Texas Gun Club
The following are general beliefs held by Texas Gun Club:
* We share a belief that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is an individual right. Generally they see people as trustworthy and believe that others should be allowed to have guns unless they have proven otherwise.
* We share a belief that guns provide some level of protection against criminality and tyranny. This ranges from a feeling that it's good to have a gun around the house for self-protection, to an active distrust of government and a belief that widespread gun ownership is protection against tyranny.
* We are generally responsible with respect to firearms handling. They have an awareness (or internalization) of either Jeff Cooper's Four Rules or the NRA's Three Rules, providing for some level of safe handling of guns and try to abide by them when handling firearms.
* We are shooting enthusiasts. Few members of the gun culture do not practice shooting on a regular basis.
* Gun rights associated with hunting and other outdoor sportsmen activities are widely supported in principle, although these activities are not always practiced by all within the gun culture.
While some Survivalists, Police, or Military are also members of the gun culture, not all are. There are survivalists who do not have firearms, police who have not fired their weapons in years, and members of the military who actively avoid shooting. What sets the members of the gun culture apart is their enthusiasm and continued participation in sharpening shooting skills over long periods of time. Members of the gun culture generally agree with the philosophy set forth by Boston T. Party that "ammo turns money into skill."
It should be noted that some aspects of gun culture do not apply the same in other countries as in the United States. Gun politics in Australia consists of just the two sides of gun control versus the gun rights of sportsmen, with no inclusion on the gun rights side of self-defence rights as in America, as there is no 2nd Amendment equivalent. Nonetheless, there are sizeable portions of Australia, mostly among rural areas, extending over three Australian states, where a well-established gun culture exists. Likewise, gun culture is significantly different in the UK. It is currently an offence for anyone to be in possession of one without a valid licence or reason.
Texas Gun Ranges
There are many shooting ranges in the United States open to the
public, both indoor and outdoor. Usually, both privately owned guns
or rental guns rented from the shooting range may be used, although
there are some public ranges (relatively few) that only permit their
own leased guns to be used. Those that only permit their own leased
guns are most often those few ranges catering to international
tourists in major tourist destinations (e.g., Orlando, FL, etc.)
Usually, there is adequate instruction of rental guns at shooting
ranges by a range master or other individual to enable easily
learning any rental gun in just a few minutes. Each shooting range
facility in the United States is typically overseen by one or more
range master(s) to ensure gun safety rules are stringently followed
at all times.
Specialized classes and licenses
Typically, no license or advanced training beyond just gun
familiarization (for rental guns) and range rules familiarization is
usually required for using a shooting range in the United States;
the only common requirement is that the shooter must be 21 years old
(or have a guardian present), and must sign a waiver prior to
shooting.
Self-defense classes are also usually available for a fee at
shooting ranges, covering gun use in much more detail.
Some states additionally permit anyone to obtain a concealed carry
license upon taking a short course, and shooting ranges often
schedule such classes, usually on a Saturday. For example, in
Florida, the typical cost for a 4 hour long CCW course is $35-50,
covering in-class lectures, the taking of 2 passport style photos,
and assistance with filling out the paperwork, and the fee for going
to the shooting range and firing an actual gun, after which one has
all the necessary paperwork and training certificates needed to
apply to the state, pay a fee of $117, and obtain a CCW license
within a few months. By reciprocity, such a CCW license is
recognized in over 30 states for Florida non-residents, and in 37
states for Florida residents. Similar reciprocity agreements exist
with nearly all CCW licenses from all states that issue them.
Where shooting ranges are located
Most cities in the United States with a population of 50,000 or more
have one or more public-access shooting ranges. Exceptions include
cities in the states of Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, New York,
New Jersey, Illinois, and Washington, DC, all known for gun control
policies in general, where the numbers of ranges may be only one for
every few hundred thousand people, or none at all.
Throughout much of the rest of the United States, especially in
areas where the dominant side of the gun politics debate leans
towards gun rights, and where no license is usually required to own
a handgun or rifle or shotgun, and there is often no requirement
even to show any identification prior to buying ammo, the typical
number of ranges approaches one for every 15,000 to 25,000 people.
Of particular interest to international tourists interested in
public-access shooting ranges in the United States while on holiday,
especially gun-friendly states include Kentucky, Nevada, Tennessee,
Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Arizona, and Utah, among others. All of
these typically have public-access shooting ranges with rental guns
available at a very modest fee. Ammo costs for rental guns varies,
of course, but 9mm Luger (usually the cheapest service caliber
round) is often available for around $11 per 100 at Wal-mart, or
slightly higher ($13-14) at most public-access shooting ranges.
