A Bit Severe Perhaps?

[6hold]

I have had many folks (visitors) to the gun clubs I belong to through the years and after showing them around and informing them of the rules we did some informal shooting.

This is the way I’ve had people learn about and enjoy shooting and even start in the sport themselves. I have read what at least one club put into force, new rules about visitors and it didn’t seem right, unless they have had some sort of trouble that made them be so harsh with visitors. I just hope other gun clubs aren’t headed in this direction! Example below:

The policy of allowing a guest to shoot at the Holyoke Revolver Club was ended by a membership vote at the September 2005 meeting. The new ruling is a VISITOR POLICY with the following rules:

 Visitors may not shoot or handle firearms at any time.
 Visitors are required to sign in.
 Visitors may accompany a club member to the property, but NEITHER party may shoot or handle firearms during the visit. This includes personal protection gun carried by the HRC member.
 The HRC member will provide eye and ear protection for the visitor in the event that other members are using the ranges
 Visitors may attend regularly scheduled events, meetings and matches.
 As part of membership renewal, all HRC members will be required to sign and return to the club a statement attesting to the fact that they have read and understand the visitor, and will adhere to the policy and other club rules under penalty of expulsion.

# # #​

Visitor Policy Signs​

New signs outlining the clubs visitor policy have been posted at the range. They remind members and visitors of the clubs strict rule prohibiting the handling or discharging of any firearms by visitors or their member-hosts during club visits. Visitors are welcome to view the facilities when accompanied by a club member, and may attend club events as observers.

 

[jkelly]

Who is HRC?

Respectfully,

jkelly

 

[Cross-X]

Sounds like a great way to shrink a club's membership. Do you think the club could ever appear more hostile?

What were they thinking?

 

[Cross-X]

Who is HRC?

Respectfully,

jkelly

Just a wild guess -- Holyoake Revolver Club?

I found a reference to the passage cited here: http://www.holyokerevolverclub.com/clubnews/hrc_news_letter.htm
(look toward the bottom of the page)

 

[jkelly]

Darius,
That was was quuick! Thank you for the infomation.


Respectfully,

John

 

[Cross-X]

Darius,
That was was quuick! Thank you for the infomation.


Respectfully,

John

Just call me The Sleuth!

 

[Bruce for NH State Rep]

Who is HRC?

Based on that absurd list of regulations, it must be referring to that socialist cow running for president.

 

[tele_mark]

Perhaps they'd serve themselves best by re-naming themselves the "Holyoke Fudd Club".

 

[Jose]

I've never heard of greater stupidity.

 

[drgrant]

I would say that is a bit severe.

I can understand, maybe,. saying that guests need to sign up after
a couple of visits with a member, if the fee isn't too huge, etc....
some clubs even have like a "guest fee" that I don't necessarily
disagree with.

Beyond that, though.... that kind of policy is a bit rough. Makes
it hard to introduce new people to shooting, etc.

-Mike

 

[bpm990d]

Perhaps they'd serve themselves best by re-naming themselves the "Holyoke Fudd Club".

 

[EddieCoyle]

That's a bad rule. They must've had some nasty goings-on WRT guests. It looks like one of those rules that is directed at specific members or ex-members that are no longer welcome.

I try to encourage members at my club to bring guests whenever possible. The more people we can safely expose to the shooting sports, the better off we are.

Exclusion is not what we're about. I can think of several times when I've gone down to the range and "caught" people shooting that were not members. Unless they give me an attitude, rather than throw them out, I tell them that they can shoot that day with me as my guests. Then I try to shame them into coughing up $50 to join so they can shoot guilt free. It actually works sometimes.

 

[Admin]

Visitors may accompany a club member to the property, but NEITHER party may shoot or handle firearms during the visit. This includes personal protection gun carried by the HRC member.

 

[KMaurer]

Visitors may accompany a club member to the property, but NEITHER party may shoot or handle firearms during the visit. This includes personal protection gun carried by the HRC member.

I loved that one as well. "Well, I guess I'll just have to let him kill me, because I don't dare use my gun to protect myself, otherwise I might get disciplined or even lose my membership." Ranks right up there with, "Damn, I can't rob the store because it's got one of those 'No guns allowed' signs in the window!"

Ken

 

[jkelly]

Based on that absurd list of regulations, it must be referring to that socialist cow running for president.---NLB

Nice pick up, I didn't notice HRC were also her initials.


It would be interesting to understand the history behind the visitors rules, is any one here a member of the HRC?

Respectfully,

jkelly

 

[Garys]

As unfriendly as set of guest rules as I've ever seen. Were I a member or a potential member, I'd look elsewhere.

Gary

 

[Cross-X]

Time to vote the rascals out???





The life and health of their club depends on it.

 

[Nickle]

As unfriendly as set of guest rules as I've ever seen. Were I a member or a potential member, I'd look elsewhere.

Gary

Ayup, bet they don't get many new members, and can't figure out why.

 

[ateamrob]

ok so basically when you have a visitor you or the visitor cant shoot????

uh... um.... ok.... yeah ok.....

guess I cant see why anyone would want to bring a visitor...

"hey want to go to the range with me today?"

Can I shoot? "No" Can I watch you shoot? "No"

uh... um.... no thanks... lets go to the bar instead....

"ok"

 

[FalArAk]

There is some other anal retentive club I heard of that only allows one round in the rifle at a time,so this does not surprise me.

 

[Cross-X]

There is some other anal retentive club I heard of that only allows one round in the rifle at a time,so this does not surprise me.

I've seen you chamber just one round at a time, but you do it faster than just about everybody!

 

[Big_Red]

The club I belong to only allows a guest to come over and use facilities once per calendar year. During the second visit, he/she is required to either join or will be forced to leave.

 

[FalArAk]

I've seen you chamber just one round at a time, but you do it faster than just about everybody!

Ok,one round in the clip at a time

 

[Coyote33]

The club I belong to only allows a guest to come over and use facilities once per calendar year. During the second visit, he/she is required to either join or will be forced to leave.

I'm pretty sure Auburn Sportsman's Club is like that. Is that your club?

 

[Big_Red]

I'm pretty sure Auburn Sportsman's Club is like that. Is that your club?

No, I belong to Nenameseck Sportsmen's Club.

 

[Marcus in the Darkus]

Clubs should be encouraging new shooters and members, not turning them away.

I get the feeling that grumpy old farts have the upper hand at a lot of clubs.

 

[JGreen]

Don't Jump the gun on this one folks. The HRC is a great club for members and also has a very successful junior smallbore team. The absurd guest policy is a result of a terrible neighbor and poor legal representation during an event from years ago.

The current leadership is making big improvements to both the ranges and the policies.

 

[Jose]

There is some other anal retentive club I heard of that only allows one round in the rifle at a time,so this does not surprise me.

Definitely a Fudd club.

 

[Len-2A Training]

Nice pick up, I didn't notice HRC were also her initials.

HRC = "Her Royal Cow" ??

 

[kevin9]

Don't Jump the gun on this one folks. The HRC is a great club for members and also has a very successful junior smallbore team. The absurd guest policy is a result of a terrible neighbor and poor legal representation during an event from years ago.

Do tell. I'm curious how a bad neighbor and something from an event "years ago" resulted in such a stupid guest policy being enacted only 2 years ago.

The current leadership is making big improvements to both the ranges and the policies.

I would certainly hope so.