Don
Turner, has been the AZ Dept of Game & Fish Chief Rangemaster for more
than a decade. He gave an interview to the editor of the ASPRA Newsletter
and outlined some of the very important issues that shooting ranges are
facing these days.
He
spoke of the importance of keeping the ranges that we now have open.
He stated that
the
only way that this can be accomplished is to encourage new shooters.
Mr. Turner was asked what he felt were the main things that should be
done in order to accomplish this.
He
said “The first thing I would tell you is create a welcome
environment within the shooting world and create new and maintain
existing sport shooting opportunities.
We should have more variety in the match formats such as Junior and
Senior Days and Women’s Events. Eliminate
barriers to participation and clean up range facilities.
It is crucial for everyone to stay active in the process of
supporting shooting ranges in Arizona.
Public and Private ranges need all the support from the community.
The
underlying theme here is to get new shooters in all of the shooting
disciplines. These new shooters need our support and guidance. In
order to ensure our club’s future it is important to remember how it was
when we first started shooting and how helpful the experienced shooters were
to us as Newbies.
Remember, we are all amateurs. It is just as easy to be helpful to
new members that we meet as it is to be rude and exclusionary.
If you happen to see a new member who seems to be at a loss as far as
safe gun handling is concerned; help them out.
If our range is ever in danger we will need community support and
that can only be accomplished by presenting a sincere and welcoming face to
the public.
Probably
one of the biggest disasters that could occur to aid those wishing to close
our range is a major shooting incident----a serious accident resulting in
major injury or a fatality. Even
a shooting accident resulting in minor injury would be publicized to the
extent that it could also provide ammunition to those who wish to close us
down.
To
further emphasize the safety words above lets examine the subject a bit
further to see what we, as individuals, can do to enhance overall safety..
First of all, each and every one of us can and should act as a safety
officer.
If you see an unsafe act/condition take the offending individual
aside and tell him in a diplomatic manner what he is doing unsafely.
If you are the offender and someone takes you aside don’t be
offended----thank the person and try to not make the same mistake again.
If you see a physical safety problem with the range facilities bring
it to the attention of one of the club officers.
One thing we do NOT need are "nazi" safety
officers----don't be a "hard ass". Courtesy is the best way
to treat fellow shooters. Remember , Safety and Courtesy go hand in
hand.
For those of you who do not feel comfortable about your own knowledge on
safety I urge you and anyone else who has not taken the NRA Range Safety
Officer Course to do so. The club is sponsoring that course in May at
no cost to club members. Contact Marlene Duncan or Roy Hubert for
schedule and further details.
