This past weekend, I took my granddaughter and grandson to a a local private range to get a little time on their new rifles they got for their birthdays this year. I have been going to this range for over 2 years, and my son helped build the thing.
My granddaughter is 7 and grandson is 9. They have both been shooting for over 2 years each, both live with me and a very firearm safety conscious. We waited our turn for range time, and begin to set up. I let my granddaughter shoot first, then the grandson. At all times they were calm and right by my side, never once did they cross the firing line, or do anything that would constitute anything unsafe. We finished shooting, policed our brass up, cleaned our area thoroughly and went to the on site picnic area for lunch. Then it started.
Two gentlemen approached and started asking me a dozen questions about them, and why I would bring such young shooters to the range. I informed them both they had been shooting for over two years. They informed me and I qoute " You are exposing these kids to unsafe conditions, and putting them at risk.' At this point I let them know to mind their own business and please refrain from any further discussion in front of my grandchildren. They continued to ask questions of which county I lived in and my name and such. Now I hate to pass judgement on appearence or anything , but these two butt monkeys were nothing but straight up rednecks. Several other shooters in the picnic area came up at this point as a show of support, and informed them they needed to leave, additionally the range safety person approached them afterwards and asked them to leave and not return.
Now what sticks in my craw is plain and simple. Here I am trying to teach my grandchildren responsibility and safety, only to be berated in front of them. All of my grandchildren actively shoot with me, and love the time we spend together. They are very safety minded, and will often remark at others being unsafe at the ranges.
It really surprised me, we have never had an issue or any other incident anywhere else. I was out of shooting for nearly 10 years due to health issues, and since returnin have seen some appalling crap everywhere. But in all my time I have never seen anyone at a range respond to children learning to shoot. My granddaughter was really worried I was going to get into trouble for bringing them, and now she seems hesitant to even want to go out and shoot on our property. Before this it was a daily thing to ask are we going to shoot today. I have four grandchildren living with me, and we spend alot of time together this way.
Has this turned into a common occurance or is it just isolated this one time? I am not one of the grnadparents that overlooks bad behavoir, I am raising them and I am very proud of the children they are and the way they act and behave. They are welcome at all the gun shops in the local area, and I am constantly complimented on their behavoir in public.
My granddaughter is 7 and grandson is 9. They have both been shooting for over 2 years each, both live with me and a very firearm safety conscious. We waited our turn for range time, and begin to set up. I let my granddaughter shoot first, then the grandson. At all times they were calm and right by my side, never once did they cross the firing line, or do anything that would constitute anything unsafe. We finished shooting, policed our brass up, cleaned our area thoroughly and went to the on site picnic area for lunch. Then it started.
Two gentlemen approached and started asking me a dozen questions about them, and why I would bring such young shooters to the range. I informed them both they had been shooting for over two years. They informed me and I qoute " You are exposing these kids to unsafe conditions, and putting them at risk.' At this point I let them know to mind their own business and please refrain from any further discussion in front of my grandchildren. They continued to ask questions of which county I lived in and my name and such. Now I hate to pass judgement on appearence or anything , but these two butt monkeys were nothing but straight up rednecks. Several other shooters in the picnic area came up at this point as a show of support, and informed them they needed to leave, additionally the range safety person approached them afterwards and asked them to leave and not return.
Now what sticks in my craw is plain and simple. Here I am trying to teach my grandchildren responsibility and safety, only to be berated in front of them. All of my grandchildren actively shoot with me, and love the time we spend together. They are very safety minded, and will often remark at others being unsafe at the ranges.
It really surprised me, we have never had an issue or any other incident anywhere else. I was out of shooting for nearly 10 years due to health issues, and since returnin have seen some appalling crap everywhere. But in all my time I have never seen anyone at a range respond to children learning to shoot. My granddaughter was really worried I was going to get into trouble for bringing them, and now she seems hesitant to even want to go out and shoot on our property. Before this it was a daily thing to ask are we going to shoot today. I have four grandchildren living with me, and we spend alot of time together this way.
Has this turned into a common occurance or is it just isolated this one time? I am not one of the grnadparents that overlooks bad behavoir, I am raising them and I am very proud of the children they are and the way they act and behave. They are welcome at all the gun shops in the local area, and I am constantly complimented on their behavoir in public.
Either casing for theft, or this
