Pubic Range Rules Explained...

    They are pretty straight forward and have your safety while at the range as their source.  Lets go over each one...

1. Always obey all commands given by the Range Officer. 
    The staff at the range are all experianced shooters and have been around firearms most of their lives.  They are knowledgeable in most areas of firearms.  Their ultimate responsibility to to ensure that all at the range have a safe outing.  Should a Range Officer ask or tell you to do something, listen.  You may not have realized what conditions were around you or that you were doing something unsafe.  They will explain any request or order to you.  An argument with any of the range staff will likely result in your removal from the firing line and possible expulsion from the facility.

2.Wearing eye protection is mandatory.
    The above explaination for eye protection use should suffice.  Just know, if we see you on the range while shooting is going on, we will tell you to get your glasses on.   If we have to tell you twice, your day at the range will be a short one.

3. No loaded firearms are allowed anywhere but on the range firing line.
    This is not a place to walk around with a "hot" gun.  Hot gun means the gun is loaded.  Don't walk into the office with a gun in your holster with a magazine in it.  We don't care if the mag is empty or the chamber is clear... It looks loaded.   It ain't cool.  We will tell you to go out side and clear your gun before allowing you to sign in.  Do so at the firing line on the public range while the range is hot and the light is green.  Then come back into the office and execute the papers.  It is best to arrive at the range with your guns cleared.  Don't do so in the parking lot.  We have had two unintentional negligent discharges in the parking lot that I know about.  One was a deputy showing a gun to someone, and the other was a 16 year old who killed the transmission in his mom's minivan.  Yes it was bleeding all the way back up the range road.  Both were handling loaded guns in an unsafe place. 

4. The range will operate hot for 20 min., cold 10 min., hot 20 min., cold 10 min. every hour.
    The traffic light described above controls the firing line.  We do not deviate from the commands of the light.  Even if you are the only one on the range, this is how it works. 

5. When range is hot, no one may proceed downrange, forward of the firing line.
    This is for obvious reasons but, it has happened.  Guys shooting pistols have walked out to their targets while rifle shooters are still shooting.  Guys shooting rifles have gone downrange while pistol shooters are still shooting.  Watch the light.   It is the Gospel.  Everyone will be singing from the same sheet of music here.

6. Watch the STOP LIGHT at the right side of the firing line.   When the light is RED, STOP SHOOTING, unload your gun and open the action.  No weapon handling is allowed while the range is cold.  Bench your gun and wait until light is GREEN before handling your gun again.
    As explained above, this is the safest way to operate.  You wouldn't want someone loading their gun behind you while you were hanging a new target so don't do it while they are downrange.  The light will go green soon enough.

7. Load your firearm only at the firing line while keeping it pointed downrange.
    This is something we see from time to time.  Guys sometimes load up while at the benches behind the firing line or load up and then walk behind everyone to move to another position on the firing line.  The only place to put rounds in your gun is on the firing line, where you will be shooting from.  Load your mags at the benches if you want but don't put one in a gun until you at at the place where you are going to shoot from... and the light is green.

8. Never turn around or face in an unsafe direction (up-range) with a loaded firearm.  
    Muzzle discipline.  Keep it pointed downrange the whole and entire time you have it in your hand.  Loaded or not, never allow it to point at anyone on the range.   No one wants to look at the business end of your gun.

9. Keep you firearm pointed downrange at all times.  Never allow your gun to point at another person.
    Muzzle discipline.  I have heard that one before.... Its because it is one of the most important safety rules we have. 

10. Do not put your finger on the trigger until your sights are on your target and you are ready to fire.
    The NRA said this one first.  One thing is for sure.  It won't go off unless someone pulls the trigger.  If it does fail mechanically and it did discharge by itself, if you followed the above rules, it will be alright.  The shot will go downrange.  Hang on to it.  Don't drop your gun.  Keep it out in front of you.  You are ultimately responsible for your firearm and anything or anyone that gets hit.  Be safe. 

11. A rate of fire faster than 1 round per second will end your day at the range.  No un-aimed fire allowed.
    This one is underlined for a reason.  We do not want to see you bump firing your gun.   What is bump firing?  Look it up on youtube.  Shooting as fast as you can squeeze the trigger is definately faster than you can control your gun.  Shooting faster than you can control is reckless and negligent.  Unaimed fire is not allowed because it too, is reckless.  Shooting from the hip or below your line of sight is unaimed fire.  We will stop you, remove you from the firing line and have a word of prayer with you.  If it is repeated, you will go home.  If we observe any unsafe gunhandling, we will definately end your day here.

