Open Carry at Gun Club

[Seabear]

OK, at the risk of getting blasted I am going to bring up this discussion.

First some details. In addition to being a CHL instructor, I am the President of a large Gun Club with over 2,000 members. We have skeet, trap, 5 stand,which are open to the public, as well as a rifle range and 16 bays open to members only. We have never restricted concealed carry as concealed means concealed. We operate under cold range rules otherwise, meaning no loaded firearms behind the firing line.

So, with that in mind let's say we are having a pistol or carbine match where participants are asked to show clear before leaving the firing line or shooter's box. Now with open carry it is possible that a spectator could be present with an open carry firearm. Not a problem until someone asks to see his fancy BBQ gun. Spectators may not be aware of our cold range during the match.

It's a sticky situation. In the past some in our club did not want to allow concealed carry but I fought for that and most that carry concealed just keep it that way and it has not been a problem. I personally have some concerns about the blurring of safety rules with open carry being mixed with a cold range.

Now after you get done getting upset and thinking I am against open carry, calm down and offer some honest thoughts on how to handle this properly. I am NOT against open carry, I am trying to maintain the safest club possible. Ideas? At this point the current mindset is "no handling of loaded firearms behind the firing line." Will this be enough?

[Richbirdhunter]

I'm a member of a private club as well, everyone OC's. The range rules are to keep it holstered until you are on the firing line. We only release the mag to reload while keeping the gun holstered. I believe it's an administrative reload.

[Seabear]

LOL this is where we are right now.

Like you Richbirdhunter , when I brought the subject up some felt that members should be able to open carry loaded and not worry about it.

I'm on board with Andy, but that was met with some resistance to say the least.

My main concern is safety, and it is also tricky because we have an open to the public area and a private area.

[TVGuy]

I would not go to a public range where I could not open carry. When at the range I'm a member of, my holstered weapon often gets uncovered (shirt between the gun and my side, instead of over the gun) while shooting. I never withdraw it from the holster unless on the line and going to shoot it.

Place large signs noting all guns not on the firing line MUST remain holstered, no exceptions.

Ranges open to the public make me nervous. I don't want to take a chance of not having a fully loaded weapon just in case someone goes nuts on a kamikaze mission.

[Seabear]

[quote="AndyC"

From a safety perspective it's incongruous and confusing to allow, from the range backwards 1. loaded firearms on the firing line - then 2. behind them UN-loaded firearms while waiting to shoot - and 3. behind all of those, loaded firearms again.

My point exactly.

Alternatively, one possible compromise might be to have a dead zone - open carry up to a certain demarcated line, then signs reading 'Past this point, ALL firearms must be unloaded'.[/quote]

This is what I had in mind. I think it makes the most sense.

[oohrah]

At my club, only the officers are allowed to OC, all others can CC if licensed. We have a couple pistol ranges that do not have shooting benches (first come sets the distance), so it is a rule that you must holster when the range is cold, so technically you are OCing on this range.

They haven't published any new rules yet in advance of 1/1/16. Given the above holster rule, I would think the best course would be to allow open carry, but not be allowed to draw unless actually on an appropriate range, i.e., can't show off your BBQ gun at any range area. Members are responsible for guest's conduct.

[steveincowtown]

Why not call a gun club is a OC state and see what real world problems they have come up with and what solutions they put in place?

At my former gun club in VA (where OC has been legal forever) we OC'd everywhere on club property. If the range was cold the rule was don't touch your OC'd weapon. Never had an issue in 30 years.

[Charles L. Cotton]

At PSC, we've been discussing this issue for several months. We have a cold range and your guns can be loaded only when on a hot firing line. During an IDPA or IPSC match, a shooter can load only when they are the next shooter and only when directed to do so by the Safety Officer.

A CHL can carry a loaded gun if it remains concealed and holstered. They cannot unholster a hot gun anywhere other than on a hot firing line. If a CHL wants to shoot their EDC, then the cold range rules apply.

We have tentatively decided to follow Texas law and allow open and concealed carry of handguns by CHL/LTCs subject to the same rules and procedures currently applicable to CHLs.

Chas.

[denwego]

At PSC, we've been discussing this issue for several months. We have a cold range and your guns can be loaded only when on a hot firing line. During an IDPA or IPSC match, a shooter can load only when they are the next shooter and only when directed to do so by the Safety Officer.

A CHL can carry a loaded gun if it remains concealed and holstered. They cannot unholster a hot gun anywhere other than on a hot firing line. If a CHL wants to shoot their EDC, then the cold range rules apply.

We have tentatively decided to follow Texas law and allow open and concealed carry of handguns by CHL/LTCs subject to the same rules and procedures currently applicable to CHLs.

Chas.

It's my hope that most ranges'll end up with policies like that. Almost all the ranges I've been to have allowed concealed carry with a CHL as long as it doesn't leave the holster; it's pedantic to think that a covering of thin cloth changes the practical reality of the situation, since it hasn't been a problem for 20 years (as far as I know). Most people who go to ranges aren't idiots, and the ones who are idiots generally can't be stopped before a range officer has to yell at them, anyways. Status quo continues!

[powerboatr]

our club is simple
you step into the firing line area (cross the red line) under the shed, ALL FIREARMS are to be unloaded, action open, even those on your hip, with exception of those that are concealed and remain that way.

If you want to practice holster evolution's, you can, after of course your safely in the zone and follow the firing line calls.
no one seems to have issues with it.


http://winnsborogunclub.org/wgcrr.html
"FIREARM HANDLING AND TRANSPORT - GENERAL

WGC operates as a cold range at all times: That means all firearms must be empty, have any magazine removed, and have the action open at all times except on the firing line.

Licensed Concealed Carry firearms excepted as long as concealed.

Long guns may be transported cased or uncased with action open and any magazine removed.

Handguns may only be transported via holster with magazine out and hammer down, or in a shootersbag, box, pistol rug, or carrying case anywhere on WGC property.

Handguns may NOT be carried exposed in your hand except on the firing line.

During matches or special shooting events, firearm handling or loading may begin only upon instruction from the Range Officer."

[C-dub]

Private club = private club's rules. You should have a board of directors or some equivalent. There needs to be a clear policy on this. Depending on your bylaws maybe there should be an open meeting or two or other method for all members to vote on the matter.

[Seabear]

Private club = private club's rules. You should have a board of directors or some equivalent. There needs to be a clear policy on this. Depending on your bylaws maybe there should be an open meeting or two or other method for all members to vote on the matter.

Private club = private club's rules. You should have a board of directors or some equivalent. There needs to be a clear policy on this. Depending on your bylaws maybe there should be an open meeting or two or other method for all members to vote on the matter.

We do C-dub, and I'm the President. I brought this issue up at our last meeting and caught some heat, I will have to bring it up again to make sure we have a clear understanding and an official and consistent position.

I think like Charles said, following the laws will be fine in most cases, my main feeling is that during a match when I expect every visible firearm to be cleared I would like for that to extend to spectators as well as part of our cold range rules.

[Seabear]

Thanks for all the ideas guys. We have not had many issues with concealed firearms other than a couple of idiots pulling their loaded firearm out to show someone their new toy. I expect a few more episodes of that with open carry so I think we need to make it clear where we stand on the issue. It is a safety thing and has nothing to do with open vs concealed.

I think a standard rule in the public area of "No handling of loaded firearms except on the firing line" will suffice with a cold range rule of "All visible firearms must be unloaded and cleared and remain holstered or bagged until reaching the firing line".

My feeling is that if we don't address it we will have no recourse when someone acts like an idiot.