Costs of .22LR cartridges often run less than $0.02 per round.
Private or restricted-access shooting ranges are also owned and used
by police departments, private companies, private membership
shooting clubs, and the military for qualification and/or continued
firearms practice and training. These private ranges typically have
more-specialized features not seen in public ranges (e.g., large
caliber rifle, fully automatic weapons ranges, etc.)
There are several types of shooting ranges, each catering to
different classes of firearms, and meeting different needs. Some are
inside buildings; others are outdoors and cover many acres.
Outdoor ranges
* On a shotgun or trap range, the shooter aims to hit sporting clays
or skeet that are mechanically-fired (or in some cases, thrown by
hand) across an open field. These involve shooting clay disks also
know as clay pigeons thrown in various ways. Both skeet and trap are
Olympic Games and the sports are practiced by many bird hunters to
sharpen their marksmanship.
* On a rifle range, shooters typically fire at targets 100-300 yards
(91-275 meters) or greater distant. Many rifle ranges feature
mechanized steel targets that automatically re-set upon being hit.
Hunters in particular often use rifle ranges to calibrate or
sight-in their weapons prior to hunting.
* On a handgun range, shooters fire semi-automatic pistols and
revolvers at stationary targets along, or at the end of, a 15-100
yard (13-91 meter) long lane.
Most outdoor ranges have established strictly-followed procedures
for ensuring that a range is either Hot or Cold. Upon everyone on
the shooting line agreeing for the line to go Hot, actions may be
closed, and magazines may be loaded, and rounds may be chambered and
guns may be fired. Upon everyone on the firing line agreeing for the
line to go Cold, magazines must be removed, guns must be unloaded,
actions opened, and all the guns must be placed on their respective
shooting tables, prior to the line going "Cold". Only upon
confirmation, often with everyone with their hands in the air, does
the line actually go Cold. Guns may not be loaded or even touched
when the line is operationally Cold.
Outdoor shooting ranges usually are backed by a sandbagged barrier
or specially-designed funnel-shaped traps to prevent bullets from
ricocheting back at the shooters. Many older outdoor ranges only use
an earthern berm, which is often composed of sand, and called the
impact berm. Most outdoor ranges additionally restrict the maximum
caliber size, or have separate ranges devoted to use with rifles
firing heavier caliber cartridges. Many outdoor ranges do permit the
use of fully automatic weapons on specially-adapted Class III
weapons ranges.
The largest problem currently with outdoor ranges is the lack of
sufficient area behind and beside the impact berms. This area,
usually called the Surface Danger Zone or SDZ is a fan shaped
geographic area that extends lengthwise to the ultimate ballistic
length of the round fired. Often outdoor ranges use baffles to
contain fired rounds within the range and with proper design can
reduce the surface danger zone area. Guidelines for surface danger
zones vary widely. The National Rifle Association maintains
guidelines for range design, but often the US Military range design
guidelines are more prescriptive, specific and easier to use for
range design.
Indoor ranges
* On a rifle range, shooters typically fire pistol caliber carbines
at targets 100 yards (91 meters) distant. The common practice is to
follow rules much like those required on outdoor ranges.
* On a handgun range, shooters fire semi-automatic pistols and
revolvers at stationary targets along, or at the end of, a 15-100
yard (14-91 meter) long lane. Paper or cardboard targets are hung
from a dummy or target holder positioned on a slide; this
arrangement allows the shooter to control the shooting distance and
retrieve targets for closer inspection. The target is typically hung
from a replaceable hanger attached to a mechanized or motorized
assembly that can be placed at variable distances from the shooter,
usually through using an electrical controlling switch to activate
the motor on the moving target hanger, although some older ranges
still have mechanical pulleys without motors. Common range shooting
distances are 5 yards (4.5 meters) to 7 yards (6.4 meters), minimum,
up to 25 yards to 33 yards (23-30 meters). Most such ranges do have
minimum safety distances (set by the range master) that are
permissible for shooter-to-target spacings.
Fees for using indoor public shooting ranges vary, but a common rate
is $10 per hour of use, with targets costing around $0.35 each if
you do not bring your own. Additional fees usually will also pertain
to damaging PVC target hangers, often $2, up to damaging motors
($200), per incident. Unlike for outdoor ranges, or for indoor rifle
ranges, indoor public handgun shooting ranges are usually run
continuously Hot. The only exception is if a target falls from a
holder and needs to be retrieved. In this rather rare scenario, the
range will go Cold, after all guns are placed on the firing line
table with their actions open.
