Another reason not to go to The Gun Room

[3boyzmom]

I've had a rough few days, so I decided today on my way home to stop in and shoot a little. My hands are exceptionally shaky today, so I also figured that was a good day to see how bad my shooting will be when my body is at its worst. I had my M&P 9mm with me. Since it had been awhile since I shot a .40, and my shooting has improved since then, I wanted to rent one. A group registered right before me- A 21 yr old, an 18 yr old and THREE 15 yr olds- all gang-banger types, and the 21 yr old was the only one who had ever shot before. They rented a Glock, and they had 3 other handguns and a shotgun with them. I'm already remembering how bad I hate this place....

When I asked to rent the HK they had in the case, I was totally shocked at the clerk's reaction. He said, "Are you law enforcement?" I said, "No." He replied, "Then I can't rent any guns to you."

So here's the deal- starting about 2 weeks ago, you cannot come into The Gun Room by yourself and rent a gun. You have to have someone else with you who is at least 18 yrs old. Yes, I needed a chaperone. I questioned him about it, and he said it was to prevent someone from coming in and committing suicide.

Well, because I happen to be in a particularly ornery mood, I said, "I understand you're not responsible for this rule, but certainly you can take this to management. I brought in my own gun. If I were inclined to shoot myself, I certainly don't need yours to do it. The next thing you're going to tell me is I can't shoot my own weapon in here without an 18-yr old chaperone. And you'd rent a gun to that group of gang bangers who was just here, inlcuding a bunch of kids who obviously have NO firearms experience, but you won't rent one to ME?! I think that's the biggest pile of sh** I've ever heard. And please, tell your boss that." He said, "Rules are rules." I said, "Yeah, well your rules suck."

So I shot a box of ammo and left. Nothing spectacular- I usually shoot a 4-inch group at 10 yds, and today it was more like 6. I'll take it- I was afraid with the way my hands are I'd be all over the place even worse than that....

Anyways...I was hoping to burn off some steam at the range, but ended up just getting even more irritated.

[akulahawk]

The Gun Room has never been all that great of a place to go because of some of their rules... OK range, but their rules aren't that good.

[Firestar]

Yeah.... gotta love the rules!
It's probably a rule driven by an insurance carrier's risk management team or an attorney ... or both... they have to make new rules every so often so that they can report that they did something to prevent potential liability ...
Young lady, common sense is no longer part of the equation. Loved your response though, give em hell!

[brightside]

Did you act mature enough? Here's what they post on their site:

IF YOU CAN NOT ACT MATURE AT THE COUNTER YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWD ON THE RANGE REGARDLESS OF AGE.

Oh, and looks like they need some maturity in the spelling department.

[THaves]

I thought that was the rule everywhere.

[Keith92555]

They are a little slow on updating their rules. MOST ranges will not rent to a lone individual due to the suicide thing. The 3-4 ranges that I visit on any regular basis have had this rule for over a year.

It does seem a little obtuse to refuse to rent to someone who did, in fact, bring in their own gun. But as we have seen on many occasions, they don't want to bring subjectivity into the rules. If someone has to interpret it differently for different people, inevitably they will mess it up and piss off somebody. So you end up with the situation like you had.

I don't like shooting when there are young punks on the range unless there is a RSO on the line at all times. I have seen some crazy stuff happen when young adults are unsupervised; shooting the ceiling, shooting other peoples targets, twirling a LOADED gun , not to mention the times they have covered me with their muzzle with loaded and unloaded guns. When they show up I usually begrudgingly pack up my stuff and leave.

Sorry your crappy day was made even worse.

Keith

[mjones]

Only a moron would have a rule like that when you've already brought in your own gun and they let you shoot what you brought, but not a rental....

The owner/manager must have taken lessons from the CA Legislators that made the 10 day wait and 1 in 30 laws. Hello! Why the heck to I have a 10 day 'cooling off' period when I've already got safes full of guns at home...

[Norseman]

Sorry for the crappy day. I just finished my last final exam last night. I've got a little bit of time available. I carry an HK P2000 SK in .40. Yes I'm a professional firearms trainer. If you want to make the 1 1/2 hour drive south. I'll take you to the best private range I've been to in CA. It's in Jamestown. I'm an RSO there as well. I took my youngest son there yesterday to shoot his new Sig P220 .45. I'll let you shoot whatever you want from my arsenal. The offer is on the table.

[THaves]

Originally Posted by mjones

Only a moron would have a rule like that when you've already brought in your own gun and they let you shoot what you brought, but not a rental....

The owner/manager must have taken lessons from the CA Legislators that made the 10 day wait and 1 in 30 laws. Hello! Why the heck to I have a 10 day 'cooling off' period when I've already got safes full of guns at home...

laughs, you are so right. While I am buying a new gun I have a loaded one on my hip that I have instant access too,

but have to cool off...!

[3boyzmom]

Originally Posted by Norseman

Sorry for the crappy day. I just finished my last final exam last night. I've got a little bit of time available. I carry an HK P2000 SK in .40. Yes I'm a professional firearms trainer. If you want to make the 1 1/2 hour drive south. I'll take you to the best private range I've been to in CA. It's in Jamestown. I'm an RSO there as well. I took my youngest son there yesterday to shoot his new Sig P220 .45. I'll let you shoot whatever you want from my arsenal. The offer is on the table.

I will take you up on that soon!! Thanks!

[9x45]

Never, ever, go to an indoor range, it's the easiest place on the planet for an idiot to put a cap in your head, like the 5 idiots that went ahead of you.

You want to be in a safe environment? Get to your nearest USPSA/IDPA match, or any competition match. You are under the control of the Range Safety Officer, with the Scorekeeper backing him up, and the entire squad of experienced shooters looking on. ONLY one hot shooter at at time! You will never go back to an indoor public range, or any public range for that matter.

Plus you will learn how to shoot for real, not looking at a static target....

[scott240]

3boyzmom I can tell you are having a rough time and I am worried about you and your mental state. So I am here to help you out. I think it is best if you send me all of your guns and ammo so you dont try and kill yourself. I'll PM you my address or if it is easier for you I can drive to Sac and pick them up. I am here for you.

[jn-emt]

I know that the Brea Range in SoCal says "bring a friend _or_ a gun" if you want to rent. I seem to recall that they actually had a suicide there a few years back.

JN

Originally Posted by THaves

I thought that was the rule everywhere.

[3boyzmom]

Originally Posted by 9x45

Never, ever, go to an indoor range, it's the easiest place on the planet for an idiot to put a cap in your head, like the 5 idiots that went ahead of you.

You want to be in a safe environment? Get to your nearest USPSA/IDPA match, or any competition match. You are under the control of the Range Safety Officer, with the Scorekeeper backing him up, and the entire squad of experienced shooters looking on. ONLY one hot shooter at at time! You will never go back to an indoor public range, or any public range for that matter.

Plus you will learn how to shoot for real, not looking at a static target....

Unfortunately, that's just not all that realistic where I live. I do go out to the desert when I'm in Nevada and do some shooting, set up some stages, etc, but the only range close where I can put some ammo through my gun is indoors.

If I had to wait until I could get to a competition, I wouldn't get in any practice. You work with what you have, even if that doesn't make me a "real" shooter.

[Aurelius]

This must be some insurance deal based on an out-of-state case. There are no published cases in California where a range has been held liable for the death of someone who committed suicide with a rented gun. In fact, committing suicide is not a crime, and there is criminal liability only for an aider or abettor who intentionally assists the suicide to commit the act.