Unfortunately one or two people put others in danger when they act irresponsibly. Shooting at rocks is dangerous. Sometime on September 3rd, 2020 a metal rifle rest from the shooting bay was carried out to the 100-yard mark on the long rifle range, rocks were piled up on top of it and beside it, and judging from the bullet marks someone proceeded to shoot at the rocks. This idiocy exposes fellow shooters to possible injury, which has occurred in the past, or worse.
Shooting at rocks poses a real ricochet danger to our members. Bullets and fragments fly errantly and may not be captured by the sand berms. The Chief Firearms Officer approves the targets, target stands, metal plates and gongs that the club makes available for members to shoot. ROCKS ARE NOT APPROVED TARGETS and METAL RIFLE RESTS REMOVED FROM THE SHOOTING BAY ARE NOT TARGET STANDS!
The executive and I are very happy with how the general membership takes safety seriously. This incident is the work of one or two miscreants and there is no excuse for this incident happening. I am non-the-less bound to bring this to your attention. The following safety rules are posted on the large signs in every shooting bay:
RICHOCHET Danger:
- Use Club approved target gongs, target stands and paper targets
- Position targets so bullets strike the backstop, not the ground
- Do not shoot at stones or targets resting on the ground
In addition, milk jugs full of water are an approved target and can be fun to shoot. Place your milk jugs a minimum of 18 inches off the ground and please clean up after yourselves
When shooting at any of the club’s ranges, please ensure that you are shooting straight down the range toward the end berm. When not shooting metal gongs, the idea is that we want your bullet to travel down range, through your target and strike the end berm. Metal gongs on the long rifle range are angled appropriately to deflect bullets downward; additionally, you will note that there are sand berms immediately behind the metal gongs on the long rifle range.
Shooting at rocks cause ricochets and a deviation in the bullets’ path. It is dangerous and can cause injury. In summary I hope the following is clear:
- DO NOT SHOOT AT ROCKS PERIOD
- DO NOT SHOOT AT THE GROUND
- PILING ROCKS FOR TARGET PRACTICE IS PROHIBITED
• REMOVING EQUIPMENT FROM THE SHOOTING BAY TO USE AS TARGET STANDS IS NOT PERMITTED
The range safety rules and the range safety orientation covers ricochet danger. I would hasten to add that Sections 2.17 – 2.21 of the SAFGC bylaws provides the club with the executive authority to discipline a member and terminate their membership for such flagrant disregard of the rules.
SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. Anyone who has any information about this incident please contact Chris Mazzotta or myself. Thanks for your attention and support.
Richard Wale
President
Cell: (250) 686-4837
Email: richard.wale@hotmail.ca
Chris Mazzotta
VP- Firearms Ranges
Cell: (250) 306-1572 Email: chris@mazzotta.ca
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