Indoor ranges usually have a trap consisting of angled steel plates
or shredded rubber, with re-enforced baffles additionally situated
along the roof and side walls. Ventilation is carefully controlled
to pull smoke and lead particles away from the shooting line, and to
exhaust them from the building through special HEPA filters. Such
ranges also usually have an air-locked corridor for sound-proofing,
with two doors at opposite ends of the egress corridor. It is an
extreme breach of etiquette to open either door when the other door
is also open. The most modern ranges additionally include anechoic
chamber technology (foam trapezoids) or shred rubber planks built
into, and placed along, walls and ceiling surfaces for additional
sound absorption.
The maximum caliber size is usually posted on the door of the
airlock on each particular range. Most indoor ranges restrict the
use of certain magnum calibers, or the use of fully automatic
weapons.
Common safety practices
Nearly all public ranges require that all guns be unloaded prior to
entering, or leaving, the range facility, irrespective of whether
one holds a concealed carry license. The same is true for rental
guns leaving or returning to the rental counter, going to and from
the shooting range.
Whether indoors or outdoors, all shooters are required to wear
safety goggles as well as hearing protection (ear muffs or ear
plugs) at all times when within the defined boundaries of the range,
and when ranges are Hot. These must be put on prior to going through
the air-locked door for indoor ranges, and kept on until once more
outside the high noise area.
Likewise, the rules of the appointed range master are to be followed
at all times.
Holster drawing and cowboy action shooting are never allowed except
on specially-designated action shooting ranges, often which have
additional safety requirements and equipment.
Cost of shooting
If one brings one's own guns and hearing protection earmuffs and
safety glasses, it is often possible to buy a 50 round box of 9 mm
ammo, rent an indoor lane for an hour, buy a target, and enjoy
shooting for under $25 in the United States. Fees for outdoor ranges
are often even less, often running $6.50 for 3 hours of range time;
coupled with a 500 round brick of 22 LR that often runs less than
$9.00, it is possible on an outdoor range to enjoy an afternoon of
shooting for under $20. Rental fees vary depending on the gun and
caliber for those interested in also renting a gun, but for those
wishing to rent a typical, non-exotic handgun at the shooting range,
costs are only modestly more.
Many shooting ranges that cater to foreign tourists have special
packaged deals for under $20 for instruction, assistance, and
shooting, for tourists interested in shooting handguns. Larger
caliber guns, and fully automatic weapons are also available for
shooting at some shooting ranges by tourists as well. Fees for
renting larger guns are only modestly more, but rental fees for
fully automatic weapons can rise quickly, to hundreds of dollars,
depending on the number of rounds one wishes to fire.
Hearing protection and eye protection rental fees are modest, often
available for under $2-3 each at rental gun shooting ranges.
For those interested in more heavy use of the local shooting range,
annual memberships are also available at many indoor US shooting
ranges. Both individual and family memberships are often available.
Typical costs vary but annual membership is usually available for
around $200 USD per person, or slightly more for an entire family.
Such plans typically have an "all you want" usage of the range,
unlike the typical 1/2 hour or 1, 2, or 3 hour rental time slots
when renting a shooting lane as an occasional shooter. For anyone
shooting more than 8-10 times a year, annual membership is often
cheaper than paying by the hourly rate. For the more exotic outdoor
sporting club private ranges, mandatory annual membership in the NRA
is also usually required.
Environmental issues
Over the last decade, many outdoor publicly owned ranges in
Government-owned facilities and parks in the United States have been
temporarily closed due to concerns regarding lead-contamination and
ground water contamination issues on public property, mostly a
result of legislator responses to gun politics issues. Privately
owned facilities have largely gone unbothered by recently-passed
regulatory changes. Gun politics issues are a concern for shooting
enthusiasts, who feel that their access to public shooting ranges is
being infringed.
Almost all outdoor ranges are under scrutiny because many were
poorly designed and lack the Surface Danger Zones required for safe
operation. Though they existed in this form for many years without
problems, the encroachment from residential and commercial growth
along property lines have increased concerns over safety.
See also
* Action shooting
* Conventional Pistol
* Combat pistol shooting
* Cowboy action shooting
* Fast Draw
* Gun safety
* Gun politics in the United States
* Shooting range
* Shooting sports
* Skeet shooting
* Sporting clay shooting
* Submachine gun competition
* Trap shooting