fun. So now its give the kids whatever and roll the dice and hope they turn out ok. I think we're seeing its not ok.
Some days I want to see a tech shutdown but know that even for just a few hours our society will be sucked down like Rosie O'Donnell inhaling a chocolate cream pie.
I was a kid and remember playing around with my grandfather's guns while he was around. My stepfather never liked guns ever since one of his ex's put a snub nosed revolver in his face after he hit her. He was never very good with women or kids. My son is a little young yet to shoot guns but he'll get there.
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The range should inquire and instruct someone who rents their guns. You did good, and it sounds like they had fun, so they might become firearms owners and hopefully will learn and get safety instruction. It's good.
Arik
Member
How I wish I had a iPad or something when I was 10. Instead I got to spend summer days with grandpa at his work. We would show up in the morning and I would be told to go sit in the lunchroom / office. 4 hours later he'd ask me if I was hungry. 5 or so hours later we'd go home! It was awesome spending the day staring at stuff in the office. Oh look paperclip! Ooohh and here is a used eraser! Oh my gosh....at brand new unsharpend #2 pencil!! Yep its fun being dragged to adult places as a child!
Arik
Member
I don't think its that kind of a range. It's a range in the sense that there are places to put targets and you can shoot at those targets. Like state game land. Or most outdoor ranges around me.
OP
I'd give my left toe to be able to do that now. I guess it would be reported to CPS as abuse though. Joe
Arik
Member
Yeaaa....NO THANKS! Unless you like watching paint dry. It was about as fun
vigil617
US Veteran
Well, considering that the closed-fist punch to your head is what turned Sister Elvira into Elvira Mistress of the Dark, I'd say yes there is something wrong with you, pharmer.
OP
Arik, you seem like a nice kid and I always appreciate your viewpoint.
I guess I came across as judgemental so to clarify:
1) This was first time for all. I've been shooting for 50 years and I still pay 110% attention. As my skill set declines I must concentrate more now. Several times I noticed a look of "tell me what I need to know and then go away."
2) Mom did shoot but I tried to keep distance as Pops wanted to impress. Please don't ask me to prove this because I can't.
3) My main point was that first time to an indoor gun range with handguns is a big deal. If I ran the business, I would have had the other counter person cover (actually there were 2 others) and gone in and done a "newbie show-and-tell." If I make it a positive experience I have a customer for life (look at the folks here). If there were an accident, what then? I am not proficient with the Glock (proficient in the sense of foolproof carry and operation daily) and I own a gen II 17. In my opinion, it is a weapon for someone whose skill set is pretty flawless, not for someone who has NEVER handled a handgun. I guess by making it my responsibility to improve the outcome, I may have imposed on their "rights."
4) I regret not breaking out my Ruger .22 for them because I enjoyed the J frame not depleting my Wallybox in 10 minutes thus saving me cleaning of another gun. Next time. Joe
The basics of all guns are the same. Treat them aa if theyre loaded and dont point it at something you dont intend to shoot. I knew how to handle m16 but not shotgun or pistol. How else, where else do I go to learn other thab youtube and the range if i dont have friends who shoot?
Those people are fine with me, i think many gun owners get worked up over stupid things and dont realize everyone comes from a different background.
Those people are fine with me, i think many gun owners get worked up over stupid things and dont realize everyone comes from a different background.
Arik
Member
Ok so some of this is starting to make sense. It sounded like all the mom wanted to do was take some pics. And the range sounded like Ft. Dix or another place where it's just a range and not a staffed shop
OP
Well, considering that the closed-fist punch to your head is what turned Sister Elvira into Elvira Mistress of the Dark, I'd say yes there is something wrong with you, pharmer.
This Elvira was all of 5 ft and would have put the TV version in ICU in less than a minute. This particular incident, she was doing the "speed bag" with my noggin and since the effect was insufficient, roundhouse, and I went down like somebody switched off the lights. I hate admitting one of the few times I have been knocked out in this life, it was by a 5' woman in a black robe. Joe
jtcarm
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Sounds like the blind leading the blind.
I belong to a private club and see safety violations nearly every trip. Mostly failing to properly clear semi-auto pistols when the range goes cold. I'm no longer the least bit shy about calling them out.
My son (almost 13) has been drilled on range safety since starting with a BB gun at age 6. No matter how informal a plinking session, we establish a firing line. No shooting except behind the line. No one goes forward till all weapons are cleared/benched and the line declared safe. No handling guns until until the line is declared hot.
We went to our private club the day after joining, where we went through orientation, the whole spiel. A guy shows up with his kids we had seen in orientation. The line was cleared so his kids could go set targets (we didn't need to go down range). So we're standing back from the line & the guy sits down and starts futzing with his AR while the kids are down range. My son says "Dad, the lines clear, and he's handling his gun." I answered loud enough for him to hear "Yeah, all guns are supposed to be benched, cleared, and not touched when the range isn't hot." The guy looked up sheepishly, benched his AR & stepped back.
He'd been trained on range procedures just 24 hours prior. Unbelievable!
I belong to a private club and see safety violations nearly every trip. Mostly failing to properly clear semi-auto pistols when the range goes cold. I'm no longer the least bit shy about calling them out.
My son (almost 13) has been drilled on range safety since starting with a BB gun at age 6. No matter how informal a plinking session, we establish a firing line. No shooting except behind the line. No one goes forward till all weapons are cleared/benched and the line declared safe. No handling guns until until the line is declared hot.
We went to our private club the day after joining, where we went through orientation, the whole spiel. A guy shows up with his kids we had seen in orientation. The line was cleared so his kids could go set targets (we didn't need to go down range). So we're standing back from the line & the guy sits down and starts futzing with his AR while the kids are down range. My son says "Dad, the lines clear, and he's handling his gun." I answered loud enough for him to hear "Yeah, all guns are supposed to be benched, cleared, and not touched when the range isn't hot." The guy looked up sheepishly, benched his AR & stepped back.
He'd been trained on range procedures just 24 hours prior. Unbelievable!
jtcarm
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Uh, ask for instruction first?
The employee renting out the gun should've made sure he knew how to operate it.
Thats what he did. He asked for instruction.
OP
Sorry to butt in but the point is that coming up behind someone who is engaged with a target and asking for help seems like an awkward and possibly dangerous (fortunately he had no idea how to load cartridges at that point) action on a hot range (indoor public ranges are almost always hot). Joe
