11-29-2015, 06:40 PM
GM2 Wrote:But I agree there are far to many people who are careless about safety. Every time I go to a small town range where there is no RSO I am amazed by the amount of stupid and obliviously dangerous shit I see.
I see the same thing even at a "Big City" range with paid RO's (minimum wage?) watching over the line. Anyone with the price of admission (usually $5 - $10) can stand at the line with firepower up to and including 50BMG and tear it up. Several of the RO's have told me that they've yet to see anyone escorted from the range, no matter how serious the infraction. This initially surprised me, as I've seen a few doozies (from unsafe handling to discharging their firearm during cease-fire, to a fatal self-inflicted AD in the parking lot).
My point here is that I feel quite a bit safer at the smaller private ranges where individual safety training is required as part of the membership process. Almost without exception, I see a much more conscientious cross section of shooters at the private ranges. At the nearby private ranges, members act as their own RO, as opposed to at the city's shooting carnival. Only once have I encountered a shooter who would not adhere to safe practices and obey the RO's direction. I was the guest of the acting RO, and our response was simple - we packed up and left. On the way out, the obstinate shooter was informed that HE was now the RO and could now do as he pleased. (He was also the only other shooter on the line.)
Bottom line, an RSO cannot stop an unsafe act from occurring - that is ultimately up to each shooter. An RSO can only try to anticipate an impending unsafe condition based on things they've already seen happen. (Apologies to any RSO's in the group - I mean no disrespect.)