Are shooting ranges turning into country clubs?

Question

I was wondering about shooting ranges rules. I have to admit, that I'm not a conasuier of shooting ranges and other than military ranges have only shot at a couple of different ones in Texas, WA, and Illinois.

A previous poster had posted some people had gotten annoyed and started a fight at a shooting range about a dress code. Personally I can't imagine joining a shooting range that had a dress code. All I'm concerned about when I go to the range is that the safety rules are STRICTLY enforced, I could care less what the guy in the lane next to me is wearing. I also can't imagine a no smoking policy on the outdoor range which I guess is also a rule there. What about chaw? Heck the range I shoot at has holders for drinks and paper cups above the ashtray for chaw.

Is this becoming the norm? Are shooting ranges becoming trendy with dress codes, smoking bans outside? Has the latte crowd and yuppies invaded the shooting world as well?

Just to be clear I have no problems living with the rules, I just have a problem with the rules being there in the first place. As far as smoking I hazard I don't buy it. Where I shoot, and most of the ranges that I've shot at in the past there is a safety lane about 10-15 feet behind the firing line for smoking between firing sessions while people are replacing their targets. There is no way you will convince me that this is more hazardous than muzzle flashes, hot brass, percussion caps, etc. Indoor ranges of course are an exception to this.

And as far as the dress code, I've worn fatigues most of my adult life, both in the military and out of if. Those are what I wear when I go hunting, working on the car, weekends, etc. To say I can't wear my old fatigues when I go out to the range is ridiculous. But I guess it's better than the 70s when I didn't wear my fatigues off base because of the hassles from the anti-war crowd and the anti-military.

Answer 1

At some, particularly ones with a clay sports focus.

As I said earlier, I resigned my membership there with the "no camo no smoking" ban, even though it was a good club.

I think it was W.C. Fields who said he would have no part of any club that allowed himself in as a member......well, that's the way I feel.

The range I belong to now has organized competitions on weekends, but weekdays it's unsupervised. You drive to the truck stop on the interstate about 10 miles out of town, turn right on a dirt road, go two miles and let yourself in the padlocked gate.

The only rules are the required safety list, no glass and no alcohol.

Heck, most times you could shoot buck-neked and no one would care but the occasional unlucky coyote that wanders in to sniff the trash cans.

If you see a guy there wearing camo cutoff shorts, a Motorhead t-shirt and smoking a Cohiba, that'd be me.

Answer 2

What was discussed before wasn't intended to make others think that the people going to ranges are a bunch of country clubbers or snobs. Maybe I'm partially responsible for my story about the guy dressed in military garb complete with medals, I don't know. The base problem about the no smoking issues isn't about banning cigarette smoke, as much as the danger of fire or a small explosion that could result from a lit cigarette being tossed in a trash can and coming in contact with some left over powder or black powder. I have tons of friends that shoot competetively and hunt that use bandits and chaw, and spit into cups.I've never seen that be an issue at any range or event my entire life.Never heard of chaw or bandits causing a fire either. Most ranges however are spending thousands of dollars a year on liability insurance just to keep open in the first place. No Smoking restrictions,prevent personal injury and accidents. That makes sense,at least at a range. Don't you think?

Answer 3

I think the ranges are getting a little crazy. A dress code goes a little too far, but common sense should dictate what one can and cannot wear to the range.
The smoking ban is just nuts. There are far worse things at a gun range than a little cigarette smoke. The yuppie retards running the place have obviously forgotten all about lead. I personally am a non-smoker but I don't give a darn how many cigarettes someone smokes at the range

Answer 4

The owner of the range has the right to make up any rules he or she sees fit. The no smoking rule is only common sense you are playing with gunpowder and lead.People who reload may not get it right ....do you want to risk it??? I sure don't. On the other hand do you want to add to your lead levels by smoking on the line?? wait what am I thinking you are smoking....never mind that question.

As far as the dress code there are some people out there that wouldn't have the sense to wear shoes with hot brass laying right under their feet. These rules are set up for the perfect idiot...just use your common sense and remember not everyone was blessed with it.

Answer 5

I'm no yuppie. I'm a blue collar worker (welder) and I shoot at a range. I shoot competitively. I take my shooting very seriously and I'm pretty good.
I don't wear army clothes out of respect for those in uniform, particularly my brother, who is a Designated Marksman. He's serving in Iraq right now. He has the "Expert" medal with bars for Rifle, Machine Gun and Pistol. All his life he's been a fine shot. When he's been home and visiting, he wears his uniform, he'll shoot at the range. Most people at the range we shoot at, remember his as a teenager, a decade ago. They'd never insult his service by pretending to be "like him".
It's not the latte crowd... it is just civilized, serious sportsmen.

Answer 6

Don't know about Rhode Island? I live in Alabama, here you would never be asked about where you are from. They would just ask for between $5-30 depending on the type of range. Some will rent you a gun. Good luck, and I hope you enjoy it.

Answer 7

The range I belong to has a rule about wearing offensive T-shirts in place which seems fair too me. I do take my son and don't want him exposed to that just yet. They tried also to ban anyone from wearing BDUs or tactical type clothing. They also wanted to stop people from shooting in the prone position. Their reason for this was it gave the club a bad image. Lucky for me, that one did not fly. Apparently I scare some of the older members when I show up in black cargo pants with my scary black AR15.

Answer 8

I believe the no smoking part is to keep the lit butts out of black powder cans. The range I go to won't even let a semi auto .22 within 3 or 4 lanes of the black powder shooters because of the risk of hot brass coming in contact with powder.

Answer 9

In case you had not noticed like it or not the U. S. is made up of classes of people.* > The working underpaid poor, which do not earn a living wage* not a minimum wage. The poor already mentioned previously.* The Middle Class, The Haves, The have mores, the Rich, The Super Rich & The Super Super Rich.. "Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too". Birds of a feather flock together.* I agree with you 100%.* If you don't like the temperature of the water, don't jump in.* Swim Alone & HAVE FUN BY YOURSELF>* Best regards.*

Answer 10

At one of the ranges in my area you have to have NRA membership, be voted in (a popularity contest in my opinion), pay an initiation fee (as well as membership dues), and meet a "minimum" dress code. It seems like a country club to me. The other one in my area you pay $80 a year and you have free access to the range............thats more like it!!