Range rules… and then some more
By MARJ LAW
Sadie sits with her grandfather, at the picnic table on the other side of the parking lot from the shooting area at the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office pistol range.
“If I learn all the rules stated in that big sign, is that all I need to know about gun safety at a range?” Sadie looks a little worried.
“Well, Sadie. Those rules are sure a good place to start. Let’s talk about them. Remember when we checked in that a deputy was at the front desk?”
Sadie nods.
“Well, supporting Rule #1 is that there’s always a deputy in the office. He can explain the rules if you don’t understand them, and he can help if you have a problem with your gun. He’s always there when the range is open.”
“That’s good to know,” says Sadie. “What’s this next rule about ‘handling of firearms’ when a person is downrange?”
“This rule has a lot to it, Sadie. First, we’re going to talk about ‘hot’ and ‘cold.’”
“Well, Grampa, I know when it’s hot or cold out, but I’m guessing that’s not what you mean.”
“True, Sadie. See that faint red line on the concrete floor of the pistol range?”
Sadie looks and nods.
“When the range is called ‘cold,’ you must stand only on the side of the red line closest to the parking lot. When the range is ‘hot,’ you step over that red line and you can load and shoot your gun.”
“Does someone actually say ‘hot’ or ‘cold?’”
“Yes, Sadie.”
“Who gets to say it?”
“Anyone and everyone. The point is, everyone has to agree. For instance, one person might stand on the parking lot side of the line and ask loudly: ‘Can we go cold?’
“Other people will hear and stop what they are doing. Then they step behind the line too, nod, and call ‘cold!’ in agreement. As soon as everyone on the pistol range is behind the line, then that means you can go downrange and put up a new target or inspect your existing one.”
“So, if I were at the range and yelled ‘cold,’ then people would get behind the line? Just because I yelled cold?”
“Yes. They would.”
“Even if I were the one asking?” Sadie is acutely aware that she’s a girl, she’s new to the range and she’s 24.
“Even you,” replies her grandfather. “The same is true if you’d call ‘hot.’ When you call ‘hot,’ that means that you can load and fire your gun. First, someone calls ‘hot,’ and someone else might call ‘hot’ too. The point is, everyone agrees the range is now ‘hot.’”
“Do they always agree?” wonders Sadie.
“They do at the WCSO range. That’s the explanation of Rule #2. Now, another rule to remember is Rule #3. You bring your gun in a sack. You don’t take it out of its sack until the range is called ‘hot.’ When the range is hot, you can bring the sack to the shooting bench. You can take it out of the sack at this time and you can load it with ammunition from a different sack or box. Always remember to carry it to the shooting bench in a sack. If not, you have what they call a ‘naked’ gun’ which isn’t allowed at the range.”
“Ha! No naked gun!” This hits Sadie as amusing. “So, why do you call that counter a ‘shooting bench?’”
“You got me there, Sadie. They call it a shooting bench. I have no idea why.”
“Rule #4 says to wear eye and hearing protection. You always want to wear these when the range is ‘hot.’ Loud noises can destroy your ability to hear, especially over time. Ear muffs could save your hearing later in life.”
“I see that Rule #7 says only shoot at the appropriate targets. Why not cans, bottles or whatever?”
“Flying debris like glass can be dangerous. And the WCSO asks that you don’t place your target on the 2×4 frame. Shooting at those frames destroys them quickly and maintenance gets expensive.”
“OK. I think I get the rules that are posted at the range. That’s not too many.”
“We still have to add more, Sadie. For instance, there are rules called the Big Four. It doesn’t matter where you are, the Big Four hold true everywhere; not just at a firing range.”
“The Big Four?”
“1. Always treat your firearm as if it is loaded.
Always be aware of your target and what is beyond it.”
Sadie is perplexed. “I’d always know if my gun was loaded,” she maintains.
“Well, Sadie. What if you hadn’t shot your gun in 8 months? Do you remember everything you did 8 months ago?”
“OK. I get it. And what’s this ‘safe direction’ bit?”
“If, for instance, you were showing me a new gun, you’d need to keep the muzzle in a safe direction. Not at a person or at anything you’d want to destroy. My grandfather told me that even when you know your gun is empty, you never ever point it at a person. In fact, when I was a kid, he wouldn’t even let me point my index finger and pretend to shoot.”
“You covered Rules 1 and 2, now what about keeping my finger off the trigger? What’s the big deal?”
“If your finger was on the trigger, and a car behind you backfired and startled you, you might inadvertently pull the trigger.”
“You’re right, Grampa. I probably would. Now for Rule #4. Why worry about what is ‘beyond your target?’”
Grampa thinks for a moment. “Let’s take a fairly recent example. Remember that man who shot a person at the mall and who planned to kill others? He’d taken a hostage!
“Then a young man who was a crack shot fired at the shooter from a long distance. But, you see, it wasn’t important just to neutralize the threat of him shooting others, it was important to be aware of who was behind that shooter and hostage so that others wouldn’t be harmed, as well! You have to know your target and you have to know what is behind your target too!”
“OK, Grampa. I get the Big 4. But there sure are a lot of rules,” Sadie grumbles.
“Well, Sadie, there are even more guidelines. Like no booze at the range.”
“Oh Grampa. You know I don’t drink at all.”
“And no food at the range. You could get lead poisoning.”
“I wouldn’t eat there, either.”
“And finally, Sadie, you should button up your shirt. A hot casing could fly your way and slip down your open shirt and get caught in your… your…”
Sally looks down.
“I get it, Grampa.” Sally buttons up her shirt.
Always point your firearm down range and in a safe direction.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Marj Law is the former director of Keep Wakulla County Beautiful who has become an avid shooter in retirement.