12. Every round you fire must strike the berm downrange.  If your rounds leave the range, so do you!
    Bullets cannot leave our property.  We will not allow an unsafe condition to exist where this is possible.  If we observe you shooting in a manner that allows your rounds to clear the berm, you will follow them. 

13. Clean up.  Pick up your brass and put it in the brass buckets.  Dispose of your used targets in the garbage.
    When you  arrived here, hopefully you noticed something.  Someone here is working hard to keep this place up.  There is no garbage on the road coming in.   The grass is mowed and weeds cut back.  This is not a dump.  Please leave it cleaner than you found it.  If you see anything on the ground that belongs in a garbage can, please put it there.  Every effort is appreciated.  There are brooms and sweep pans on the range for you to use.  While the range is cold and you are waiting for the light to go green, take a minute to sweep up around where you are shooting.  If you reload, take it with you.  If not, put it in the 5 gallon buckets behind the firing line.  We will recycle it as scrap metal or provide it to others who do reload to support the range operations here.  Please don't put it in the garbage cans.  When you are done for the day, wait for the light to go red and the range to go cold, then please go downrange and gather your used targets from the target stands.  Chances are, the target stands you used had been cleaned off before you got there.  When they are all covered with used targets, it is hard to tell if you are placing your target on top of one used by another shooter.  This causes confusion.  There is no place for confusion on the firing line.  If you don't want to take them with you, we have several large garbage cans behind the firing ling.  

14. Put away any range equipment you got out or used.  Return any borrowed range equipment to the office before you leave.
    We will happily loan you pretty much anything you need while you are here... screwdriver, hammer, spotting scope, rifle rest, etc.  Just be sure to return it to the range before you leave so others can use the equipment as well.  If you take something you borrowed from the range home, you stole it.  Stealing ain't cool. 

15. Do not throw or leave any garbage on the ground.  This includes cigarette butts, cleaning patches, etc.
    Smoke them if you want, just be courteous to those around you.  Most guys leave the firing line and smoke in the area uprange out from under the covered shooting area.  Squish the butt out good and put them in the garbage.  Do your part to keep the firing line clean.

16. Keep children supervised and under control at all times.  Stay within arms reach of your child.
    There is no age limit for children at the range.  We will not babysit.  Do not leave them unattended in the range office.  If you brought your child with you to the range, shoot with them.  Today is a day they will probably always remember.   Make it a good memory.  The entire time they have a firearm in their hands, you should be withing arms reach of that child, closely supervising what they are doing.   Never allow your child to shoot unattended.  If we see this happen, the day will be a bad memory for them because daddy got told to leave the range.

17. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed.  Alcohol and guns never mix.  Anyone we suspect has been drinking will be escorted from the property and into the hands of the Pleasant Grove Police Dept.
    It seems that a week never goes by without me finding beer cans on the range road.  If we smell alcohol on you, you will not shoot here and you will meet the police on your way out. 

18. Always treat every firearm as if it were loaded and could fire.   Never point any firearm at another person.  Respect the potential damage a firearm can do to a human.
    Another reference to the NRA's rule number 4.  Guns don't kill people, people kill people... with guns.  If you shoot someone here, there is a strong likelihood that you will be prosecuted for your act of negligence.  This range is no different than any other place on the planet.  You will be held responsible for your actions.   We plan on being the best witnesses we can be.

19. Always check the condition of any firearm you handle to be sure of its loaded or unloaded condition.
    NRA rule number one.  Always treat it as if it were loaded and could fire.   Muzzle discipline. Muzzle discipline. Muzzle discipline. Muzzle discipline.

And last, the acknowledgement:

I have read and fully understand the above Range Safety Rules.  I will follow the above Range Safety Rules at all times. 
I understand that if I perform any unsafe act or break any of the Range Safety Rules, I will be removed from the range and may not be allowed to return.

    By signing this form, you indicate that you have read these range rules and understand what they mean and will abide by all the rules while at the range. 

     I hope that I have enlightened you in what to expect when you get here.  I know that the above is a tremendous amount of information for anyone to try to remember but it is all based on common sense and your safety.  Every responsible gun owner around here appreciates the fact that the above rules are enforced here.  It is a great place to enjoy your firearms.  We work hard to keep it safe for you.  Any unsafe condition or act is addressed.  You should expect nothing less from anyplace you go shoot.  If you have any questions, call us at the range.  The number is 205-744-2600.