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I'm looking into getting my first hand gun (forums here have been helpful), so my brother and I went to an outdoor range today so that he could show me the ropes on a Glock 19. I don't know much about ranges as this is the first one I've been to in maybe 20 years, but at one point after we had just arrived I think to myself "so this is all it takes to start a range, huh?" Things seemed to be a little sloppy / not well kept, but overall nothing obviously unsafe about the facility. There aren't many of us out there, maybe 5-7 shooters max at any given point. Better for me anyway as my brother and I stop frequently to talk about mechanics, basic safety / common sense, etc. The range officer is a nice enough guy and (again from my noob perspective) seems to be on top of things. My brother would later mention that he should have been actively moving up and down the range checking on things instead of barking orders from a bench in the back while smoking and eating bbq.
Anyhow, we go through about 150-200 rounds, enough for me to start to get an understanding of the basics. We decide that's enough for day 1 and start to head out. We stop by the front desk, about 25 yards away, so that my brother can show me what to buy as far as cleaning tools. He's going to loan me his Glock 19 so that I can learn how to take it apart and clean it. On the weekends, I'll shoot with him. When I'm I'm comfortable on my own, I'll return it.
After he shows me what to buy later at Wal-Mart, we head back out to the parking lot to make the exchange- and we hear screams. Very loud and distinct. Two, maybe three men. Chaotic. My brother and I exchange glances, not sure what to think. In a raised, hurried voice he tells me to call 911, right now.
Seconds later, the range officer (older fellow), comes hobbling into view, points in our general direction and yells "TELL 'EM TO CALL 911!". Two more guys come into view, one of them has both hands grasping his stomach like he's feeling sick.
I open the door, and tell the 2 guys and one older lady behind the counter (owners?) that there's been an accidental shooting and they need to call 911 (my phone is in the Jeep). They hesitate more than I would think I would in the same position, and one asks me if I'm serious. I tell them their buddy the range officer is yelling for it and is right outside the door, walking this way.
By the time one of these owners finally gets on the phone, my brother is already deep in conversation with 911 and is describing the scene as it's unfolding. The range officer, guy holding his stomach, and guy's buddy come up to the front. Guy's buddy says "HOLY FUCK MAN, I'M SO FUCKING SORRY! I THOUGHT IT WAS UNLOADED".
Looking at the scene, at first I thought maybe he got hit with a recoil somehow and the wind got knocked out of him. Then I thought maybe there was an argument and this guy took a punch to the gut.
Turns out, guy holding his stomach had taken a round direct to the gut. I looked at his back- no visible exit wound through his shirt. My brother said he saw blood on the guy's hands. He was still standing and able to walk.
We didn't see exactly what happened, but from what I gather, these two guys may have either been packing their stuff up or potentially reloading or unloading their pistols. At some point, one of these idiots either pointed the pistol at the other, or may have potentially pointed it towards himself. Not sure who the shooter was, but the gun discharged and someone took a direct hit point blank.
The guy who was shot, we had seen earlier on the range. Younger guy, maybe 20s. He was shooting his piece with one hand (yup), so my brother guessed that it was a .380 or maybe even a .22. The range officer said later it was a "one of those piece of shit jennings".
Anyhow, between my brother on 911, the "owner" on 911, the guy moaning and hunched over, his idiot friend in hysterics, and the range officer trying to answer everyone's questions as to what happened, it was a total shit show. These owners seemed to be more interested in arguing amongst themselves then giving a shit about what happened and actually dealing with the situation.
Finally, these two guys decide that they're better off driving to the hospital themselves than waiting for cops or ambulance. They speed off, and we tell 911 what vehicle they're driving so that the cops can help out if / when they see them barreling down the road. We wait for about 20 minutes for the cops to come by anyway (per the 911 dispatch's request), but they never show. By this time, everything was back to normal on the range like it never happened.
Craziest thing that I've seen in a long time. Still can't believe it happened. Honestly, up until the point that my brother said he had actually seen blood, I still wasn't sure that what had seen wasn't a fake. I just can't imagine what kind of idiocy had taken place for that kid to get shot in the gut with his own fucking gun.
