DaemonAssassin
Why should we Free BSD?
I haven't been there since April-ish because of the last incident. I also had a friend with me that witnessed the attitude of the RO. I did not violate any of the basic rules of gun safety, nor any of the posted rules.
My issue lies with the RO that came running up behind me and screamed at me for doing something that was in total compliance with the rules of gun safety and the posted range rules. He was rude and disrespectful with his actions and words, when all he had to do was ASK what I was doing. But to come up out of nowhere and ream somebody out for picking a rifle up off the bench to put it into a case while the range was still hot is a serious issue. I had numerous run ins with the same RO accusing me of rapid fire, right after the range went hot and all I was doing was loading mags. My rifle was sitting on the left side of the bench with the bolt open and pointing downrange. I didn't even have a chance to fire the damn thing before this RO came to me. I mean seriously, my targets were still clean! How in the hell can I be rapid firing when all I have been doing is loading mags, just after I got to the range? I've been ripped apart for having my finger on the trigger between each shot while shooting a semi rifle and keeping my eye through the scope, while waiting 2-5 seconds between each shot.
How am I being unsafe or violating a range rule when I have a sidearm in a case going to a empty lane while the range is hot? Yes that happened a few times too. I was told that was against the range rules and unless it was inspected as unloaded when I came in, I was not allowed to enter the facility. No where in the rules is that stated, if it was I would have gladly complied. I have been reamed out for having empty mags in the pistol case that were not in the sidearm, being told that is against the law.
Also I was informed that I had an illegal AR because my barrel was less than 16 inches. How would they know the length of my barrel without measuring it? Just because I have a carbine length barrel with a rail that has a free float extension that goes beyond the gas block does not make it an SBR. When I asked him to measure it, I was told that he didn't have to and that it was an SBR. I pulled a tape measure out of my bag and showed him he was wrong (I've had this issue before because of my rail). He backed off but was all pissy the rest of the time I was there, nitpicking over everything I did, even though I did not violate the range rules.
There is a major disconnect with those RO's, because I see the person next to me to something blatantly unsafe/against the range rules, yet the RO is standing there watching them and doesn't lift a finger or say anything. Yet I get ripped for following the range rules but violating a rule that they make up on the spot.
My age does not truly become a factor unless it is an RO that feels like being a PITA to anybody that looks younger than 26-27. For the record I am in my early 30's and it is the general attitude of those RO's that have turned me off in regards to Cresap.
I rarely if ever, get offended by being approached should I violate a range rule. Granted there were a few times with an HK w/LEM trigger that I did double tap, but that was the first 3 times I ever shot the HK. The RO came over and asked me to stop rapid firing, so I explained what the issue was and he understood and let it go, as soon as he realized it was not being done intentionally. He passed the word that I was shooting a new sidearm and I was unfamiliar with the LEM trigger on the HK. He also asked me to try not to let it happen again. Cool RO, no problems with him.
The RO's that I take offense to are the ones that have their heads up their a**es and a chip on their shoulder, wanting to exert authority and dare anybody to try to knock that chip off their shoulder, just because they have an RO badge. Another thing is that there are so many transient members of Cresap, that there is little to no institutional memory. When that happens, the new RO's don't bother taking the time to get to know anybody that goes there, nor do they care to. They will make small talk and then for get about you after you are allowed to enter the range. I'm not asking to be remembered by everybody, but what I am saying is there turnover rate should be an indication that there is either something wrong with the club or the RO's themselves.
There is one RO that is there, that I do not have an issue with, because he has gotten to know me and knows that I am safe. If he is there it is "Hey, how's it going?", catch up on the status of a friend of mine, and we go our own ways. He doesn't bother me because he has seen over the past 8-9 years that I know what I am doing with rifle/pistol and am proficient with my firearms. I rarely ever get approached by an RO unless it is a new one that has been there for less than 6 months.
As a final note: I do not throw my weight around at any range I go to, I am quiet and keep to myself. If an RO approaches me for any reason I am respectful and courteous, even if they are the one throwing out BS. I let them spout their BS and move on. But when they go over the line, I make sure to tell them in a polite manner and courteous tone that they are wrong and why they are wrong. 9 times out of 10 they realize they are in the wrong and had the wrong person then apologize for the error. My issues with the specific RO's are the ones that have a god complex because they have an RO badge and just want to mess with somebody. AFAIC the one RO that actually laid a hand on me - then started screaming at me at the top of his lungs - as I was putting a safed rifle into a hard case (with the barrel down range the whole time) should consider himself lucky that I exercised extreme physical restraint. Nobody wants to be touched when they are putting a firearm into a case, much less want it to feel like King Kong is grabbing you, and startle the ever loving crap out of you. That was the last time I was there and after that, I have zero intention of going back until the RO's get their act together and start realizing that it is the public that pays for that range to operate/have clubs/NRA classes.
All of you can doubt what I say for as long as you wish, but your experiences are different than mine. I will not stand for the treatment and attitudes I get from the RO's, nor will my friends stand for it when they go without me.