Needless to say, the respect I had already had for gun safety has been magnified ten-fold after today. I'm so glad that my brother and I decided to leave when we did. We both have had newborn children in the last year and a stray bullet from these idiots is unbearable to think about.
Safety first. An unloaded gun is a loaded gun. Be careful out there.
Anyhow, we go through about 150-200 rounds, enough for me to start to get an understanding of the basics. We decide that's enough for day 1 and start to head out. We stop by the front desk, about 25 yards away, so that my brother can show me what to buy as far as cleaning tools. He's going to loan me his Glock 19 so that I can learn how to take it apart and clean it. On the weekends, I'll shoot with him. When I'm I'm comfortable on my own, I'll return it.
After he shows me what to buy later at Wal-Mart, we head back out to the parking lot to make the exchange- and we hear screams. Very loud and distinct. Two, maybe three men. Chaotic. My brother and I exchange glances, not sure what to think. In a raised, hurried voice he tells me to call 911, right now.
Seconds later, the range officer (older fellow), comes hobbling into view, points in our general direction and yells "TELL 'EM TO CALL 911!". Two more guys come into view, one of them has both hands grasping his stomach like he's feeling sick.
I open the door, and tell the 2 guys and one older lady behind the counter (owners?) that there's been an accidental shooting and they need to call 911 (my phone is in the Jeep). They hesitate more than I would think I would in the same position, and one asks me if I'm serious. I tell them their buddy the range officer is yelling for it and is right outside the door, walking this way.
By the time one of these owners finally gets on the phone, my brother is already deep in conversation with 911 and is describing the scene as it's unfolding. The range officer, guy holding his stomach, and guy's buddy come up to the front. Guy's buddy says "HOLY FUCK MAN, I'M SO FUCKING SORRY! I THOUGHT IT WAS UNLOADED".
Looking at the scene, at first I thought maybe he got hit with a recoil somehow and the wind got knocked out of him. Then I thought maybe there was an argument and this guy took a punch to the gut.
Turns out, guy holding his stomach had taken a round direct to the gut. I looked at his back- no visible exit wound through his shirt. My brother said he saw blood on the guy's hands. He was still standing and able to walk.
We didn't see exactly what happened, but from what I gather, these two guys may have either been packing their stuff up or potentially reloading or unloading their pistols. At some point, one of these idiots either pointed the pistol at the other, or may have potentially pointed it towards himself. Not sure who the shooter was, but the gun discharged and someone took a direct hit point blank.
The guy who was shot, we had seen earlier on the range. Younger guy, maybe 20s. He was shooting his piece with one hand (yup), so my brother guessed that it was a .380 or maybe even a .22. The range officer said later it was a "one of those piece of shit jennings".
Anyhow, between my brother on 911, the "owner" on 911, the guy moaning and hunched over, his idiot friend in hysterics, and the range officer trying to answer everyone's questions as to what happened, it was a total shit show. These owners seemed to be more interested in arguing amongst themselves then giving a shit about what happened and actually dealing with the situation.
Finally, these two guys decide that they're better off driving to the hospital themselves than waiting for cops or ambulance. They speed off, and we tell 911 what vehicle they're driving so that the cops can help out if / when they see them barreling down the road. We wait for about 20 minutes for the cops to come by anyway (per the 911 dispatch's request), but they never show. By this time, everything was back to normal on the range like it never happened.
Craziest thing that I've seen in a long time. Still can't believe it happened. Honestly, up until the point that my brother said he had actually seen blood, I still wasn't sure that what had seen wasn't a fake. I just can't imagine what kind of idiocy had taken place for that kid to get shot in the gut with his own fucking gun.
Needless to say, the respect I had already had for gun safety has been magnified ten-fold after today. I'm so glad that my brother and I decided to leave when we did. We both have had newborn children in the last year and a stray bullet from these idiots is unbearable to think about.
Safety first. An unloaded gun is a loaded gun. Be careful out there.
